02 Winter · Ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering,every gram counts.
In ski mountaineering you skin uphill to train and reach the top as fast as you can. You need narrow skis, pin bindings, light boots and a close-fitting race suit: the descent comes later.
i In short
Sport Extreme, at Via Prestefan 14 in Livigno, sells ski mountaineering skis, pin bindings, boots and skins from ATK, Marker, Scarpa, Salomon and Black Diamond, and helps you put together a light, compatible set-up for training uphill.
A The kit, piece by piece
What matters,
piece by piece.
Scroll: for every piece of kit we tell you what to look for in this sport, and which brands you'll find in store.
Scroll ↓
Helmet
Light and well ventilated, because your head heats up on the climb. A helmet certified for mountaineering (EN 12492) and for skiing (EN 1077) works both on the way up and on the way down.
Brands: Salomon · Black Diamond
Sunglasses
Goggles fog up on the climb, so you wear wraparound sunglasses, category 3, or 4 at high altitude. Goggles stay in the pack for the descent or for wind.
Brands: Uvex
Race suit
Close-fitting, thin and one-piece: it doesn't flap and lets sweat out. Inner pockets keep skins and gloves warm, ready for the transition at the top.
Gloves
Thin, breathable softshell gloves for the climb. At the top you swap them for a warmer pair from your pack.
Brands: Black Diamond · Level
Backpack
15–20 L, narrow and close to your back, with straps to carry your skis when you bootpack. It holds shovel, probe and a warm layer; the transceiver is worn on your body.
Brands: Deuter · Osprey · Black Diamond
Skis
Narrow and light: under 70 mm underfoot and under 1 kg per ski for training and racing, 80–90 mm and 1.1–1.4 kg for touring. They're a few centimetres shorter than piste skis, so kick turns are quicker.
Brands: Salomon
Skins
Mohair glides better and is lighter, nylon grips better on steep sections and lasts longer. Racers use thin mohair skins, cut to the shape of the ski with the edges left free.
Brands: Black Diamond
Bindings
Pin bindings, no brakes: on the climb your heel is free, for the descent it locks into the heel piece. A race binding weighs around 100 g, a touring one up to about 400 g; your boot needs pin inserts.
Brands: ATK · Marker · Salomon
Boots
A race boot weighs around 500–800 g and closes with one lever and a wire dial. The lighter and freer it is on the climb, the less it controls the ski on the way down: for touring you want a stiffer boot.
Brands: Scarpa · Salomon
Poles
For training, fixed carbon poles a little longer than piste poles, to push on every stride. For touring, adjustable ones you can set for the climb, traverses and descent.
Brands: Leki · Black Diamond
All of this,
at Via Prestefan 14.
Come and try it on: we put together the right kit for you, piece by piece.
Call the shop→B Winter
How to choose
- Under 1 kgWeight
On the climb you feel every gram on every stride. For training, skis under 1 kg each and a race boot around 500–800 g; for touring, 1.1–1.4 kg skis are worth it for more control on the descent.
- Under 70 mmWidth
Under 70 mm underfoot to climb fast and to race; 80–90 mm for touring, where the descent matters more. Wider means steadier, but heavier.
- Mohair or nylonSkins
Mohair glides better and weighs less, nylon grips better on steep slopes and lasts longer; mixed skins sit in between. They're cut to the shape of the ski, leaving the edges free.
- Pin-compatibleBindings and boots
Pin bindings and boots with inserts have to be compatible. The more range of motion the cuff has, the longer and more natural your stride.
D In Livigno
Where to skin up in Livigno
At Carosello 3000, the Ski-Alp Track starts from the flat area between the gondola station and Plaza Placheda and climbs to the summit, with about 1,000 m of vertical, marked by orange and blue poles. Livigno also has other managed ski touring routes, groomed after every snowfall and marked with blue and orange poles; some of them start with a transceiver checkpoint.
E Quick advice
Why do you climb?
Our advice
F In store
Gear that works together
We help you put together skis, bindings, boots and skins that are compatible, choosing across brands to suit the way you climb. The same shop has transceivers, shovels and probes from Mammut and Black Diamond. Livigno is a duty-free zone, so no VAT is applied.
G Frequently asked questions
Good to
know.
What's the difference between ski mountaineering and freeride?
In ski mountaineering the climb is what counts: narrow, light skis, pin bindings and boots with lots of range of motion, to reach the top as fast as possible. In freeride the descent in fresh snow is what counts: wide, heavier skis, and if you skin up, it's to ski down. Much ski mountaineering training happens on groomed routes.
What do I need to start ski mountaineering?
To start you need touring skis with pin bindings, boots with a walk mode, skins, poles and a helmet. On top of that, a transceiver, shovel and probe, which in Italy are compulsory where there is avalanche risk. Before your first outings, it's worth taking a course and going out with experienced people.
Can I skin up the pistes?
In Italy, going up pistes on skis is normally prohibited: it's only allowed where the operator authorises it, keeping as close as possible to the edge of the piste (art. 24, Legislative Decree 40/2021). Livigno has dedicated routes, such as the Carosello 3000 Ski-Alp Track, marked by orange and blue poles. Before you go, check the ski area's hours and rules.
Mohair or nylon skins?
It depends on what you want: mohair glides better and is lighter, nylon grips better and is more durable. Mixed skins, usually mohair blended with nylon, sit in between and are a good choice to start with. Whichever you choose, they are cut to the shape of your ski with the edges left free.
Come and
see us.
Every day 09:00–12:30 · 14:00–19:30
Via Prestefan 14 · 23041 Livigno · 1.816 m