Powder Editors Get Honest About the Gear They Actually Ski Daily

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Full disclosure, we get to try a lot of new gear here at POWDER–it’s how we put together all of our reviews and our annual Gear Guide. It’s undoubtedly extremely fun to try new things, but there’s also something about coming back to our personal favorites. Here’s a deep dive into the gear that each of us likes to use on our days off, what’s in our personal quivers, and some thoughts on what makes each of these pieces our personal favorites.

Max Ritter – Gear Editor

Skier Profile

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 195 lbs
• Style: Sam Anthamatten Wannabe/whatever it takes to feel young
• Resort/Touring Bias: 50/50
• Location: Jackson Hole

Skis

This category is a bit of a tough one. A large part of my job here at POWDER is to ski as many different skis as possible and write reviews about them, so that means I’m changing skis very frequently throughout the season. However, I definitely still have a few that I yearn for in the garage–the ones I’m lucky enough to call my personal quiver. Living in the Tetons, we tend to ski a lot of snow of the deep and fluffy persuasion, so it’s rare that I’m riding something under 100mm underfoot. 

There are a few planks I find myself coming back to day in and day out: the Faction Studio 2 (for inbounds riding at Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole) and both the new Salomon QST Blank (for gravity laps in and out and bounds) and the blackcrows Corvus (for sidecountry days where I needed the ability to tour–more on that in a minute). It actually took me a good part of the season to fall in love with the 183cm Studio–I was at first put off by how stiff it felt, expecting it to be a soft, buttery, park ski. I soon recognized that it’s actually one of the harder-charging skis in Faction’s range, with impressive edge hold on icy groomers (looking at you, JHMR) and so much pop for boosting airs all over the resort.

When Salomon’s new 186cm QST Blank showed up at the house, partway through last season, I expected that I would fall in love with it immediately (the old Blank was a favorite, so is the still-current QST X). Unsurprisingly, I did. It quickly became my everyday ski for ripping resort and sidecountry laps, and I just couldn’t get enough of the powerful but easy feeling they offer, no matter the conditions. It’s heavy and really damp, but so easy to bend into a turn on all kinds of snow–especially heavy cut-up resort powder, which we had A LOT of this past year here in the Tetons. Read more about my thoughts on the skis here. 

If I was skiing primarily out of bounds, I would turn to the 186cm blackcrows Corvus (mounted with a CAST Freetour 2.0). The slightly lighter weight and long 25m turning radius gives it an edge in the backcountry, allowing it to carry speed through technical big-mountain terrain a little better than the Blanks. The ability to tour with the CAST binding is also very useful, and I’m convinced that you shouldn’t leave the resort boundary without at least some sort of capability for uphill travel. 

For ski touring days, I mostly alternated between a 185cm Atomic’s Maverick 115 CTi (the ski Craig Murray won Natural Selection on) for powder skiing and the blackcrows Navis Freebird for general-use touring and adventure skiing. The Navis is such a good ski to travel with on ski-touring trips–I took to Norway and Chamonix knowing that it would be reliable in conditions from firm windpack in the alpine to unexpected storm skiing in the trees. 

Bindings

Many of the skis I tested this year were mounted with demo bindings, so I’ll begin this section by saying I spent a TON of time on demo-plated Salomon Strive, Marker Griffon, and Tyrolia Attack bindings. On my personal skis, I’m a through-and-through fan of both the Salomon STH 2 and the Look Pivot 15 or 18. Both offer ample amounts of elasticity, are more or less indestructible thanks to metal constructions, and have never failed me when it comes to releasing in a fall. 

For touring, I spend most of my time on ATK’s current Raider and Freeraider EVO bindings. These all-metal pin bindings are undoubtedly the best in the business. They’re light, they’re easy to use, they offer high release values (up to 15 on the Freeraider EVO) and they ski really well in all kinds of snow. Of course, I also toured a bit on the CAST Freetour 2.0 for short laps outside of the resort, as well as Salomon’s Shift 2.0, but do prefer the noticeably better tourability of a real pin binding like the ATKs. 

Boots

More than any other piece of gear, ski boots are something that needs to fit you. Choose your boots based on what fits when you try it on, not on what some random gear editor says they wear on the internet. That being said, here’s generally what’s on my feet when I’m skiing for fun. 

For resort skiing, I’ve spent most of the last year skiing the new Tecnica Mach 1 LV 130 in a 27.5. I wear an 11.5 street shoe, so that’s a pretty tight fitting boot for me, but I prefer the precision it grants. This year, I’m excited to spend more time in the super-narrow Atomic Remedy 130. Both are a pretty standard-looking ski boot with four buckles, no walk mode, and dense, thick plastic on the cuff and lower. I replaced the stock liner with a ZipFit from a pair of Fischer RC4 MV Pro DYN BOAs. Speaking of, I do still have that boot (it’s the yellow one with a tech toe fitting), and will go back to it on days where I might do a little walking or a lot of standing around in boots while taking photos or talking on camera for work. It’s much higher volume than the Tecnica boots, and the extra room is nice on my toes and keeps my feet warmer.

If I’m traveling, and know that I’ll split my time between touring and resort skiing, I bring my 27.5 Salomon Shift Alpha boots. I’ve modified these a bit, messing with the internal ramp angle, toe fit, and adding a Surefoot liner. These are a great compromise in the hybrid boot category, offering really good ski performance (they’re stiff and really damp), acceptable touring performance, and they fit my foot well enough. 

When I’m purely touring, I opt for the 27.5 Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro. It couldn’t fit me better if it tried. I’ve done absolutely nothing to modify the boot, ski the stock liner, and take it on 95 percent of backcountry adventures. It walks well enough for me to forget it’s on my feet, is more than stiff enough to drive big skis (particularly in weird snow), and did I mention that it fits me?

