The Best Ski Gear to Use All Year Round

There’s no use in pretending that outdoor gear isn’t expensive, sometimes prohibitively or unnecessarily so. While I’ve spent the better part of my adult life allocating any extra funds to my outdoor recreation habits and gear addiction, the older I get, the more expenses I have that are probably better spent on my very limited expendable income. As a result, when I am going to buy a piece of gear, it’s much easier to justify spending money on it if it’s something I can use all year.

There are certainly some things that are sadly just sport-specific and can only really be used in one season, but some layers and accessories can be cross-functional. Here are a few of the things I use all year round. Whether or not you find them useful, maybe they’ll inspire you to look at some of your own gear and wonder how much more life you can get out of it before shelling out for something new.

Immersion Research Power Wool Hoodie

There’s no doubt that wool base layers are among the main items that see heavy year-round use, which definitely helps justify their sometimes steep cost. Whether they’re on daily rotation during ski season, used as a cold-weather bike layer under my dry-top or drysuit while kayaking, or as a comfy travel layer that won’t get stinky if I have to run through the airport, there’s never a shortage of uses. Of my collection, there’s one layer in particular that’s taken more of a beating than any other layer I own, probably, and is still my go-to for most days, and that’s the Immersion Research Powerwool Baseline Hoodie.

Sadly, IR no longer makes the Baseline Hoodie, but they do still make the Lightweight Power Wool Highwater Hoodie, which is pretty darn similar. This thing is an excellent base layer, particularly for touring, not to mention for paddling or biking. I can confirm that even if you wear it every day and leave it hung over the seat of your truck to dry for an entire summer, it won’t smell as bad as you think and will still return to normal form (not rigid) when you wash it again. Don’t judge me.

I also use the mid-weight version of the Power Wool Hoodie pretty much all year round, either as an extra layer over my base layer on super-cold backcountry days or when I want a little extra fleece while paddling in the summer.

Skida Brim Hat

Call this an obvious pick, but the hat I reach for all year round, above all others, is the Skida Brim Hat. Its lightweight, breathable, comes in fun patterns, fits my child-sized head, dries quickly, and most importantly, protects me from the sun. The Brim Hat fits under my ski helmet, kayaking helmet, and is also my favorite hat to trail run in or wear out when I haven’t washed my hair in a week. Sometimes the best pieces of gear are the simplest ones, but you can’t knock a good hat.

Arc’teryx Proton Hoody

This one doesn’t feel like it needs much explaining, after all, the Atom & Proton Hoody both have a cult following. I bought the Proton six years ago and through all the mid-layers I’ve acquired and tested since then, it still reigns supreme. It’s as perfect under my ski shell as it is paired with a Carhartt vest on dry ski days, camping in the summer, or hanging out by a fire in the fall. I haven’t actually tried the Atom Hoody, which might be a touch more breathable, but if the fact that I’ve never been compelled to try it says anything, then take that at face value.

Pit Viper Admirers

I’ve been a fan of these silly, heart-shaped sunnies for years now, and they were on regular rotation as my touring glasses when I lived in the Tetons. However, earlier this summer, I lost the only “normal” pair of sunglasses I owned at a whitewater race where Pit Viper was vending. Four months later, and I have yet to find a reason to wear anything other than my Pit Viper Admirers. I wear them while driving, trail running, biking around town, on a recent 150-mile bike-packing trip through Idaho, and, of course, skiing. The lens color of the Combustion color is just right for most things, and I look super fast all the time.

Arc’teryx Quintic 28 L Pack

Arc’teryx redesigned their Quintic ski packs last winter and I got the larger 28L version (as opposed to the 16L one) and have wound up using it not just for skiing, but for a lot of travel and day-to-day use too. Even though it’s only 28L and a sneaky 28L at that, the Quintic 28L is big enough to use for a weekend trip where you’re packing light, but not so big I wouldn’t use it on a day hike. It’s also an excellent bag to throw my laptop, planner, and bike lock in and bike to a coffee shop with. If you’re gonna spend $250 on a pack, it might as well be something you use all the time, and the Quintic is definitely capable.