Winter Sports & Apparel Buyer's Guide - Buyers Guide

Sierra, Sept, 2001 by Roy M. Wallack

Hi-tech gear democratizes the cold

Once upon a time, the only people who dared to recreate in the winter were the grizzled hardcore -- the kind who almost seemed to live For hardship. Frostbite? Didn't scare them. Reeking socks, shirts, and underwear from days of showerless camping? No problem -- made 'em feel manly. Primitive snowshoes and cross-country skis that took years to master? treat -- that kept out the riffraff.

Well, technology has a way of democratizing most things, including the great outdoors when it's cold, wet, and blanketed in snow. Recognizing that millions of average folk don't want to stay inside watching I Love Lucy reruns anymore, outdoor-gear makers have cranked up the innovation machine. New this season: self-adjusting jackets that warm up or cool down to keep your temperature even; the first snowshoes with step-in bindings; Fat, side-cut, cross-country skis that let novices turn and climb hills on day one like experts; stink-free baselayers; and ultralight sleeping bags that keep you toasty below zero.

The result? The hardcore crowd will certainly get more company this winter. And when they notice how much nicer everyone smells and how much easier their gear works, they might not consider that a bad thing.

JACKETS

1. LL BEAN

Mountain Grid fleece jacket and vest $89 and $75

Layering pieces that function equally well alone or under a shell are rare because they require two often mutually exclusive qualities: exceptional warmth and minimal bulk. The Mountain Grid jacket and vest, made of an exclusive, lightweight fleece with a heat-trapping grid pattern, have both. Built with two waist pockets and a chest pocket, they're streamlined for layering with flat-lock seams, Lycra on the cuffs and vest armholes, elastic hem cinch cord, and nylon pocket welts and exterior collar. 800-809-7057; llbean.com

2. PATAGONIA

Dimension jacket $225

Forget layering as we know it. If you favor high-exertion activities in cold, relatively dry weather, Patagonia advises you to do something radical: Chuck the age-old shell-and-insulation orthodoxy for a single jacket -- the Dimension, part of the company's new Regulator "Soft Shell" line. Worn over an underwear baselayer, this hooded jacket can stay on during 80 to 90% of your winter backpacking and biking because it won't drown you in sweat like a typical waterproof-breathable (which often stays buried in your backpack for that reason). The Dimension is made of a quick-drying, Encapsil-treated, stretch-woven nylon/polyester that is extremely breathable and sheds light rain. It includes two zippered handwarmer pockets/vents, a Napoleon zip pocket, an adjustable roll-away hood, velcro wristbands, a drawcord waist, and a removable, between-the-legs elastic strap to keep the jacket in place during climbing and deep powder days. 800-866-4595; patagonia.com

3. COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR

Phase-Shift parka $270

Clothing that thinks? Believe it. The Phase-Shift has warm, lightweight insulation that is impregnated with Outlast, microcapsules that seek thermal equilibrium. Working as if they were temperature-regulating microchips, Outlast absorbs your body heat when you are working hard, keeping you cooler, and releases heat back to your body when the external temperature gets colder. The parka is also loaded with great low-tech features, too: a seam-sealed nylon shell, a pullout hood and quick-draw cord, pit-zips, venting chest pockets, and a quick-draw hem. 800-maboyle; columbia.com

4. WOOLRICH

Trekker vest $90

Woolrich's new TechnoWool X (for Xtreme) Series are jackets and vests made for rigorous, cold-weather backpackers, mountaineers, and rock climbers. Although specifically constructed to minimize permeability to outside air and efficiently hold body heat, the X Series maintains wool's natural ability to wick away body perspiration and provide insulation when wet. The rugged, 16.3-oz. Trekker vest is made of an 85% TechnoWool/15% Nylon blend, and includes two zippered waist pockets and a comfy microfleece inside collar. 800-995-1299; woolrich.com

5. PaRAMO DIRECTIONAL CLOTHING

Aspira jacket $400

One look at its twin-zipper front panel tells you that the PaRAMO Aspira pullover is a unique waterproof mountaineering jacket. A master of temperature control designed to keep you dry and cool, it starts with a waterproof-breathable liner of Nikwax Analogy fabric and adds plenty of ventilation: the twin front zips, two upper-arm zippers, the front chest zip, and cuffs that can be slid up to mid-forearm. It includes two internal, zipped, dry pockets; a roll-away adjustable hood with wired peak; reinforced double-layer shoulders for carrying heavy loads; a two-inch drip skirt and scooped tail; full shoulder and arm articulation; and an external map pocket. 1-866-276-3229 paramo.co.uk

6. KELTY

Helium jacket $200

The Helium is Kelty's most popular jacket for a reason: It works. Designed to protect active users in foul weather, this hooded shell is lightweight (21 oz.), waterproof-breathable (due to Gelanot, a Gore-like laminate), and full of convenient features. A no-ride-up underarm gusset lets you raise your arms without lifting the jacket body, adding comfort while carrying a backpack. Fully taped seams stop leaks in a downpour, and pit zips keep you cool. It has two zippered hand pockets, an internal security pocket, an adjustable drawcord hem, and a beaked hood with two adjustment mechanisms for a custom, non-vision-blocking fit. 800-995-1299; kelty.com