For the 5 percent of touring days where I’m not wearing the Zero G Tour Pro, I’ll strap myself into a two-buckle boot. That’s on days where it’s not really about the skiing (think: stupid traverses, resort uphill fitness laps *barf*, or when my psycho guide friends invite me to go alpine climbing with skis on our backs to ski “some really cool line” that’s actually just a pile of rocks). When the original La Sportiva Skorpius CR boot came out, it was all I ever wanted to tour in, but I broke 3 pairs in the same spot in less than two seasons. They’ve since changed the boot (and unfortunately the fit), so the breakage issues are remedied, but they no longer work for my feet. Luckily, La Sportiva has a new two-buckle boot that’s even lighter and skis just as well called the Kilo XTR that I’ve become a huge fan of. It’s definitely not something I want to ski particularly fast in, but if skiing fast isn’t even an option for the day and there’s loads of walking involved, I’ll turn to those. 

Outerwear

Last year was a big one for outerwear testing, largely because many brands spent the year updating their fabric across their lines from older PFAS-containing Gore-Tex to the new forever-chemical-free ePE membrane. I love the waterproofness and durability of Gore-Tex, and spend most of the season skiing in it, both inbounds and in the backcountry. More than ever, I found myself walking uphill in a shell jacket, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps I’m getting old and my body is running colder than it used to. In terms of actual products, I mostly rode in an XL version of the Peak Performance Vertical Gore-Tex pants, paired with either the matching Peak Performance jacket or Mountain Hardwear’s new Mythogen GTX Pro jacket. I like the technical freeride style offered by both of these, and the yellow MHW jacket just looks sick. This year, out of the newest crop of outerwear, I’ve been the most impressed by both Backcountry’s new Xpore kit (the Cottonwoods bib and jacket) as well as the new Stellar Equipment Free Shell 2.5 jacket and bibs.

I did, however, turn to the new Raide Research Hybrid Touring Pants for a lot of backcountry days, especially when the weather warmed up and skies were clear. I’ve never been a huge fan of softshells (see above), but these are really comfortable and a near-perfect design for ski touring and ski mountaineering. They’re baggyish (style points), really stretchy (comfort points), and the pocket layout is simple and effective for backcountry skiing (function points).  

Base and Midlayers

Below my shells, I’ll usually turn to one of two midlayers, whether I’m touring or riding chairlifts. On most days, I’m wearing the sadly-discontinued Arc’teryx Sigma SL Anorak in size M. I think this is easily the best midlayer ever made, and I’m excited to see how Raide Research’s new TourTech Hoodie compares in real life. My Sigma SL is nearly 10 years old and still shows no signs of wear. It’s ridiculously breathable, water-resistant, super-low-profile, warm enough for most days, and takes advantage of some fun little design features that make it work really well under a pack or baggier shell jacket. I wish they would make these again, because I would buy one in every color. The ¾-zip front is really comfortable when ski touring (no zipper bunching under a pack waist belt), and little tubular foam inserts in the hem keep the jacket in place under a pack or mountaineering harness.

On really cold days, I’ll turn to a more insulated breathable layer, usually choosing between a micro-grid fleece like Rab’s Evolute Hoody or something similar like the new Stellar EQ Flexlight Hood. I’m rarely wearing an actual puffy jacket while I’m skiing our ski touring, but I always carry some sort of emergency insulated jacket in my pack. My go-to this year has either been Stellar Equipment’s Ultralight Down Hood 2.0 or The North Face’s Summit Series Breithorn Hooded Jacket. Both of these compress remarkably well (a huge bonus if it stays in my pack most days), and are super warm once I put them on. I even experimented with shrinking them even further by vacuum-sealing them, but going through a few vacuum seal bags made me realize that I wear them more than I thought.

When it comes to baselayers, I’ve gone full merino-nerd. Synthetic baselayers just aren’t anywhere near as comfortable, they quickly develop a certain stench, and I much prefer the feel of natural material on my skin. A standout has been Icebreaker’s 260 Zone Knit tights and top layer–it’s got enough compression in the fabric to feel supportive without being restrictive, it’s warm, and really breathable. 

Gloves

Guess I’m getting old and soft, because just like the fact that I’m ski touring in a shell jacket, I’ve mostly moved away from lightweight gloves to wearing heavier-duty gloves for most days of skiing. I’m still on the hunt for the elusive thin Gore-Tex glove that’s breathable enough for ski touring but keeps my hands dry when my hands are in the snow. I’m still a huge fan of Black Diamond’s Tour Gloves, but have been spending much more time in Mountain Hardwear’s Exposure Glove, especially on cold days. I’m not much of a mitten guy, instead preferring the dexterity of gloves.

Packs

There’s so much potential for ski packs to be really awesome, and luckily a few have come close, but I still haven’t found the perfect quiver-of-one ski pack. Maybe it’s a me thing. 

Headwear

I’ve said it before: I’m not your mom, but I strongly believe that everyone should ski with a helmet, everyday. Head injuries are probably the least cool thing that can happen from even the tiniest of crashes. That being said, I have a very large head and I’ve long had trouble finding helmets that fit me. 

I’m a two-helmet guy for most of the season, switching between Atomic’s Four AMID Pro for mechanized skiing and Smith’s Method Pro MIPS for human-powered skiing. Why do I like these helmets? They actually fit me, and they provide ample protection in a crash. The Smith helmet is shockingly light, so I don’t mind bringing it on big tours, though the ultralight construction does get dinged up much faster than other helmets. 

On the goggle front, I’m wearing Atomic’s Four Pro Signature Goggle. These integrate cleanly with the Four AMID Pro helmet, and have easily swappable photochromic lenses with a huge field of view. When I’m touring, I’ll opt for the no-frills Smith Squad XLgoggles. The low-light lenses on these are insane and are like wearing night vision goggles on low-vis days. 

