Winter

We landed in Zurich on a beautifully warm Sunday morning in mid-April—a stark contrast from the almost winter-like weather we left behind in Montreal. We were greeted inside the hyper-modern airport terminal by Kris and Mark, Mammut representatives doubling as our tour guides for the next 6-days of adventure throughout Switzerland. Our journey had the goal of learning the ins-and-outs of their brand. We’d travel across the Alps to the Mammut headquarters in Seon, and up some of the most iconic ski slopes in Europe.  During our stroll through the quiet, modern city of Zurich, Kris mentioned that, “Sundays were

The countdown has begun for powder hounds who watch weather forecasts wide-eyed and bewildered searching for the first sign of snow in the forecast. Skis and boards readily waxed awaiting their first ride of the new season and new ski and snowboard outfits being picked out to match accordingly. To help you along your way up the mountain, here is a list of Arc'teryx Top Ski & Snowboard Jackets for Men. The Arc'teryx Whiteline collection is sure to please with its variety of colours and the classic technical features and designs winter enthusiasts long for season-after-season. Below are our top

Sorel Caribou Boots—The Rundown Whether it’s Arctic cold, drifting snow, treacherous ice or deep slushy puddles, the Sorel Caribou is up to the challenge. Simply put, these boots just make winter weather irrelevant to the comfort of your feet. Sorel Caribou Highest Rated Styles Sorel Caribou Waterproof Boots Women Shop now Sorel Caribou Winter Boots Men Shop now Sorel Caribou Pros and Cons 9.5 / 10 The pros are: Warm Waterproof High shaft keeps out snow The cons are: Wide footbed Limited arch support On the heavy side Wool-Lined Sorel Caribou Boots Sorel Caribou Wool-Lined Boots Women Shop now Sorel Caribou

Techwear is all about functionality. It applies the principles of technical wear to the style of streetwear. These sleek and modern designs are made to hold up against the elements while giving you the ability to move freely through the city. In the past decade, outerwear companies have been taking their technical expertise and applying them to urban styles. Depending on where you live, the requirements of your techwear gear may differ. For those who live in the city and want functional urban designs that keep them warm and protected when the snow starts to fall, here’s our guide to

Go Far. Feel Good. This is Smartwool’s motto and our own state of mind as we headed to Roger’s Pass, British Columbia at the end of March for a weekend of ski touring. On the drive into the mountains, avalanche warnings for Banff and Kootenay National Parks flashed red. The B.C. sun was unusually strong for that time of year, creating increasingly high snowpack risks on precisely the peaks we were heading to in search of powder. This is the legacy of climate change we’d battle all weekend.  Our ski touring weekend with Smartwool and David Erb of Protect Our

Fall is here and that means ski season is just around the corner. It’s time to start planning your first snowy adventure and to make sure you have all the gear you need to survive the cold. The last thing you want is to have a bad time because you don’t have the proper equipment.  But what do you really need? There are a lot of options out there and sometimes it can be difficult to choose which product is best, especially when it comes to choosing something with next-to-skin comfort. Luckily Smartwool has us covered. Let's Talk Fabrics You’ve

My skis glided along the snow as the T-bar snaked up Blackcomb Glacier. Located in Whistler, British Columbia, the glacier cast an impressive shadow over the mountains and valley below. On a bluebird spring day we got ready to test some of the latest gear from Arc’teryx. It’s part of their quality control process done in the field—vital when designing apparel for the world’s harshest mountains. We strapped on our skins as our guide Chris went over what to do in case of an avalanche. For backcountry skiers, the reward of fresh turns rarely comes without risk. Safety is our

Introducing the Elsa Parka, a made-in-Canada collaboration by Quartz Co. & Altitude Sports, two Montreal-based brands with significant winter outerwear expertise. This women’s parka is our fifth collaboration with Quartz Co.—but this edition is a true co-design that began with a blank slate. Quartz Co. tailored a progressive cut perfect for the lifestyle of their urban clientele. We drew on our experience as purveyors of technical winter clothing, providing detailed input into the overall design, materials, and features. After months of back-and-forth, an all-new exclusive design was created—fusing technical outdoor details to a progressive urban silhouette with inspiration drawn from

