PlanetSKI Gear Review #2 Winter 2025/26

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted November 26, 2025

POC MERINO MOCK NECK BASE LAYER JERSEY £110

A good quality base layer is essential for warmth and comfort when skiing – and most other winter sports, come to think of it – and this merino item from POC ticks all the boxes, albeit not cheaply.

Being merino, it provides effective thermal regulation and wicks moisture away from your skin, keeping you feeling dry and comfortable – plus it’s also nice and soft against bare skin.

The jersey is cut to provide all-day comfort.

It features as few seams as possible.

All seam placements have been designed to ensure maximum comfort against your body and allow the jersey to move naturally with you through a full range of motion.

The mock neck design offers additional warmth and comfort thanks to the higher collar line, which is light and flexible enough to provide warmth without bulk or tightness.

VERDICT: A lovely, premium base layer which works well for everything from skiing to cycling and hiking.

POC Merino Mock Neck Base Layer Jersey £110 – image © poc.com

HELLY HANSEN INFINITY STRETCH JACKET £700

Yep, seven-hundred-quid is a lot to pay for a ski jacket, but you do get all the whistles and bells in return for your money with Helly’s Infinity Stetch jacket.

The first thing to note is that it’s not a shell, and as such it comes with insulation in the form of PrimaLoft Gold Cross Core along with the company’s H2FLOW temperature regulation system.

This design keeps you warm by storing hot air, it also allows you to cool down by using the ventilation zippers under the arms, plus there’s back yoke venting system too – which means the Infinity Stretch is bulkier and heavier than a shell and, as Helly say themselves, it’s better suited to resort skiing.

From the fully-adjustable, helmet-compatible and detachable hood down there are stacks of features which will ensure warmth and comfort in pretty much any conditions on the mountain.

The two-way stretch, two-layer fabric is wind- and waterproof, and within it there’s a Recco reflector for added safety on the hill.

You get several pockets:

two zippered chest pockets (one of which is insulated to preserve phone or transceiver battery life and also has a phone holder, the other with a goggle wipe)
two zippered hand pockets
a zippered internal security pocket
two internal mesh stash pockets
lift pass pocket on the left sleeve
and – nice touch a zippered stash pocket for the jacket’s powder skirt; after all, you don’t always need a powder skirt and it’s nice to be able to stash it out of the way when it’s not in use.

On top of all this, there are wrist gaiters inside the Velcro-adjustable cuffs plus a fully adjustable hem, and the understated colourways of the Infinity Stretch are cool enough for you to be able to wear the jacket in town as well as in the mountains.

VERDICT: A jacket that’s stacked with pretty much every feature you could want or need, but at a price.

Helly Hansen Infinity Stretch Jacket £700 – image © HellyHansen.com

Helly Hansen Infinity Stretch Jacket £700 – image © HellyHansen.com

Helly Hansen Infinity Stretch Jacket £700 – image © HellyHansen.com

OSPREY GLADE 20 DAYPACK £100

The Glade 20 is a really versatile little daypack (20-litre capacity) that, whilst designed with skiers in mind, also works well for hiking, snowshoeing and most other outdoor adventures you care to mention.

The ski-specific aspect of the pack is apparent from the easy-access avy safety equipment compartment as well as the option to carry skis either diagonally or in an A-frame (plus the facility to carry a snowboard or snowshoes) along with loops for helmet carrying, the latter being useful when schlepping uphill on ski touring days.

There’s also an insulated harness sleeve to prevent your reservoir hose and bite valve from freezing in cold temperatures, and, of course, an internal reservoir sleeve.

I liked the fact that there’s plenty of room to carry bits and pieces like goggles, skins, spare gloves, sunglasses etc. in both a large, soft-lined, easy-access external zippered pocket and an internal zippered stash pocket with key clip.

In use the Glade 20 has a comfortable harness although the hip belt is pretty minimalist and has no padding, and it’s really well-designed for quick and easy access to all your gear whilst on the go.

VERDICT: A great little pack for less demanding winter days out whether you’re skiing, snowshoeing or hiking.

