This winter I tried to ski just about everything, sometimes for work, sometimes with my family, always for the love of being outside, but not focused on any particular zone or discipline, since I live on the Front Range now I take what I can get. But from numerous legit powder days at Monarch to wind-scoured ridge lines in the San Juans, deep days in Montana, the Freeskier Gear Lab in Vail, I had a pretty decent season. Over the last couple of years I’ve leaned into some new brands and some tried-and-tested favorites. Here’s a quick look at a few of my key recommendations for the well rounded skier. (lead photo by Stephen Martin)
Best Shell Kit: Black Diamond Recon Stretch Shell + Bibs
Black Diamond’s Recon Stretch Shell and Bibs became my go-to, period. From storm days and cold mornings to mid-winter backcountry outings, and family resort days, the design, pockets, hand-feel of the material, and fit won me over. The four-way stretch fabric moves with you in a flattering fit and the adjustable suspenders with side-zip bibs stay up perfectly (a rareity) and are quick and easy to drop. Despite repeated exposure to wet snow and high winds, “BD.dry” waterproof tech kept me dry and comfortable. Pocket placements are smart, including a very handy beacon pocket, and everything feels designed for folks who spend real time on the mountain.
Backcountry MVP: Ortovox 3L Deep Shell + Swisswool Fleece Midlayer
For many years now I’ve cherished my Ortovox baselayers, midlayers, and more recently full softshell 3-Layer outerwear kit. Once you touch this stuff and try it you understand the level of quality, materials, and design born from real world experience. The Ortovox Deep Shell is designed for “high-output touring,” but it works for “regular output” touring too. Ortovox mid-layers are especially versatile and awesome. Layered with their Swisswool fleece, I avoiding overheating as best as is possible with this mix of natural and synthetic materials. The merino lining adds comfort and odor resistance, which people appreciate on multi-day hut trips. Ergonomic fit and freedom of movement are trademark qualities for this high quality German brand, always one of my faves. (photo of the author by Alex Cernichiari)
Freeride Favorite: Outdoor Research x Mark Abma Kit
Built for deep days and lift laps, this kit from OR and Abma blends style and substance. AscentShell tech, as I assumed it would, kept me dry without cooking from the inside when the adrenaline kicks up or conditions change, and reinforced cuffs and scuff guards stood up to real use. Great articulation, clever venting, and a steezy look that works without trying too hard.
Most Packable Midlayer for Cold Days: Stellar Equipment Ultralight Down 3/4 Pants
This might be the most underrated piece I wore all season, or that I’ve ever owned. Stellar’s Ultralight Down 3/4 Pants with sustainable, traceable, recyclable and PFC-free water-repellent Allied down became a secret weapon on cold resort days, and hut mornings. They fit under your shell pants without bunching up, weigh next to nothing, and definitely add some heat. Featuring 1000-fill goose down, ripstop nylon, highly functional, genius. I’ll definitely be covering this brand more.
Best Gloves (Cold Days): Swany X-Pert Trigger Mitten
Warm, tough, and timeless, plus I had never had a claw-style hybrid glove (trigger mitten) like this, for some reason. I loved them! These high-end leather gloves with Tri-Plex insulation kept my hands toasty on many single-digit mornings this season. They broke in nicely and handled rope tows, ski edges, and daily abuse with zero complaints and numerous compliments on the lifts.
Best Gloves (Warm Days): Leki Spring Glove
I love Leki gloves, and they’ve always been underrated or at least lesser known by the general skiing populace. They are designed to work in conjunction with Leki poles, and clip in to eliminate pole straps, but even without the integrated pole, they’re a solid option for anyone. Slim, breathable, and just insulated enough, these are perfect for spring skiing and touring. Great grip and dexterity, quick drying, and a snug cuff that keeps out slush and wind.
Best Helmets: SCOTT Symbol 2 Plus D & Couloir Mountain
The Symbol 2 Plus D was one of my favorite helmets this year—good fit, obviously built for safety, well-constructed and well-vented. MIPS and D3O impact protection gave me the peace of mind you’d expect from a helmet of this caliber. For ski mountaineering, the Couloir Mountain was light, breathable, and dual-certified, one of the most stylish and protective in its field. Also worthy if you love the brand: the SCOTT Ultimate Pro Glove is a dependable workhorse with great fit, waterproof DRYOsphere membrane, articulated fingers, and plenty of insulation for those who run cold.
