Soft Shells are a great piece of clothing to have in your outerwear arsenal. They can offer so many of the waterproof/breathable options of a hard shell, but in stretchier and often more breathable versions than their hard shell counterparts. Stretchy, breathable, it's like a good pair of underwear, but better.

The Motto Jacket is a descent-inspired soft shell offering maximum weather protection for bitterly cold ski days. The fully waterproof Ventia soft shell fabric sheds snow, while the clean-finished, seam-taped interior slides comfortably over layers. And for those blustery days when a helmet is not enough, a helmet compatible hood can add a second layer to your wind protection to keep your brain thawed out on the coldest of days.

The Mithril Jacket provides ultimate protection when you're trolling about in cold, wet conditions. Also constructed of waterproof Ventia soft shell fabric, but this time with exterior seam tape for a different look, and a great ability for shedding wet snow and preventing soak -through. A great all round jacket that you could wear to work, just as you could while working your way up or down a mountain.

The mountaineering inspired Alibi Jacket is a combination of different materials strategically placed in all the right places ( Ventia Hybrid ). Tough, weatherproof fabric is used on the hood and shoulders where the elements hit hardest, a warm soft shell lower body holds in core warmth while providing breath-ability, and stretch fabric along the torso allows easy, unrestricted movement for the longest reaches. They say the long reach is for climbing, but we think it could also be very useful for those long reaches for a cold beer in the snowbank after a day out with your friends. This is a jacket that will out work you before you are able to outwork it.

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You can find a lot of the OR gear at Outdoor Adventure Gear in Kelowna BC. ( See Below )

Outdoor Research has been in the outwear business for a long time, and a frontrunner for sure. New to their lineup over the past couple years is the Sidecountry Ski line. Same OR quality and Infinite Guarantee, just with new features like powder skirts, lift ticket holders, music player pockets, and more. The little types of things you would use Catskiing, Heli skiing, or at your local ski hill, as well as doing laps in the backcountry. Just don't ask it to pay the rent, or help you find a used car. That part of the ski bum lifestyle is up to you.

The sidecountry line features a few jackets that have light insulation, but are still highly breathable. Great for those days where you stuck hanging on a frozen chairlift, waiting for the operations guy to get the chairlift running again, and you on the ground. The Igneo Jacket and pants are a mainstay in this line that we can see ourselves using for years to come. Cold weather calls for things like waterproof/breathable 2 layer Pertex Shield fabric and a front zipper with a storm flap. The Pertex outer fabric sheds snow and water like a hippy vegetarian running from a Burger King, while the outer layer also stands up very well to abrasion and tears. We just spent two days brushing through some early season trees, and not one hole or tear was to be found. And if we can't break it, we think you will do just fine with it.

The Igneo Pants, like the jacket, have strategically placed insulation to keep you warm in all the right places, yet adjustable ventilation to help you stay cool when hiking up past the lift for that fresh line. The pants and jacket both feature a relaxed, sidecountry fit, as well as integrated RECCO reflectors for added safety. If you are looking for one set of clothing to take you in many different directions, then the Igneo line is for you.

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If you are a person who is always a little on the chilly side when the weather turns winter, we recommend putting this jacket on your Christmas this this season. The Transcendent Hoody from OR is the toastiest jacket we have tried to date. And it's heat to weight ratio is off the charts. When wearing this garment, you have to look down to make sure you are indeed wearing something!

The Transcendent Hoody comes in an array of colours along with the standard Black or Grey. The colours are awesome though. They really make it easy to find a person in a crowd on on a cloudy day. And hey, why not bring a little colour to your collection this winter?

Fashion and warmth this jacket has in spades, but it also is tricked out technically too. Outdoor Research has constructed the Transcend Hoody with a form-fitted and adjustable hood, napoleon stash pocket, super light ripstop shell and a lofty 650 down fill.

So if its a day out on the down, packing for a winter trek or layering under a shell, this jacket is a great gift to put under the tree this winter.

For more info on the Transcendent Hoody, check out the Outdoor Research Website

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Underwear, not exactly the kind of thing you put on your Christmas list yet you always inevitability get some. It seems to be the default gift from grandparents, an estranged Aunt or a thoughtful and practical Mother. Well, this year we can help them help you with our Icebreaker Pure Merino GT 260base layer recommendations.

