Category: Ski Clothing

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Review of the Helly Hansen Powderqueen 3.0 Ski Jacket

Using the Helly Hansen Powderqueen 3.0 in Pila. Photo: The-Ski-Guru's husband.

I have got a new ski jacket this winter, the HH women’s Powderqueen 3.0. At first look it looks like a cool city jacket but is great for the slopes!

I have been using this jacket all winter long so far, in London when it was negative temperatures, as well as in Aosta, where it was also super cold! In London I’ve used it under lots of rain in my outings to the park with my dog, and I can tell you that it repels the water very well.

When skiing in super cold days, I’ve used a mid-layer and that was great to survive in the minus 5 C winds on the chairlift! But I’ve also used it in other cold days without and it passed the test. I am a person that suffers a lot the cold really! More with age!

Ciaspolata in Pila. Photo: The-Ski-Guru's hubbie.
Ciaspolata in Pila. Photo: The-Ski-Guru’s hubbie.

The jacket has a high collar that is great to close on cold lifts. I like that the jacket is longer, like a parka, and it fits very nice. The Powderqueen jacket also has a powder skirt that is compatible with the HH ski pants (don’t have them, so I cannot tell you about that), but the skirt closes well and keeps you dry in the eventuality of a fall or if you are skiing in deep powder (not that I had any deep powder yet, and also, I am rubbish at skiing in deep powder… just a little detail!)

The jacket has a battery pocket that keeps your phone battery warm and working for hours, which is a lovely feature. There is a RECCO device on the fabric.

There is a sleeve pocket for your ski pass, a mesh internal pouch for your goggles or beanies and two big pockets on the sides, one with a wiper for your lenses, which is always very functional.

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Review of the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket.

Wearing the Helly Hansen ULLR jacket. Photo: Gemma Johnstone.

I had the chance to try the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket all this summer and autumn. A great light jacket for all your outdoor adventures, also for skiing when you are skiing up the mountain, as it protects you without the bulk. If you are a bit of a cold bunny, you can always wear a mid-layer for colder days!

The Helly Hansen ULLR jacket, as photographed in Courmayeur.
The Helly Hansen ULLR jacket, as photographed in Courmayeur.

I love its colour, it special pocket to preserve your mobile battery, and the zips you have under your armpits that you can open when you start getting hot going up the mountain.  The pockets are well located and have a good capacity.

I have yet to use it skiing, but in the summer in my hikes, and under torrential rain in all my trips, it worked perfectly well.

Continue reading “Review of the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket.”

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Review of the ULLR D Shell Ski Jacket by Helly Hansen

Ozzy with the Helly Hansen ULLR jacket. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

I had the chance to get a Helly Hansen Men’s ULLR D Shell Ski Jacket from a trade event organised by Ski Press at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

It is too big for me, but I have still used it a lot in London, as I have yet to go back to the mountains for the summer. I got this jacket in May!

Helly Hansen ULLR jacket. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Helly Hansen ULLR jacket. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

London had a very cold and wet summer – if we can call this summer! I have used this jacket pretty much every day to go to the park with my dog, and I have cared less if the weather was not good.

As this jacket is a Men’s Large (and I can use a Women’s Small or Medium), this is more like a raincoat to me. Nonetheless- for days when rain is coming side-ways, I am covered! This jacket is really waterproof and wind proof- I have tried and tested it on many days this “summer”.

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New technical underwear of UYN for the GB Ski Team

Dorothea Wierer, Dominik Paris and Federica Brignone in UYN Thermal underwear. Photo courtesy UYN.

UYN has unveiled its new technical underwear for the GB Ski Team. The athletes of nine other national ski teams: Italy, Austria, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Spain, China and the Austrian Freeski Team, together with the GB Team help the UYN engineers improve this line of underwear.

UYN, the Italian brand launched in fall 2018 by Trerè Innovation, an Italian company based in Asola (in the province of Manua). UYN stands for “Unleash Your Nature”. and is pronounced phonetically as “Win”.

