Get ready for another season at your favorite resort with our picks for the best gear to make your time on the snow a blast.
Skis
Rossignol Soul 7
Need a ski that can crush the crud? Want the ability to make the move from soft stuff in the trees to hardpack groomers without getting thrown off your game? Voila! The Carbon Alloy Matrix and a new Air Tip 2.0 construction here make this stick both playful and stable, ideal for typical Colorado resort days on the backside. $850 | rossignol.com
Sego UP PRO 92
Long and lean, this women’s ski from Jackson, Wyoming brand Sego is the ideal quiver-of-one for the Colorado resort season. With a rockered tip and 92 mm underfoot, it swings around fast on tricky bump runs but can still offer some levitation when it seeks the goods off-piste. Oh, and there’s a unicorn (spirit animal of pro skier Lindsey Dyer) on the top sheet. $724 | segoskis.com
Head Kore 93
This ski will please the speed freaks. Head’s new Kore series sheds weight without compromising performance. The topless design features a polyester fleece top layer instead of a traditional top sheet, and it’s Koroyd construction provides control, allowing the ski to absorb more vibration and charge at high speeds. $649 | shop-us.head.com
Black Crows Corvus
At 109 mm underfoot, this ripper from core Chamonix-based brand Black Crows is our editor’s day-to-day choice of ski for any condition. With tip rocker and camber, it thrives in the trees and out of bounds (not to mention on big dump days), but athletic, agressive skiers will find it rides quite comfortably on the groomers, too. $750 | black-crows.com
BOOTS
Vans Infuse
Here’s a snowboard boot that will do it all—from the park to big backcountry lines—thanks to a Boa closure system, heat-moldable custom liners, cushy footbeds and removable tongue stiffeners. $370 | vans.com
K2 Spine
Providing 120 flex and beefed up with an insert that makes it stiff enough to drive big skis, this boot keeps things under control in subpar conditions and absolutely helps you rail when you hit the good stuff. It also comes with the ability to add a boot-heating component. $750 | k2skis.com
HARDGOODS
BOARDS
Salomon Ultimate Ride
This quiver-of-one board designed by Salomon pro Bode Merrill, can handle anything, from deep forays out the gates to sunny days screaming down the blues and hitting the pipe. Credit that performance to a construction that combines just enough sidecut to hang in turns, and carbon to keep things light and sucks up the landings. $600 | salomon.com
Ride Machete
The latest iteration of Ride’s tried-and-true board proves why it remains in the brand’s line: It serves up just enough rocker to both keep it agile on the groomers and float up and fly in the untracked, making it the ideal board for those variable Colorado resort conditions. $500 | ridesnowboards.com
SHELL
Flylow Lab Coat
With a cut that doesn’t cramp your style when athletic skiing, this shell battens down against winter’s worst weather thanks to eVent DV Expedition fabric (which makes it waterproof while still allowing for air permeability) and full seam seals. $525 | flylowgear.comflylowgear.com
ECO SHELL
Columbia OutDry EX Eco Insulated
Columbia’s enviro friendly Eco line uses 100-percent fully recyclable materials and no water-wasting dyes (thus the white color). For winter, 60 grams of green insulation add warmth to this weather-shucking shell. $230 | columbia.com
STYLE
Picture Organic Kate
We love that Picture Organic is promoting planetary consciousness along with a sense of style at a price that doesn’t scare off regular people. Made with a combo of recycled and green polyester, the Kate performs like a champ thanks to a (green) waterproof/breathable membrane. $165 | picture-organic-clothing.com
GOGGLES
Shred Simplify
Thanks to a big window that gives you extended vision and a lens that makes colors pop, this goggle imparts improved sight up on the mountain. Plus, two percent of the sales here go to climate change nonprofit Protect Our Winters. $160 | shredoptics.com
HELMET
Bern Heist
Since it combines two different construction materials on top and bottom, this versatile lid provides all the protection you want on the hill at a surprisingly light weight of 530 grams (18.7 ounces). $140 | bernunlimited.com
GLOVE
Seirus Innovation
Heat Touch Hellfire Glove
With just the touch of a button, these gloves will keep your hands toasty on the most frigid days. The rechargeable lithium batteries ensure your digits stay warm for up to 12 hours. $425 | seirus.com
SOCKS
Falke SK5
Seeking a sock with the perfect fit for that über-tight custom bootfit? Made with silk (but still toasty) the German-built SK5 is your new best friend on the slopes. $60; falke.com
Vapium
Summit+
The weather-resistant Summit+ keeps your smoking clean and respectful. Plus, the heating elements can be controlled with a nifty smart phone app. $150 | vapium.com
