Boots

Alpine Touring uses equipment very similar to standard Alpine Skiing gear in that descents are done in boots with solid soles locked down fore and aft so that only standard downhill turns can be executed. Generally, much steeper gradients are more frequently encountered in the Alps than in Scandinavia and Ski Mountaineering equipment allows the ascents to be done with the heel unlocked but with the boot attached. However, the pivot point is a simple hinge and it's positioned forward of the toe. This allows for resistance free steps to be climbed Plastic touring boots are becoming the norm. They're cheaper than leather, often lighter, more rigid (in the right places) and they won't lose their rigidity over time like leather ones will. Get them fitted properly by a reputable fitter and they won't even need breaking in. Unlike Alpine ski touring equipment which has a solid rigid boot sole, all touring plastic boots have bellows above the toes which allow them to bend naturally at the ball of the foot

Skis

Touring Skis should weigh around 2kg, and will be tough with good edges and a strong base to cope with varied mountain conditions. The ski will be softer to cope with powder.

Bindings

The simple three-pin Nordic Norm binding is still very popular for hut touring. Cable bindings too are often used to ski tour because of their relative lightness and simplicity. Fairly new on the market is a light touring version of a telemark binding and it's here where the boundaries between Touring and Ski Mountaineering begin to get blurred. The big, all mountain, brother of this binding is a popular integrated release, hybrid-plate binding. This new lighter touring version has all the same features as the full telemark version plus it has a lever to shift it into a front pivot Ski Mountaineering binding

Poles for Off Track

Your off track poles too will be more substantial than those ultra light wands you use in the tracks and they will have larger baskets to prevent them from sinking down into new snow. Some opt for extendable ski poles thus obviating the need for several sets. There is however usually a weight penalty.

Skins

Skins are long strips of material attached to the bottom of skis as a way of getting skis to grip the snow for forward and most importantly, upward propulsion. Skins will get you up impossibly steep gradients long after waxes have let go. "Skins" is short for "seal skins" but don't worry, seals no longer need to lose their lives to provide us with traction.