Gear & Gadgets
APPLE AIRPODS PRO
Don’t crank the volume in a noisy gondola, at the gym or on a long flight, cancel the background clutter with a tap on Apple’s AirPods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation or “anti noise,” an inverted-phase waveform invented in the ’80s to prevent ear damage in U.S. military pilots. In-ear AirPods Pro ($329) with click-in-place silicone tips for a customized fit offers 24 hours of battery life, pressure equalization on an airplane or gondola, audio sharing with other AirPods and, Hey Siri!, connect to your Apple Watch and iPhone. apple.com
RETT HALF ZIP & PANT
Norway’s Olympic and World Cup champion freestyle skier Kari Traa also knows a thing or two about unique skiwear, starting with the Rett Half-Zip and Pant ($110/$100). Naturally odour-resistant itch-free wool (brushed inside for optimum softness) uses Kari Traa’s functional DriRelease, all in a technical form-fitting design. Get ready for the bumps: karitraa.com
KOMBI OPENER MAGNETIC MITTEN
Mitt meet glove: Kombi’s Opener Magnetic Mitten ($99) effortlessly allows your fingers out to text or fiddle at all sorts of tasks—and then immediately return to their warm home with the help of a quick-closing magnetized flap. Removable liners with Powerpoint Touch come included. kombicanada.com
SAXX
Whether you’re bouncing around in the moguls or skinning uphill under a hot spring sun, non-chafing and soft Saxx gear ($25-$47) with its trademarked BallPark Pouch in Everyday, Adventure and Sport designs will keep your kibble and bits cool and comfortably in place. All the stay-put comfort and 3D design is now in Saxx new Sleepwalker Pant ($65), too! saxxunderwear.ca
COLUMBIA POWDERKEG II DOWN JACKET
Not every skier wants to bulk on multiple midlayers, then a shell, just to stay warm, dry and comfortable in the outdoors when one multi-feature ski jacket like Columbia’s Powder Keg II Down Jacket ($559) in men’s and women’s offers so much. Four-way comfort stretch meets 700-fill duck down insulation while two-way front and under-the-arms zips lock in Columbia’s trademarked Omni-Heat and Omni-Tech trimmings. columbiasportswear.ca
NORTH 45
Warm your face, relax your body. It’s not surprising that North 45 is a Quebec company. Its soft but strong merino wool facemasks and balaclavas range from light to heavyweight expedition ($58-79). North 45 also nailed it with its anti-fog design using a magnetic closure that accommodates your favourite goggles or, new this year, an integrated mouldable nosepiece. north45.ca
from WINTER 2020 issue
