Do I need special skis or poles to use this as a gurney?

No, the tarp is designed to work with standard backcountry skis. You insert your own skis through the dedicated slots to create the rigid framework for transport. No special equipment is required beyond what you're already carrying.

Can this tarp be used in non-emergency situations?

Yes, when not needed for rescue it works as ground cover under a tent, as a windbreak, or as an emergency shelter that can be pitched with trekking poles or ski poles. The durable fabric makes it suitable for multiple uses in snowy conditions.

How do you actually move someone with this?

You lay the tarp flat, position the injured person on top, insert skis through the slots to create structure, then lift or drag using the reinforced webbing handles along the sides and haul loops at the corners. The design distributes weight and keeps the load stable during transport.

Is the fabric durable enough to drag over rough terrain?

The tarp is made from ALUULA Durlyte, the same material used for ski bases. It's designed to resist tearing on ice and exposed rock while remaining slick enough to slide smoothly over snow, making it well-suited for dragging across backcountry terrain.

Ski Rescue Tarp

The 3-second version

Converts to gurney with ski slots for rigid framework and stable transport
ALUULA Durlyte fabric slides on snow and resists tearing on ice
Reinforced webbing handles and haul loops for dragging or carrying
Requires skis to create rigid framework
Added weight for touring pack
Only useful in snow conditions

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Backcountry evacuation system built to get an injured skier out safely

Most backcountry skiers carry a first aid kit but no way to move someone who can't walk. A dedicated rescue sled is too bulky for day tours, and improvising with rope and jackets is slow and unstable. This tarp was built specifically for the problem: it packs small enough to carry on every trip, but the ski slots and reinforced haul points give you a real transport system the moment you need it. The ALUULA Durlyte fabric is the detail that matters—it's tough enough to drag over rough snow without shredding and slick enough to move with less effort than nylon or polyester. If you tour regularly in areas where rescue takes hours, this is the piece of safety gear that doesn't compromise on space or function.

Good gift when

Backcountry skiers touring in remote areas
Ski guides responsible for group safety
Winter mountaineers who need compact emergency transport
Anyone skiing beyond quick rescue range

Skip it if You only ski within resort boundaries or close to roads where professional rescue is readily available, and you don't need the added weight of evacuation equipment in your pack.

Specs

Material: ALUULA Durlyte fabric
Transport features: Reinforced webbing handles, haul loops, ski slots
Secondary use: Ground cover, emergency shelter

What's included

Ski rescue tarp with reinforced haul loops and webbing handles

If you're giving it

No sizing to guess

Safety gear for serious backcountry use; practical rather than celebratory.

The details

When someone gets hurt miles from the trailhead in winter, you need more than a first aid kit. This tarp was designed with American Mountain Guide Association members to solve the problem of moving an injured person across snow when help is hours away.

The fabric is ALUULA Durlyte, the same material used for ski bases, so it slides smoothly over snow and resists tearing on ice or exposed rock. Reinforced webbing handles run along both sides for carrying, and dedicated slots accept skis to create a rigid framework that distributes weight and prevents sagging. Haul loops at each corner let you attach rope for dragging or anchoring.

In use, you lay the tarp flat, position the injured person on top, insert skis through the slots to create structure, and lift or drag using the handles and loops. The system turns a formless tarp into a stable transport platform without requiring a dedicated rescue sled.

When not needed for evacuation, the tarp works as ground cover under a tent, as a windbreak, or as an emergency shelter that can be quickly pitched with trekking poles or ski poles. The compact pack size means it fits in a touring pack without the bulk of a traditional rescue sled, and the reusable construction means it's ready for multiple seasons of backcountry use.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Ski Rescue Tarp

Compact tarp that converts to a transport gurney with ski slots and reinforced haul points

$350at hyperlitemountaingear.com

Quantity

Buy from Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Ships and sold by Hyperlite Mountain Gear. About this merchant

The 3-second version

Converts to gurney with ski slots for rigid framework and stable transport
ALUULA Durlyte fabric slides on snow and resists tearing on ice
Reinforced webbing handles and haul loops for dragging or carrying
Requires skis to create rigid framework
Added weight for touring pack
Only useful in snow conditions

Cheaper alternatives

Scalar™ Multi-Configuration Camp Tarp$124.95

Questions

Do I need special skis or poles to use this as a gurney?: No, the tarp is designed to work with standard backcountry skis. You insert your own skis through the dedicated slots to create the rigid framework for transport. No special equipment is required beyond what you're already carrying.
Can this tarp be used in non-emergency situations?: Yes, when not needed for rescue it works as ground cover under a tent, as a windbreak, or as an emergency shelter that can be pitched with trekking poles or ski poles. The durable fabric makes it suitable for multiple uses in snowy conditions.
How do you actually move someone with this?: You lay the tarp flat, position the injured person on top, insert skis through the slots to create structure, then lift or drag using the reinforced webbing handles along the sides and haul loops at the corners. The design distributes weight and keeps the load stable during transport.
Is the fabric durable enough to drag over rough terrain?: The tarp is made from ALUULA Durlyte, the same material used for ski bases. It's designed to resist tearing on ice and exposed rock while remaining slick enough to slide smoothly over snow, making it well-suited for dragging across backcountry terrain.