Under my helmet, I’ll wear either a thicker Skida Balaclava or a lighter-weight Patagonia one. These don’t bunch up the way buffs can, offer all the protection I need, and offer a sleek, understated look. I don’t typically ski in sunglasses unless it’s the spring–then I turn to the Smith Lowdown XL. 

Hardware & Emergency Gear

Safety in the mountains comes down to a whole lot more than the gear you carry, but the specifics of that gear can make or break a situation. That’s something I’ve learned from the shared expertise of all my friends that work as ski patrollers and mountain guides and over a decade of my own experience backcountry skiing.

For avalanche safety gear, I’ve trusted Mammut’s Barryvox S beacons for the last five years, which I replaced this year with the new Barryvox S2. I still keep an older Barryvox S as a backup beacon in the car. I use Mammut’s extendable Alugator Pro Light shovel and 280cm Carbon probe and have never had issues with either. It’s a trustworthy shovel and a probe, I don’t think about them much, and that’s fine by me.

When it comes to technical bits, I’m definitely a bit more judicious and focused on the best compromise between intended performance and weight. There’s been a lot of discussion about crampons and ice axes for skiing in the ski mountaineering world, so I’m not going to re-hash that. Read Cody Townsend’s take here, or Gavin Hess’s take here. For me, I turn to the tried-and-true Petzl Gully with pick weights for axes, and either the standard Petzl Leopard LLF crampons (for general snow climbing) or a hybrid Leopard heel/Dart front section for more involved ice/mixed situations. The packability, low weight, and modular nature of these spiky bits really makes these my favorite. 

For any skiing that involves a rappel, I wear a Petzl Fly harness, and bring a Petzl Reverso belay device with a larger Petzl William (the apt name of that pear-shaped biner makes me chuckle every time) locking carabiner, a double-length dyneema sling with a knot in the middle and a Black Diamond Liteforge locker on the extension, and the Beal Jammy on a small as a third-hand/backup with another Liteforge biner. On glaciers, that kit grows to include a Black Diamond Ultralight Ice Screw, the standard Petzl Microtraxion/Tibloc/Oscillante Pulley Z-drag system, plus a triple-length and a short dyneema sling, three Petzl Am’D lockers and two Black Diamond MiniWire carabiners. 

Ski ropes are also a whole can of worms to unpack, but my standard kit is usually either a 5mm Beal Back Up Line or the 6mm Petzl Rad Line. I own a few of these in different lengths, and have been getting more and more comfortable using the Beal Escaper this year, a neat but really scary way to be able to full-length rappel on a single rope and still retrieve it. 

Otherwise, I’ll always carry a small vacuum-sealed first aid/trauma that’s mainly designed to stop a bleed. I don’t usually carry a more substantial first aid kit because I’m lucky enough to recreate in an area with high-level search and rescue available. If I’m heading much deeper into the backcountry, I’ll bring something more and remind myself to tone it down. On top of the first aid kit, I’ll carry the Alpine Threadworks Ski Guide Rescue Tarp, a pretty good solution for oh-shit moments where I might have to haul a buddy out of the backcountry that also doubles as a shelter (or picnic blanket). It weighs 670 grams, packs down to the size of a Nalgene bottle and has proven immensely useful in more situations than I could ever think of. Part of that sled kit includes 10 meters of 5mm static accessory cord for towing the sled, which I’ve used to hip belay partners for ski cuts or protecting short downclimbs. 

Accessories

Ski accessories are a funny thing to me. I don’t like gimmicky stuff that serves a single purpose, so I tend to avoid most of it. I will often carry a POV camera (my job is ski content, after all!) when conditions are good or I’m doing something memorable–that job’s been fulfilled by the Insta360 X5 camera.

I don’t ski with headphones, they throw off my balance, and I like actually hearing what’s going on around me. If I’m skiing with a radio (which I should probably do more often), I’ll carry the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio. The power, range, and audio clarity on those is pretty impressive, and I like the shoulder mic setup that integrates cleanly into a pack. 

Finally, I have had to turn to battery-powered boot heaters and heated socks for the coldest parts of the season. Surefoot’s built-in boot heaters are excellent (though, these are only available in Surefoot liners). On my other boots, I’ve used Therm-ic’s heated socks to keep my toes warm. These are as comfy as regular ski socks and work wonders for those ice-cold days where you’re freezing your a** off on the chairlift. 

Izzy Lidsky – Staff Writer

Hi, I’m Izzy, and I love spraying about outdoor gear (specifically ski gear) more than anything in the world. When some nice, random person gets on the lift next to me and asks if I like the skis I’m on, I should really have a disclaimer on my helmet or something that they’re about to learn way more than they ever bargained for. The poor souls who end up in this situation just looking for a simple yes or no answer or to make conversation on the lift are about to get an EARFUL about ski construction, a full on comparison of four different pairs of skis, and at least one unsolicited hot take.

Luckily, I have this amazing job where I actually get paid to spray about gear on the internet and it’s considered a skill and not an annoying facet of my personality. So buckle up and get comfy cause here’s a comprehensive as heck list of all the gear I use regularly and wear skiing that I really love. 

A couple of quick caveats before we dive in. First, I just spent my first season at Mt. Bachelor, but was in Jackson Hole for four years before that and skied a lot more backcountry, both lift-accessed and not, in the Tetons than I do now. A couple things on here I barely used this year, but still consider them essential parts of my ski kit. Second, I just want to say that ski gear is f*cking expensive and I fully recognize the privilege that working in the ski industry has provided me to have all this gear and am really, really grateful for it! I tend to use the heck out of my gear so, it’s not in vain that there are so many pairs of skis in my garage, but I figured it was worth mentioning. 

