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Ski touring with kids | What you need and what you should consider

PowderGuide and Sport Conrad give tips for ski touring with kids

by Max Elias 02/03/2025
Ski touring is more than just a sport - it is an invitation to experience nature intensively and discover the magic of snow-covered mountains away from the piste. But what does it take for children to enjoy this adventure safely?

Ski touring with children: Part 1 - The right equipment

The question of what it takes for children to be able to take part in this adventure safely and enjoyably is now occupying more and more touring-enthusiastic parents. I was already out and about on smaller ski tours in my local Black Forest with my now ten-year-old son during the coronavirus pandemic, which meant that even when ski resorts were closed, I still had the opportunity to go skiing. And so over the last few years, I've been exploring the topic more or less intensively.

With the new ski touring season just around the corner, this article is the first in a short series dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of ski touring with children. From equipment and safety to tour planning - various aspects will be highlighted to make it easier for parents to start ski touring with their children. I have received plenty of expertise on equipment from the specialists at Sport Conrad.

Equipment: The first step to safe tours

As with other material-heavy sports, I believe that the choice of suitable equipment plays a decisive role in making it easier for children to get into ski touring and to ensure they have lasting fun. Just as a child has no desire to pedal up the mountain on a mountain bike that is far too heavy, it is also important to provide children with sensible equipment for ski touring. Many parents therefore justifiably ask themselves whether there are any ski touring sets that are specially designed for children.

The answer to this is clear: yes, and they are essential. Manufacturers such as long-standing PowderGuide partner Dynafit have increasingly developed products for children in recent years. These sets are characterised by the fact that they are tailored to the lower body weight and needs of children. "In recent years, manufacturers have increasingly developed products specifically for children. Skis and bindings are now specially designed for the lighter body weight," explains Sebastian Dorn, ski expert at Sport Conrad. "In addition, the bindings have a larger adjustment range. This means that they can also be adjusted for larger and smaller shoes without having to drill new holes. This is particularly helpful when selling or passing on to other children."

A detailed comparison of ski touring bindings for children shows that the weight and functionality of the bindings are decisive. Easy entry and safe release values are particularly important.

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Weight, flexibility and comfort: what to look out for?

Children have different physical requirements than adults. Equipment that is too heavy or unwieldy can quickly spoil their fun. That's why lightness is the key: "Pure ski touring equipment consisting of skis, bindings and ski boots is ideal", says Sebastian Dorn. Combined models for alpine and ski touring may be attractively priced, but they are heavier and less practical. From my own experience, however, I can say that such an inexpensive combination is not so bad for a first taster, especially if it is only a few metres in altitude. The first joint, but deliberately short tours with Emil in the Black Forest were perfectly feasible with such a combination. For example, the startUp touring adapter from Contour offers an inexpensive entry-level option for gaining initial experience in ascents. For very young ski tourers in particular, this is sometimes the only option, as ski boot sizes in the Techsystem usually only start at MP 21.5.

However, there is a great risk that the next generation will quickly take a liking to it and you will then have to invest in better equipment again. It would be great if more sports shops offered rental ski touring equipment for children so that you can skip this first intermediate investment step by paying a favourable rental fee.

Shoes: accuracy of fit counts

The right footwear is another important pillar. "Brands such as Scarpa and Dynafit offer specially developed ski touring boots for children, which are characterised by a flex value of 60 to 70 and are ideal for use with pure ski touring skis," reports Sebastian Dorn. "In addition, some manufacturers have developed freeride boots for young people, which are an excellent choice with a higher flex range of 80 to 100, especially if the boots are also to be used for skiing on the piste". When choosing the right fit, it is important not to buy boots that are too big. A secure heel hold is crucial, especially on the ascent, to avoid blisters and ensure a comfortable walking motion. Young skiers should not slide around or forwards in their ski boots, even on the descent. Buying one size larger is therefore not advisable, especially as children's feet usually jump several sizes over the summer and the boot would no longer fit anyway.

Safety equipment: simple and effective

Whether adults or children - you can't do without avalanche equipment. However, intuitive operation is particularly important for children. Sebastian emphasises that voice-controlled avalanche transceivers such as those from Ortovox can be a good choice. They give clear instructions and help to keep an overview even under stress.