Osprey Glade 20 daypack – Image © Osprey.com

SMITH SQUAD XL WITH CHROMAPOP PRO PHOTOCHROMIC GOLD MIRROR LENS £160

The Squad XL is Smith’s largest cylindrical lens goggle, and the oversized semi-rimless frame is matched with a new, larger silicone-backed strap to ensure everything stays in place.

Despite the oversize frame size, peripheral vision remains excellent (unlike some oversized frames).

Best of all, the goggles’ Chromapop Pro Photochromic UV-sensitive lens adapts automatically to changing light conditions.

It offers S1 – S3 filter protection (16 – 55 per cent visible light transfer) in just one lens – in effect you’re covered for everything from bright sunshine to low-light and snowy days without the hassle of having to change lenses or goggles.

Smith’s ChromaPop technology also increases definition and enhances clarity, and the mirrored coating reduces glare, whilst the cylindrical carbonic-x lens is distortion-free and impact-resistant, and a Fog-X anti-fog inner lens manages moisture for reduced fogging.

The fit is extremely comfortable as the goggles’ frame design allows it to adjust and flex to the contours of your face.

The three-layer DriWix moisture-wicking face foam provides a snug, dry fit – it may be a personal thing but I’ve always found Smith goggles to be some of the most comfortable around, and the Squad XL is no exception.

VERDICT: Incredibly comfortable goggles with a great photochromic lens that will cope with pretty much any light conditions.

Smith Squad XL with Chromapop Pro Photochromic Gold Mirror lens £160 available from Ellis-Brigham.com – image © SmithOptics

SALOMON HIGHLAND JACKET £270

The Highland is a versatile insulated ski jacket that, thanks to its understated looks, could quite easily work for all-round winter use as well as on the slopes.

It features Salomon’s AdvancedSkin waterproof, windproof and breathable stretch outer fabric and comes with snug Primaloft insulation, which retains its insulating properties even when wet, along with the essential features you need in a well-designed ski jacket.

These include a fully-lined hood, soft microfleece lined collar, two handwarmer pockets, chest pocket, lift pass pocket and internal security pocket, all with zips, plus a large stash pocket. You also get fully-adjustable cuffs (with wrist gaiters) and hem to keep the weather out ,and pit zips to let the heat out.

VERDICT: A reasonably-priced, well-designed ski jacket that also works fine off the slopes.

JÖTTNAR ASGARD £649

If you’re serious about playing in the mountains the Asgard is well worth checking out.

Build quality is second to none, as is the design.

It’s essentially a three-layer hardshell which is designed to cope with serious all-mountain skiing, deep winter climbing, and high-altitude mountaineering, although you don’t necessarily need to be doing any of those to benefit from its well-engineered features.

Constructed from PFC-free Pertex Shield with a 100% recycled nylon face, it offers excellent waterproofness and breathability and a loose cut which lends itself well to layering.

The Asgard isn’t overburdened with features, focussing instead on the essentials required by those who are serious about their time in the snow and the mountains.

These include voluminous hand and chest pockets which can be accessed under a pack or harness and will easily swallow up accessories such as goggles and skins (as will the internal mesh stash pocket), an integrated Recco Rescue System, AquaGuard zips with glove-friendly pullers, a two-way main zip with stud closure, pit zips for venting, and a helmet-compatible storm hood with laminated mouldable peak.

Additional useful touches include a zippered internal security pocket, a forearm lift pass, hem, cuff and hood adjusters and a soft micro-suede neck and beard guard.

In use the light weight and loose ergonomic cut make the Asgard a pleasure to wear – add to this the jacket’s rugged good looks and build quality and it’s easily one of the best hard-shell options on offer this winter.

VERDICT: The Asgard ain’t cheap, but the combination of bomb-proof construction, great design and good looks justifies the price.

PlanetSKI Gear Review #1 Winter 2025/26

PlanetSKI featured the following Gear Reviews for the 2024/25 season, some of the items are still be available

PlanetSKI Gear Review #1 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #2 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #3 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #4 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #5 Winter 2024/25

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