Skier Profile

• Height: 5’5 ½”
• Weight: 115lbs
• Style: Like a park skier with no tricks or steeze
• Resort/Touring Bias: 70/30
• Location: Mt. Bachelor

Skis

Hi, I’m Izzy and I also love spraying about how much I love 4FRNT skis.

Jokes aside, for resort days, the vast majority of the time, I’m on a pair of 4FRNT Devastators in a 172cm length. I love everything about these skis. They’re crazy stable and carve super well for being a 108 underfoot ski, but have bridged the elusive gap between stability and playfulness super well. I love how the reverse camber keeps these skis afloat in Oregon’s wetter snowpack and is super confidence inspiring when it gets a little chunky out there too. There’s not a lot of room for error with these skis and they keep me on my toes and in the front of my boots l and have certainly made me a better skier since I got them. I have yet to find the speed limit on these bad boys either. 

The days when it’s slushy and springy or I want to ski park laps, or just schmear around and not think about it, I’ll grab my old Armada ARW 106 ULs. These were my daily drivers for two seasons before I got Devastators, but I keep them around because there’s a lot of days I can’t deny how fun it is to be on a softer ski. They’ve updated the design on these skis since I got them, but they still feel pretty similar and make for a fantastic daily driver. I also have a shiny new pair of Armada ARV 112s I’m looking forward to smearing around Mt. Bachelor (and further!) with this winter. 

For ski touring, in a shocking turn of events, I also ski 4FRNTs. 

In the words of the great Eric Hjorleifson, some people hurt their backs messing with their tail clips, I hurt my back on flat landings (see: most of my freelance work before starting at POWDER for that story). In other words, I’m a die-hard 4FRNT Hoji girl when it comes to my touring skis. I have the Hojis in the 170cm length with the proprietary 4-LOCK Pomoca skin system that I take 99 percent of the time I’m touring and have nothing but great things to say about these skis.

I also have a pair of 4FRNT Ravens, which are the 104 underfoot ski in the Hoji line up. I actually bought these from Max’s wife in a 177cm length a few years back. What surprises me most about this ski is how well I can ski it in sh*tf*ck conditions so it’s my go-to for really long days or when I know the snow won’t be very good. I don’t have the 4-LOCK system on these, which is honestly the biggest reason I usually reach for my Hojis instead.

Bindings

While I have a different binding on every pair of skis I own, there’s really only two that standout as gear I love. On my Devastators, I have a pair of Atomic Strive 12 GW alpine bindings. I’ve loved the ease, adjustability, and stability of this binding overall.

I have a pair of ATK Raider 11 EVO touring bindings on my Hojis and don’t have a single bad thing to say about them. They feel super bomber for a touring binding, but still keep my set up plenty light. I’ve never had trouble with these freezing and malfunctioning either, which is something I’ve had with my other ATK’s. Also they’re purple and they’re SO PRETTY.

Boots

I own ski boots. I do not like or recommend them. Please send help.

(I do have a pair of Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 BOAs in for review right now that I’m cautiously optimistic about though!)

Outerwear

I generally wear the same shell for resort days & touring which is the Arc’teryx Relaxed Sentinel in a size medium. It’s the same as the regular Sentinel but in a steezier freeride fit. It’s super durable, has great pockets, is breathable enough to tour in, but is still super waterproof. I’d be shocked to find a jacket I like more.

On backcountry days, or warmer resort days I’ve been wearing Mammut Haldigrat HS Bibs in a size 6. The fabric on these is super soft and lightweight, but still plenty waterproof. For backcountry days, I’m a big fan of bibs that stop midway up my torso as opposed to going all the way up my chest and these hit perfectly. The fabric above where your pants waistband would be is also mesh which keeps them super breathable. As a pocket-beacon person, I’m also a fan of the beacon-specific pocket on that meshy panel with a great loop to clip it to.

I have a few pieces of outerwear I’m pretty excited to try out this season as well, which include the Armada Nylie Jacket which is lightly insulated and so steezy and the Peak Performance Vertic Pants. Both are a size medium and the jacket is perfectly baggy whereas the pants make me look a bit like Henrik Harlaut (again, without tricks or steeze), but I’m here for it. 

Mid-layer/Insulation

I’ve had the same Arc’teryx Proton jacket in a size small for 5 seasons now. I’ve washed it so many times the dead bird logo has fully worn off the front and I don’t think the smell will really ever come out, and yet it’s still kicking. Arc’teryx really nailed the breathable warmth thing with this jacket, and as someone who runs pretty hot, that’s essential. I wear my Proton most days in-bounds and bring it touring as well. I’ve been able to do a full tour or bootpack in it and not get too hot, and then just throw my shell over at the top and remain at the perfect temperature on the ski down. Another piece that if I found something I liked better, I’d be shocked.

Base Layers + Socks

Base layers can be pretty temperature- and situation-dependent for me, but I have a couple go-to options. For both resort riding and backcountry, I usually wear a pair of Mons Royale Cascade Merino leggings on bottom. These are pretty much the same weight/fabric as the onesie Mons Royale used to make (that I still love and wear all the time), just in pants form, and are great for resort skiing and touring.

The base layer top I wear most of the time is actually made by a whitewater gear company called Immersion Research and is a merino wool hoody that I wear under my drytop when whitewater kayaking in the summer too. Even after 4+ years of heavy, year round use it’s still in great shape, if a little discolored and smellier than it used to be. I’ve also found myself reaching for a merino Le Bent hoody lately. It’s effectively the same weight as my IR hoody, but it’s black so you can’t see how gross it is. 

Gloves

I’ve been a die-hard wearer of the Flylow Maine Line lobster-claw style mitten for longer than I can remember now. I’m on my second pair after lighting the first ones on fire last winter, and I can say it definitely won’t be my last pair. I love how they fit, the dexterity of the lobster claw, and the weight of them for most days.

