The Gear Our Editors Loved This Winter

From long, snowy runs in the Midwest to below-freezing morning ski tours in northern New Mexico, our editors were busy outdoors this season. Here’s the winter gear that kept us warm and let us stay outside as long as we could.

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RUX 70L Gear Tote

$298 at Backcountry  $298 at Huckberry

The RUX 70L has become a must-have in my Subaru this ski season, serving as a gearbox, tote, or backpack for my gear. Its spacious design keeps everything organized in the trunk while shielding my car from wet, muddy boots. Unlike a boot bag, the RUX allows my ski gear to air out and dry between uses, thanks to its ample ventilation. The 840D TPU-coated waterproof nylon bag also packs down flat when not in use…but, honestly, it’s never not been in use. As the seasons shift, the RUX effortlessly adapts to summer adventures like mountain biking and camping, ensuring reliable protection and organization for my gear year-round—and it’s guaranteed for life. —Sierra Shafer, editor in chief SKI

Burton Women’s AK Tusk GORE-TEX 3L Pro Jacket and Hi-Top Bib Pant

Jacket $800 at Backcountry Pants $760 at Backcountry

A few testers in Bozeman and I have been putting the Burton Women’s AK Tusk kit through its paces for the past month, and it has turned out to be one of our favorites this season. First, we love how the boxy fit allows us to be super mobile. When doubling a friend on a snowmobile in Cooke City (“girlfriend” style), one tester felt that they could easily reach around her to hold the bars securely, thanks to the roomy arms and armpits. During a particularly sunny weekend (pictured above), we felt the jacket and pants breathed exceptionally well, while other testers were struggling to dump heat wearing other kits, thanks to well-placed exterior thigh vents and the jacket’s Gore-Tex Pro 3-layer fabric. Another excellent feature is a detachable tethered scraper on a zipper sleeve pocket that allowed me to scrape some sticky, icy snow off the bottom of my skis when I needed to put my skins back on. There’s an internal chest pocket to hold your radio, plus a mic loop at the collar and a zipper on the chest to access your radio in the chest pocket. This was really convenient when my backpack was stored at the back of the snowmobile, so I had to keep my radio in my jacket. One ding: Because that access zipper looks exactly like the chest pocket on the opposite side of the jacket, I had trouble differentiating between the two when I needed to quickly put away my phone or other essentials. —Kelly Klein, gear editor

NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 2-Person Tent

$500 at Backcountry $500 at REI

Tents in this weight range (sub-3 pounds) are often rife with compromises—in space, weather resistance, or durability. The NEMO Dragonfly OSMO has it all, and then some. During some nasty-weather testing on New Zealand’s south island, my son and I found the Dragonfly comfortable for two people in a storm with good headroom, two big doors, ample vestibule space, and great storage. It’s easy to set up and packs down into a tidy bundle (19.5 by 5.5 by 3.5 inches) that fits into my overnight pack. But the real reason I’m impressed by this tent is that it’s made with new materials that are free of harmful PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals. For decades, outdoor gear has been dripping in these cancer-causing man-made chemicals that provide excellent water resistance. But due to upcoming bans gear companies have been scrambling to find safer alternatives. NEMO is out front with its new OSMO fabric, which is PFAS-free, 100 percent recycled, and (according to the company) repels water four times longer, stretches three times less when wet, and is 20 percent stronger than similar fabrics. This peace of mind, combined with excellent performance, adds up to some good backcountry sleeping. –Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability and contributing editor

Marley’s Monsters UNPaper Towels

$39 at Amazon

In my ongoing quest to live sustainably, I quit paper towels about a year ago in favor of these 100 percent cotton flannel cloths. What I love: They’re washable, effective, and they cling to each other so I’m able to wrap them around the included tube and house them on a standard paper towel holder for easy access. I did some quick math and estimate that using these rather than buying rolls of Bounty saved me more than $150 a year. I do wish that the 12-by-10-inch towels were a little bigger, but it’s fun that they come in a wide array of colors and patterns. —Kristin Hostetter, head of sustainability and contributing editor

