PlanetSKI Gear Review #3 Winter 2025/26

seventh December 2025 | Alf Alderson – Gear & Gear Editor

In our third gear evaluate Alf Alderson exams Osprey and Deuter luggage, Ski Jackets from Schöffel, Jöttnar & Helly Hansen a pair of POC merino tights and the Cardo packtalk coms gadget. NEW

OSPREY MOUNTAIN BOUND BOOT PACK £100 – Osprey.com

It’s a typical tip for ski travellers to take their ski boots as stick with it baggage in case the airline ‘loses’ them after they go as maintain baggage and Osprey’s Mountain Certain boot pack makes that each one the extra handy, in addition to trying fairly trendy too.

It’s constructed from sturdy, extremely waterproof NanoTough cloth, so it should take some hammer.

It has loads of room in the principle compartment for a pair of ski boots, while leaving sufficient area that you might even cram in a light-weight jacket or different helpful carry-on too.

You may stash your helmet and goggles above the ski boots in a separate zipped compartment, which is admittedly helpful as ski helmets are all the time a ache to pack/carry.

There’s but extra space for storing in a soft-lined high zippered compartment for stuff like telephone, sun shades and different small equipment, and there’s an inner zippered mesh pocket in the principle compartment, that may be accessed by a facet zip.

The pack is well-padded to guard all of your gear, and there’s each a sturdy harness/hip belt together with padded seize handles for lugging it about.

Plus, I preferred the additional little contact of a padded shoe-changing mat that’s additionally included for comfortably taking your boots off within the parking zone.

VERDICT: A very well-designed and handsome boot pack that additionally has room to hold loads of different journey necessities.

Osprey Mountain Certain Boot Pack £100 – Picture © Osprey.com

DEUTER FREERIDER PRO 32+10 SKI TOURING PACK £190 – Deuter.com

The Deuter Freerider Professional is without doubt one of the finest ski touring/ski packs we’ve used lately.

It presents a great deal of nice design options together with the power to extend the capability from 32-liters to 42-liters by extending the roll-top closure.

It’s a little fiddly to entry your package by way of this, to be trustworthy, however that is overcome by way of a really simply accessible giant zippered opening which additionally offers entry to the principle compartment.

Inside the principle compartment there’s a hydration sleeve, while all of your avy gear will be carried in a separate compartment on the surface of the pack, and goggles, skins and so forth. go right into a zippered high compartment with a divider, one facet of which is fleece lined; there’s additionally a moist compartment for used skins and the like.

As well as, there’s a complete stack of exterior carrying choices, together with facet and diagonal ski attachments, ski pole/rope/ ice axe/snowshoe attachments and a removable mesh helmet holder/provider; and if all that isn’t sufficient there are additionally small zippered compartments on every hip fin.

The pack’s cloth is snow and moisture resistant, and in use the mixture of a versatile Delrin U-frame and ergonomic and well-padded shoulder straps and hip fins makes for a snug, secure carry.

VERDICT: A wonderful, versatile and well-designed that works for every little thing from simple days out or prolonged multi-day excursions.

Deuter Freerider Professional 32+10 Ski Touring Pack £190 – Picture © Deuter.com

When you’re primarily into resort snowboarding and like to put on an insulated jacket somewhat than a shell, the premium high quality Schöffel Skuta is effectively value testing.

It combines high-performance weather-beating stretch outer materials with thermal-regulating insulation and engineered tailoring for a heat, snug match regardless of the situations, and comes with all of the options you’re more likely to want.

The outer is constructed from Venturi four-way stretch cloth, which presents excessive ranges of waterproof and breathable safety with nice freedom of motion, whereas PrimaLoft Gold insulation offers assured low-bulk heat and the jacket’s full stretch lining together with 3D mesh spacers within the shoulders additional improve the match; the Skuta additionally has totally taped seams and the jacket’s important cloth is recycled nylon.

The detachable, insulated hood is helmet-compatible, under which mesh-backed pit zips assist regulate your physique temperature on hotter days.

There are 5 zippered outer pockets – two chest, two hand and a carry cross pocket on the left sleeve – and also you additionally get an inside zippered safety pocket and a mesh goggle pocket so in the event you want to ski with out a daypack there’s loads of area to retailer all of your equipment.

The weather are stored at bay because of a stretch, zip-off powder skirt, heat, cozy wrist gaiters and totally adjustable hem, cuffs, neck and hood.

In brief, the Skuta is a well-designed and engineered ski jacket with all of the options you’re ever more likely to want.

VERDICT: A high quality insulated ski jacket for resort/leisure skiers.

The Schöffel Skuta Ski jacket is obtainable from Ellis Brigham right here >>

Schöffel Skuta Jacket £599 – out there from EllisBrigham.com – Picture © Schoffel.com

CARDO PACKTALK OUTDOOR DUO SET £400 – EllisBrigham.com

The Cardo Packtalk Outside Duo lets you talk hands-free with out the necessity for web or cell phone reception.

You don’t want to fret about being nailed by pesky roaming expenses once you’re overseas and making an attempt to remain in contact together with your ski buddies each on and off the slopes.

You may join with between one and 15 different Cardo customers through a Bluetooth unit that clips to your helmet and includes of a discrete microphone plus good high quality JBL headphones to make sure clear audio.

