If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience

Winter gear guide, 2021

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Lib Tech Orca

Breach the deep, eat the mank, slay the crud. The Lib Tech Orca does it all. Amazingly forgiving and easy to ride, but also powerful and stable. It has the dimensions of a powder board, but can also carve hard snow and ice. It makes bad snow easy, and good snow a dream! Top of the food chain and top of the test. For sale or rent at Glacier Ski Shop or GlacierSkiShop.com. Recommended by John Adams, Glacier Ski Shop.

Helly Hansen’s Odin Down Hybrid Jacket

Super-packable and designed for mountaineering and touring, the Odin LIFALOFT Down Hybrid is lightweight for the uphill, yet incredibly warm when needed at the top. The jacket features hydrophobic LIFALOFT insulation in areas with the most internal and external moisture, while 800-fill down insulates the rest, including internal dual-baffles.

Darn Tough Hiking Heavy Crew Sock

This trekking sock is ready to go far and, of course, feel good. Heavy full-cushioning provides shock absorption, offers insulation against the elements, and supports under weighty loads. An arch brace holds the sock in place and adds additional support to one of our most comfortable socks. Recommended by Melissa Stowe, Stowe’s Shoes and Clothing.

Merrell Moab 2 Mid

These waterproof hiking boots are comfortable, right out of the box. With durable leathers, supportive footbed, and Vibram soles, the Moab has been worn on the feet of nearly 20 million people since its inception. A bellows, closed-cell foam tongue keeps moisture and gunk out. Recommended by Melissa Stowe, Stowe’s Shoes and Clothing.

Repair Gear

Stuff happens and when it does, the solution lies in GEAR AID products. Renew your gear’s water repellency or repair rips even on silicone-treated material with Tenacious Tape. A timely addition to the product line is a DIY face mask. Doing these repairs at night in a tent? Check out GEAR AID’s new Carabiner Light Kit. Recommended by Eloisa Townsend, GEAR AID.

Slack Country Gear

What I’m most excited about this season is a slack country kit (gear made for terrain off the chair lift, but is suitable for some out-of-bounds hiking) that includes the Dalbello Lupo AX 120 boots, the Line Sakana, and I’ll be quiver killing the ski to mount the binding best suited to the slack country, the Atomic Shift. This is the first year that Backcountry Essentials has brought in Line skis. Recommended by Chris Gerston, Backcountry Essentials.