Gear

What you need to bring, what to look for when buying it, and where to rent.

You supply your own equipment for every weekend. Outfitting yourself is the largest hidden cost of the class, and rentals have to be reserved well in advance of the course.

Required for every weekend

Avalanche Safety

Avalanche beacon (three antenna required)
Avalanche shovel
Avalanche probe
Skis/splitboard
Skins
Boots
Poles

Clothing

Waterproof, hard shell jacket and pants
Wool base layer
Light midlayer
Puffy jacket
Two pairs of gloves or mitts
Goggles and UV-protective sunglasses
Extra pair of socks

In Your Pack

Current avalanche and weather forecast
Day pack with a dedicated avalanche gear pocket
First aid kit
Headlamp with spare batteries
Pocket knife or multitool
Sunscreen and UV-protective chapstick
Water bottle, and additional thermos with hot liquid
Food, snacks, and dinner (if overnight) for the duration of the weekend

Required for Cabin Weekend

Sleeping bag

Required for Overnight Tour (pending conditions)

Sleeping bag
Sturdy 3- or 4-season tent/tarp
Stove and stove fuel
Sleeping pad

Considerations when looking for gear

As an organization, we do not have any preferred providers or brands of gear. Most people's gear preferences change and evolve as they become more comfortable and experienced in the backcountry. Below are some considerations when thinking about gear.

Gear	Required for course?	Comments
Beacon	Yes	3-antenna is required. Consider features like maximum beacon range, signal speed, multi-burial, and marking.
Shovel	Yes	A metal blade from a reputable maker (Voile, BCA, BD, Mammut all test well). Flat blade edges clean up a test pit better.
Probe	Yes	Pick one that assembles easily. Aim for 280-300cm.
Skis/splitboard	Yes	If you're going for a one ski/board quiver, 95–110mm hit the sweet spot in the PNW. If you're on the fence, slightly too short often beats slightly too long (more maneuverable, lower weight), but it's a personal preference.
Skins	Yes	At least as wide as your ski's waist, ideally close to its widest point. Nylon grips better, while mohair glides better.
Boots	Yes	Fit first, everything else second. Must be pin-tech compatible (if skiing). We recommend going to a shop to try them on and speak with gear reps.
Poles	Yes	Make sure you have powder baskets. Adjustable length is often useful (external flick-lock clamps beat internal twist-locks).
Leashes/brakes	Yes	Leashes can help you from losing a ski in deep snow.
Bindings	Yes	Pin (alpine touring, "Dynafit Style") bindings. We recommend stopping at a shop to play around with bindings and speak to gear reps. Take your time looking for bindings, your knees will thank you.
Pack	Yes	30–40L is often a sweet spot for day tours, 50L or more for overnights. If buying a new pack, consider choosing one that can fit your helmet internally, rather than strapped to the outside. A dedicated avalanche pocket keeps your rescue gear separate and immediately accessible from the rest of the gear in your pack.
Ski crampons	No	Worth having as you gain experience. Match to the width of your skis.
Crampons	No	Useful for when you get into more mountaineering-oriented days.
Sleeping bag	Yes	Required for Cabin Weekend, and Overnight Tour (pending conditions). If sleeping outdoors in the snow in the PNW, aim for something in the 0-10 degree range, but it's very dependent on how warm/cold you sleep, and where in the world you are.
Sleeping pad	Maybe	Required for the Overnight Tour (pending conditions). The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad. Some folks use 2 pads: a thin foam pad to insulate from the snow, and an inflatable pad for comfort.
Gloves	Yes	We recommend carrying multiple pairs, one lighter pair you'll use for uphill, and another for downhill and keeping you warm/dry if it gets cold or wet. Some folks in the PNW also use "dish cleaning" gloves for when it rains.
Eye protection	Yes	UV protection is a must. Snow blindness and sun damage are real. Look for features that protect the sides of your eyes too.

If you have concerns, questions, or limited access to one or more pieces of the gear above, please reach out to us ahead of time. We can provide some more insight into the gear we use, and sometimes have gear available for students to borrow for the course (pending availability and supply).

Renting

Renting a full setup for the season is generally possible, but shops do run out. Reserve well before the class starts, not during the first week of the course. We don't partner with any specific shops, but if you have questions about where you can rent gear, reach out to us at wac-bc-chairs@googlegroups.com.