This is the year to go remote, and our 2021 Gear Guide has all the skis, boards, boots and bindings to get you there.
Whether you’re looking for your first backcountry setup or just updating those well-loved planks, we’ve got unbiased and in-depth reviews of 51 skis and 29 splitboards that will take you where you want to go, wherever that may be. Plus, 21 boots, 12 bindings and 28 pieces of apparel, all of which was tested at our annual Gear Test Week at Powder Mountain, Utah last March by our team of 43 testers—hailing from Vermont to California and everywhere in between. No matter what happens this winter season, our 2021 Gear Guide has you covered.
To get the 2021 Gear Guide, subscribe today, just $32.95 for a year of Backcountry, including the 2021 Gear Guide »
ANATOMY OF THE 2021 GEAR GUIDE
SKIS
FREERIDE | TOURING | ALL-MOUNTAIN | LIGHTWEIGHT
BOOTS
AT | WOMEN’S AT
BINDINGS
AT | TELEMARK
SPLITBOARDS
QUIVER-KILLER | QUIVER | WOMEN’S | BOOTS | BINDINGS
APPAREL
JACKETS | PUFFIES | LAYERS | PANTS
BUY THE 2021 GEAR GUIDE
Get your copy of the 2021 Gear Guide with in-depth reviews of all 34 Editors’ Choice winners, plus more than 120 must-have skis, splitboards, boots, bindings and apparel.
Who doesn’t need a five pound touring binding? Hilarious. I hope everyone on the skin track heeds your advice :). Thanks for getting the gear issue out!
This is a really big help on my site, about the 2021 backcountry gear guide. i will apply this tips on my own big thank you for sharing really appreciate it.
When does it drop?!?! I am beyond excited and have been checking my mail daily. The wait is agonizing.
Hi Connor, The Gear Guide is at the printer currently! Subscribers can expect the Gear Guide in your mailbox in about the next two to four weeks, and it’ll be on newsstands in early October. We’ll also be announcing our Editors’ Choice Awards beginning next week.
Hey Tyler! Have these started shipping?
Yes! Subscriber copies began shipping at the beginning of the week!
Awesome!! Can’t wait for mine to arrive!! Will be checking often!
Any chance they have all been shipped yet? I’ve been looking in my mailbox daily. Haven’t gotten an email it says it’s shipped yet though.
Hi Connor, Your issue shipped on September 24. Magazines are definitely beginning to arrive in people’s mailboxes, but postal shipping times can vary widely based on location. You should see it soon!
Okay, rreally good to know. What if I don’t see it in my mailbox? its been 2 weeks and a day, and typically mail takes about 3-6 days to arrive here in CO
For those of us long-time subscribers that try to do our thing and not get print and all it’s associated carbon intensity with delivery etc why isn’t it up immediately on the app and why do you use such a terrible and glitchy app (PixelMag) to begin with? What’s the timing on electronic media? Please don’t say contact PixelMag customer service. They never, ever, ever, respond to anything.
We’ve passed along your query and email address to our customer service folks, and they should be in touch shortly to help you get your hands on a digital edition of the magazine.
When will I receive my gear guide issue? I am a subscriber already it’s mid September and haven’t received it. Looking to purchase some gear this year and I always look forward to your gear guide issue.
Hi Scott, You can expect the Gear Guide in your mailbox in about the next two to four weeks. It’s at the printer currently! We’ll also be announcing our Editors’ Choice Awards beginning next week.
Awesome thanks
When are you releasing the digital subscription gear guide?
Great cover shot on the 20/21 Gear Guide!
Enjoying reading thru gear guide. Really helpful as I mull over next board choice. Curious if you tested a mens Solution and didn’t include it or you only had the womens? The womens version sounds pretty nice.
Where is the Pixel Mags copy ? I’m an international reader and this is the only sensible way to read this mag – by the way it’s the same with Freeskier as well – they are holding my subscription money but zero product. Ultimately it reflects on you guys.
Hamish, We too are having issues with Pixel Mags that we’re working to sort through. In the meantime, I’ve passed your email along to our subscriptions department, and they will be in touch directly with a digital copy of the Gear Guide.
Hey Tyler and crew….just got our issue….Thanks for making us proud,….Izzy’ folks
Frustrated tone shopping for skis but unable to get my digital copy of the 2021 Gear Guide. Can you help? The issue does not show up on my account. Why so late on the delivery?
Hi Paul, Sorry this issue. We’re working through some technical problems with the service we use to publish the digital version of our magazine through the various apps. In the meantime, I’ll pass your email along to our subscriptions department, and they will be in touch directly with a digital copy of the Gear Guide.
Just wanted to echo the several comments about the delay in getting 134 2021 Gear Guide. I have a digital subscription and no sign of it yet:
Hi Jim, The digital issue went live at the beginning of the week. If you’re still having issues accessing it, please email subscriptions@holpublications.com.
Can I order the gear guide and not subscribe?
Yes, you can purchase just the Gear Guide here: https://shop.holpublications.com/collections/backcountry-back-issues/products/backcountry-magazine-134?variant=33366808232024
I subscribed in hopes of receiving the 2021 gear guide as the first issue. When can I expect that issue? first time subscriber really just hoping to get my hands on the gear guide. Was a little disappointed when the first issue came in and it wasn’t the gear guide:(
Hi Kaden, Thank you for subscribing and sorry that this post is confusing. It’s from last September, when we were promoting the 2021 Gear Guide, which was launching at that time. We’ll update the text above accordingly, and if you’d like to receive the 2021 Gear Guide, please email subscriptions@backcountrymagazine.com.
We publish our Gear Guide annually in late summer, and it covers the gear for that upcoming winter, which—while it’s somewhat confusing—is why a 2021 Gear Guide is published in September 2020. If you recently received the Journeys Issue (#139), your next issue will be the 2022 Gear Guide—and we’re hard at work on that one, testing gear all across the U.S. to create that issue’s reviews.