For backcountry days or a light glove, I have an old pair of the now-discontinued Black Diamond mid-weight soft shell mitts. They’re perfect for the uphill when you want more than just a liner glove and are substantial enough for the downhill on warmer days, especially when paired with a glove liner. I lost one of them last winter and found some random, tiny ski shop that still had some to get a replacement because I love these gloves so much. 

Packs

While it hasn’t seen as much use living in Oregon, when I lived in Jackson, I wore a WhatVest just about every single day I skied the resort. WhatVests are handmade by ex-patroller, ski guide, and big mountain skier, Nadia Burton. They’re a vest-style backpack so you can keep your avy tools on you, and whatever else you could want for a day of skiing, without taking a pack on and off every time you get on the lift, or it even really feeling like you’re riding with a pack at all. I have the smaller of the two packs, the SideHustle, and find it perfect for most of the resort-accessed backcountry I’ve skied and those big in-bounds storm days where I’ll carry avy gear for a little extra caution. I can easily fit all my avy gear, snacks, water, extra goggle lenses or sunglasses, even a camera with a small lens, and whatever else you can think of in it seamlessly. It also has loops for a diagonal ski carry for longer bootpacks where you don’t want to shoulder your skis.

I’m still working to find my perfect pack for bigger tours or backcountry days where I’m not exiting a resort gate. However, if I’m specifically out shooting photos while skiing, the Shimoda Action X50 V2 is my go-to pack. It’s not exactly lightweight or streamlined, but rarely is skiing with a full camera set up. The Action X50 is super waterproof, has a nice big roll top for extra layers, snacks, water, etc, and a substantial waist belt to help with some of the weight of your pack while skiing. It’s also super protective – I’ve dropped it down terrain on accident (yes, this is embarrassing) and had my camera equipment be completely fine. 

Headwear

To go along with my tiny, baby feet, I also have a tiny, baby child-sized head which means I’m pretty particular about my headwear. If the perfect balaclava exists, it’s the Mons Royale Santa Rosa Merino Flex and on top of being made of fast drying merino wool, it has a hole in the back for your ponytail so you’re not stuck with an itchy mass of hair mashed against your neck. 

To protect the last few brain cells I have left, I will die on the hill of Sweet Protection helmets. Their kayaking helmets have saved me from certain brain damage more times than I can count so I started wearing them for all sports and it’s an added bonus that they generally fit smaller heads really well. For skiing, I’m partial to the Adapter MIPS helmet in a small size.

To go with a Sweet Protection helmet, I also wear Sweet Protection goggles. I have two pairs of the Boondock RIG Reflect goggles, one with a Topaz lens that works in 99 percent of conditions, and one with a Quartz lens for the days with the very least visibility.

For touring or super sunny spring days where I don’t want to wear goggles, I have a pair of Pit Viper Admirers with a blackout lens. They not only look AWESOME, but they’re actually really high quality glasses and I’ve skied some of the bigger lines of my life in them.

Avy + Emergency Gear

For avalanche gear, I switched to using all Mammut products a few years ago after watching my beacon of another brand fail while buried during a course. The Barryvox 2 has proved to be super user friendly, durable, and safe with the caveat that I’ve thankfully only ever used it during avalanche education courses and beacon practice. I don’t love the harness that comes with it, but I’m more of a pocket beacon girl anyway (see Outerwear for Mammut bibs with their own cool little Barryvox pocket!). I also started using the Alugator shovel and found it to be lighter and more durable than other shovels I’d used and didn’t have the same problem of the connector buttons freezing in place after use. A Mammut Probe 320 Speedlock rounds out my avy kit and is every bit as lightweight, user friendly, and durable as the other two pieces.

I also carry a small first aid kit in my touring pack at all times. I’ve held a WEMT certification for almost 10 years and have been lucky enough to only have to use it a handful of times, and seldom while skiing in the backcountry. For skiing, I make sure to keep my kit stocked with blister care, basic and more substantial wound care, a triangle bandage, a compression wrap, a roll of coban tape, an antihistamine like Benadryl, chewable Pepto Bismol tablets, acetaminophen/Tylenol, Advil/NSAID, a dose of DayQuil, neosporin, alcohol swabs, a razor blade, a lighter, a facemask, tissues, a pack of fruitsnacks, some hand sanitizer and gloves. 

Accessories

What’s a gal without her *accessories??* Of course, my number one go-to is slut strands, because duh, but close second are a bag of Creminelli meat sticks and maybe biodegradable glitter. I’d consider all three of these things fairly essential for a great ski day, but there’s definitely a few other items I try to always remember. 

I’ve been keeping a little tin of Dermatone skin protector Pommade in my jacket pocket or backpack while skiing to protect the exposed skin on my face from UV rays, wind, and cold. Unlike normal sunscreen, the Dermatone pommade also protects against windburn and acts as a soothing moisturizer for chapped skin. 

On days when I don’t want to ski with a full camera bag, I’ve been throwing a camera body in my jacket pocket for quick snaps. I’ve yet to find the perfect pocket cam but in lieu of it, I’ve been using a PocketDispo lens on my normal mirrorless body. PocketDispo takes recycled disposable camera lenses and puts them in a 3D printed housing with different threadings available so you can use them on your Canon, Sony, Fuji, or Nikon mirrorless camera as a fixed 23mm focal length, F/11 lens.They’re only about $50, pretty durable, and give your photos that nostalgic disposable feel. 

Ian Greenwood – Staff Writer

To ski is to accumulate gear. Christmas gifts, thrift store finds, and outdoor employee discounts all, over the years, can add up to a functional, if not great, kit. Or, at least, that’s what I’ve experienced. Some of the equipment I use is relatively new. Other pieces of my wardrobe, like my ski jacket or inbounds backpack, have been in my possession since I was 16.

