While most of us are getting prepared to sweat our way through summer, plenty of Aussies are jetting off for snowy escapes overseas instead. We invited a pow-enthusiast from Wild Earth to share her essential snow gear to keep you comfy out there.

 

So many people I chat with have snow holidays on the cards, whether it’s to Japan, the USA, Canada or Europe, it seems like Aussies are skipping town during an already hot summer and heading somewhere cooler. As we’re all getting hyped to get to the snow, here are a couple of important points to remember;

  1. Snow is cold
  2. Snow is wet
  3. Wind hurts

And as much as being in the snow can be fun, it can turn into a miserable day pretty quickly if you’re not prepared. Through some previous poor gear choices, I’ve experienced ripped pants, bibs held together by a paperclip (no joke), and fingers so cold I thought they’d snap off. So before you head north to experience some deep, deep pow, check out the latest range of snow gear from Wild Earth to keep you warm and dry on the slopes.

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Women’s Snow Jacket

1. The North Face Descendit Jacket

RRP: $600.00

 

 

Given that ‘send it’ is in the name, you can count on The North Face Descendit Jacket in snowy conditions. It’s a shell jacket that’s windproof and waterproof and has lightweight insulation for some extra warmth. On extra cold days, it may be best to wear a fleece mid-layer underneath, but for bluebird sunny days, you can open up the pit zips to dump out unwanted heat.

The hood is helmet-compatible if you need to pull it up for extra protection in snowy or blistery conditions.

Men’s Snow Jacket

2. The North Face Chakal Mens Snow Jacket

RRP: $700.00

 

 

The North Face Chakal is a jacket that’s in it for the long run (or slope?). It matches its timeless design with durability so you can wear it season after season with reassurance. The Heatseeker Eco insulation is distributed throughout the jacket where you need it most to stay warm all day long, and the powder skirt keeps snow out of unwanted places.

The hood is helmet compatible and the jacket includes heaps of pockets including a handy ski pass pocket so you don’t have to fumble around to find it or do the awkward half-shimmy half-twist to scan your lift pass in the lift line.

Pants

3. Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant

RRP: $300.00

 

 

The Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pants are designed to keep you toasty warm even in the snowiest conditions with their PrimaLoft© insulation fill. The HELLY TECH© performance material provides two-way stretch and the articulated knees allow for more room so you can get deep into your carves on some fresh corduroy groomers.

The waist is adjustable for your perfect fit and there are thigh ventilation zippers if you need to release some heat.

Bibs

4. The North Face Freedom Bib

RRP: $400.00

 

 

The North Face Freedom Bibs were my go-to this winter season. They were super comfortable and I never felt restricted while riding. Even on heavy powder days or some not-so-ideal sleet days, they didn’t wet through and I stayed dry.

The bibs feature chest pockets where I stored a terrain map, cards, and spare change for a vending machine canned coffee. Like the Helly Hansen pants, these bibs have thigh ventilation zips and gaiters for a snug fit around your boots. I prefer bibs over pants as they provide better coverage, making it less likely for snow to sneak inside my jacket or down my pants when I inevitably stack it in deep powder.

Beanie

5. XTM Scree Merino Wool Beanie

RRP: $49.99

Jerry Seinfeld once joked that someone could go skiing with nothing but a beanie and they’d still stay warm since 75% of body heat escapes through our heads. Now I’m not sure if he’s totally right, but I can vouch that a beanie is a must for cold weather.

The XTM Scree Beanie is made from 100% Australian Merino wool and the classic design goes great with any outfit from the slopes to town.

Read more: Essential Gear For A Snow Camping Trip

Helmet

6. Oakley MOD1 MIPS Unisex Snow Helmet – Dark Brush

RRP: $169.95

 

 

When skiing or snowboarding, a helmet is the single most important piece of gear you could own. The Oakley MOD1 MIPS Unisex Snow Helmet includes MIPS technology which is designed to minimise rotational motion of the brain during an impact.

This helmet features top vents for aeration and the ear muffs are removable for extra breathability. The BOA system allows for a customised and secure fit so you can feel safe to fully send it!

