Snowsport "Extras"

Last week we talked about the basics of layering for snowsports. This week, let's talk about those little "extras" that make a ski trip that much more enjoyable.

Goggles: I love my goggles and won't go skiing without them, even night skiing. The protection they give me from the wind is needed and much appreciated. You can try the sunglasses route, if you like, but I found I needed the coverage of goggles to keep me from ending up at the bottom of a run with streaks down my cheeks from the wind-caused eye-watering.

Hats: Unless it's particularly warm, you need a hat. Nothing special here, just different styles and materials. Some are wool, some are fleece, some have Gore Windstopper, some don't.

Balaclavas or Neck Gaiters: Balaclavas cover the head, neck, and face, but allow for multiple configurations depending on conditions. Neck gaiters are just tubes of fabric to keep your neck warm. Again, different styles and materials. My personal configuration for my head is a neck gaiter and hat overlapping my ears and kept in place with my goggles.

Gloves: Waterproof and insulated. Look for ones with goat leather palms for grip and a soft nose wipe for the sniffles. Glove liners are optional, but if you find your hands to be cold more often than you like, they can only help.

Socks: Specially made ski socks incorporate padding on the heel and ball of your foot and your shin. The shin padding is especially welcome. Merino is the material of choice for its warmth and moisture management. If you need more warmth, we have some mountaineering socks that are cushioned all around. Again, sock liners are optional. Make sure you size your ski boots to the thickness of socks you will be wearing. Nothing can freeze your feet faster than constricted blood circulation.

Hand and Toe Warmers: If you can never seem to keep your hands and feet warm enough, and good gloves, socks, and boot fitting don't work, these are your best friends. They come in packs and, when exposed to air, they get some good heat going. The toe warmers are a little smaller and usually have an adhesive side so you can stick them above your toes in your boots.

That's a good list to get you going, if you have any questions or want to talk about your latest trip, just come by one of our shops!