thirteenth November 2024 | Alf Alderson – Gear & Gear Editor
In our first gear edit of the season Alf Alderson checks out Peak Efficiency & Helly Hansen clothes and ski touring backpacks. NEW
PEAK PERFORMANCE EDGE INSULATED JACKET £375 www.peakperformance.com
The Edge is a frivolously insulated two-way stretch jacket which works nicely for each freeride and piste snowboarding.
It comes with an uncommon, revolutionary characteristic in that the decrease sleeves, beneath the elbow, might be zipped off for added consolation in heat situations.
Every sleeve can be embroidered with ‘Proper’ and ‘Left’ to ensure you don’t put them again on the fallacious means spherical; fairly how a lot use most individuals will get from this characteristic I’m undecided nevertheless it’s a pleasant little add-on.
The Edge has fairly a unfastened match and comes with a generously sized, insulated and fully-adjustable helmet-compatible hood.
Beneath sits a pleasant, excessive microfleece-lined collar, so the wind and snow ain’t getting in right here simply.
The climate can be stored on the surface by the jacket’s breathable, windproof and waterproof material.
It’s totally seam-sealed and in addition handled with PFC-free DWR (sturdy water repellent), together with wrist gaiters and adjustable cuffs and hem.
Two good-sized outer zippered pockets together with a zippered ski cross pocket, an interior stretch stash pocket and safety pocket present loads of space for storing.
There’s no powder skirt nor pit zips, however when you can reside with out them the Edge ought to serve you nicely for many in-bound ski adventures.
VERDICT: A flexible, well-made and fairly priced ski jacket from Peak Efficiency.
Mens Peak Efficiency Edge Insulated Jacket £375 – picture © Peak Efficiency
PEAK PERFORMANCE EDGE INSULATED SKI PANTS £320 www.peakperformance.com
Designed to go together with the Edge jacket, these frivolously insulated pants have a relaxed and articulated match for nice consolation and freedom of motion.
Manufactured from a two-way stretch material that’s totally seam-sealed, wind- and waterproof with optimized breathability.
They characteristic a Velcro-adjustable waist plus belt loops and cargo pockets on every leg.
They fasten with press studs, and the right-hand pocket has a helpful interior mesh telephone pocket; notice that there aren’t any hand or rear pockets.
There are generously-sized, robust Cordura reinforcements on the hems together with snow gaiters on what are a reasonably primary however very comfortable pair of ski pants.
VERDICT: Good trying, snug ski pants which have the additional benefit of being insulated.
Peak Efficiency Edge Insulated Ski Pants for males £320 – picture © Peak Efficiency
HELLY HANSEN ODIN BACKCOUNTRY INFINITY SHELL SKI PANTS £450 www.hellyhansen.com
Aimed firmly on the backcountry touring crowd (because the identify suggests), the Odin Backcountry Infinity Shell Pants are supremely light-weight and breathable.
They provide nice freedom of motion; however you’ll have to put on a layer below them in all however the warmest situations, as they provide minimal insulation.
Constructed from Helly Hansen’s newest incarnation of their well-established, waterproof/breathable LIFA INFINITY material.
The pants are nonetheless sturdy regardless of their gentle weight and can take loads of stick.
Options embody:
An built-in, detachable light-weight belt,Two zippered thigh pockets, one with a helpful D-ring on your beacon,Good building together with articulated kneesA crotch gusset for added consolation, andFull-length thigh air flow zippers for glorious cooling on ascents in addition to ease of taking over and off over ski boots.
You additionally get a strengthened insteps on the underside hem to withstand ski-edge and crampon tears.
Plus, after all, snow gaiters – just about all the pieces you want in a pair of backcountry ski pants and nowt you don’t.
VERDICT: Tremendous light-weight, very comfortable ski pants particularly designed for ski touring.
Helly Hansen Odin Backcountry Infinity Shell Ski Pants £450 – picture © Helly Hansen
HELLY HANSEN ELEVATION INFINITY SHELL JACKET £680 www.hellyhansen.com
Helly’s Infinity shell jacket is a dear little bit of package, nevertheless it does have all of the important options any critical skier is prone to require in a ski jacket.
Helly Hansen likes to level out that it was ‘constructed with enter from skilled ski patrollers’.
