Are We Ready for Electric Skis in the Backcountry?

In a world where everything from bicycles to toothbrushes is getting electrified, it was only a matter of time before someone asked the inevitable: “Can we make skiing uphill even easier with electric skis?” Enter the E-Skimo, the latest innovation from Swiss startup E-Outdoor, designed to revolutionize ski mountaineering—or, as some purists might put it, “ruin the soul of the backcountry.”

Ski mountaineering, or “skimo,” is traditionally an art of suffering. It’s about strapping on skins, trudging uphill, and earning those sweet, gravity-fueled descents. But with the E-Skimo system, motorized treads on your skis now promise to turn that hard-earned summit slog into an effortless glide.

Drawing “inspiration” from the e-bike revolution, E-Outdoor’s system slaps a 20-Nm hub motor, 220-Wh battery, and a snowmobile-like rubber tread onto each ski. The combined weight of the setup is 6 pounds—light enough to carry, but heavy enough to make you question why you thought this was a good idea.

The pitch? Ascend mountains 80% faster with 30% less effort. Because what’s the point of climbing a peak if you’re not doing it 20 minutes ahead of your suffering friends?

Each ski is equipped with a motion-sensing 6-axis IMU and GPS module, so the E-Skimo knows exactly where you are, how steep the slope is, and how much energy you’re saving to brag about later. If you crash a sensor in the poles cuts the motor, sparing you from becoming a runaway snowmobile.

Battery life is rated at three hours, which is plenty if you’re ascending a local hill and not, say, the BC Rockies. Once you reach the summit, you’re expected to detach the motorized components and stash them in a backpack. According to the company, this process takes “less than a minute.” If you’ve ever tried to change skins on a windy ridgeline, you might find that hard to believe.

Skeptics are already rolling their eyes harder than a ski patroller at the base of a mogul run. “Earning your turns” is practically a religion in the backcountry, and the idea of using a motor to ascend slopes is akin to heresy. Not to mention the fact that many ski mountaineers pride themselves on lightweight gear. Sure, the E-Skimo skis perform better downhill, but at what cost? A few extra pounds in your backpack—and possibly your pride.

On the flip side, proponents argue that the E-Skimo could make skimo more accessible, allowing less-fit or older enthusiasts to keep up with their fitter, more masochistic counterparts. Is it innovation, or just another way to avoid hitting the gym? The debate is already heating up like a pre-charged lithium-ion battery.

E-Outdoor isn’t selling directly to consumers but plans to partner with established ski manufacturers. Soon, you might see your favorite brands offering electric assist skis alongside their standard models. Will this become the norm for backcountry travel, or will it remain a novelty for the gadget-obsessed?

As the E-Skimo’s official 2025 launch approaches, one thing is certain: the backcountry is about to get a little more plugged in. Whether that’s a good thing or a slippery slope remains to be seen.

For now, skiers can debate this around the cabin stove—assuming the batteries aren’t dead when it’s time to hike out.