A Pro's Take on Backcountry Gear Repair: What to Bring, What to Skip, and Why It Matters

By Jonathan Sheftz, NE Rando Race Series

Backcountry gear repair can feel like an intimidating topic, but according to HAGAN USA ambassador Jonathan Sheftz, it really comes down to one principle: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In the world of ski touring and ski mountaineering, that ounce could also be a few grams. Either way, regular gear checks will save you from frustration, lost days, and long walks back to the trailhead.

Below, Jonathan breaks down what preventive maintenance looks like at home, what to bring into the backcountry, and how to think about risk and consequences when packing your repair kit.

Preventive Maintenance: The Step Too Many Skip

Before you even think about what to carry, Jonathan stresses the importance of checking your gear regularly. Every few days of skiing — and definitely before any big trip — inspect the gear you rely on most.

Have you heard stories of bindings ripping straight out of skis?
Jonathan bets the screws were already loose.

That means using the right tools:

• A real No. 3 Pozidriv or a Torx 20 driver

• A few minutes of inspection time

• A habit of tightening fasteners before problems begin

A little preventive effort saves both safety and tour quality.

Home Repair Essentials

When maintaining gear at home, Jonathan keeps a collection of tools and materials that allow for solid, long-lasting repairs:

G-Flex Epoxy:
Far more flexible and durable than typical hardware-store epoxy. Excellent for boots, carbon fiber repairs, and anything that needs real holding power.

Duct Tape (Gorilla Tape preferred):
Always useful. Always needed.

Drivers for ski boots:
Different boots use different fasteners. Keeping the correct tools on hand prevents stripped screws and lost parts.

JB Weld:
Jonathan uses it less as an adhesive and more as a filler for voids or imperfections. Great to have in the toolbox.

What He Doesn’t Bring Into the Backcountry

Here’s where Jonathan adds a humorous dose of practicality.

He owns around 100 spare pole baskets.
Will he bring one into the backcountry?
Absolutely not.

If he loses a basket, the tour still goes on — maybe less gracefully, but it goes on. If a problem won’t stop the mission, it probably doesn’t belong in the pack.

This is where his “economist thinking cap” comes in. (Don’t worry, he promises no talk of tariffs or supply curves.) Instead, he uses a risk-reward, cost-benefit approach:
What is the chance something will go wrong, and what are the consequences if it does?

Low consequences = leave it behind.
High consequences = pack it.

What Jonathan ALWAYS Brings

Regardless of the tour, three items make the cut every time:

1. Ski Strap (Multiple):
A true multi-tool. Useful for gear repair, splinting, and emergency fixes.

2. Half a Plastic Scraper:
He snaped one in half to save space (respect the ounces). It lives in a Ziploc with a small contact lens container, one half filled with sunblock and the other with Dermatone.

3. Duct Tape:
Wrapped on a small roll, secured to a pack strap for easy access.

These three items weigh almost nothing and solve an enormous number of problems.

The Repair Kit Breakdown: What’s Worth Carrying?

Jonathan divides his kit into three tiers depending on the objective.

1. The Small Kit (Always Carried)

Total weight: About 10 ounces
Actual repair gear: 4 ounces

Contents include:

• A compact multi-tool with quality pliers

• Small zip ties

• A few bits and drivers

• Various cord

• Binding screws

• A razor blade

• A couple of specialty wrenches

The rest? First aid essentials.

This small kit lives in his pack year-round.

2. The Medium Kit (Sidecountry or Close-to-Trailhead Tours)

Total repair gear: Almost none

This kit is almost entirely first aid plus:

• A headlamp

• A balaclava
  

Jonathan’s reasoning:
If he’s close to civilization, the worst consequence is walking out. Carrying extra repair gear simply isn’t worth the weight.

3. The Big Kit (Farther, Riskier, or Ski Mountaineering Tours)

Total weight: 16.8 ounces
Actual repair gear: 2.5 ounces

Added items include:

• Larger zip ties

• Another multi-tool

• Aluminum boot crampons

• A lightweight emergency bivy

• Fire starter

• Real medical tape (an EMT favorite)

Even in this “big” kit, most of the weight is emergency gear, not tools.

Jonathan notes that in all his years skiing, he’s never had a field failure he couldn’t repair with what he brings. The key is smart prevention and smart packing — not hauling a toolbox.

Final Thoughts

Jonathan closes with a simple hope:
“You never have to use any of this for real.”

With regular gear checks, a thoughtful risk-based approach, and a few lightweight essentials, most backcountry skiers can handle the unexpected without overloading their pack.