It options the extraordinarily waterproof/breathable and eco-friendly LIFA INFINITY PRO membrane to supply long-lasting water-repellent efficiency with out the usage of chemical compounds.
The unfastened minimize means this can be very snug and simple to layer up beneath.
The adjustable, helmet-compatible hood offers nice safety in foul climate, additional assisted by the jacket’s excessive collar with cosy brushed tricot chin guard.
It comes with simply the correct array of pockets.
Two zippered chest pockets (the left of which options PrimaLoft Aerogel insulation to assist protect battery life in your beacon or telephone),Two zippered hand pockets,A zippered elevate cross pocket on the left sleeveA small zippered inner safety pocket which sits above a generously-sized mesh stash pocket.
Extra options embody wrist gaiters, Velcro adjustable cuffs and an adjustable hem, however there isn’t a powder skirt; that mentioned, I at all times discover these to be of restricted use.
VERDICT: An excellent-looking, rugged shell jacket with well-designed options all through – however at a value.
Helly Hansen Elevation Infinity Shell Ski Jacket £680 – picture © Helly Hansen
LIFESYSTEMS DUAL-PALM HANDWARMERS £34.99 www.lifesystems.co.uk
If you happen to get chilly arms – which might make a distress of your day’s snowboarding – these nifty little handwarmers from Lifesystems might be a game-changer.
What’s extra, additionally they have an influence financial institution characteristic, so your telephone or transceiver might be recharged on the go ought to it require it.
The handwarmers have a cut up magnetic design which lets you heat each arms with out having to have them subsequent to one another.
This additionally makes them simpler to stow in a pocket or backpack.
There are three warmth settings that are indicated by a LED show, so you may modify the hand heaters to the perfect temperature for you and the situations you’re in.
They heat up inside a number of seconds on the contact of a button to ship warmth for as much as nine-hours and they are often recharged from both the mains or by way of the provided USB cable.
VERDICT: A neat and easy answer to chilly arms – the concept stocking filler this Christmas!
Lifesystems Twin-Palm Handwarmers £34.99 – picture © Lifesystems
GREGORY VERTE 18 DAYPACK £140 www.gregorypacks.com
This light-weight daypack has some nice options designed particularly with winter use in thoughts.
Such because the insulated hydration harness sleeve which makes use of closed cell foam to assist preserve hydration hoses from freezing – very helpful contemplating how necessary it’s to maintain hydrated at altitude.
As well as, you may connect your hydration bladder rapidly and securely in its sleeve utilizing the pack’s ‘Speedclip’ hanger.
Clearly, as a winter pack there’s a storage compartment for avy gear.
Tthis is on the entrance of the pack for fast entry, behind which sits the primary compartment, accessed by a full-length zip so you may simply get to all of your package.
A facet zippered pocket supplies safe storage and permits easy accessibility whereas using a chairlift, and there’s additionally a prime zippered stash pocket.
I notably favored the elasticized hipbelt, which stretches to permit for a super-comfy carry and uninhibited motion, however comfortably tensions to your physique to supply assist.
It’s really been designed like a goggle strap to remove webbing tails flapping about, and the shoulder strap webbing can be contained, each serving to to keep away from hang-ups on chairlift rides – not a superb factor, as I can attest from private expertise.
Different ski-specific options embody a snow shedding again panel, and a ski/snowboard carry system which has the choices of diagonal carry or A-frame.
You can too lash a snowboard or snow sneakers to the entrance carry system.
VERDICT: A thoughtfully-designed pack with stacks of options particularly integrated for skiers.
Gregory Verte 18 Daypack £140 – picture © Gregory Packs
HELLY HANSEN ODIN AT40 SKI TOURING PACK £190 www.hellyhansen.com
The Odin AT40 has been designed particularly for longer ski excursions, therefore the 40-litre carrying capability and its wire body for improved stability.
It’s constructed so you may rapidly take away your skis and securely connect them to the pack diagonally with out taking it off.
If you happen to’re not in a rush likelihood is you’ll determine to take away the pack to connect your skis just because it’s simpler.
This additionally offers you the choice of attaching your skis in A-frame configuration.