Snow Goggles

7. Oakley Line Miner Goggles

RRP: $207.00

 

 

Another bit of gear that can’t be underestimated is your goggles. If you can’t see where you’re going, it can make or break your day (and potentially break a bone if you run into a tree!). The Oakley Line Miner Goggles are a classic design and allow for maximum peripheral vision side-to-side and top-to-bottom.

Oakley is a favourite amongst many skiers and snowboarders for their Prizm Lens technology which allows you to see the gradient of the slope and any uneven patches of snow with ease. It may sound like this is a given for any goggles, but if caught in a white-out, you can experience ‘flat light’ which means it’s super difficult to see any variation of terrain and therefore, tricky to continue riding.

Oakley has a range of lenses to suit weather conditions with their sapphire or torch iridium for sunny or mixed conditions, and their awesome hi-pink lens for low light conditions.

Mitts

8. Arcteryx Sabre GTX Insulated Mittens

RRP: $290.00

 

 

I’m a devout wearer of mittens and don’t think I could go back to gloves. Not only do you get cool style points for wearing them, but they also keep your hands so warm! Since owning a pair of mitts, I honestly can’t recall complaining about cold hands.

The Arcteryx Sabre GTX Insulated Mittens have a leather upper and palm which makes them durable, particularly as the tips of your fingers and thumb are the areas that take the most wear.

The mitts are Goretex to keep your hands dry and the PrimaLoft insulation will keep your hand warm. There are also loop straps for your wrists so you don’t have to make an embarrassing run because you dropped your mitt while on the chairlift.

Fleece Mid Layer

9. Patagonia Womens R1 CrossStrata Hoody

RRP: $299.99

 

 

On super cold days, you may need a fleece mid-layer for some extra warmth. The Patagonia Womens R1 CrossStrata Hoody is lightweight and the sleek design makes it really easy to layer underneath your shell jacket without suddenly feeling like the Michelin Man.

The unique zigzag fleece is designed to release unneeded warmth to limit overheating while being active. The stretchy material also allows for a great range of movement and on warm days you could use this as your top outer layer with the weather-resistant, DWR-coated material (don’t worry – no PFAS here).

Read more: The PFCs in Your Rain Jacket are Probably Harming The Planet

Thermals

10. Mons Royale Merino Air-Con Tech Hoody

RRP: $169.95

 

As a Queenslander, I get cold when it reaches below 18C degrees, so when I’m in the snow, I wear thermals almost every day. The Mons Royale Merino Air-Con Tech Hoody is awesome at regulating temperature to keep you warm and cool you down when needed.

Merino wool is antibacterial so it’s great for wearing on back-to-back skiing days and you don’t have to worry about doing laundry every day during your holiday.

Read more: What’s So Good About Wearing Natural Fibres in the Outdoors?

Ski Socks

11. Icebreaker Ski+ Medium Over the Calf Merino Socks

RRP: $44.99

 

 

Cold and sore feet may be the number one complaint for any skier or snowboarder, so it’s essential not to forget the importance of socks. The Icebreaker Ski+ Medium Over the Calf Merino Socks provide comfort and support without being too bulky in your boot.

A classic rookie error is to wear two pairs of socks or really thick socks to keep your feet warm, but often this results in your feet sweating and once you have sweaty feet, it gets real cold, real fast. So, it’s best to stick to one pair of good-quality comfortable socks for a fun day out.

Not sure how much to spend? Cheap Hiking Socks Vs Premium Hiking Socks

Backpack

12. Dakine Heli Pack 12L Snow Daypack

RRP: $169.99

 

 

This gear pick goes out to our backcountry adventurers or those of us who want to take extra gear while riding in resorts. The Dakine Heli Pack 12L has the option for a diagonal carry system for skis and a vertical carry system for snowboards, as well as an external shovel carry spot.

Inside the pack, you’ll find a fleece-lined goggle pocket and a laptop sleeve for using the pack off the snow too. 

Check Out Our Skiing & Snowboarding Gear Reviews

 

Header and table of contents image shot by @_jfiske

We teamed up with Wild Earth to put this list together and leaned-in to the expertise and experience of their adventurous staff members. We partner with Wild Earth because they're genuinely working to restore a range of ecosystems, as well as carbon offseting every purchase, using sustainable packaging, and even running most of their warehouse using solar power. No matter where our articles come from, all of our content adheres to our Editorial Standards every single time