Most Versatile Ski: SCOTT SEA 108
SEA stands for “Ski Everything Anytime,” and with this design, there’s no argument. All-mountain skis like this in a 105 to 108 width have gotten so good in recent seasons, it’s almost a quiver killer, which is what most people are looking for. From blower pow to refrozen chop, bumps, and cruiser runs, it handled it all. Responsive, playful, with backbone to charge, a true daily driver. I mounted touring bindings on mine but also skied the wider 116 with alpine bindings.
Best Boots: Scarpa Maestrale RS + K2 Mindbender 120 BOA
The Scarpa Maestrale RS is a backcountry legend for a reason, and it’s been a favorite for years. Powerful enough to drive big skis, light enough to tour all day, walk mode is one of the best in class, and the Intuition liner molds to your foot right out of the box but can be re-heated and re-fit with an aftermarket insole to keep them performing their best. For the resort, the K2 Mindbender 120 BOA surprised me. Easy on and off, micro-adjustable fit, no pressure points, it’s touring compatible and performs like a heavier, stiffer boot.
Best Fleece Midlayer: Rab Nexus Hoody
This fleece ended up getting a lot of use once I figured out how to layer it. The Rab Nexus Hoody is made with Thermic stretch fleece, giving it that just-right balance of breathability, mobility, and warmth. It layers smoothly under a shell for storm days and also works as a standalone for early skins or spring laps. The hood fits cleanly under a helmet, and the whole piece dries fast and packs small. Simple, technical, and versatile—the kind of gear that disappears into your system until you realize you’ve worn it every day.
Best Socks: Paka Performance Alpaca Wool Ski Socks
Soft, warm, durable, and of course “naturally odor-resistant,” these Peruvian-made alpaca-blend socks from Paka functioned in an ideal and predictable way. A seamless toe box, they stay up nicely, and ethical sourcing of high-quality natural materials make them a solid upgrade.
Most Overlooked Upgrade: Remind Insoles
Supportive and shock-absorbing, these were the unsung heroes of my aging feet. Lightweight, low-profile, and designed by athletes, I experimented more this year with boot fits and inserts and such than I had any other season, and definitely recommend taking a look at their winter line up.
Best Backcountry Essentials: BCA Stash Pack + BCA Radios
For most people working on snow all season, communication and organization in the backcountry is foundational to success, and the following two items have served me well to that end. The BCA Stash 30 pack has been a favorite for a couple of seasons now, as it carries everything full-day missions in a highly organized and expertly designed way, without adding too much weight with extra features, which it does have. I’ve also got the 40-liter Stash for overnight trips. Easy-access avy tool pocket, functional helmet carry, and insulated hose sleeve, as well as BC Link integrated radio placement in the packs, in a sea of pack choices, this one really checks a lot of boxes for me. But looking at the website now, it looks like this new Stash Pro 40-UL might be calling my name for next year.
Best Travel Companion: Thule RoundTrip Ski & Boot Bag Combo
When you’re bouncing between airports of various sizes, shuttles, Ubers, your buddies’ vans, slushy roadsides, etc., I have learned over the years that it pays to have your shit dialed and contained in some nice ski and boot bags. Especially a good boot bag is a real game changer for daily use but also for travel. I’ve just never wanted to be the guy putting his ski boots in the overhead bin, although I understand the reasoning, there are better ways. For example, Thule’s RoundTrip combo can be checked for one luggage fee. They connect, but can also disconnect easily as the airlines seem to prefer them disconnected and checked as two bags but only charge for one bag, your ski bag, but you can re-connect them at baggage claim and roll your way on to the mission. The boot bag’s back panel folds down into a changing mat which is always nice, and the ski bag holds two pairs of skis with a dividing pad, poles in a nice pole sleeve, and has another innovative problem solving feature that I love: two little stuff sacks that fit over your ski tips, as people inevitably end up stuffing ski apparel in the ski bag anway, why not design around it and make it safer for your clothes and your skis.
If you want to learn more about the touring bindings I’ve been skiing on the last couple seasons, head over to my review on Gear Junkie.
—Definitely Wild is a column by EO Contributing Editor Aaron Bible. He has been writing for Elevation Outdoors and Blue Ridge Outdoors, among other outdoor publications, for more than two decades, covering cycling, skiing, gear, adventure travel and mountain life. The opinions expressed here are his own. Follow him on Instagram at @DefinitelyWild.
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