2002 winter sports and apparel buyer's guide: cutting-edge gear that conquers the cold - Special Advertising Section

Sierra, Sept-Oct, 2002

A Minneapolis bike messenger once told me that he routinely rode in temperatures as low as 40 below zero. When I expressed amazement, he just shrugged and intoned a timeless northland mantra: "There's no such thing as bad weather--just bad clothing."

In other words, there's no reason to hibernate this winter--especially given the chill-proof features of 2002's new outdoor gear. Upgraded synthetic, waterproof-breathable treatments and new use of natural fibers (like alpaca) are keeping apparel, footwear, socks, and even down sleeping bags warm and dry no matter how cold it is or how active you are. Clever engineering is making hydration packs cleaner, tents sturdier, and snowshoes more convenient. Below, we review some of this winter's best.

1. CASCADE DESIGN/MSR

Denali Hiker snowshoes $99.95

Want to try snowshoeing but don't feel like blowing $200 on something you might do only a couple times a year? Check the economical Denali Hiker, which has most of the features of the higher-end MSR models in a simpler package. You get the same deck, binding, and crampon; steel traction bars; and steel heel stabilizer, but with a shorter, molded plastic frame that works best on hard-packed snow--and comes only in basic black. 800-531-9531; msrcorp.com

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2. HYDRAPAK

Hydration packs $45-$100

Hydration packs may have revolutionized hydration, but they are dogged by an ugly fact of life: gunk. Bacteria, mold, and other yucky brown and black stuff grow in the bladder. That's why all three of Hydrapak's products use a "reverse psychology" roll-top reservoir, which can be flipped inside-out for easy cleaning by hand or a dishwasher. The handsome lineup includes the immense, snowboard/ ski/snowshoe-carrying Snowstorm (100 oz. bladder; 1500 cubic in. storage; $99); the 50-50 (50 oz.; no storage; $45) designed to fit inside your shirt; and the Hip Sip 70 waist pack (70 oz.; 175 cu. in.; $48). Smart features abound, such as a neoprene hose cover to stop winter freeze and an EasyFlow bite valve, which uses an innovative ball-and-seat mechanism for high water flow. 510-549-0559; hydrapak.com

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3. DAHLGREN

Alpaca Dri-Stride socks $8.50-$9.00

The alpaca--an Andean Ilama--is considered sacred by the Peruvian government, as it was by the ancient Incas who domesticated it. They used the animal for transport, meat, and clothing. Born at 14,000 ft., alpacas can frolic at 19,000 ft. without freezing--all because their fur fibers do not hold moisture, a fact that fascinated Don Dahlgren and made him the first to use alpaca in socks. Since the key to keeping feet warm is keeping them dry, Dahlgren socks use a patented Dri-Stride construction: an alpaca and merino-wool blend in the toe and heel zones, mated with synthetic yarns. The result is dry feet that stay cool in 100-degree desert climes and warm in 20-below mountain climbs. Dahlgren uses alpaca in a number of casual and performance socks, including the severe-weather Expedition. 800-635-8539; dahlgrenfootwear.com

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4. NORTH FACE

Wind-X shirt and pant $125 each

Perfect for fall cross-training, the silky, superlight Wind-X pieces take "base layer" to a new level, using quick-dry Windstopper Next to Skin Fabric and adding features that make them practical as outerwear. The zippered shirt incorporates underarm gussets, cuff stretch fabric, and a turtleneck collar. The pants have an elastic drawcord waist, articulated knees, stretch panels on the waist, and a back zip pocket. The shirt is 225 gr., the pant 270 gr. 800-535-3331; thenorthface.com

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5. PATAGONIA

Core Skin jacket $249

Designed for light, fast mountaineering, climbing, backpacking, and ski touring, the Core Skin is an all-in-one shell-insulation that's wind-and water-repellent, abrasion-resistant, warm, breathable, and compressible. Made of 8-oz. Polartec Power Shield, which laminates a stretch nylon exterior to a single-sided R1 (Polartec Thermal Pro) polyester, it includes a waterproof zipper, vertical chest pockets, interior cargo pouches, a draw-cord waist, and Velcro[R] cuff closures. A removable between-the-legs strap keeps the jacket from riding up during climbing and other activities. 800-638-6464; patagonia.com

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6. SIERRA DESIGNS

Hercules AST tent $399

"The Strongest Tent in the World" is quite a claim, but Sierra Designs thinks it can back it up. The Hercules AST two-person, four-season tent (dimensions: 58 w x 861 x 41 h) weighs a scant 7 lbs. 15 oz. and won't blow over in a 100 m.p.h. wind, says Sierra Designs--and won't collapse even if you lay on top of it. That lightweight strength comes from ultralight fabrics and poles and several support innovation: Arch Support Technology (AST), which braces the tent poles low to the ground, and the patented Jake's Corner, a fully removable structural element that lightens the tent by eliminating the need for the main poles without deformation. Along with internal guys and Clip Locs, which lock pole intersections, they stop the pole rotation that flattens much heavier tents. 800-635-0461; Sierradesigns.com