A entrance avalanche security pocket options built-in slots for stowing your probe, shovel, and shovel blade, in addition to a mesh zippered pocket for different necessities.
A devoted ice axe attachment factors and a helmet holder are situated on the entrance panel.
The principle compartment is accessed by an enormous zippered prime lid and/or what Helly Hansen described as a ‘trapdoor’ zippered again panel.
This lets you additionally open the underside of the pack for straightforward entry to stuff on the backside.
Amongst the heaps of different helpful options are:
A zippered pocket on one facet of the hip beltA webbing gear loop on the otherA zippered facet pocketA Recco reflector
For these emergency conditions there’s a bottle opener integrated into the ski carry carabiner clip – important!
VERDICT: For large days out or multi-day ski touring journeys the Odin AT40 is nicely price testing.
Helly Hansen Odin AT40 Ski Touring Pack HELLY £190 – Picture © Helly Hansen
OSPREY FIRN 18 DAYPACK £140 www.osprey.com
The Firn is aimed toward skiers who wish to transfer quick on their backcountry jaunts, that includes because it does a vest-style match.
This lets you entry a ingesting bottle/telephone/skins and different bits and items by way of elasticated pockets on the straps.
You possibly can simply entry the decrease a part of the primary compartment while carrying the pack by way of facet pockets.
In addition to even having the ability stow/take away your skis when you’re ambidextrous sufficient utilizing the Firn’s ‘lasso’ system.
It’s a good suggestion however I’ve a sense most individuals will find yourself taking the pack off to get at their skis until they are surely in a tearing hurry.
The vest-style match implies that the Firn sits cosy in opposition to your physique giving a really steady carry.
The principle compartment is cut up so you may retailer avy gear on the rear and the remainder of your stuff within the entrance, though there’s no storage facility for a ingesting bladder.
There’s additionally a zippered mesh safety pocket.
Different options embody:
A prime compression strap which doubles as an ice axe stabiliserA strengthened ski loop with garageDual axe/pole attachmentsA removable helmet holder
All of which provides as much as loads of very helpful technical options on this little pack, which is good for quick and lightweight day journeys.
VERDICT: A neat little daypack which is filled with sensible options.
Osprey Firn 18 Daypack £140 – Picture © Osprey
ACTIVO P1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER £399 www.activostyle.com
If you happen to wish to journey along with your music (who doesn’t?) this über-cool digital audio participant (DAP) is nicely price testing.
Manufactured by South Korean audiomeisters Astell & Kern, the Activo P1 supplies as much as twenty-hours of excellent high-quality music playback with no lack of high quality.
It’ll virtually definitely improve your listening expertise to the purpose the place you hear notes and sounds beforehand missed in your different playback gadgets.
It additionally means you’re not sacrificing your telephone battery to hearken to your music.
It has a fantastically easy and trendy design, and makes use of an intuitive system of triangles, circles and squares for the intentionally simplified person interface.
Even first-time customers can familiarize yourself with the P1 rapidly and comfortably.
Options embody:
Twin-band Wi-FiA pre-loaded Google Play Retailer, permitting you to obtain and set up the preferred music apps to stream out of your favorite platforms,64GB of inner reminiscence with microSD assist for as much as 1.5TB for downloading from streaming companies, or importing out of your private library, so that you don’t want to fret about space for storing.
It’s additionally designed to be customisable, with a variety of personalisation and sound profile choices.
This contains helpful little touches just like the management buttons on both facet of the participant being formed.
Customers can inform the distinction between every button by contact alone, though to be truthful that received’t work when you’re attempting to function the P1 in ski gloves.
That mentioned, you’re virtually definitely going to need to take away your gloves to make use of it.
Extra tech options of the Activo P1 embody:
A 4.1” HD touchscreenBluetooth 5.3 with assist for 24-bit wi-fi playback utilizing LDAC or aptX HDPD 3.0 quick chargingFull MQA decodingCrossfeed, with Roon Prepared assist additionally quickly to come back pending completion
VERDICT: An excellent-stylish means of taking sounds of the very best high quality wherever you go; and it’ll save your telephone battery too.
ACTIVO P1 Digital Audio Participant IGITAL £399 – Picture © Activostyle
Gear Overview – picture compilation © PlanetSKI
