2023 Buyer’s Guide
The folks who make and supply our gear have navigated some nasty patches lately, but skiers can look forward to better conditions ahead.
There’s a reason we ski with our weight centred and hands forward, it’s so we’re ready for the unexpected. The next icy patch, the groomer divot, the deep mogul trough or invisible windlip. When we anticipate trouble we have a chance at staying on our feet.
It’s good advice for life off the slopes, too. Especially these days.
Last January, Ski Canada was planning to head to Denver’s Outdoor Retailer Snow Show. This is the annual conference where ski and outdoor brands launch the next winter’s newest and greatest gear to North America. Omicron had different ideas. For the second year in a row, the announcements were mostly virtual. And that was just the beginning. Container shortages and continued lockdowns in Asia cramped already constipated supply chains. Inflation started to climb and then climbed higher with the war in Ukraine. Service staff was getting hard to find. Shipping a container from Asia costs about a third more than it did three years ago. It’s all driving up sticker prices.
The ski hill often feels like a refuge but you may notice some of the wider world’s problems when you head out this fall to gear up for ski season. We’re not certain what will come next and how it will affect you buying gear this fall, but we’re prepared to make a few guesses.
Fewer travel restrictions will allow ski resorts and retail shops to hire international employees, easing the existing crunch for everything from ski lessons to boot-fitting. Which is good news, because the hills will remain busy. Last winter, many resorts posted record sales of tickets and season passes. That means the demand for gear will remain strong. The state of the supply chain won’t help. Many factories remain behind schedule, so some retail inventory will trickle in through the fall and winter.
The good news is this isn’t our first run. Winter won’t be as bad as it could be. Brands have started diversifying where they get their goods made, including producing more in North America. Shops are also spreading their risk, sourcing gear from more companies than they used to; if one doesn’t deliver, someone else will. And consumers are smartening up, too. We know if we wait until December, we might not find the model we want or the size we need.
For other reasons, shopping has never been better. As the following reviews of new boots, jackets, skis and more show, all those extra skiers at the resort are spurring investment and advances in innovation.
New materials promise to keep us warmer and help us turn more easily. Subtle tweaks to goggle straps and boot buckles might not sound like much but create a noticeable difference in performance. Futuristic visor helmets are all the rage, as are retro turtlenecks, one-piece suits and neon pink—put it all together and it’s quite the look. And of course, the endless search for the perfect ski continues.
The two biggest trends are sustainability and backcountry. In different ways, ski industry leaders seem to finally be taking their environmental footprints seriously. This year the big names are joining the little guys to develop and adopt less harmful practices and materials. At the same time, the unprecedented interest in backcountry-focused gear is influencing the industry as a whole. Advances in weight reduction, comfort and versatility, so important when earning your turns, are trickling into resort gear—to everyone’s benefit.
So, when all the bad news starts to weigh you down, follow another timeless ski tip: look two turns ahead and gear up for a great ride!
PART 1: PLAYING FOOTSIE – RESORT BOOTS
Dalbello Veloce • Rossignol Hi-Speed • Salomon S/Pro • Atomic Hawx Magma • Tecnica Cochisa Pro W
PART 2: FROM CARVING TO ALL-MOUNTAIN
Head Porsche • Montec Moss • Racer AFM Pro Model 4 Mitt • Aleck 006 • Kari Traa Ragnhild Down Jacket and Agnes Ski Pant • Dalbello Green Menace and Green Gaia • Helly Hansen Swift Infinity Jacket • Osprey Arcane AP Duffel • FlyLow Colt Down Jacket • Giro Tor and Tenaya • Smith Gogglesoc • Mountain Hardwear Powder Quest Jacket and Pant • Bollé Eco Blanca • Outdoor Research Snowcrew Bib • Orage Alaskan Insulated Jacket • Stoko K1 Snow Sport, Breath, and Tempo • Heat Ultra • Zeal Hangfire • Kinco 1927KW • Salomon QST • Dragon RVX Mag OTG • Camelbak Powderhound 12 • GoPro Insta 360 Go 2 • MoonBikes • Blackstrap Expedition Hood Balaclava • Polartec Houdini • Buff Tech Bandana • Marmot Orion Jacket and Pant • Bollé Eco Atmos • Darn Tough Lightweight Ski Sock • Fischer One and Two • Odlo Revelstoke PW 150 Top and Pants • POC Levator MIPS • Columbia Snow Slab Black Dot Jacket • Sweet Protection Durden • Dakine Boundary Ski Roller Bag • Auclair Snow Angel • Decibel Backcountry
NEWS: SIT SKIERS GET THEIR OWN CLOTHES • NEWS: MORE XS ARE BETTER • TREND: MORE SUSTAINABLE CHOICES • TREND: RETRO INSPIRATION • TREND: PIMP MY RIDE • TREND: DOING APRÈS RIGHT • TREND: BUG-EYED SUNGLASSES • NEWS: K2 SWALLOWS FULL TILT
Salomon Driver Prime Sigma Photo MIPS • Scarpa 4-Quattro • Tyrolia Protector Binding • Rossignol Essential
