What to take on VBCF tours


The following gear is mandatory:

  • Skiiers: Skis with touring bindings and skins for climbing slopes

    • Exception for 2023 due to low snow at Hotham: Tele Skis + Skins (Must have skins. Pattern alone is not sufficient)

  • Snowboarders: Splitboard setup and skins for climbing slopes

    • Exception for 2023 due to low snow at Hotham: Snowboard + Snowshoes

  • Helmet with adjustable ventilation. Check your goggles fit it.

  • Poles 3 piece

  • Avalanche kit – avalanche transceiver, snow shovel and avalanche probe

  • Batteries in transceiver above 50% power

  • Backpack – 20-30 litres is a good size for day trips. A tool compartment for probe and shovel, goggle pocket and ski attachments are very handy.

  • Clothing – outer waterproof shell layer (jacket and pants) and multiple inner layers to regulate warmth. No cotton.

  • Gloves – warm pair for cold conditions and lighter pair for warmer conditions

  • Googles – magnetic interchangeable lenses are very handy

  • Sunscreen and lip balm

  • Water bottle or bladder – drink tubes should be insulated to prevent freezing

  • Food – lunch and high energy snacks

  • Mobile phone – keep the battery charged

The following gear is highly recommended but not mandatory in gear check at safety briefing:

  • Ski or splitboard crampons are very handy to have

  • Poles with self arrest grip(s) if steep slopes will be skied

  • Headlamp – suitable for skiing at night

  • Ski straps – good for securing skis on packs, can be used for emergency repairs

  • Sunglasses – snow rated ideally

  • Whistle – pea-less and loud

  • Navigation equipment – map, compass, GPS

  • First aid kit – lightweight

  • A small powerbank is good to have too if you can carry the extra weight

Gear hire

Tirol Sports at Hotham have the following limited BC gear for hire as well as a range of backcountry equipment for sale:

  • Avi backpacks x 4

  • Splitboards x 4

  • Touring Skis x 4

https://www.tirolsports.com.au/

Bumps Elsternwick offers backcountry gear rental.

  • Touring skis from DPS, Blizzard, K2, Dynafit and Salomon. They are all mounted with a mixture of Market Kingpins, Barons and Tours, Dynafit Radical 2 and G3.

  • We offer a complete Avalanche pack with includes BCA Tracker 3, shovel and probe.

https://bumps.com.au/

Out of Bounds rents out avalanche safety gear.

  • We can do Backpack 50L, 35L and 25L with all Mammut Avi gear.

  • Discount code for VBCF folks - code in festival registration confirmation email

  • $72/day for ALL the kit with an 50L or 35L after discount code applied

  • $60/day for ALL the kit with an 25L after discount code applied

  • Pickup from Melbourne warehouse in Dingley Village on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday before the festival weekend. Return anytime the following week.

  • Ring 03 9068 8205 for more details

  • PENDING STAY TUNED - Mammut may have a rep coming to festival so packs might be able to be picked up from Hotham.

https://www.outofbounds.com.au/collections/avalanche-safety