Ski touring for snowboarders:

Nowadays, more and more people are practicing ski touring, a sport that was previously only practiced by hardcore mountaineers with extensive knowledge of the mountains. Today, this practice is becoming more popular with about 30% of skiers in France saying they engage in this type of winter activity. For those who also want to discover other activities, our selection of affordable ski touring skis caters to all desires.

The reasons for this increase or at least this new attraction towards ski touring are numerous. The desire to practice one's favorite sport with a growing respect for the environment is in the air, to escape the crowded ski lifts, or the high prices of a stay in the mountains. Although the initial investment is high, it remains lower than the cumulative accommodation/lift pass/rental costs of increasingly expensive ski equipment in our resorts.

However, the pleasure of discovering, through effort, the perfection of a pristine snowfield to descend and regaining that sense of freedom that the mountains can offer remains the primary motivation for ski tourers you may encounter around the peaks.

But what about snowboarders? Those who can be considered pioneers of off-piste, freestyle, and this freedom on snow. How to ascend the slopes with just one board (snowboard) and seek new horizons like skiers? If adventure calls you, consider equipping yourself with a snowboard suited to your practice to fully enjoy each descent.

The solution has a name, the Splitboard ! A snowboard that separates into several pieces to allow you to ascend like ski touring and descend on a snowboard! Find all your splitboard equipment online among the best models on the market.

Less democratized and known than ski touring, this practice is increasingly seen outside ski areas. Despite the late development of this type of equipment in the late 90s and early 2000s, many snowboard brands have managed to improve usage and develop new board models. Burton, Jones, K2, Nitro, Nidecker, Amplid, and many other famous brands have entered this market to offer products adapted to the needs and desires of riders! Also discover our snow + binding freeride packs for easy outfitting.

What is a Splitboard?

As previously explained, the splitboard allows you to practice ski touring while snowboarding during the descent. To enable this, there are several characteristics to know to understand how a split works. If you want to buy a quality snowboard, find all the models suited to your profile in our shop.

The board:

As its name indicates, the Splitboard is a snowboard split into 2 parts to create 2 skis, allowing you to ascend slopes in "ski touring" style. In addition to the outer edges already present on a classic snowboard, the Splitboard also has inner edges to provide grip as effective as ski touring on steep slopes. The 2 boards are connected with 2 clips at the top and bottom during descent to reform the board. If you are looking for a splitboard, you will find models suited to all styles.

The skins:

Again, like ski touring, the use of skins is necessary during the ascent. Cut to the shape of the 2 "skis" that make up the Split, they provide grip in the snow during the ascent. Whether they are Mohair skins, Nylon, or a mix of both like the Peak skins nitro or the Jones Nomad skins, the important thing in Splitboarding is to ensure good grip during the ascent, as the 2 tips are shorter and wider than a classic ski.

The Bindings:

The biggest innovations and differences with ski touring lie in the binding system. On skis, most bindings are insert or releasable where you simply step in and adjust the system for ascent or descent. To complete your equipment, consider splitboard bindings from the best brands for a secure and high-performance practice.

In Splitboarding, the systems are more complex due to the fact that there is only one sliding surface and thus both feet are attached to the board. Therefore, it is necessary to have a classic snowboard grip perpendicular to the board for descent and a parallel grip to allow ascent on skis. Two maneuvers are thus necessary to switch from one grip to the other.

For this, there are four different splitboard binding systems:

  • The "historical" system that revolutionized the use of the Splitboard is based on a "Voilé universal splitboard Interface" base. A system on which you can install different brands of bindings like Burton x Spark or Nitro Vertical for example. This system has proven itself over the years, although a bit heavy, it offers ease of assembly and rigidity tailored for off-piste. For this system, simply slide the binding into a rail and clip the binding and, in ascent mode, slide the inserts and secure them, leaving the back of the binding free for ascent.

  • The Karakoam system, mainly included in the splitboard packs from Jones, has a clip at the back of the binding once placed on the base and a clip at the front for ascent. Quite easy to assemble, lightweight and closer to the board, this binding system proves very effective off-piste and on more difficult snow.

  • The Plum brand system made in France is also a lightweight metal system. The system is placed on the base and attaches with a single side clip. In ascent mode, the clip is the same with a front grip.

  • Finally, one of the latest binding systems is the Union system, unlike other bindings, this one is made of plastic offering interesting Flex for snowboarders who enjoy jumps and freestyle/backcountry. However, the grip of the binding is a bit more complex to set up with a rod to slide into the binding for ascent and descent. For those looking for affordable Union splitboard bindings, our selection meets all needs!

All binding systems have an ascent/descent mode on the spoiler at the back of the binding allowing foot inclination to facilitate movements during ascent.

Also important to know, classic snowboard boots are compatible with all splitboard bindings although there are specific splitboard boots with higher rigidity, Vibram soles, and specific tightening adjustments like the K2 Aspect model.

The Poles:

Like ski touring, it is necessary to equip yourself with a pair of poles that will be useful during the ascent. Not using poles during descent in snowboarding, it is advisable to equip yourself with telescopic or foldable hiking poles specially designed for touring to be able to store them in the bag more easily during the descent. Don't forget the complete splitboard equipment for a safe departure.

The Crampons and Knives:

In addition to this equipment, crampons and knives can prove useful during the ascent in difficult snow conditions or very steep slopes. These tools provide better grip to avoid falls and reach hard-to-access places. Crampons attach to snowboard boots while the knives attach to the bindings in ascent mode.

The different types of boards:

As with classic snowboards, there are different shapes of splitboards depending on the intended use and desired performance in ascent and/or descent. If your priority is versatility in the mountains, lean towards outdoor climbing gear for beginners signed Nitro.

Most boards have a reverse camber that allows for better flotation in powder, which makes sense given the off-piste use of this type of product. Boards with normal and reverse camber offer more versatility and rigidity for committed snowboarders.

Additionally, there are different types of materials and shapes that make up the board:

  • The classic twin-type shape that allows for off-piste surfing, backcountry, or freestyle.

Jones Mountain Twin

Nitro Nomad

Burton Hometown Hero

  • The swallowtail shape intended for primarily powder and off-piste use. Often lighter to facilitate ascent and wider for good flotation in powder.

Jones Storm Chaser

Nitro Squash

  • Or the combination of the lightness of carbon, the flotation of a powder board, and the twin-type shape to offer a complete model allowing for different uses on the same product.

K2 Marauder

Jones Solution

Some brands even offer today models in 4 parts instead of 2 to provide maximum lightness for ascent as well as a thinner and more maneuverable ski for conversions and steep slopes without sacrificing the flotation of the snowboard during descent.

Off-piste safety

Finally, an essential characteristic of splitboarding practice, which is common with ski touring, is safety in the mountains. As everywhere outside marked and secured ski areas, it is essential to have off-piste safety equipment. Thus, an avalanche victim detector, a shovel, and a probe remain mandatory equipment to always have on hand. A backpack equipped with an Airbag system can also prove useful and more reassuring for the most extreme off-piste practices.

Find our entire range of Splitboard equipment on our site: Splitboard