Icebreaker continues to step up their game and innovation every season. Last year we skied in the Bodyfit 260 base layers and loved it. This season Icebreaker has added a little more Lycra (they must have founds some Lycra sheep...) and more contoured stitching. Having a few ski days in already this La Nina season we can say from experience that these garments wear exceptionally well and do not move around on you, instead they move with you. Halfway through the first ski day I had to remind myself I was actually wearing a base layer!

The 2011/2012 GT 260 Icebreaker Pursuit Legless and Pursuit Zip Crew are to perfect choice for undies this Christmas. Not only to they wear better, they are finished with some more detail for those Apres Ski engagements. Featuring finished sleeves and collars along with some detailed styling to add just enough colour, these woolies live up to the test.

For more info, check out the Icebreaker site and your local Icebreaker dealer.

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When your head is cold you are cold. Stop heat loss dead in its tracks.  Whether you need a simple toque or a full on face protection system.

Windproof Hat, need I say more? The OR Storm Beanie is a wool/acrylic blend with a Windstopper fleece lining to keep your head toasty on the coldest of days.

The Moto Cap combines urban style in a warm winter cap made of warm 100% Merino wool, with a soft fleece lining and TransAction headband for comfort and moisture management. Stay warm and look stylish, well, we can tell you the hat will.

If you ask a Ninja, we think the Frostline Hat would be his hat of choice. A water-resistant outer fabric keeps out the elements, while fleece provides warm, wicking insulation. A zip-out face mask and fleece-lined earflaps provide adjustable protection from biting wind and snow, and the foam brim snaps up for greater visibility when you're eyeballing the route ahead.

• OR Moto Cap OR Moto Cap
• OR Frostline Hat OR Frostline Hat
• OR Frostline Hat OR Frostline Hat
• OR Storm Beanie OR Storm Beanie
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Gloves and hats may be some of the smallest articles of clothing you own, but they make the difference between an awesome ski day, and spending time in the lodge trying to thaw your hands out. Nobody goes inside because they say, "I can't feel my abdomen!" But fingers and ears are a different story.

I love all leather gloves for the comfort and warmth, and the Crave Glove delivers. Even after a long day on the snow, if you're wearing the these gloves, you'll still be pining for powder. Built with the waterproof protection of a Ventia insert and the supple dexterity of all-leather construction, and constructed with FlexAction™ articulation that matches your hand position while skiing, these gloves are the ultimate in under-cuff comfort.

Leather, Gore-Tex, and Primaloft, the only thing that the Warrant glove is missing is a feature that makes you ski better. This is a bombproof glove with a leather palm that ensures a firm grip on your pole, even while wet, and articulated, compression-molded padding protects your digits from impact as you bust through the trees.

The Stormcell will be your best companion on those milder days when you are slogging through the slush, and beg for a glove you don't have to wring out. With quick-dry, synthetic leather Clarino palms and fingers for greater tactility - especially in wet conditions - and stretch woven fabric with a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex insert, the StormCell will keep your hands dry and happy all day long.

Get your Wool on! The Flurry Glove has a wool/nylon exterior that pulls moisture away from the skin, while the soft fleece interior provides the ultimate in cozy, warm comfort. Palm and finger grips also help you hold on to your coffee as you use these comfortable liners to drive to the local hill to catch first chair.

The ultimate tool in versatility in moderately cold conditions is the Stormtracker glove. Low-profile Windstopper Soft Shell fabric deflects biting gusts, and a tricot lining retains valuable heat. We liked the feel of them a lot, although they do fit a bit snug, so you may want to go up a size. If you are looking for a durable, nimble glove that performs well in moderately cold conditions, the StormTracker is for you.

This is just a taste of the OR glove collection.  Many of their styles come in both men's and women's versions.  You could easily find a pair for everyone on your list.

• OR Stormtracker Gloves OR Stormtracker Gloves
• OR Flurry Gloves OR Flurry Gloves
• OR Stormcell Gloves OR Stormcell Gloves
• OR Crave Gloves OR Crave Gloves
• OR Warrant Gloves OR Warrant Gloves
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This holiday season, give the gift of safety to the powder enthusiast on your list.  Over the past few years, avalanche airbag systems have grown rapidly in popularity, and we can see why. The float line from Backcountry Access helps to greatly reduce the chance of burial in an avalanche, and that is the key. The most time consuming and labour intensive part of an avalanche rescue is the excavation of someone under the snow surface. By keeping you on top of the slide, float packs help minimize this part of the rescue. This should never take away from the need for education, training, and having the proper gear, but it is another amazing tool in your toolbox.

