Buying Guides

Your ski jacket is your best friend on the slopes, keeping you warm and dry and ensuring you look the part! Here we help you get to grips with what to look out for.

Choosing alpine touring skis can be tricky. Here's everything you need to know before you buy

A backpack carries everything you need to stay alive in the backcountry. Choose yours wisely 

Proper dressing for backcountry riding is a little different to dressing for a day of alpine skiing or snowboarding. While a layering system of base layers, mid layers, and hard shell pants and jackets are good for downhill, you’ll soon find yourself sweaty and overheating as you start your ascent to the top.  

Your bindings are your connection to your skis, transferring your movements from muscle to slope. This is especially important for alpine touring, and specific AT ski bindings will allow you to lift your heels naturally while ascending uphill and then lock your boots down allowing you to use your regular alpine skiing technique downhill. Used in combination with climbing skins and alpine touring boots, AT bindings making travelling snowy ground fast and efficient.  

Have complete peace of mind when you buy ski boots at Snow and Rock. Not only is it cheaper and safer than hiring, our equipment is the latest in ski technology, letting you relax with the knowledge that boots and skis are always correctly fitted. Our trained technicians care about you and your family’s skiing experience.

Interchangeable lenses are becoming a common feature on more and more goggles. Light levels can change very quickly on the mountain and the effect that has on visibility can be dramatic.

The call of fresh untouched powder, pristine pillow lines, and majestic tree runs, is all the motivation you need to start exploring the backcountry but with the added risks and danger its important to have the right equipment, and know how to use it. This guide will take you through the backcountry basics, what it means, and what gear you need to get started. Our stores have a wide range of backcountry equipment, so if in doubt, visit us in store and get expert advice from our knowledgeable staff.

If you’re skiing or snowboarding this December, forget the stocking because it's all about what will fit into your boot bag, and we've got plenty of gift ideas to choose from whether you're looking for something for yourself or your loved ones.

Whether you are a seasoned backcountry skier, hiking to ski an untouched face or you are simply just starting to explore the backcountry in order to find a new adventure in mountains, one thing is for sure, your outerwear needs to stand up to the challenging conditions found in the backcountry. To help you be more prepared we've put together a little list of brands we think you should look at when choosing your next jacket or pants.

If you love nothing more than skiing groomed runs and working your way around the piste map, then the right pair of piste skis will help you to make the most of every turn. Here are 10 Great Piste skis that are gracing the slopes this season. 

While there is no perfect formula or perfect height, the right ski poles can improve your performance, giving you a more responsive and enjoyable ski. Bear in mind that sizing will be personal to you, too long or heavy for your skiing style and they’ll likely get in the way, too short and you’re more likely to position yourself too far forward, throwing you off balance.  

As we hear reports of snow falling in the Alps, we can’t help but get excited as we dream about the slopes, and our holiday, which feels like too far away (even if it is booked for December!)