All the equipment you need for your Alpine tour

You need the right equipment before you head up into the mountains: this is a dangerous area, especially when you’re Alpine touring. Nevertheless, you doubtless want your backpack to be as light as possible. When you set off, make sure to check the weather so you can pack accordingly and keep the weight low. We’ve put together the following tips to help you choose your Alpine touring equipment, with each video giving you a comprehensive insight.

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Technical equipment

Ice picks and crampons are crucial: they’re as central to your Alpine touring equipment as ice on a glacier. You might encounter rockfalls on your Alpine tour, so a helmet is usually also important. During your Alpine touring trip, you’ll often be roped up, in a roped party, so a climbing harness and dynamic rope are indispensable. Make sure the rope is the right length so you’ve got what you need if somebody falls into a crevasse. The time-honoured pulley method requires:

• two ice screws

• a cord

• at least five carabiners

• a clamping kit

• a webbing sling

I’d also recommend a safety device for descending and securing your partner. As you’ll be carrying all your kit in your backpack, pack as lightly as you can: take as much as you need and as little as possible. And never, ever skimp on safety equipment.

Handy accessories

On an Alpine tour, you’ll usually start your ascent in the dark – so you’ll need a powerful headlamp so you can see what you need to pack in the hut and can find your way on your expedition. You’re best off securing this lamp to your helmet or keeping it to hand in an outside pocket of your backpack. A headband or Buff will keep your head and neck warm. Good sunscreen is an absolute must, as snow and ice reflect the sun’s rays and you’ll burn in no time. Ideally, apply sunscreen to your face while you’re brushing your teeth in your hut. However, don’t forget to top up your sunscreen when you’re out. The same goes for your eyes: to prevent the high-altitude sun from damaging your eyes, wear sunglasses with protection category 3 or 4.

Clothing tips

All that physical exertion will make you sweat – even amidst the cooler temperatures up in the mountains. You’ll then get cold when you take a break. As a result, your trousers and jacket need to be breathable, moisture-regulating and, above all, windproof. When choosing gloves, warmth and comfort are important, but so too is sensitivity. After all, you need to have a good grip when you’re pulling on your crampons or handling your carabiners and rope. Light, thin gloves or gardening gloves and thick over-gloves, or mitts, are a smart choice. You’re best off dressing in layers: a PrimaLoft jacket that can be folded up, a hardshell as a rain jacket and, underneath it, a fleece or long-sleeved top. Your clothing needs to be light, which is why breathability and packing volume are important. 

The right mountain boots for your tour

 You need well-insulated footwear that’s crampon-compliant under certain conditions, at least, as well as suitably sturdy and firm. A combination of mountain boots that are crampon-compliant under certain conditions and crampons is best for traditional Alpine touring: these shoes feature a cage on the front and a bracket at the rear. Further footwear tips can be found in the below video. While you need your footwear to be firm, you need to be able to move your foot joint, so shoes with a flexible joint system are of benefit. In addition, I’d recommend waterproof gaiters to keep your touring trousers dry when the snow gets softer. Plus, they’ll prevent the crampons from ripping your clothing.