Shorter probes and lightweight aluminium shovels are also part of the basic equipment. "Children need to be able to handle the equipment easily," Sebastian explains to me. Plastic shovels shouldn't be an option for children either - instead, superlight models are ideal as they are light and easy to handle.

As Simon has already written in his article on avalanche management with children, I agree that regular practice with the equipment is essential. Playful exercises away from the snow also create routine and provide safety.

Backpacks and clothing: It's the details that count

When travelling in the mountains with children in summer, you often just pack a large backpack on your own back and save the kids from having to carry their own backpack. For our ski tours together, it was clear to me and fortunately also to my son Emil right from the start that he would have to carry his own safety equipment in his backpack. "Child-friendly backpacks are not just a question of comfort, but also of safety" explains Sebastian. Firstly, comfort - the back length and weight should be suitable. Some of the smaller, compact women's models are definitely suitable for little tall ski tourers. A separate compartment for safety equipment is absolutely essential to ensure that safety is also included in the backpack. "Ski touring backpacks offer numerous practical features designed to make life in the mountains easier. However, the separate compartment for emergency equipment, which includes a shovel and probe, is particularly important" confirms Sebastian's assumption. Although these essential items can also be stowed in the main compartment, this is neither practical nor safe. "An extra compartment for emergency equipment is a must - it allows quick access and prevents important items from getting lost or obstructed in the backpack," explains the Sport Conrad expert. For the first use and to see whether it's fun or not, the school bag is also a good choice, as it also has separate compartments.

I would advise against avalanche backpacks, especially because of their significantly higher weight. As Emil was immediately prepared to carry his own safety equipment with him, I was of course prepared to carry everything else, such as food, drink or additional clothing, in my backpack for the time being. The latter is definitely advisable, as children often get cold more quickly and an extra layer is therefore very helpful, especially for breaks (spoiler alert: the topic of breaks will be covered in the next article).

The right clothing is particularly important for children on ski tours to ensure comfort and protection from the cold. The onion principle has proven its worth here: Several functional layers of clothing make it possible to react flexibly to changing weather conditions. Lightweight and breathable materials are crucial to ensure that freedom of movement is not restricted and that perspiration is quickly wicked away. At the same time, wind and water-repellent outerwear provides reliable protection against the cold and wet. Brands such as Dynafit offer collections especially for young ski tourers that fulfil these requirements and are characterised by their low weight - ideal for long and active days in the snow.

What the manufacturers don't know or can't influence are the idiosyncrasies of children. For example, a highly functional, super-light Gore-Tex jacket can sometimes be perceived as annoying because it rustles too loudly. However, from my point of view, you can't hear the rustling anyway, as children can be quite talkative even on tours. Anyone who has children knows how far you can get with this argument.

What I'm trying to say is that soft evaluation criteria should also be taken into account when choosing clothes. You know your children and their idiosyncrasies.

Save costs: Used and sustainable

As the darn kids grow far too quickly, parents are often faced with the challenge of buying new ski equipment every year. The best way to save costs is to buy second-hand ski sets. Unfortunately, the market for touring skis for children and teenagers is almost non-existent. If you do find touring ski sets for children, they are often only one or two seasons old and therefore in pretty good condition. In addition to online offers on the usual websites, you can also find them at local ski markets. The big advantage of ski exchanges is that you can take a look at the equipment on site and test the functionality of the bindings, for example. 

"Alternatively, you can also invest in a new set, as the loss in value of these models is manageable and they can be resold later at a good price" recommends Sebastian from Sport Conrad.

Another approach could be the use of short adult skis, which are already increasingly in circulation. However, caution is advised here: The bindings on such skis are often designed for adults and may be too tight for children. It is important to make sure that the Z-value of the binding can be adjusted easily and appropriately for children to ensure safety and comfort.

Emil and I would like to say a big thank you to Sport Conrad for their professional and, above all, child-orientated advice. With your expertise, you gave us excellent support with all our unanswered questions and formulated the answers in such a way that the children were able to make sense of them.

Many thanks for the great service - we would love to come back!

Outlook: Focus on safety and tour planning

This article marks the start of a short series on ski touring with children. The next part is about how parents can plan tours safely and which strategies help to motivate children for longer ascents. After all, ski touring with children is not only a sporting challenge, but also an opportunity to create unforgettable shared experiences.

 

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