-
Reviews published since 2009 — updated every season
-
Weekly Episode
Avalanche Conditions Report
Weekly snowpack summary covering Rogers Pass, the Selkirks and the Canadian Rockies. Published every Friday throughout the season.
Listen Now →
Weekly avalanche & safety updates throughout the season
-
Proprietary Content
BSC Guide Books & Maps
Researched and written by our team. Printed guides and georeferenced digital maps for Canada's best backcountry terrain.
Shop the Store →
Printed guides + georeferenced digital maps — all authored by BSC
-
-
Know Before You Go
Check Today's Forecast
Real-time avalanche danger ratings updated daily by Avalanche Canada. Always check before heading out.
View Forecast →
Avalanche awareness saves lives
-
Know Before You Go
Check Today's Forecast
Real-time avalanche danger ratings updated daily by Avalanche Canada. Always check before heading out.
View Forecast →
240+ videos — gear reviews, conditions reports & backcountry edits
MID LAYERS
Mid layers keep you warm and help cut the wind while ski touring. They're found above your base layer but below your soft shell or hard shell outer layer. The materials may vary but the tops and jackets from brands such as Sherpa Adventure Gear, First Ascent, Mont-Bell and Dynafit are all good choices for your next adventure. This list of reviews will be expanding so let us know what you want to see here by commenting in the Forums.
BEST MID LAYERS 2020
Date: Nov 8th 2019
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: The Best
Read the full review here.
MEC ICEFIELDS DOWN HOODED JACKET
Date: Mar 21, 2026
Reviewer: David
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: MEC
Read the full review here.
NORRONA LYNGEN SKI TOURING COLLECTION
Date: Dec 15th 2025
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10 & 8.5/10 & 8.5/10
Product Link: Norrona
Read the full review here.
LA SPORTIVA ZEAL JACKET, PHASE DOWN JACKET & AXIOM PANTS
Date: Oct 15th 2019
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: La Sportiva
Read the full review here.
STIO AZURA XT HOODED JACKET
Date: Feb 5th 2018
Reviewer: Pete
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Stio
Read the full review here.
EDDIE BAUER EVERTHERM DOWN HOODED JACKET
Date: Jan 5th 2018
Reviewer: Pete
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Eddie Bauer
Read the full review here.
MONTBELL U.L. THERMAWRAP PARKA
Date: Jan 26th 2017
Reviewer: Bradley
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Montbell
Read the full review here.
PATAGONIA CLASSIC RETRO X FLEECE JAKCET
Date: Dec 7th 2016
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Patagonia
Read the full review here.
OUTDOOR RESEARCH DEVIATOR HOODY
Date: Sept 12th 2016
Reviewer: Marian
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Outdoor Research
Read the full review here.
TERNUA SUNLIGHT JACKET
Date: April 12th 2016
Reviewer: Bradley
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Ternua
Read the full review here.
OUTDOOR RESEARCH UBERLAYER HOODED JACKET
Date: Mar 29th 2016
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Outdoor Research
Read the full review here.
VOORMI HIGH E HOODY
Date: Mar 16th 2016
Reviewer: Vince Hempsall
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Voormi
Read the full review here.
ICEBREAKER MERINOLOFT HELIX ZIP JACKET
Date: Jan 25th 2015
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Icebreaker
Read the full review here.
PATAGONIA NANO AIR
Date: Jan 2nd 2015
Reviewer: Marian
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Product Link: Patagonia
Read the full review here.
JOTTNAR ALFAR JACKET
Date: Dec 20th 2014
Reviewer: Emily
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Product Link: Jöttnar
Read the full review here.
BLACK DIAMOND ACCESS LT HOODY
Date: Dec 5th 2014
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Black Diamond
Read the full review here.
MARMOT ISOTHERM HOODY
Date: Sept 4th 2014
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Marmot
Read the full review here.
OUTDOOR RESEARCH SUPERLAYER JACKET
Date: April 5th 2014
Reviewer: Jordan
Overall Rating: 7/10
Product Link: Outdoor Research
Read the full review here.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT ECLIPSE HOODED ZIP T
Date: Feb 17th 2014
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Mountain Equipment
Read the full review here.
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR THERMOSTATIC JACKET
Date: Dec 19th 2013
Reviewer: Jordan
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Mountain Hardwear
Read the full review here.
RAB MECO 165 HOODIE, RAB AL PULL-ON AND RAB STRATA JACKET
Date: Dec 9th 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Rab
Read the full review here.
WESTCOMB TANGO HOODY
Date: Aug 28th 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Westcomb
Read the full review here.
WESTCOMB BOREAL FLEECE
Date: Aug 28th 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 10/10
Product Link: Westcomb
Read the full review here.
ARCTERYX ATOM LT HOODY
Date: Mar 30th 2013
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Arc'teryx
Read the full review and view the video here.
SHERPA ADVENTURE GEAR VARUN JACKET
Date: Jan 18th 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Sherpa Adventure Gear
Read the full review here.
WESTCOMB ORB SWEATER
Date: Dec 15th, 2012
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Westcomb
Read the full review here.
FIRST ASCENT HIGH SEASON WIND JACKET
Date: July 1st 2012 - UPDATED April 2013
Reviewer: Marian
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: First Ascent
Read the full UPDATED review here.
MONTBELL DYNAMO WIND PARKA
Date: Mar 19th 2012
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 7/10
Product Link: Montbell
Read the full review here.
DYNAFIT DTS BREATH JACKET
Date: May 5th 2011
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Dynafit
Read the full review and see the video here.
Back to the rest of the reviews.
Backcountry skiing is an inherently dangerous activity that requires experience and knowledge to travel safely. Any of the routes on this site may be dangerous depending on conditions. You are responsible for your own safety in the backcounty—the team behind backcountryskiingcanada.com disclaim any responsibility for any injury resulting from people travelling on routes described on this site. To read our Terms of Use and get all the details, read HERE.