P.R. Gear FloatRun Harness

$12 at P.R. Gear

After years of studying running form, I’ve found that one of the most effective posture cues is to focus on keeping your elbows back. If your arms are swinging mostly behind your torso, your balance will shift forward so that you land more over your feet and push back, rather than reach forward in a braking overstride. Most runners, however, after being cued to drive their elbows back, quickly revert to a habitual forward swing. As a coach, I often have runners place a length of PVC pipe behind their back and in front of their elbows to keep their arms from swinging forward, but this method is intrusive and uncomfortable for many. The FloatRun Harness, designed by Altra Co-Founder Golden Harper, is a gentle and, I discovered this month, remarkably effective postural cue. It took a couple of tries to put it on the first time, but I soon figured out how to wrap the stretchy cord around my shoulders and hook my thumbs in the loops hanging down on each side. Instantly I felt myself standing taller and more forward-balanced, my stride became more compact, with a quicker cadence, and I felt lighter and bouncier. I’ve used it a couple of times a week, mostly on easy days, but occasionally on longer runs and speed workouts, and on every run it comfortably cues my arm carriage without being obnoxious. When I tire and drop my arms too low or too far forward, the thumb loops stretch to allow it, but gently pull back to alert me of my fading posture. I’ve been able to increase my miles with less stress, and the harness, along with some targeted strength and mobility work, is helping counteract the compromised stride patterns that beset all of us due to our mostly sedentary lifestyles.—Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, gear

Feetures Trail Max Cushion Mini Crew

$20 at Amazon  $20 at Running Warehouse

Most of the year I wear the thinnest, lowest socks I can find to avoid sweaty and any bulky cushioning coming between me and my shoes. But in the depths of winter last month, when most runs were in single digits or low teens and on snow-covered roads and trails, I found myself reaching for these thicker, taller, trail socks day after day. I like the against-the-skin feel of some merino and alpaca socks better, but although these are made of a traditional recycled polyester/nylon/spandex blend, they stand out for their exceptional fit. The anatomical left/right design hugged my foot like a second skin and eliminated loose spots and any rubbing even around my weird, long and twisted toes. The cushioning was so well targeted and dense that the socks didn’t feel thick and sloppy even when I was testing performance shoes. The ribbed mini-crew-height cuff kept my ankles comfy from winter winds and when kicking up snow. And the yarn breathed nicely and dried quickly when I worked up enough warmth to sweat in them. —J.B.

Sunday Afternoons Meridian Thermal Beanie

$40 at Amazon

March has already hit my home in western Nebraska with two blizzards (separated by days in the 50s and 60s, which makes the snow days feel even colder). I usually wear thin, breathable, hats to run in, as my head gets hot easily, but when the wind is howling down from the north, blowing thick snowflakes and lowering the temps into single digits, there’s only one thing to wear: a hat with flaps. This version doesn’t make quite as much of a statement as a fuzzy one with a brim (which is a good thing), but it’s just as seriously functional. The stretchy fabric is dense enough to cut the wind and the microfleece lining keeps my ears snuggly warm without excess heat buildup. The hat also has a handy ponytail opening and nifty pockets on the sides to hold sunglass temples in place. When I’m debating whether to run or not to run, just pulling on this beanie helps get me out the door into the storm (where I always settle in and have fun). —J.B.

Tifosi Rail XC Sunglasses

$80 at Amazon  $80 at REI

On any given day in March it can be summer bright or winter grey, often within the same run. This has caused me to appreciate the wide range of tint (from 46 to 16 percent light transmission) on these transitional lenses. I’ve never noticed the tint changing (it happens fast), but I do notice that I have bright, clear vision in whatever light I’m in. The streamlined shield shape provides plenty of protection while being lighter and more breathable than full-sized lenses. The best compliment I can give is that they disappear so well that I’ll find myself still wearing them inside, having forgotten to take them off. —J.B.

Voormi High-E Hoodie

$250 at Voormi

March in New Mexico comes in like a lion, turns to a lamb, then goes back to a lion, then… you get the point. It’s a highly variable month so dressing can be tricky. My go-to this time around was Voormi’s new High-E Hoodie, which is a wool-based midlayer that has other (unspecified) materials mixed in to add abrasion resistance. The entire hoodie gets a DWR coating, the High-E part of the name refers to a hood with a zippered balaclava-like covering that goes all the way to your nose, and up front there’s a little kangaroo pocket for your hands. It’s a piece that’s been in Voormi’s line since the beginning but both the materials and the fit have recently been updated and I found that it was exactly what I needed for playing outside, no matter what. I used the hoodie for cool morning starts on the skin track, commuting to work in the wind on my bike, and for hanging with my kids at the park when the weather would go from blustery to nice in 30 minutes. The 21.5 micron spun merino wool kept me warm if temps were below freezing and I was working hard, but didn’t make me want to yank the hoodie off when the mercury crept up in the 50s. I loved the coziness of the hood, which fits under a bike helmet if need be, and was also impressed with the new colors including a beautiful two-tone green. —Jakob Schiller, contributing editor

