repair

Backcountry Maintenance and Repair Kit

Repair Guide

The ability to fix and maintain your ski equipment in the backcountry will save you time, hassle, and personal anguish. At under one pound, the suggested list above will enable you to improvise in most repair situations and help get you off the mountain in one piece.

Depending on the length and commitment level of your ski tour, you may want to add or subtract from the items listed above. 

 

Maintenance

1. Glide Wax:  A quick fix for a faster glide, and will help prevent snow from freezing to the base of your skis.

2. Plastic Scraper: Scrape sticky snow & ice from the base and top-sheets of your skis. 

3. Skin Wax: Apply liberally to maintain your climbing skin's hydrophobic properties and prevent them from glopping up with snow.

 

Repair

4. Rubber Ski Straps: The longer the better. You can secure a rescue sled, a broken boot cuff, or splint an injured extremity. The options are endless. 

5. Quick Curing Glue: If you’re binding strips off of your ski, a strong, fast-curing glue or epoxy will help to secure binding screws to the ski-- hopefully long enough for a successful retreat.

6. Bailing Wire: Offers endless options for boot & binding repair.

7. Cloth Tape: Another go-to repair/first aid item that is multi-functional. 

8. 5mm Cord:  Cord is always useful and can supplement the use of ski straps, bailing wire or rigging scenarios.

9. Lighter: Mold pesky boot plastic or build a fire.

10. Zip-Ties: Feather-weight and useful in almost any repair scenario.

11. Binding Screws & Bits: A few binding screws and bits to will allow you to adjust or re-mount a binding that has stripped off the ski. 

12. Break-Down Screw Driver: I prefer this driver over a "binding buddy". Binding screws are easier to access with a with a longer tool and will perform better if you really need some wrenching power.

13. Hose Clamps: Use to secure a pole splint to a broken ski pole. 

14. Multi-Tool with Pliers: Useful in almost all repair situations

15. Pole Splint: When secured with hose clamps, an old section of ski pole cut lengthwise will splint a broken ski pole.