The 2017-18 Winter Season Gear Guide
Image: Courtesy: Kari Traa
1. The signature colorful prints of Kari Traa’s Rose hoody and pants transform the Norwegian brand’s soft and stretchy, Merino wool base layers way beyond humble long johns. $100–$120, Ute Mountaineer, karitraa.com
Image: Courtesy: Arc'teryx
2. Arc’teryx didn’t miss a detail in its women’s backcountry Shaska bib, including a beacon pocket, easy-access side zip, breathable fabric up top, and cuffs that integrate your boots’ power straps. $499, Ute Mountaineer, arcteryx.com
Image: Courtesy: Patagonia
3. Staggered baffles and down-like but non-clumping synthetic insulation—in development for years—give Patagonia’s Micro Puff hoody an unparalleled warmth-to-weight ratio and packability. $299, Patagonia Snowmass, patagonia.com
Image: Courtesy: Tecnica
4. Tecnica’s women’s Mach 1 Pro LV boot includes an easily customizable shell, moldable upper cuff, and body heat–reflecting wool liner, all to address women’s feedback on comfort and fit. $840, Aspen Sports, tecnicausa.com
Image: Courtesy: Völkl
5. The backcountry VTA 108 ski (141/108/124) from Völkl—with a multilayer wood core, snow-deflecting top sheet, and carbon stabilizer at the rockered tip—offers solid performance both uphill and down. $825, Performance Ski, voelkl.com
Image: Courtesy: Wagner Custom Skis
6. Demo the Colorado Daily Driver ski, exclusive to Gorsuch, then work with Wagner Custom to order your own pair. Stable yet forgiving, with a 90mm waist, they handle all terrain with aplomb. $1,500, Gorsuch, wagnerskis.com
Image: Courtesy: Blizzard
7. Part of Blizzard’s new Freeride collection, the women’s Sheeva 10 ski (131.5/102/121.5) uses a multilayer wood core reinforced with two layers of carbon fiberglass for lively performance in powder. $720, Sunlight Ski and Bike, blizzard-ski.com
8. Swedish retailer Odd Molly’s first-ever skiwear line pops with bright colors for standout style, including the insulated Fireplace mittens made out of stretchy recycled polyester with faux-fur trim. $89, Odd Molly, oddmolly.com
Image: Courtesy: POC
9. Always innovating, POC strategically placed pads inside its Skull Orbic X Spin so that the helmet better accommodates your head during a fall, reducing forces conveyed to the brain. $250, Performance Ski, pocsports.com
Image: Courtesy: Flylow
10. The first ski brand to use Event’s new DV expedition fabric, Flylow now makes the men’s Lab Coat from this waterproof yet highly breathable material—perfect for the sweaty hike up Highland Bowl. $525, Basalt Bike and Ski, flylowgear.com
Image: Courtesy: Ortovox
11. The Ortovox Ascent 30 Avabag’s release mechanism allows you to practice yanking it without the cartridge in place, so in an avalanche, you’d be prepared. $720 bag/$190 cartridge, Ute Mountaineer, ortovox.com
Image: Courtesy: Helly Hansen
12. Helly Hansen brings back the one-piece, with waterproof/breathable fabric, a cell phone battery–preserving pocket, and relaxed fit in the men’s Ullr Powder Suit. $850, Four Mountain Sports, hellyhansen.com
Image: Courtesy: Burton
13. Hiking boot-inspired styling, a grippy Vibram outsole, and heat-reflective material inside distinguish the men’s Burton x Danner snowboard boot—good-looking enough to wear to the bar. $420, To order at Radio Boardshop, burton.com
Image: Courtesy: Nordica
14. Nordica equipped the Strider Pro 130 DYN boot with its new hike/ski mechanism— which allows 46 degrees range of motion—for versatility both in and out of bounds; the boot is tech-binding compatible. $849, Bootech, nordicausa.com
Image: Courtesy: Scarpa
15. A front buckle and Z-pulley-like cable system give the support of two buckles while shaving weight off Scarpa’s redesigned Maestrale RS boot and equalizing pressure across the forefoot. $795, Ute Mountaineer, scarpa.com
Image: Courtesy: Weston Snowboards
16. One of the few women-specific splitboards, the Riva from Colorado-based Weston Snowboards has a directional design and rockered tip and tail for great float in backcountry pow. $899, westonsnowboards.com