 

The UK Ski Team is sponsored by UYN Technical underwear. Photo courtesy UYN.
The UK Ski Team is sponsored by UYN Technical underwear. Photo courtesy UYN

The new technology launched by UYN is called Natyon 3.0 and it features the innovative Natex bio-fibre derived from castor beans. Compared to traditional petroleum-based synthetic fibres, Natex has made it possible to reduce underwear weight by 34% and increase elasticity by 4% for greater precision and improved movement control.

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What to Buy to Get Ready for the Ski Season

Going up the gondola, one happy child - Photo by The-Ski-Guru - Pila, Aosta Valley.

It is starting to snow (and rain) in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a sign that the ski season is coming around the corner! This is a list I have done quickly of what you should think of getting, if you are planning to go skiing.

If you are a seasoned skier or boarder, you must have all your equipment, even though sometimes you want to upgrade something. If you are starting, this is a good guide of what to think to be warm in the mountains. And how to keep your family happy and warm…. Nothing is worst than having a crying kid because is cold!

I am putting all items you can find on Amazon, for a fast easy shop.

And here is a link for some coupons on Amazon, on the Capital One Shopping site. 

My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio. 7 things that can help you when taking kids skiing.
My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio.  What to Buy to Get Ready for the Ski Season.

Merino Base Layers

Nothing helps you better to stay warm than a thermal layer. I love merino as it keeps you warm and dry, and it does not stink as quickly as other materials. It is also cool for summer, so a great material!

Another thing to think, to keep happy feet, is to get at least two or three pairs of ski socks – so you can alternate during the week (more if you do not have a washing machine!)

You also want to have a warm head. Heat leaves you fast through your head and your extremities (feet and hands). So here is a selection of beanies – I prefer wool to synthetic ones, but that goes with taste. A beanie is also useful if you wear a ski helmet (it is obligatory for kids to wear helmets while skiing). If it is very cold, you can add the beanie under the helmet.

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Ski Apparel Review: the Maier Sports Vroni Slim Ski Pants

Maier Sports Ski Pants Review- Ski Apparel Review
I’ve had the chance to try some ski apparel and equipment on my last trip to the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. This is the indoors ski slope north of London. This review is of the pair of Maier Sports Vroni Slim Pants I have used there.
Maier Sports Vroni Slim Ski Pants. Photo Courtesy of Maier Sports.
Maier Sports Vroni Slim Ski Pants. Photo Courtesy of Maier Sports.
 
Skiing in Hemel Hempstead, is literally skiing in a fridge, and I was cozy and warm with them. I’ve found them super comfy,
with a high waist. The waist is higher in the back with good padding, (so if you tuck you are not showing your bum line!)

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Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.

Arc'teryx- Gear Review- Base Layers Women and Men.

Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Now that the weather is finally changing, for those of you that love being in the outdoors, same in the lowlands or in the mountains, nothing better than being prepared with some good top layers. I do love them, and I have purchased lots of different brands over the years. I like for example Orthovox, Icebreaker, and also Arc’teryx.

I will focus this post on what Arc’teryx has to offer for the season. I love all what I see of this brand for all kind of seasons, even their casual wear. It is not cheap, but it is highly technical, and I do prefer to have less things but better quality- as I realise that I always use the same! So, I invest in fewer pieces of better quality. I like their minimalist lines and their design is top notch.

Shop Women’s Base Layers

  • Vertices Hoody – this is designed for cold weather and has specific snow sport features, such as the balaclava style hood that can easily go over the head and under a helmet or used as a neck warmer.
Detail of the hoody of the Vertices Hoody top- Arc'teryx. Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.
Detail of the hoody of the Vertices Hoody top- Arc’teryx. Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.
The Vertices Hoody for Women. Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.
The Vertices Hoody for Women. Gear Review: Arc’teryx’s base layers for the season.

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Picture Ski Clothing for Kids – Grows with them!

Picture Ski Clothing for Kids – Grows with them!

Picture Ski Clothing for Kids – Grows with them!

You know how much it costs skiing and all you need to purchase to get your family kitted to going skiing. Now, you can get some cheap brands that are good enough, or maybe you want to splash out on a good brand. But then your kids grow up too quickly and you have made an investment that is not recovered– unless you have younger siblings to pass the clothes to and take advantage of it!