When you’re about to embark on a mid-winter adventure, you already know that a merino wool base layer is essential. Over that, you’re likely to choose down or a synthetic-filled insulator for winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing and backcountry trekking. But what about merino wool insulators and mid-layers? Or outer jackets that use this wonderful fiber as their primary insulation? We’re going to tackle the ins-and-outs of effective layering using Icebreaker’s collection of premium merino products. Shop Icebreaker So, what is merino wool? Icebreaker’s merino wool is derived from one of the world’s most ancient breed of sheep that roam

Winter is coming and we have to start thinking about the equipment we need to get for our little ones. One of the most important parts of a winter outfit is the boots. They need to be able to keep their feet dry and warm when the snow starts to fall. They have to be solid and durable to play outside, waterproof to resist puddles, good for the city, and easy enough to put on and remove. Knowing what to look for in a good winter boot is key, and once you've done that, you can check out our most

Every year around this time, I ask myself “What are the best cold weather socks?” In our defence against the cold, a bad pair of socks can often be the chink in our armour.  Here I take a look at the best socks for your winter activities.  Best Ski Socks I once wore the wrong socks for a mid-winter backcountry ski trip. And I mean once! Trying to stay warm and ignore the cold ruined my whole trip. As soon as I got back to town I bought a proper pair of ski socks.  The Icebreaker Ski+ Light socks are

Canada is a Northern country.  Many may not realize this since most of us live along the Southern edge of the nation, but the geographical center of Canada is near Baker Lake, roughly two hours West of Iqaluit.  There’s a whole lot of Arctic in Canada during the winter. My guilty secret is that despite spending a lot of time in the Arctic in other countries, I’d never been to the Northern part of Canada.  I can point to a few reasons for this, mainly that it’s expensive to travel up North in Canada, and getting around is difficult, but

I grew up on the east coast of Canada where the temperature, in the winter, usually sits around -10 to -15 Celsius, and if you want to go ski with your buddies, well you got to tough out the temps. Our review of this product The pros are: Keep your feet nice and toast all day long You can use them to dry out your boot liner during the night Long 8 hour battery life. Multiple heating levels: low, mid, high. Low profile, doesn’t get in the way. The cons are: Have to make sure you recharge them every night

When I was in Nunavut in April 2019 on a project for Destination Nunavut I had an opportunity to go fishing for turbot out on Cumberland Sound, near Pangnirtung and just below the entrance to Auyuittuq National Park.  Spring has definitely started to arrive in Nunavut.  The days are long, and the sun is bright.  The temperatures, however, are still well below freezing and the ice on Cumberland Sound, a body of water more than a thousand feet deep in places, is still plenty thick for ice fishing. I arrived in the town of Pangnirtung via charter plane from Iqaluit. 

It was October. That morning, when I opened my apartment door, the air crackled with cold and it smelled like winter. Fate must have also been lurking in the air. No more than a few hours later, I received a message from my long-time skiing friends, "let’s live our old teenage promise: A Ski Trip to Western Canada!" I'm a believer that you must seize the opportunities that come your way so seize we did! Within the time-span of dinner, an inter-mountain pass shopping session and a 6-hour flight later, we landed in Calgary. What a surprise we had while

While planning a trip to western Canada, I was looking for a pair of durable gloves that could follow me everywhere, no matter the conditions. These are the basic reasons why I equipped myself with the Black Diamond Legend gloves and, after all, I was even better served than expected (until my boyfriend tried them on and didn't want to give them back)! Shop Black Diamond Our review of this product The pros are: Waterproof Gore-tex inserts that wick away moisture Warm yet thin Primaloft lining Unparalleled fit and dexterity Increased durability thanks to sheep leather in the palm and

