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📂 **Category**: Gear,Gear / Buying Guides,Buying Guide
✅ **What You’ll Learn**:
Honorable mentions
During the winter, the entire WIRED crew tests ski clothing almost constantly. Here are some other items we like.
Courtesy of REI
Hestra Fall Line Three-Fingered Gloves for $152: I’ve long admired Hestra gloves across the lifting line, and have been impressed by the Swedish company’s elegant stitching and thoughtful design touches. This was the year I was finally able to try a pair of shoes for myself, and the Fall Line was exactly what it sounded like. Six sizes are available so you can get the perfect fit in this glove. The cowhide is buttery soft and has already broken in a little with five days of use. The wrist strap means you’ll never have to worry about your glove falling off the elevator when checking your phone, and it’s very warm without making me sweat. If you sweat, the lining is removable so you can wash it without damaging the skin. —Martin Cizmar
Obermeyer Steibis Bibs for $281: These soft three-layer bibs work with or without a jacket, thanks to plenty of zippered pockets. You get two articulation options for the chest and two options on the thighs. Adjustable straps and multi-directional adjustable hems with zippers and snaps, two-way zippered drop seat that can shed heat when unzipped from the bottom, waterproof and breathable 30K/30K snow gaiters, reinforced inserts, reflective RICO, and a mesh panel on the lower back for split ventilation round out the premium features on these bibs. —Christine Canning
Courtesy of Crab Grab
Crab Grab Snuggler Gloves for $62: These little sleeping bags for your toes are filled with Primaloft insulation and benefit from a Sherpa fleece lining, they’re extremely warm, and with a 15K membrane, they’re impressively waterproof too. All-season gloves with durable construction for under $100? Yes please!
Courtesy of Mons Royal
Mons Royale Yotei Merino Classic Long Sleeve for $77: As I write this, I’m nowhere near the mountain, but I’m still wearing my Mons Royale Yotei long-sleeve shirt. It’s ridiculously comfortable, made from 190gsm 100% merino wool, and has a super snug fit, so I stay warm, but don’t feel like a sausage. However, on the mountain, the merino wool works its magic, wicking away sweat — especially while hiking for some fresh powder — and keeping me comfortable. With a Patagonia R1 thermal shell and hood, stay warm during the bitter arctic blast.
Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket, $249: Seniq is another women’s outdoors brand that launched in 2024. It is styled more closely to Gen Z, and leans toward fun color blocking over monochromatic looks. The Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket has a dry finish. It’s intended for drier days on the mountain, but the PFC-free DWR coating and YKK AquaGuard zippers provide water resistance. The asymmetric front zipper helps you avoid chin rubbing when the jacket is fully zipped. They also feature cool asymmetric stitching, side pockets in pockets that provide access to your bib (their bibs have a pocket on the front, so you can get in there without unzipping your jacket), a removable oversized hood, a forearm pass-through pocket, soft and stretchy wrist gaiters, and a large interior pocket that can totally handle a sandwich. This sweater was warm, pillowy, and cozy, like a super soft hug. —Christine Canning
Photo: Christine Canning
Marmot Gore-Tex Orion Jacket, $385: This set looks simple in the best way: it has the features you need, without any exaggeration. Ultra-lightweight, three-layer Gore-Tex material is packable and durable. The bibs have two zippered hinged pockets at the hip (one with a beacon strap), and one zippered chest pocket. Thigh zippers help you wick away heat, and adjustable suspenders help you go to the bathroom without getting naked, although they’re not as comfortable as a low seat. Reinforced insteps and snow gaiters protect your lower legs, where there is also a Rico reflector. The jacket has four pockets, a pass pocket, a snow skirt, zippers, a 3-way adjustable hood, a ricoh reflector, and adjustable Velcro wrist hems without gaiters, which helps reduce bulk. The color blocking is flattering, as the bottom half of the jacket matches the bibs, making your legs appear longer despite the fit of the drop hem. “Affordable” is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to ski gear, but compared to many sets, this is a great option for the curious in the backcountry. —Christine Canning
Sender Mammut wears a hoodie for $259: This puffer hoodie is a great mid layer under a shell jacket. The insulation is made from recycled rope scraps, and the exterior is coated with a windproof, PFC-free DWR coating. The hem falls at the hips, and the high collar and tight hood cover most of the face. I love wearing this piece under covers for skiing and snowboarding, but I know it will do double duty as a comfortable jacket for hiking and camping as well, so it’s a solid multi-purpose investment. It’s exceptionally lightweight and warm, although from a size standpoint, it’s on the larger side for a mid-layer and not the most packable piece. —Christine Canning