Slope jacket. Picture Ski Clothing for Kids – Grows with them!
Slope jacket. Picture Ski Clothing for Kids – Grows with them!

And it is great if you can find some decent brand for your kids, as you want your kid to be warm on the pistes. If you have very cold temperatures and your kid is wet and cold, he can ruin all the family’s day out. Skiing is very costly as to let this happen!

I was the other day visiting the dry slope at Chatham Snowsports Center and I pop into the  ski shop, and these jackets from Picture caught my eye.

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Shred-Dog stands for High Performance Kids’ Snow Gear with Incredible Value.

Shred-Dog stands for High Performance Kids’ Snow Gear with Incredible Value. Photo courtesy of Shred-Dogs.

Shred-Dog a brand for High Performance Kids’ Snow Gear with Incredible Value for their Parents.

As a parent of growing kids that loves to go skiing and exposing them since little, one thing you recognise is that they grow out of their clothes too quickly. If you do not buy clothing a bit large, you will need to purchase another kit the following ski trip!

So, when I was contacted by the people of Shred-Dog I’ve thought that this was something interesting. As they are a direct-to-consumer brand from Colorado, Shred-Dog focuses exclusively on Kids’ Gear – offering a mix of performance, technical features and great value.

As a winter sports lover, I know that if you kit your kid with average winter clothing, they might be cold and cry a lot when you are outdoors and ruin the day for everyone. I do believe in having good kit for them, but the renown technical brands are too expensive for a growing kid.

This reminds me in how you can buy intelligently ski boots for your kids and have them for some years with Roces Ski Boots.  (Roces Ski Boots expand with your kids’ feet! – another brilliant idea!)

So Shred Dog launched its first collection of high-performance winter apparel for boys and girls from three to fourteen years old.

Marc Dietz with his son Ryker with the Flatirons near Boulder. Courtesy of Shred-Dog. Shred-Dog stands for High Performance Kids’ Snow Gear with Incredible Value.
Marc Dietz with his son Ryker with the Flatirons near Boulder. Courtesy of Shred-Dog. Shred-Dog stands for High Performance Kids’ Snow Gear with Incredible Value.

What’s Different about SHRED DOG™?

Premium Features: SHRED DOG products include premium features typically found only on adult gear, including higher waterproof/breathability ratings, full seam-taping, thigh and underarm vents, 3M™ Thinsulate™ body-mapped insulation, and more.

Adjust-a-Fit System™: The company has also introduced an industry-first innovation called its Adjust-a-Fit™ system. Unlike one-way adjustments on the market that require ripping a seam, SHRED DOG jacket sleeves and pant legs can extend to grow with the child but also retract for hand-me-downs to a younger sibling or simply customizing the fit.

Dallas Moore enjoying the outdoors - Photo courtesy of Shred-Dogs
Dallas Moore enjoying the outdoors – Photo courtesy of Shred-Dogs

Direct-to-Consumer Pricing – SHRED DOG’s model of selling directly to the consumer enables the company to finally deliver the perfect balance of elite performance, kid-centric features, and a lower price previously not available in the outdoor apparel market for kids.

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Patagonia Worn Wear campaign is a radical idea to encourage recycling.

Patagonia Worn Wear EU Winter Tour Dates - Photo by Patagonia

The Patagonia Worn Wear is a trade-in campaign organised by Patagonia, which accepts Patagonia clothing that functions perfectly and is in good condition. When you take your good quality, used Patagonia gear, the store will give you credit to use in their stores.

The Worn Wear Clothing comes from our closets and garages, maybe they just have a small thing to be repaired, and are just collecting dust. Patagonia repairs the items and cleaned them using CO2, which saves water and energy compared to traditional methods.

Patagonia Worn Wear tour.
Patagonia Worn Wear tour.

Patagonia has always being a social responsible company and they think that we need to reduce our impact in the planet producing high quality garments that will last for years, and which could be repaired, so you do not need to buy anything new.

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