What Is In A Backcountry Ski And Splitboard Repair Kit

Build Your Own Backcountry Repair Kit

Backcountry Repair Kit – Pack Low-cal or Go Large?

Have yous ever had a gear failure in the field? Fortunately, mod backcountry ski gear is pretty robust stuff. I can count the number of meaning gear failures I've experienced or witnessed on one paw – and most of those were back in my dedicated telemark ski days. Nonetheless, a basic backountry repair kit should make your packing list. Gear failure might non happen ofttimes, but it does happen – be it due to abuse, accident or simple wear and tear. A basic repair kit should be lightweight and piece of cake to assemble. It's also a good place identify to shop a few essential emergency items like burn starter and an emergency blanket.

An Ounce of Prevention

Before putting together an extensive backcountry repair kit with one of everything in it, consider that a petty preventitive maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your repair kit small. An almanac gear inspection and some routine maintenance can stop many common gear problems earlier they always happen. It's nearly looking for wearable, checking that screws are snug and just generally existence familiar with the status of your gear to avert surprises. Consider the following checklist as an almanac or pre-large trip routine:

1. Inspect boots. Look for wear and tear that could atomic number 82 to failure. Tighten all fasteners and consider adding Loctite to anything that shows repeated loosening.
2. Audit bindings. Check that binding mount screws are snug and tighten external screws as applicative. At a minimum, audit your bindings annually, or make it routine and bank check 'em even whenever y'all wax your skis.
iii. Inspect climbing skins. Look for deteriorating tail straps, blown rivets, mucilage issues and worn out tip loops (read climbing skin intendance tips).
4. Bank check your backpack. Look for cracked buckles, smooth zipper function, frayed webbing and high-article of clothing zones.

Common Repairs

What problems practice y'all actually need to worry about being able to repair? The length of your ski day and type of objective are direct related to how robust a repair kit you need. Multi-day, remote settings require more than serious back-upward supplies than a simple day tour or roadside attraction lap. Lots of inconsequential gear problems could get incorrect, and you'd yet be able to go on skiing or at least ski back to the hut or trailhead. Things like jacket, pant and pack zippers or a pack buckle could explode – even a boot buckle – and you'd likely be just fine to continue skiing. Think about potential evidence stoppers – issues that could end you from moving – issues with bindings, boot cuffs, boot walk mode mechanisms and climbing skins are what can actually ruin a 24-hour interval.

The Basic (Everyday) Backcountry Repair Kit

Less is more than is my mantra, but it requires post-obit the ounce of prevention communication above. My bones everyday repair kit is lightweight and merely requires a small 4×6-inch zip pouch. Information technology just lives in my ski pack alongside my shovel and probe. If I'm headed on a hut or road trip, I'll throw a few additional items in my duffel.

Choose your repair kit supplies wisely. Recall double-duty and practise-it-all materials similar duct tape, voile straps, paracord, zip ties, etc. Combined with a few gear-specifc items, you can MacGyver your way out of a wide range of issues. Hither'southward a lits of the stuff I generally proceed in my kit:

Multi-tool – Retrieve pliers, knife and the drivers to friction match your bindings. Read well-nigh our favorite multi-tools for skiers
Duct Tape – Wrap 12-20 inches around a lighter. Use the good stuff. Effort Gorilla Tape
Bounden screws – A few binding screws that match your set up-up
Steel wool – Fills blownout spiral holes to make them usable again. Information technology doesn't accept much.
Condom pins – Don't allow a blown zipper spoil your mean solar day. 3-four condom pins to the rescue.
Paracord – 2mm paracord or spectra cord can exercise many things similar replace a skin tip loop. My homemade Rutschblock cord serves double duty hither.
Zip ties – four-v pocket-size zip ties accept a myriad of uses.
Kicking parts – I have a dynafit heel fitting (cannibalized from an quondam kick) and a homemade gage rivet in my kit too
Pare wax – a small block of Glop Stopper skin wax for those days when your skins (or your ski partner's) clump up
Lighter – Ever good for emergencies and information technology makes a keen tape holder
Fire starter – A piece of bicycle inner tube makes for great fire starter – just cutting off a six or eight inch department of an old tube

For Multi-Day Trips Consider Adding the following:

Tenacious Tape – Field repair a jacket or pant blowout similar a pro with Tenacious Record
Skin tip/tail clip – Pack an extra tip/tail clip. Black Diamond has lots climbing skin parts
Hose clamps – Corking for pole repair.
Bailing wire – Wire together diddled boot cuff rivets or make a pare tip loop.
Pole handbasket – You'll never know how much you need a basket until you don't have i!
Emergency blanket – I'k talking the lightest of the calorie-free Emergency blanket in case you accept a long night.

Bank check out our backcountry ski packing list or our backcountry hut trip packing list

Or read about Climbing Skin Mucilage Renewal and Climbing Skin Maintenance