Backpacker assembled a team of editors and testers to see what gear could hold up the best through the entire winter season. After strenuous testing, here are the products that were able to achieve Backpackers coveted stamp of approval.
Mountain Hardwear
Ozonic 65 OutDry Backpack
A completely waterproof, full-featured, lightweight, comfortable multiday backpack. When you’re gearing up for long days and heavy loads, The Ozonic 65’s fully waterproof body is ready to handle the most heinous conditions with a three-layer OutDry membrane that keeps contents dry in any conditions and an ergonomic design for continuous comfort.
Shop Ozonic 65 OutDry Backpack
Patagonia
Dual Aspect Hoody
The Patagonia Dual Aspect Hoody is a hybrid midlayer that does double duty as an outer layer in milder conditions, combining warm, stretchy and breathable Polartec Power Dry fabric with a Patagonia exclusive shelled Polartec Power Shield fabric for robust protection and durability.
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Arc’teryx
Zeta LT Jacket
The Arc’teryx Zeta Lt Jacket is a leightweight, packable, waterproof / breathable jacket for hiking and trekking. Supple Gore C-KNIT backet technology offers excellent next to skin feel.
UCO
Titan Stormproof Matches
Conquer any condition with UCO’s beefiest, longest-burning windproof and waterproof matches available. Titan Stormproof Matches measure over four inches long, sport a burn time of up to 25 seconds, will fire up in the harshest of conditions, and will relight after being submerged in water.
Giro
Range Snow Helmet
The revolutionary new Range Snow helmet design utilizes a 2-piece shell and truly integrated fit system to create an adaptive fit helmet with Conform Fit Technology that literally forms to every rider’s head shape by expanding and contracting wit the turn of a dial.
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Marker
KingPin 13 Ski Touring Binding
The Marker KingPin was developed for a wide range of skiing environments for the veterans looking for a new light weight ride. A pintech toe piece brings the binding pivot point a lot closer to your toes than other framed AT bindings. The KingPin heel stays connected to the ski with each step and this saves an immense amount of energy of the course of a long tour.
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Dynafit
Radical ST 2.0 Ski Binding
The death knell for frame bindings. The Radical ST 2.0 is the evolution of the Radical ST. It offers simple operation and increased safety due to the rotating toe piece, at last making the frameless system accessible to every ski tourer. The Radical ST 2.0 means that no valid argument remains for a frame system.
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Atomic
Backland Carbon Light Ski Boots
The brand-new Atomic Backland Carbon Light boots make touring much more efficient and a better experience for everyone – pros and rookies alike. What makes them really stand out is the way they move: they offer an impressive range of motion that feels so natural, it’s epic.