Backcountry Noob: Advice for buying gear

My girlfriend and I are planning to get some backcountry ski gear for dawn patrol and daytime exploring around local mountains.

We plan to register for avalanche awareness training and will have beacons for all trips.

I have been thinking that we would buy new boots for each of us and then browse Craigslist and other avenues to buy some used skis and bindings.

Questions:

Where to shop for boots? MEC?

What to look for in skis? We aren't looking for minimalist gear, so I was thinking around 100mm waist skis? She's 130lb, I'm 175lb.

Other advice?

Thanks!

my only advice is to try all the boots you can and spend some time walking around in them, make sure they are tight without any pressure points. Don't look at the price tag and buy the ones that feel the most comfy.

Spend the most money on boots. Buy crappy skis, but get good boots for sure. Boots that hurt your feet = miserable days no matter what. Comfy boots + cheap crappy skis = still have fun.

get boots with tech fittings.

you probably won't get tech bindings right away but you will want to eventually.

^^^what he sez, I am looking at new AT boots now because I need tech fittings not because the boots are worn out or not adequete ,good thread here

http://bb.nsmb.com/showthread.php?t=145093

you want digital beacons, 320cm probes, shovels

Find someone more experienced but a little gullible to ski with - then let them get "first tracks" all the time…

Check your ski buddies shovels and probes - if they aren't as good as yours offer to swap…

You should hit up the ROI warehouse sale on Thursday.

There will be some great deals on skis and Diamir touring bindings.

No boots.

I assume that you know that you need more than just a beacon. You also must have a shovel and probe. They will teach you that at the awareness course.

This:

Spend the most money on boots. Buy crappy skis, but get good boots for sure. Boots that hurt your feet = miserable days no matter what. Comfy boots + cheap crappy skis = still have fun.

And this:

my only advice is to try all the boots you can and spend some time walking around in them, make sure they are tight without any pressure points. Don't look at the price tag and buy the ones that feel the most comfy.

I went through three sets of boots between my last good pair and my current ones. Each one had problems. Expensive boots do seem to be better and you have to try a bunch of brands to get ones that fit. Been on my current boots for three seasons and no issues.

boots with tech fittings - expect to spend $500-900 after tax.
dynafit bindings
skis with some reverse camber in the shovel, +/- 100-110 underfoot

Cool. Thanks for the advice. Info here is more or less what I had been thinking but wanted some reassurance.

I put the ROI sale in my calendar at work as a site meeting! LOL

http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.asp

Kn.

You can rent backcountry stuff from MEC, which is a good way to test potential boots and gear as well as see whether you like the sport.
Even if you get your own boots, skis etc the avi gear is ridiculously cheap to rent…

Shirk: you got any skins or goggles in that warehouse sale?

You can rent backcountry stuff from MEC, which is a good way to test potential boots and gear as well as see whether you like the sport.
Even if you get your own boots, skis etc the avi gear is ridiculously cheap to rent…

Shirk: you got any skins or goggles in that warehouse sale?

No goggles.

We do have some Colltex skins. It's a wee bit hit and miss on widths. I have a roll of 120mm Mix 65%mohair 35%nylon that I will be selling by the foot with tips. You'll need to source tails for them separately (BD and G3 both sell tail kits)