Winter’s New Rules
Win the seasonal game with the year's hottest gear
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1. Protect
snowgear
Eyewear specialist Smith’s debut helmet makes the company an instant player in the lid market. The Holt is iPod-compatible, and a removable liner and ear pads transform it into a summertime skate helmet. $100; smithoptics.com
2. Layer
For the ultimate combo of warmth and breathability in a Gore-Tex jacket, Mountain Hardwear’s GTX 2.5 puts fleece lining where you want it—along the back, shoulders, and arms—and none in the torso, where you don’t. $299; www.mountainhardwear.com
3. Haul
Keep your sandwich from getting soggy with Deuter’s Dryshield 20, a waterproof daypack with welded and taped seams. Your back won’t get wet, either—at least not from sweat—thanks to the ventilated suspension. $139; deuterusa.com
4. See
Pair the Holt helmet (above) with Smith’s Phenom Crystal Edition goggles to activate the lid’s innovative antifogging vents. Bling on the strap courtesy of Swarovski. $155; smithsport.com
5. Rip
If Carhartt made skiwear, it would look something like FlyLow Gear’s Drop Kick pants. But the fashion-backward durability—courtesy of tough woven nylon and reinforcements in the knees and cuffs—comes with forward-thinking extras like inner and outer leg vents and a bottle opener built into the belt buckle. $250; flylowgear.com
6. Float
Snowshoeing as action sport? Believe it—with Kahtoola’s slickly integrated Flightsystem. Slide the neoprene boots over your trail runners; the soles offer cramponlike traction on icy terrain. When the snow gets deep, click the boots into the system’s lightweight snowshoes (above). $334; kahtoola.com