It's springtime in the mountains and some of those bigger backcountry objectives are on the menu. Bigger lines mean longer ascents, more elevation gain and more time earning those turns. Weston Guide Ambassador Kristen Meilicke breaks down some tips on how to lighten up your backcountry setup to help shave the weight and stack the vert.
Follow @kristenmeilicke for more pow slayin greatness. Photos by Phil Lester @philblester_photo
Let’s talk about shaving the weight- simply put, limiting the amount of weight we carry on our shoulders and on our feet as we move through the mountains. This is an important factor to think about, and it’s relevant for everyone from the weekend warrior recreationalist to guides and backcountry professionals.
At the end of the day, we all want to be doing this amazing sport for as long as we possibly can. To achieve that, we need to take care of our backs and our bodies. There is one easy and effective way to help ensure a long, healthy life of splitboarding… and you guessed it, shaving the weight.
Over years of trial, error, sore backs, and tired legs, here are a couple of items in my gear list that I’ve changed over time to help bring a few pounds off my back, and more importantly, off my feet while out in the backcountry.
Combining Items
Why carry multiple tools that do the same job when you can carry one tool that achieves multiple jobs? An efficient way to drop some weight from your pack is to find items that can serve more than one purpose. Removing redundant items and keeping those that serve a greater role goes a long way toward keeping your pack light and efficient.
Some of my favorite weight-saving combinations are:
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Backpack spine can be used as a first aid splint.
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A Thermarest can be used as a splint and/or a barrier between someone and the snow.
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Use your ski straps as multi-purpose tools throughout your backpack. Tighten up your rescue tarp, hold together your first aid kit, or strap broken gear together. Those little straps are worth their weight in gold.
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Find a good lightweight multitool that works with all the gear you may need to fix. Check that it has the appropriate heads for your specific nuts, bolts, screws, bindings, and hardware so one tool can solve the majority of problems you might encounter in the field.
One setback to shaving weight in your backcountry gear is that it usually comes at a cost (literally).
Buying the most lightweight gear is the easiest and quickest way to cut weight, but usually the lightest items are also the most expensive. A good strategy is to pick one or two items each year to replace, slowly bringing down the weight while keeping the bank account happy.
Once you’ve reached expert level and have the lightest pack in the crew, it’s time to start counting those grams. Every little bit adds up. Weigh your items and get creative in finding ways to shave a gram or two off here and there. This is when you start hearing stories of people cutting their toothbrushes in half on multiday trips. No judgment… it all adds up.
Clothing
Clothing is another area where it’s easy to add unnecessary weight.
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Think about the time of year and pack accordingly. If it’s calling for sub-arctic temps, throw in that extra down jacket and warm layers. But when the seasons shift and we’re moving toward spring touring, keep a warm layer but remove unnecessary clothing and bulk from your backpack.
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Make sure your clothing layers are stackable. For gloves, have layers that can fit inside one another (liner, warm outer glove, bulky outer mitten). This keeps options open without packing duplicates.
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And how about the backpack itself? Look for a lightweight alpine-specific touring pack to start with. Touring packs don’t need to have a ton of fancy gadgets and gizmos. Find one that has the essentials, uses lightweight materials, and maintains durability without unnecessary extras.
Remember: if it doesn’t serve a clear purpose, it probably doesn’t need to be in your pack.
Food and Friends
Food — and how you manage it — can also contribute to pack weight.
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Preload your carbs with a big breakfast before heading out.
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Have a snack at the trailhead before you leave.
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Keep food in the car for when you return.
This doesn’t mean eliminating food from your pack. You should always keep an emergency supply and the snacks you’ll need during the day. But there’s no need to bring the whole fridge with you.
Don’t forget about your friends. You’re in this together.
There’s no reason everyone in the group needs to carry the exact same equipment. Some items should always stay individual, such as avalanche safety gear: transceiver, probe, and shovel.
But other items can be shared across the group, such as:
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First aid kit
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Rescue tarp or emergency sled
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Repair kit (if you’re running similar gear)
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GPS device
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Satellite communication device
Divide these items throughout your group and disperse the load. Your back will thank you.
Gear
Finally, let’s talk about gear. The ultimate way to shave weight is by focusing on the gear that’s on your feet.
Switching your touring board to a carbon version is one of the most effective ways to remove a significant amount of weight from your setup. Carbon construction allows brands to use less material while maintaining strength and flex, resulting in a lighter board without sacrificing downhill performance.
And when you’re taking thousands of steps on a long skin track, every ounce matters.
Go Carbon
Two great examples of lightweight touring machines in the Weston lineup are the Gnarnia Carbon Splitboard and the Backwoods Carbon Splitboard.
Both boards use advanced carbon construction that allows us to reduce overall material while maintaining stiffness, durability, and powerful ride characteristics. The result is a noticeably lighter setup for the uphill without sacrificing performance on the descent.
The Gnarnia Carbon Split is built for riders chasing big lines and technical terrain. Carbon reinforcement increases stiffness and responsiveness while keeping the board light and efficient for long tours.
The Backwoods Carbon Split is designed for fast, efficient travel in deep snow. With a lightweight core and carbon construction, it delivers incredible float and maneuverability while keeping the touring setup as light as possible.
Both boards also feature a high-end sintered base designed for maximum glide because if you’re going to earn your turns, you might as well make the ride down fast.
Another hardware upgrade I’ve personally made to continue shaving weight is switching to a hardboot setup. Not only are the boots themselves significantly lighter than soft boots, but the bindings and additional hardware create a package that can shave pounds where it counts most.
And remember the old backcountry rule of thumb:
One pound on your feet equals roughly five pounds on your back. So why wouldn’t we want to lighten the load where it matters most?
Final Thoughts
The long and short of it is that there are numerous ways to start shaving weight in your backcountry touring setup. This isn’t something you need to accomplish all at once. Instead, start chipping away at it over time:
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Replace bulky items with lightweight versions
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Find tools that serve multiple purposes
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Remove unnecessary items
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Share equipment with your group
A lighter setup helps protect your body, keeps you moving efficiently, and lets you stay out in the mountains doing what you love for many years to come. And if shaving a few pounds off your kit means one more lap before sunset… well, that’s a pretty good bonus too.