Photo: Christine Canning
Wild Rye Bassett Lite Base Layer Raglan Top for $49 and Leggings for $49: These Wild Rye poly/wool blend baselayers are soft, incredibly stretchy, and feather-light. They’re perfect for warm spring ski days, and the mid-calf cut means you can pair them with ski socks without much, if any, interference, helping you avoid overheating, bulk and pressure points in your boots. —Christine Canning
Helly Hansen Evolution Air Half Zip for $70: This mesh fleece jacket traps heat and wicks away moisture. With a zippered high collar and lockable hem, you can adjust the fit to make it tighter or more breathable. This mid layer felt wonderfully lightweight while still keeping you warm. It’s not bulky at all, just a little thicker than a base layer, and it tucked comfortably under my jackets, and moved with me on the mountain. —Christine Canning
Helly Hansen Liva Basic Long Sleeve Crew for $115 and Pants for $87: These base layers have reached the ideal weight; They are not too thick or thin, but they fit just right. They’re a little looser than the other options on this list, so if you prefer something looser, these are a great choice (but note that they’re also long). These combine Merino wool with Helly Hansen’s LIFA fibres, which add even more moisture wicking ability. They are soft, lightweight, warm and do not hold onto odors. I love the cute designs and how well they regulate my temperature under insulated jackets and pants. The waist digs in a little but doesn’t roll, stays in place and moves well. —Christine Canning
We’ve got a full guide on how to layer, but here are your basics.
Base layer: A good set of thermals is essential in fighting the cold, especially when you’re working hard. The best fabrics wick away sweat as you heat, which helps regulate your temperature. Merino wool is the best in the business, but it is also the most expensive. However, synthetic fabrics are improving, and please avoid cotton at all costs, as it gets wet and stays that way, leaving you cold and uncomfortable.
Middle class: Whether you choose a fleece hoodie or a puffy jacket, this layer does the bulk of the work in cold conditions. When combined with a base layer, it traps warm air, while also allowing moisture to wick away. Synthetic insulation like Primaloft Gold is great and doesn’t lose its properties if it gets wet. Down jackets provide the best warmth-to-weight ratio, but they’re not compact, and they should never get wet. A fleece insulated jacket is a great option if you’re really cold.
jacket: While insulated ski jackets provide extra warmth in Arctic-like conditions, a waterproof shell will be sufficient for most people, as it provides protection from snow and wind. A cold wind will chill you to the bones faster than a bit of wet snow. Ideally, choose a jacket with a waterproof membrane like Gore-Tex (make sure it’s free of PFAS, or eternal chemicals), but also check for taped seams for extra waterproofing, as well as plenty of pockets for snacks and lift passes, and wrist cuffs and ski skirts to help keep out snow.
Socks: As with a base layer, socks keep you warm and maintain your temperature when you sweat. Natural fabrics work well, but a blend of merino wool with stretchy synthetic fibers is the perfect solution, as they stay put better and can be used for more than a day. Avoid using cotton again, and never wear two pairs of shoes, as you are sure to have colder feet.
gloves: You’ll be surprised how wet your ski gloves get when it snows, even if it doesn’t fall a lot. As a result, waterproof options work best in most cases, although well-made leather designs can be almost as waterproof as a pair of Gore-Tex products. Gloves are generally warmer than gloves, but what you gain in warm fingers you’ll lose in dexterity. Check out our guide to the best ski gloves and gloves for more information.
Waterproofing and ventilation classifications: Waterproofing is measured by the hydrostatic head rating, or HH. This means that if you placed a 1-inch square tube that was infinitely long over the fabric, you could pour 20,000 milliliters of water before it leaked. Breathability is rated based on the number of grams of steam per square meter that can pass through the fabric in 24 hours.
I’ve been reviewing winter sports gear for over 15 years. In that time, I’ve worn countless jackets, pants, mid-layers, thermals, gloves, and gloves. I reached out to industry experts and professional skiers, and asked for input from fellow winter sports enthusiasts on the WIRED team. While a basic fit inspection can be done in the office, nothing replaces testing on the mountain in variable conditions. We made time on various trips to the French Alps, as well as resorts in Vermont, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon.
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