I prefer it this way. There’s something special about building rapport with a specific piece of gear that works, making repairs along the way. As the years passed, the attachment between the user and the tool grew until I started thinking about a bundle of zippers and Gore-Tex as a member of my extended family. I assume my ski jacket doesn’t feel the same way about me, but that’s okay. 

That’s how my ski closet, and maybe yours, looks. Here, newer, shinier bits of tech join older curios. While I may prefer the latter—nothing compares to a bit of tasteful wear and tear—what’s most important is that every member of this eclectic crew helps facilitate one of my favorite things in the world: skiing.

Skier Profile

• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 145 lbs
• Style: Recovering JFT racer
• Resort/Touring Bias: 80/20
• Location: Washington’s Cascades/Tahoe

Skis

I wasn’t sure about the 4FRNT Devastator (the new, lighter version) at first, but over time, they’ve become my trusted companion. They’re quick and release easily from turns and, at 186 centimeters, have plenty of backbone for my weight (a heavier skier than me might find them pingy at high speeds in mixed snow). They feel like a blank slate that facilitates a number of different ski styles, whether I’m slarving some tight turns or pointing it down a groomer. It’s nice to have a dependable pair of skis that’ll work just about anywhere on the mountain. In a pinch, they’ve never felt long or unwieldy, and the relatively stiff tail functions as a solid landing platform. What they aren’t in my experience, however, is snappy or particularly energetic. During touring days, I use the LINE Vision 108.

After years of using long and stiff “freeride” skis, I knew it was time for something different, which led to me adding one more pair of skis to my quiver, the LINE Sir Francis Bacons. They proved as weird as I’d hoped they would be. For one, they’re super soft—at pace, the tips and tails flap uncontrollably, so I quickly ruled out using them when the snow was firm. But that also meant they felt springy, a trait multiplied by their surprisingly deep sidecut. I spent a few days barely hanging on through stiff crud, but when I altered my approach to skiing with the Sir Francis Bacons, I was rewarded with a surfier, more laid-back experience.

Whether it’s a pair of Sir Francis Bacons or something else, I strongly recommend skiers try something that falls outside the “all-mountain” one-ski-quiver mold. Get a freaky pair of skis that are an absolute nightmare in the wrong conditions and leave you howling with joyous laughter when the stars align. 

Bindings

Look Pivots have never failed me, so that’s the binding attached to my two resort skis. For backcountry skiing, I use the Fritschi Vipec EVO 12, which has felt stable, secure, and relatively idiot-proof. They have a design feature that’s unique among tech bindings: adjustable DIN settings in the toe and heel. However, this feature doesn’t mean they feel heavy or clunky. On the odd day I wanted to use my LINE Visions in the resort, I had no issues with the Vipec’s release pattern, even in not-so-great snow at decently high speeds. As someone who likes to have the option to ski hard out-of-bounds, that’s worthwhile. 

Boots

I’m a one-boot man. For the past few seasons, I’ve worn the crossover Lange XT3 130. I’m not convinced that the perfect ski boot exists, but the XT3, for my purposes, ticks almost every box. After slotting some Intuition wrap liners into the boot, I found that they’re comfortable even if I wear them all day, which, after spending years tangling with a nasty heel spur, is something I don’t take for granted. They also tour reasonably well. The only drawbacks I’ve encountered are the walk-mode mechanism (it’s prone to filling with ice) and the slightly spotty 130 flex designation. In the wet mank and tight trees you’ll encounter on Alpental’s lower mountain, the XT3 can feel a bit squirrely—although I suspect most boots would feel like they’re going to fold in half in these conditions.

I also have a pair of sized-down Salomon S/Pro Alpha 130 boots that came into my possession after I experienced what I can only describe as a “man moment.” Some dark, mammalian part of my brain told me that the only way I could ski like an absolute beast (I’m embarrassed, don’t worry) was if I bought a pair of tiny boots downhill boots that could double as a medieval torture device, so I did. I’m hoping to make those S/Pro Alphas work because I do love the way they ski, but I’ll need to spend some time with a real boot wizard before that happens, given they’re a size 24.5, and I normally wear 25.5 boots. In the meantime, learn from my mistakes—you’re still a real skier, even if your feet don’t feel like they’re going to explode, I promise. 

Outerwear

I don’t like fiddling around with multiple ski coats. Whether I’m touring or riding the chairlifts, I rely on a medium Arc’Teryx Sabre jacket. I was given my specific coat as a gift in 2014, meaning this past winter, we celebrated our tenth anniversary together (here’s to many more!). The only repair it’s needed over the past decade is a zipper replacement and a few tiny patches, so I can’t in good conscience think of a reason to replace it. Plus, I have a soft spot for gear that won’t quit. My Sabre is a bit bulky and heavy, but that makes slipping a mid-layer underneath on chilly days comfortable. The Sabre outerwear line still exists and has undergone several changes over the years, including the introduction of the Gore-Tex ePE membrane, which is advertised as being PFAS-free.

My partner picked up the ski pants I now use at an outdoor gear thrift store. They’re the Mountain Hardware Boundary Ridge Bib in medium, and they work great in every ski context I’ve put them in. For skinning or clambering, they have some nice side vents that prevent overheating and a roomy-but-not-baggy fit. A load of pockets makes stocking up on snacks, sunscreen, or whatever else you might want on the hill easy. I’m a bib guy through and through, though, so I’m pleased as long as I have some fabric covering my belly. 