When something works you don’t mess with it. Update it, sure, but keep true to what makes it a success. Manitobah Mukluks figured out how to keep feet warm in snowy, cold weather by looking back at traditions and techniques from the First Nations peoples of Canada. The demand for this warm, innovative footwear, plus a forward-looking social ethos means a booming company that is a true Canadian success story. Sean McCormick, a Métis from northern Manitoba, launched a venture in 2007 replicating the mukluks he wore as a child. The concept behind Manitobah Mukluks was simple: leverage the sknow-how

This year, I finally got my hand on the infamous Arc’teryx Stinger Bib Pant. After wearing these for over 30 days, it makes me wonder: why doesn't every single skier on the mountain wear bib pants? Whether you’re skiing inbounds, out of bounds, or simply rocking the dance floor at the après, they’re just meant to suit your mountain lifestyle, whatever it is. Shop Arc'teryx Our review of this product The pros are: Minimalist yet very functional Clever features for inbound and out of bound usage Extremely durable (the instep patches are the bomb) The cons are: The suspenders can be

If you are one of the few who isn't ready to let subzero temperatures keep you from enjoying a bluebird day, a pair of heated winter gloves is surely your best winter companion. No matter how well you layer from head to toe, your fingers are vulnerable to the cold so keeping them warm and functional is often a priority. Outdoor Research recognizes the need for being able to use and feel your hands in the coldest temperatures which is why we love their collection of heated gloves. Although heated accessories inevitably come at a higher price point, if you're spending long

Canadian winters have never been kind to my feet.  Managing snow, rain, ice and keeping warm is has been a continual struggle for me.  As a photographer in a small ski town, I find myself hiking through snowbanks to get the perfect shot, needing solid footing and grip to walk my puppy, and above all be a cozy retreat for my toes after long days skiing.  I promised myself I would never spend another winter switching from rubber boots, to mukluks, to riding boots and back again. When my new Bogs Snowday Tall Insulated Boots arrived, I knew I could

“Weather isn’t rocket science, it’s way harder than rocket science” - Robert (our ski guide) Let’s start at the end: Iceland changed my life. I was brought to the land of ice by Smartwool Canada to learn about their Fall-Winter product line. What better place than Iceland to discover and test Smartwool’s merino wool products? A country of extreme weather, extreme emotion, and extreme fun. These three subjects kept popping up on our journey to find the best spring ski lines in the north of the country. The Tröllaskagi Peninsula in mid-April offered an ideal setting to try out Smartwool

Kombi knows cold. Founded in Montreal by the family that still runs it, Kombi has been equipping people against freezing temperatures since 1961. Everyone notices the number of Kombi kids’ mitts keeping little hands dry and warm in the schoolyard. Mittens and gloves for adults are soaring in popularity too. This season Kombi introduces two new lines to their family: Elite and Metro. Shop Kombi Elite for Him and Her Gloves The Timeless - Femme Shop Mitaines la Béatrice - Femme Shop Mitaines The Mentor - Homme Shop Gants Free Fall - Homme Shop The Elite Collection Sports in winter

Full disclosure: I may be wearing the Shashka Pant Bib as I write this review.  They are that comfortable, stylin’ and best of all, breathable! As a new bib enthusiast, my last pair weren’t GORE-TEX, and while they were great to keep snow out of my back, the deep powder skiing I see in BC’s interior ranges would leave my base layers damp, and I chilled.  As a photographer and filmmaker who works in backcountry catski and heli-ski lodges, I needed these. Here’s why. Buy the Shashka Pant Our review of this product The pros are: Made of GORE-TEX® Efficiently

For those who are not familiar with Black Diamond, it is a brand devoted to climbing and skiing with a passion that is showcased in each individual products. From their apparel and accessories to their gear and equipment, Black Diamond products are designed for life on rock, ice and snow. While climbing and skiing are their expertise, Black Diamond is also an expert when it comes to gloves. Whether you're a climber or a skier, their extensive glove collection offers a variety of styles and features sure to meet the needs of individuals in search of technical gear. Shop Black Diamond A post

