Course Equipment List

Update June 2025

The items below are REQUIRED for all AIARE courses unless marked as optional or recommended.

Classroom

  • Laptop or Tablet: You will use this for accessing conditions, reviewing forecast information, mapping, and submitting observations (bring to class each day).
  • Personal notebook for course notes. You will receive an AIARE PRO Fieldbook or Backcountry Decision Making Guide (Blue Book) for instructional and record-keeping purposes.
    • Wooden pencils or fine-tipped waterproof markers (such as Sharpie pens) work best on AIARE Blue Books.
    • Mechanical pencils work best for the weatherproof paper in our PRO Fieldbook.

 

Clothing, Personal Gear, & Backpack

Please bring comfortable clothing for classroom sessions.

Outdoor clothing considerations should be made for both moving and standing still for long periods of time in cold/snowy weather. For outdoor sessions, please have at least the following:

  • Outer and base layers suitable for stormy winter conditions
  • At least two pairs of gloves or mittens
  • Sufficient insulating layers for the time of year and location
  • Warm hat and sun hat
  • Goggles, sunglasses, & sunscreen
  • Water bottle and/or insulated beverage container & food
  • An appropriate backpack (or vest and tunnel bag combination for motorized students) for carrying the required clothing and gear. At least 30L total capacity is recommended.

 

Protective equipment

  • Helmet
    • A DOT-certified helmet is highly recommended for individuals on snowmachines.
    • A snow helmet is RECOMMENDED, particularly for individuals wearing an avalanche airbag in deployable mode. 

 

Avalanche Rescue Equipment

  • 3-antenna digital transceiver that is less than 10 years old with updated firmware, fresh batteries, and that has been registered with the manufacturer.
    • Transceivers between 5 and 10 years old should be sent to the manufacturer and/or retailer to be function-checked prior to the course.
    • Ensure your transceiver is appropriately tethered to a harness or belt.
    • For all IT & CLT Courses: Bring your manufacturer-supplied transceiver harness to the course for instructional demonstration purposes.
  • UIAA-certified avalanche probe 260 cm or longer with high visibility 1 cm markings
  • UIAA-certified avalanche rescue shovel

 

Navigation & Communication Equipment

  • Navigation kit (compass and altimeter or smartphone)
  • Digital maps will be provided; please bring any maps, terrain photos, and guidebooks for the local course area if you have them. 
  • Headlamp & spare batteries
  • Digital camera (optional) or phone
  • Small binoculars or monocular for distance viewing (optional)
  • FRS/GMRS frequency radio (optional for ski/splitboard courses, REQUIRED for snowmobile courses).

 

Observer’s Kit

  • Metal snow saw (Smaller teeth and a stiff blade ensure quality isolation of snowpack tests)
  • 3m long knotted cord (2-4mm thick) or 70-100 cm folding “long saw" for setting up large column tests
  • Snow thermometer (graduated in degrees Celsius; NOT Fahrenheit):
    •  Dial stem and/or glass/alcohol types are commonly used. Electronic thermometers are acceptable, and please plan to bring a spare battery
  • Crystal identification screen; translucent is best for viewing grain structure.
  • Magnifier Loupe (10x-15x), wide-angle view with enclosure for snow grain id.
  • Folding ruler (graduated in centimeters; either bring a 2m ruler or probe with cm graduations)
  • Inclinometer (may be integrated with a compass)
  • Pocket knife

Note: Some older pre-packaged snow observation kits may have thermometers in °F, rulers in inches, white crystal cards that make it difficult to see clear snow grains and magnifiers that are narrow, underpowered and difficult to see multiple grains or to identify grain size and type. Please take the extra effort to purchase quality magnifiers (also available in photo shops or linen shops), dark crystal cards/translucent and metric rulers. Check out Snowmetrics.com for excellent options.

 

Incident Response Equipment

  • Personal first aid kit (blisters, meds, wound care, gloves/face shield, splinting material, sugar etc.)
  • Repair kit, specific to your mode of travel (consider multi-tool, bit driver, hose clamps, straps, spare screws, tape, zip ties, spare basket, pole repair, spark plugs, drive belt etc)
  • Insulating pad (can be part of pack)
  • Firestarter kit (lighter & tinder)
  • Portable rescue sled w/ supporting slings/straps (optional; one per group is sufficient)
  • Emergency shelter as appropriate (optional: examples include a space blanket, guide’s tarp, bivouac sac / Bothy bag etc.)

 

Travel Equipment

Ski/Splitboard

    • Skis or Splitboard with touring bindings. 
    • Skins 
    • Ski Crampons (optional based on Trainer staff recommendation by venue)
    • Boots
    • Poles
    • Small repair kit

 

Snowmobile/Snowbike

    • A DOT-certified helmet is highly recommended for individuals on snowmachines.
    • Snowmachines must have and display current registration, following all applicable state laws in the state where your course is scheduled.
    • Snowmachines must be maintained in a safe and reliable operating condition. Your field repair kit should include an extra belt, spark plugs, general and specific tools for your machine, and a tow rope.
    • Radios with a speaker/mic, operating on FRS/GMRS frequencies .
    • Extra layers for emergency overnight survival.

 

A Note About Interference

The following equipment can affect your transceiver function. As a professional, you should understand and know the appropriate mitigation procedures if you carry any of the following:

  • Electrically heated gloves or other garments
  • Clothing with magnets (e.g. magnetized zipper flap closures)
  • Chest-mounted electronic devices
  • Wristwatches with radio transmission or Bluetooth functions (e.g. Fitbits, Apple Watches)
  • Medical devices such as heart rate monitors and insulin pumps
  • Snowmachines
  • Radios