On the Cover: After growing up in Colorado and spending time in Utah, Drew Petersen needed a change of scenery. “Drew moved to Truckee to put down roots, get a sense of community and enjoy all Tahoe had to offer,” says photographer Ming Poon, who has called the area home for years. Settling down in a new place can be exciting, yet intimidating, so Poon took his new neighbor out in the Sierra Nevada on a deep day as a welcome present. According to Poon, “I think this is the moment his life decisions were reaffirmed.” [Photo] Ming Poon

THE 2023 GEAR GUIDE

SKIS, BOOTS & BINDINGS

FREE TOURING
Whether taking a chairlift bump, firing up the snowmobile or hitting a skintrack, free tourers prioritize an aggressive setup for the descent, no matter the weight.

SPORT TOURING
Sport tourers are versatile, oscillating between quick gladed laps and huge days on the skintrack, so their gear needs to be up for anything.

SPEED TOURING
Sub-90-underfoot skis and minimalist boots can be found on 10,000-foot days deep in the mountains and weeklong expeditions where every ounce counts.

SPLITBOARDS, BOOTS & BINDINGS
Welcome to the Quivercene, a new era in which riders can buy everything from fishy powder shapes to featherweight, carbon-laced uphill machines.

All-Mountain Boards
Powder Boards
Big Mountain Boards
Boots & Bindings

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES
Modern outerwear, insulating layers and accessories have become engineering marvels, using lighter, more durable materials to shave weight while upping features.

Editors’ Choice
Jackets
Pants
Puffies
Midlayers
Baselayers
Poles
Skins

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR'S NOTE

PERSPECTIVE

GLOSSARY

LETTERS

For over two and a half decades, Backcountry's kept a close pulse on skis, boots, bindings, splitboards and more.