The Float 18 is a new addition to the Backcountry Access float pack line. The pack is slightly smaller, but the 150 litre airbag system is the same in the Float 18, 30, and 36. Affordability and a smaller profile design make this pack ideal for the sidecountry and mechanized ski crowd, as well as people looking for a minimalist approach to their gear. Offering 18 litres of gear storage and essential features such as internal shovel and probe pockets, helmet and diagonal ski carrying systems, and an optional snowboard carrying system, this is pack takes you from adventures on the backside of the ski hill to your next Catskiing expedition.  BCA utilizes a highly efficient compressed air system that is easily refilled at you local shop, such as Union Cycle in Kelowna, so there are no worries about buying expensive refill cartridges once the airbag has been deployed.

Check out the whole line of float packs from Backcountry Access online and find nearby retailers here.

Check out the Video of the Float 18 being deployed ( Just below the gallery ).

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Outdoor Research is an industry leader when it comes to gear storage and dry bag technology. Combine that with the fact that everything OR makes comes with an infinite guarantee, you can't go wrong. So, whether you are throwing gear in the back of a snowy pickup, or making a bootpack to the summit, OR has a number of options that would look great under your Christmas tree with a big bow.

The Dry Peak Bagger is an ultra lightweight, weatherproof bag designed for quick pushes up the mountain. This will keep your gear dry and fit comfortably, all for a very affordable price. Simple, straightforward, that's what we like. Even the name says it all. You wouldn't buy a Wet Peak Bagger would you? Didn't think so.

The Drycomp Summit Sack is a versatile bag with multiple functions. It works as a waterproof compression bag for storing jackets, sleeping bags, and other gear. Then, when needed, the compression straps turn into shoulder and waist straps for a unique, roll top backpack. Who said you're too old to get transformers for Christmas?

When you need extra features like compression straps and a mesh pocket to accommodate a hydration bladder, you need the Drycomp Ridge Sack. A waterproof roll top closure, combined with comfortable mesh shoulder straps make this a great daypack choice. Waterproofness and strength are made possible with radio frequency welded seams. We don't even know what that means, but we're pretty sure it has something to do with lasers. Awesome!

For more info on these and other dry bag storage options, check out Outdoor Research online.

• OR DryComp Summit Sack OR DryComp Summit Sack
• OR DryComp Summit Sack OR DryComp Summit Sack
• OR DryComp Ridge Sack OR DryComp Ridge Sack
• OR DryComp Ridge Sack OR DryComp Ridge Sack
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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

As the Christmas season approaches, we know that you are extremely busy. You have skis to wax, leg squats to do, and smelly long underwear to dig out of the closet.  Since you may have less time for that critical Christmas shopping, the crew here at Catskiing.ca want to help you out with some gift ideas for the powder enthusiast on your list.

Over the next couple weeks (or until we run out of ideas), we will be posting great gift ideas that are sure to satisfy the ski bum you are shopping for, even if it's yourself. No sweaters from grandma here, just high quality ski gear to enhance your season this winter. We have some great pictures and video of new gear from Icebreaker, Outdoor Research, and Backcountry Access. So grab some eggnog, put up the mistletoe, and stay tuned to the Catskiing.ca 2011 Christmas gear guide.

We just picked up a pair of the new 2012 Moment Jaguar Sharks in 192cm. As soon as we saw the name of this ski and the beautiful top sheet they were on order. 

They are not mounted up quite yet so we will have to get back to you with a review a little later in the season but we can say that we have been very impressed with the 2 pairs we have in our current fleet (Donner Party and Ruby).

All Moment Skis are Handmade in the good ol' USA, Reno Nevada to be exact. Moment uses 95% domestically sourced materials and FSC-certified wood cores.

What is the scientific purpose of this ski?  Revenge!

Check out the full line of 2012 Moment Skis.  If you would like to demo some Moment Skis in the Kelowna Area check out Union Cycle.

Moment Demo Skis at Union Cycle Kelowna

• 184cm Bibby Pro (2012)
• 180cm Tahoe (2012) 
• 180cm Ruby ( 2010 w/ touring bindings)
• 170 Sierra( 2010 w/ touring bindings)

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