The unit additionally allows you to hearken to music out of your telephone and reply calls palms free, it has a spread of as much as 1km between two customers and as much as 5km when connecting a gaggle, and an enormous plus, it may be operated with gloved palms.

Construct high quality is superb and in use the unit is mild and sufficiently small that it doesn’t get in the way in which – in truth you’ll barely discover you’re carrying it when you get used to it being connected to your helmet.

Options embody quick charging and a ten-hour battery life when totally charged.

The unit is totally waterproof and can function in temperatures from -20˚C as much as 55˚C.

I assume the Cardo is a little bit of a ‘Marmite’ ski accent – you’ll both adore it or hate it – and there may be, in fact, the security points which are raised by customers being faraway from the encompassing setting if all they will hear as they ski is their mates chattering away or their music, however that however it’s a neat, well-designed little gadget that may enchantment massively to techy sorts.

VERDICT: A straightforward and handy approach of staying in contact together with your ski buddies, listening to music and avoiding roaming expenses.

The Cardo PackTalk Outside Duo Set (£400) is obtainable from Ellis Brigham right here >>>>

Cardo Packtalk Outside Duo Set £400 – out there from EllisBrigham.com – Picture © cardo.com

[PlanetSKI will be taking a set out to Canada to test this Winter. We’ll report back once we put it through its paces.]

JÖTTNAR FLOYEN HOODED SYNTHETIC INSULATED JACKET £289 – Jöttnar.com

It’s nice to discover a piece of ski gear which you can additionally use throughout the remainder of the 12 months, and for different actions.

Jöttnar’s Floyen jacket is simply that, working as a chilly climate mid-layer or a nice-looking standalone piece for hotter situations.

Constructed from Pertex Quantum, a 50 denier quadruple rip-stop recycled nylon cloth with PFC-free sturdy water-repellent therapy.

It additionally has a 100g/m2 artificial fill in the principle physique, sleeves, collar and facet panels plus 80g/m2 artificial fill within the hood, offering prompt heat when used as a mid-layer, while its mild weight (430g) and straightforward packability imply you possibly can shortly and readily stash it in your pack when not in use.

Options are pretty minimal and embody the aforementioned shut becoming under-helmet hood (not adjustable), stretch cuffs, anti-snag hem draw cords with glove appropriate pulls, harness and rucksack appropriate zippered, fleece-lined hand pockets and a zippered inner safety pocket.

VERDICT: A top-quality, handsome and versatile mid-layer/standalone garment.

Jöttnar Floyen Hooded Artificial Insulated Jacket £289 – Picture © Jöttnar.com

The Ridge Infinity Shell has been designed with enter from professional skiers, and you may see that within the well-thought-out options (and plenty of ‘em) that it has.

These embody a totally seam-sealed, three-layer development utilizing HELLY TECH Skilled and LIFA INFINITY materials to offer sturdy waterproofness and breathability, with a unfastened match for straightforward layering.

Sensible particulars embody a helmet-adjustable hood and excessive collar with anti-chafe chin guard, pit zips, a removable powder skirt, and a number of pockets together with a big chest pocket to accommodate radios or bigger telephones and Helly’s insulated ‘Life Pocket’ to increase telephone battery life within the chilly together with a telephone leash, plus RECCO reflectors for searchability.

It’s a great-looking, well-built piece of package that may enchantment to severe skiers for whom practicality is as vital as value.

VERDICT: A rugged ski jacket that may endure some severe motion, however at a premium value.

HELLY HANSEN RIDGE INFINITY SHELL PANTS £450 HellyHansen.com

Created from Helly’s famend breathable and waterproof Lifa Infinity cloth with a PFC-free DWR end, these light-weight, unfastened match, articulated pants are perfect for extra strenuous ski touring and backcountry snowboarding.

The excessive waistband is adjustable and in addition comes with giant belt loops, under that are two giant cargo pockets.

The precise pocket is zippered and has an inner transceiver D ring, the left has a Velcro flap closure (observe that the pattern we have been despatched had no hand pockets, which can not go well with everybody).

Zippered vents on the outer legs aid you regulate your temperature on hotter days.

A generously-sized scuff pad protects the hems, while there’s a built-in Recco reflector on the suitable leg and, in fact, inner snow gaiters – just about all you want (aside from perhaps hand pockets) on an amazing pair of light-weight, cool-looking shell pants.

VERDICT: A terrific choice in the event you’re trying to transfer quick and lightweight by way of the mountains.

POC MEN’S MERINO ¾ TIGHTS £90 – poc.com

Sure, 90 quid is lots to pay for a pair of – ahem, tights – however this merino providing from POC is somewhat good…

The tights provide ‘race-inspired options’ corresponding to a twin layer of material over the entrance of the knees for further heat the place it’s wanted most, and four-way stretch guaranteeing they transfer with you thru an entire vary of movement.

Constructed from a Merino mix with over 80% wool, the tights present efficient thermal regulation and wick moisture away out of your pores and skin, and so they’re sewn with as few seams as potential for max consolation towards your physique, even, apparently, underneath a tight-fitting race go well with do you have to ever be required to don such a garment.