  With more than 120 years of experience, you could say France’s Rossignol was there when the notion of skiing as a sport began. A foundational ski brand driven by innovation and the pursuit of perfection, Rossignol has greatly influenced the growth of alpine skiing as we know it. Shop Rossignol The Origins of Success Carpenter and passionate skier Albert Rossignol made his first wooden skis in 1907 in his French homeland. It was the birth of a brand. By the following year his prototype won its first national prize. Four years later production went industrial. The skis gained traction

While waiting for the first snow we drove to nearby Vermont for the annual Burton Fall Bash. Come meet the Burton family. Shop Burton “My job is as fun as it ever was, and selfishly, that’s a priority for me. It’s pretty awesome for somebody to do something for forty years and still enjoy it.” – Founder Jake Burton Family and Friends in business since 1977 Burton is a family-run company: Jake Burton & Donna Carpenter are making sure it stays that way, even after 40 years as the world’s premium snowboard brand. Each fall they invite over two thousand people

With winter just around the corner, it's time to trade in the swimsuits and sunhats for snowsuits and toques. When it comes to fun in the snow, Burton knows that it's better when the entire family can join so check out their wide variety of winter products for the little shredders in your family. Shop Burton Youth Collection Girl's Echo Jacket Shop Boy's Uproar Jacket Shop Skylar Bib Pant Shop Spark Anorak Shop Discovering the Burton Youth Collection From lapping your local resort to simply frolicking in the snow creating an army of snowmen, the Burton youth collection is sure to keep

Founded in Sweden in 2005, POC entered the world of gravity sports at the world-renowned ISPO trade show. To this day, ISPO is the hot spot for showcasing the latest trends and technology in sportswear and sporting goods. Needless to say, POC was in the right place to launch their products. At this event, POC shared their mission to provide protection for athletes participating in gravity sports. Although they initially targeted the ski racing, POC's products catered to a range of sports including mountain biking. The brand knew that athletes riding down mountain trails at top speeds needed powerful and effective shielding.

Travelling for work is always tough; said no one ever who went ski touring in Iceland to test out Smartwool's 2018 winter collection. I haven't stopped thinking about this magnificent country since returning. So please, join me on this adventure through my photo journal of the images I took while having the time of my life. To get you as enthused about Smartwool's Fall-Winter collection of merino wool baselayers, ski socks, and insulated apparel, you can have a sneak peek of the trip, the goods, and our experiences. There will be more to come this coming fall when I'll review

When I picked up these Goggles, the first thing I noticed was the ZEISS Brand name on the lense, the same brand I have seen on many quality hunting optics, so naturally, I assume a quality lens on these goggles. Shop MIG Goggles Our review of this product 9 / 10 The pros are: Quality Lens Wide Range of Vision Comfortable Fit Compatible with glasses The cons are: Standard goggle design Foam appears thin in spots   The first few days I brought them out the conditions were cloudy, snowy with visibility that was mediocre at best, the vision of

This season I got to wear the Peak Performance Flat Black Teton ski Jacket. I have to say, the most impressive feature and a statement by far for this jacket is its accurate rating of 100% waterproof and 100% Windproof. Shop Peak Performance Our review of this product 8.5 / 10 The pros are: Amazing high neck line Great X-L size on the hoodie/ such a perfect fit! 100% waterproof/ 100% windproof Lots of pockets Longer length at the back Inner thumb gaiter with adjustable velcro wrist band Powder cuff Great underarm ventilation!! The cons are: Not the warmest jacket

Who doesn't love shredding on a bluebird day with your best friends at your home mountain? Powder days are great but after a long winter, there's nothing better than a spring day on the mountain with the warm sun beaming on your face. Leave the layers at home, whip out your best Hawaiian shirt, a pair of shades and some lightweight gloves and you're ready to shred. Regular ski gloves can be a bit too warm for a spring day on the mountain but below are a few lightweight options that are sure to do the trick! Black Diamond Lightweight Softshell Gloves Whether you're lapping the mountain or