Dange Dover Frankie Jewelry Case

$55 at Dagne Dover

If I had a dollar for every time I stuffed a necklace, bracelet, or earring in a not-so-small pocket of my backpack and wondered why it got so tangled, mangled, or lost, I’d have… a lot of extra dollars. I’m usually a pretty organized traveler but for some reason, I can never get my jewelry or other small belongings in order. I found most travel jewelry organizers to either be so low quality they fall apart, or too bulky that I leave them at home. The Frankie jewelry case is my holy grail: small enough that it won’t take up precious space in your bag but is well organized so that nothing gets lost, knotted, or broken. It also comes with a mini dust bag which is perfect for storing products like toiletries. Plus, the company just came out with a ton of new summery colors. —Jamie Aranoff, Digital Editor

Cooling Clouds Undereye Patches

$20 at Makeup Eraser

I love the feeling of an undereye patch after a long day of traveling or being outdoors, but I hate feeling wasteful using them once and then tossing them. The Cooling Clouds undereye patches are great because they’re fully reusable, and all they need to provide a relaxing and cooling sensation is water. When I need to clean them, I just throw them into my wash and they come out as good as new. They’ve also saved me from some pretty gnarly windburn and even help with headaches. —J.A.

Helly Hansen Men’s Elevation Lifaloft Down Jacket

$280 at Amazon  $210 at Helly Hansen

Have you ever owned an article of clothing that seemed to defy the laws of physics? A breathable tuxedo? Stilettos you could wear to play pickup hoops? How about skinny jeans that don’t give you a wedgie? These imaginary items came to mind after I tried on a testing sample of Helly Hansen’s Elevation Lifaloft Down Jacket on a chilly day in February. This jacket is the lightweight puffy that heats you like an expedition parka. The coat has a paper-thin outer layer, and the entire thing feels extremely lightweight—a far cry from the balloon-like puffies I’m accustomed to wearing around Colorado in the winter. Yet, within minutes of zipping up the coat, I felt myself getting so toasty warm that I needed to zip it down to let some heat out. I was wearing little more than a t-shirt underneath, which added to my amazement. I checked the pocket to make sure there wasn’t a battery plug-in for a concealed heater. Nope—the heat had radiated from my body and was simply being captured and held next to my skin by the jacket’s goose down. Since then the Elevation Lifaloft has become my go-to garment for evening dog walks and early-morning outings to the ski resort. I have yet to encounter wind or chill brutal enough to cut through the coat. And whenever I wear it, I find myself searching the thing for a hidden radiator. —Fred Dreier, articles editor

Backcountry Button-Up Long-Sleeve Jersey

$99 at Backcountry  $99 at Competitive Cyclist

I’m a sucker for technical layers that don’t look like technical layers, and Backcountry’s new Button-Up Jersey hits the hell out of that sweet spot. The jersey looks like a date-night layer, but it’s designed for mountain biking with a nylon/spandex blend that’s light as cotton candy and stretchy as a Twizzler. It’s also loaded with a few smart details that have cyclists in mind, like a microfiber sunglasses wipe sewed into the inside of the hem, a zipper tail pocket that’s big enough for your phone, and easy-snap cuffs that you can adjust with one hand. It’s rare when I find a shirt that fits this well—athletic cut so my skinny chicken arms aren’t swimming in material, but stretchy enough to not feel constrained when I’m tucked in over the handlebars. Sure, it’s made for cycling but I’m wearing this shirt everywhere. —Graham Averill, travel and gear columnist

Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Shoe

$120 at Columbia

I know what you’re thinking: “wow, nice dad shoes.” And you’re not wrong, but these dad shoes can handle their business. The Konos is a lightweight, waterproof day-hiker that’s nimble enough to feel spry during a sprint to catch a plane, but sturdy enough to handle a rock scramble to reach a summit. I’ve done both in these shoes this month and am beyond pleased with the results. The shoe is built around Columbia’s Omni-Max footbed, which combines zoned cushioning (plush where you want it, firm where you need it) and aggressive traction for a shoe that’s built for rugged terrain but comfy enough to be my everyday kicks. —G.A.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod

$139 at Hyperlite

I’m obsessive when it comes to my hobbies, and I’ve recently allowed photography to consume my life. But I’m also always backcountry skiing, and what better way to capture action in the outdoors and document my favorite descents than with my mirrorless camera, right? Well, not so fast. Lugging a camera with a big lens in the backcountry can be annoying, and figuring out how to store it doubly so. Enter the HMG Camera Pod, which sits on my chest at all times on the skin track and remains stable while I ski. It’s the perfect way to keep my camera safe, waterproof, and accessible at all times so I never miss a shot. The large pod fits a full frame mirrorless camera and a 24-70-millimeter zoom lens just right, but a longer lens will have to live inside your pack. —Jake Stern, digital editor