Base and Mid Layers

Usually, I run with just basic Merino base layers on my lower body beneath my ski pants. For my torso, I’m particularly fond of the Arc’Teryx Delta Half-Zip Neck Hoody, which, in the size medium I wear, has a slightly baggy fit. It also has a hood that doubles as a balaclava, which is a neat feature, although I find myself reaching for my Dakine balaclava more often than I use the base layer hood. On colder days, I throw on my Patagonia Nano-Air Jacket as a mid-layer (like my Sabre jacket, my Nano-Air is outdated and looks a bit different from the current Patagonia offerings). It’s lightweight yet surprisingly warm and all I need unless it’s really frigid outside, in which case I’ll probably squeeze my down coat—the Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody—under my ski jacket. When it’s properly hot and springy, I tend to ski in a cotton long-sleeve with another t-shirt layered over it. A good pair of ski jeans remains elusive, sadly, but I know I’ll find them one day. 

Gloves

For gloves, I mostly wear mittens. I’m a recent convert to the Dakine Phoenix, a big but not too cumbersome mitten that has a gauntlet and removable liners. They keep my fingers plenty toasty. In warmer weather at the resort, I wear some thinner North Face mittens, and for the skin track or shooting photos, I turn to the Cross Point Waterproof Knit Gloves: Pro Wool gloves. The latter rock, and if you’re in search of a glove that works for just about everything, are worth a look.They’re great for driving on a cold morning, shoveling snow off your car, or putting your ski boots on in the parking lot. Rubber pads on the interior of the glove enhance grip, and despite looking like a pair of standard wool gloves, they’re waterproof.

Packs

Try as I might, I couldn’t find my touring pack, the North Face Forecaster 35L, anywhere online, which is a crying shame. The pack is feature-rich and lightweight, with a dedicated helmet pouch on the outside and slots for essential avalanche and ski mountaineering equipment. At 35 liters, it feels plenty roomy, too, and when using it, I find myself packing unnecessary goodies because of the extra space. As the pack’s name would suggest, it was designed with input from avalanche forecasters from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).  

When I’m riding the chairlifts but might head into avalanche terrain, I opt for the smaller Dakine Heli-Pro DLX 20L, which comfortably fits a beacon, shovel, and probe, as well as snacks and water. It’s basic, gets the job done, and effectively doubles as a travel backpack if needed. That exact pack has since been discontinued, but it lives on with the modern Heli-Pro series. 

Headwear

Over the past few years, my Giro Ledge helmet has served me well. It’s simple and low profile and fits nicely with the Sweet Protection Boondock Rig goggles I use. I’ve found that the Ledge doesn’t make my large, misshapen head hurt, which I can’t say about every helmet I’ve tried on. I rock the helmet with the earpads removed, a small personal touch that, ultimately, is a matter of preference. I just don’t like the muffled sensation of having something thick over my ears while I ski. 

All the aforementioned kit works great, but the real stars of the show are my balaclava and the sunglasses I like to wear during the drive to the mountain. My face gets really cold if I’m skiing during a storm day, but my head also runs hot. You can probably guess where this is going—numerous balaclavas I’ve tried in the past made my goggles fog. But one winter, I tried skiing in a friend’s Dakine balaclava, and guess what? No fogging! I was sold and grabbed my own Dakine Ninja balaclava, and I’m still loving it. Sometimes, on colder days, I’ll throw a thin Smartwool Merino Beanie between the balaclava and my helmet.

My go-to pre- and post-skiing glasses are the Ombraz Dolomite, which, in case you’re unfamiliar, don’t have arms. Instead, they have a thin, adjustable rope. I admittedly thought the whole sunglasses-with-no-arm-thing was kitschy at first, but I was swayed by the Ombraz. They’re comfortable (another major win for someone with a weird head), secure, and easy to keep track of. You’d have to expend a considerable amount of energy to lose something that’s hanging around your neck. Plus, thanks to the rope, you can swim in Ombraz, so they’re a solid all-season bet. The hilarious Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses, which I reviewed, may have an honorary position in my sunglasses arsenal, too. 

Matt Lorelli – Senior Editor

Skier Profile

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 215 lbs
• Style: The guy who turns too much.
• Inbounds/Touring Bias: 90/10
• Location: Truckee, California

Skis

Unlike Max, Izzy, and Ian, I have a binary system when determining if I like a ski or not. I simply ask myself the following question, “Is it fun?” There’s one caveat that slightly undermines the legitimacy of this binary system—I rarely don’t have fun sliding on snow—but then again, who amongst us would continue to ski if it wasn’t fun the overwhelming majority of the time?

With that in mind, take my ski recommendations with a grain of salt. I’m easy to please.

As a Tahoe transplant, I have learned that owning multiple pairs of skis with the same waist width can be an asset rather than an overabundance. For example, I own a pair of 188cm Armada ARV 106s and a pair of 181cm Salomon QST 106s. The ARVs are my go-to for slushy spring riding, or if my friend group wants to take a few park laps. They’re fairly noodly, something I don’t enjoy when the snow firms up, but there’s no ski in my quiver I’d rather pull from the rack when the California sunshine turns Palisades Tahoe’s slopes into a slushy playground.

The QSTs, on the other hand, are my daily driver. Even at 106mm underfoot, these skis can and have handled everything I’ve asked of them. Firm corduroy to kick off the morning? Check. Waist-deep powder on Granite Chief? Check. Mank, hardpack, and variable snow on Headwall? Check. Check. Check. The QST 106 is the perfect ski for me.

I also own a pair of QST Blanks, which I sometimes enjoy more than the 106s, for when the snow gets a bit deeper. With that said, I’ve ripped top-to-bottom groomer laps on the Blanks and had an absolute blast. The combination of dampness, heaviness, and stability allows me to carve big GS turns like I’m Ligety and tackle big lines like Daiek. The QST line, in all of its waist widths, is arguably my favorite out there.

