Weather Wise: Storm Male
Gear
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Outerwear
Skiing empty slopes during a storm can be a dream, but only if your outerwear keeps the elements out. The Spyder Leader jacket ($400) provides protection with a waterproof membrane and warmth with Thinsulate. An apt companion, the Force pants ($245) are also storm-proof, and their high-back suspenders have a mesh insert at the small of the back for ventilation. spyder.com
Base/midlayer
When storm clouds roll in, fight back with the Columbia Odyssey crew and pants ($25 each). Qwik-Dri technology pulls perspiration away from the skin and disperses it across the surface of the base layers. The bottoms feature Spandex-reinforced ribbed cuffs, while the crew has a drop-back tail for warmth. For über-warmth without losing mobility, top it off with the four-way stretch Pemberton Point Pullover ($70). It’s highly wind-resistant, keeping icy breezes at bay. columbia.com
Goggles
Smith’s Turbo C.A.M. has long been the Rolex of goggles in terms of fighting fog: guaranteed to work, but you pay for it. Now, the redesigned Disciple Turbo C.A.M. ($130) gives you all the same fog-battling benefits for $60 less than you’d have paid in the past. smithoptics.com
Hat
Made from Polartec WindPro fleece, the Ambler Mountain Works Mistral ($30) is sheathed in nylon to slough off wet snow on stormy days. The forehead and ear flaps are fortified with Polartec Thermal Pro fleece; its high warmth-to-weight ratio kicks in extra insulation without adding bulk. amblermountainworks.com
Gloves Like an all-weather tent for your hands, the Burton Pinnacle XCR ($100) employs a Gore-Tex and Stormlite shell to block wind and wet snow. A removable liner is made from Outlast material, so sweaty hands can breathe when you’re breathing heavy, but relax in warmth on the ride back up. burton.com
