This winter, when the elements are rough, you need specialized gear and apparel to get outside and play. We have you covered.
Duer
Performance Flannel
Here’s a flannel you will never want to take off—and might not have to. Duer crafted the shirt, which layers well with a tee but looks great on its own, too, with graphene, a nano-fabric that adds warmth when it’s cold but cools down when it’s warm. That makes it ideal for the transition from cold-weather hikes straight to your favorite spot for cold-weather cheer. $119; shopduer.com
Rossignol
Arcade 84
Here’s the perfect skis for the hard pack of the East, as well as trips out to softer snow in the West. At 84mm underfoot, they provide a lot of stability and confidence on the groomers but they have a lot more pop and agility to them than the usual frontside planks. Plus, rocker in the tip and tail means they will float in soft snow (and even suck up the bumps). Credit the ski’s responsive performance to a short turn radius and extended side cut that make it a blast no matter the snow surface. $850; rossignol.com
Rossignol
Vizion 4B Pro 80 GW boot
Hate having to contort your foot to even get it into your boot? Meet your savior. This is a high-performance boot that’s a breeze to slip into thanks to a lock system in the back that lets you slip into it with no pain—but then lock down for solid skiing. Want more? Insulation keeps your tootsies toasty and a GripWalk sole makes it easy to saunter around the base area.
$550; rossignol.com
Arms of Andes
Women’s Alpaca Long Sleeve Shirt
Soft to the touch and super warm, the Alpaca wool in this baselayer is crafted in Peru and has all the high-performance attributes outdoors folks have learned to love in merino—wicking, temperature regulation, breathablity—but with less itchiness. Plus, the brand is a sustainability winner sourcing from eco-friendly, family-run alpaca farms.
$85; armsofandes.com
GnarA
Go Free Leggings
Previously known as SheFly, Gnara leggings feature a women-specific (and appreciated) zipper in the crotch. Beyond that welcome addition, these leggings work well on their own for chilly runs or as a layer under other winter pants. Bonus: Inclusive sizing here runs from XS to 3XL.
$128; gnara.com
Oboz
Bangtail Mid
Waterproof and jacked up with recycled polyester insulation, this winter hiker can handle all the slop and cold of the season. The Vibram Arctic sole is designed to deal with snow and ice and the boot fits perfectly with a snowshoe or microspike. $230; obozfootwear.com
Blundstone
#2241 Women’s All Terrain Thermal Chelsea Boots
How do you make Blundstones—already our favorite shoe for everything from travel to get togethers to quick hikes—even better? Winterize them. With waterproof leather and a touch of Thinsulate insulation, these do-it all shoes can handle the worst elements.
$265; blundstone.com
The North Face
Sierra Etip Gloves
There’s no more valuable piece of winter gear than a thin glove. Good for everything from walking the dog to ski touring to committed hikes, these fleece gloves keep you warm—and you don’t have to take them off to operate your phone thanks to Etip technology on the fingers.
$40; thenorthface.com
Cotopaxi
Fuego Down Hooded Jacket
Everything is en fuego these days and this puffer is no exception. The responsibly sourced 800-fill down can ward off the worst chill. Plus, if you really want to get into the sustainability aspect, you can actually trace the supply chain of the down used in the jacket. Hot.
$295; cotopaxi.com
Fjällräven
Abisko Winter Stretch Trousers
The perfect winter pant gets the job done for everything from skiing to hiking. These pants have just enough stretch to keep from crimping your style and enough protection on the outside to ward off the elements—without the use of PFAS. We wear them to work, too.
$210; fjallraven.com
Lacrosse
Ursa LS
Here’s a boot that can stomp bad weather and sloppy terrain. With a lug patter that wears up snow and mud, these are the four-wheelers of winter boots—the perfect choice for when it gets slushy and messy out there. If that’s not enough, they also come in an insulated version ideal for snowshoeing. $400 ($420 insulated); lacrossefootwear.com
Kahtoola
MicroSpikes
The classic microspike still provides the best traction for hiking on packed snow and slippy stuff. Just attach it to your favorite winter hiker and head out on adventures no matter the conditions. $80; kahtoola.com
Mountain Equipment Coop
Oreus Jacket
Here’s an insulator that you can break out when the mercury really drops. Made with Aetherm Precision Insulation, it feels and lofts out like a down jacket but will stay warm when wet and doesn’t come with the maintenance issues of down. It’s the perfect layer to throw on at an ice climbing belay or on a cold campout.
$450; us.mountain-equipment.com
Nestout
Power Bank 5000mAh
Power is even more essential when you are out there in the winter months. You need to keep your phone and other necessary electronics juiced. That’s easy with this small, waterproof portable power source that weighs in at just 4.9 ounces and will power up your phone or tablet.
$40; nestout.com
Seirus Innovation
Heatwave Long Sleeve Crew Top and Bottom
This baselayer system for athletes and those who just hate the cold gives you plenty of stretch to perform and provides lots of warmth via a heat-reflective material that requires less fabric to get the job done. Don’t worry, it also wicks amazingly well and comes with antimicrobial treatment in the right spots. $100 top, $90 bottom; seirus.com
Columbia
PowBound Gloves
Meet your new favorite ski/snowboard glove. At a reasonable price, these babies keep your digits from freezing while still allowing for plenty of movement and wick away the wet.
$75; columbia.com
