TOP GEAR WITH...
Alberto De Giuli
From boots to rope and goggles to cameras, Italian mountain guide Alberto De Giuli shares his must-have gear…
Alberto De Giuli, or ‘Albi’ as his friends call him, was born in Padova, Northern Italy, and began visiting the Dolomites when he was a child. He scaled his first via ferrata at the age of 14, before embarking on a climbing course at 21, which is when the desire to become a mountain guide began to burn in him. In 2007 he moved to the Dolomites to pursue this, and he still resides here today.
Albi has been a qualified IFMGA guide for over 10 years and is a freelance mountain guide in Cortina d’Ampezzo, in partnership with Cortina360 guides school. “My job is my passion,” he says, admitting he loves skiing as much as climbing. So long as he is venturing off the beaten track. “In winter I’d rather go out with skins, away from tracks and people, and climb up something, focusing on a great descent, a steep couloir or a nice open bowl.”
MY MOUNTAIN MUST-HAVES
TECNICA ZERO G TOUR PRO BOOTS
I think boots are the most delicate part of a skier’s kit. You can't just follow the fashion or take recommendations from your friends – you need
to try on ski boots to see if they have the right fit for your feet. I have been skiing Tecnica boots for the past few years. Their Zero G Tour Pro model is great for all ski days, in bound and touring. They are light, stiff as a downhill boot, but also walk really well thanks to a great and smooth walking mode system. £650
SALOMON MTN EXPLORE 95 SKIS
I’ve been recommending these skis for years, and
I hope Salomon will keep producing them. They’re simply great for everything. They are light, but they can hold an edge even on the firmest of groomed pistes. Being 95mm underfoot, they can be a great one-ski quiver. The rockered tips are phenomenal and work great on the crust, and will always help you to float in deep snow. £540
EDELRID RAP LINE 60 METRES
Living, guiding and skiing in the Dolomites means I get to ski many steep couloirs where a rope can be useful to secure the drop in, or for setting up an abseil. This rope is very light, yet you can use it to climb easy pitches as a twin rope. I bring this rope in my backpack almost every day, just to be ready in case a situation arises. I pair it with a Edelrid Mago 8, which works great both for rappelling and belaying, and with a Black Diamond Couloir harness, which is super light and also handy during summer mountaineering outings. £199
MY LUST LIST
OAKLEY FALL LINE FACTORY GOGGLES
I’ve bought a bunch of ski goggles in my life, but most of the time they have stayed in my backpack, and as a result become very scratched. I generally use good sunglasses while skiing both on and off-piste; I just find them more comfortable. But, if I were to get a new pair of goggles this winter for down days, I’d go with the Oakley Fall Line Factory. Prizm lenses are the best! £145
BLACK DIAMOND GUIDE FINGER GLOVES
I’m not a fan of mittens when skiing in cold temperatures; I always look for gloves that give me the chance to easily handle a rope and carabiners, etc. My old Black Diamond Lobster gloves are worn out
after several years’ use, so it’s time to replace them with this year’s version, the Guide Finger Gloves. They are warm, robust, and I highly recommend them. £145
INSTA360 ONE R CAMERA
We live in the social media era. I love taking pictures with my phone and posting them on Instagram and Facebook. I’d like to have something to make cool video clips, that’s easy to play with and doesn’t require a lot of attention while posting it. I don’t wear a helmet, so I need something with a stick. I’ve skied a few times with friends using a Insta360 and loved it. I might have to put a request in to Santa this Christmas… £520