New to my quiver is a sub-100mm ski that is slowly but surely earning my love. The 182cm Moment Skis Countach 98 is truly an all-mountain ripper, but don’t let that cliche deter you. It’s accurate when it comes to the Countach 98. I put them to the test during an early-season day at Mammoth this year, and I was blown away by how stable they are at speeds. I typically opt for wider, heavier skis for that more reliable platform, but considering the variability of Tahoe’s snow, I figured having something a bit narrower would be helpful. I was right. I can’t wait to see where I take these skis this year.

To summarize, I prefer mid-to-wide directional skis that are intended for steeps, deeps, and speed. I don’t mess around in the park or hit jibs too often, so I tend to choose skis that are on the heavier, damper, and stiffer side.

Bindings

I’m not going to pretend like I know a lot about bindings, because I don’t. All I know is that the Look Pivot 15 is the best resort binding ever created and is what I opt for whenever I can. I particularly like the Pivot’s well, pivot function, and its durability. I’m hard on my gear (sorry, Mom), and knowing that I have a full-metal toe and heel piece is very comforting in Tahoe’s rugged terrain.

I’m sure other bindings are great, but remaining loyal to the Look Pivot 15 is easy. Join us and never think about resort bindings again.

Boots

I don’t ski in the best boots, or at least a gearhead might think that.

It’s not that I can’t afford multiple pairs of ski boots, but the simplicity of having one pair of boots that can do everything pretty darn well is the ultimate appeal for yours truly. Having the same fit, same buckles, same BOA cable, same stiffness, and same feel regardless of whether I’m touring or skiing the resort is something I love. It’s comforting.

So, with that said, the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 has been my sole ski boot for the last three seasons, and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon. Sure, there are better boots for touring and better boots for resort skiing, but the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 has such a nice blend of stiffness, weight, and performance that I can’t convince myself to jam my feet into anything else.

Having multiple pairs of specialized ski boots is fantastic if that’s what you’re into. If you’re like me and don’t want to worry about picking the right boot, opt for a stiff hybrid touring boot like the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 and forget about it.

Outerwear

Insulated outerwear for skiing and snowboarding should never be worn again. Tell a friend.

As someone who runs warmer than everyone else in the room or on the chairlift, the advent of mid-weight, durable shells has been revolutionary. No longer do I have to worry that the sun will poke out from behind the clouds and turn my down-insulated ski jacket into a sweat blanket created in the depths of hell.

Whether it’s Gore-Tex or brand-specific proprietary technology, waterproof shell jackets and bibs are the only outerwear I’ll wear skiing for the foreseeable future. For this season, I’ll wear the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket + Bibs for the majority of my inbounds days and the lightweight Norrona Møre Jacket + Bibs for ski touring.

Base and Midlayers

It doesn’t typically get too cold in the Lake Tahoe area, and I’ve already mentioned how warm I run daily, so take my base layer recommendations with a grain of salt. Odds are my preferences won’t align with you, a regular person who doesn’t sweat when it’s 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

I wear only one base layer for my legs and one for my torso on the majority of ski days in Tahoe. I have a few different weights that I can cycle through depending on the temperature, but I rarely wear multiple layers, unless I’m skiing somewhere like Canada or Vermont. I don’t have any specific products to drop in here, as the majority of baselayers I own are a hodgepodge of products collected over the years, but I do tend to opt for Merino Wool layers whenever possible. The ratio of breathability to warmth is perfect for my body.

Merino wool is expensive, but look for deals from brands like Smartwool, Icebreaker, Ridge Merino, and Voormi. If you can’t get a deal, splurge on a set for this season. Trust me, it will be worth it.

Gloves

I keep it simple when it comes to gloves. I have three pairs on any given season—Leki Patrol 3D gloves for 75 percent of resort days, Flylow Liner Gloves for ski touring and spring days, and a beat-up old pair of Kincos for whatever.

The Leki Patrol 3D glove is perfect for a wide range of temperatures. They’re comfortable, look sharp as hell, and are waterproof as long as it isn’t pouring rain. I bring out the Flylow Liner Gloves when temperatures creep above 40 degrees or if I just need something light to protect my hands while ski touring. The Kinco gloves are a staple in my arsenal and something I refuse to remove from my ski bag despite owning higher-end gear.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about owning a pair of $20 gloves that have lasted years and can withstand the majority of the elements. These gloves are perfect for building a post-ski campfire, wearing on the hill to mix it up, or whatever you want, honestly. Every skier should own a pair of Kincos.

Packs

Like most of my gear, I keep it simple. I don’t have a special pack. I’m rocking the Arc’teryx Quintic 16 for small touring missions and a Helly Hansen Ullr RS30 from three seasons ago for longer missions. I bought the Helly Hansen pack at a Sierra Trading Post for $60. You can spend a lot of money on a nice pack that has advantages, but I don’t need anything special.

Headwear

I’ve got a big head (Max and I should compare noggin sizes at some point), which limits the brands and types of helmets I can wear. I found the Giro Jackson MIPS in a Size XL three seasons ago, and I don’t plan on switching anytime soon. It fits. It’s warm. It looks good. That’s all I can ask for.

Hardware

For avalanche safety, I use a Mammut Barryvox and a Mammut Shovel + Probe.

Accessories

The only accessories worth mentioning are my retractable ski lock and SkiGee. I have a Dakine ski lock, but any brand should do the trick. I don’t leave home without it. My skis are my prized possession. Think it’s weird that I don’t trust others? Sue me.

As for the SkiGee, it’s a small bendable piece of plastic that fits over the thumb of my gloves. It’s essential for wiping off mixed precipitation in Tahoe, and freezing fog out east from my goggle lenses. It weighs hardly anything and is always in my ski jacket, just in case of an emergency. There’s nothing I hate more than not being able to see due to condensation on my goggles.