The Best Ski Gear of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Shell Jacket

Outdoor Research Carbide Jacket

$181 at Amazon $164 at REI $329 at Backcountry

The Outdoor Research Carbide Jacket’s versatile, three-layer shell perfectly withstood our waterproofing tests, and we love its masterful balance of warmth and breathability. It’s ready for the backcountry with a superb range of motion and well-placed vents when airflow is needed. In addition to protecting your skin from the elements, the jacket keeps belongings safe and secure in pockets armed with watertight zippers. There’s no shortage of storage space, and adjustability at the hem, cuffs, and powder skirt allows for a custom feel. We appreciate the roomy fit for leaving ample space for layering, but if you prefer a silhouette on the slimmer side, you may want to look elsewhere. Overall, the Carbide’s performance was particularly impressive given that it was on the lower end of the price spectrum among the jackets we tested. We were impressed by both the men's and women's versions.

Best Insulated Jacket

Helly Hansen Alphelia Ski Jacket

$475 at Amazon $475 at Zappos View on Hellyhansen.com

The Helly Hansen Alphelia, which goes by the Alpha 4.0 for men, is packed with style and functionality. Although it has a fitted, sporty look, the top-of-the-line insulation doesn't fall short on warmth. We love that the hood is removable to shed weight on bluebird days or in a suitcase, and when the blizzards rolled in, the high, fleece-lined collar was hugely helpful for face protection. Skiers who prioritize pockets will appreciate having a battery-saving pocket, a pocket equipped with a goggle shammy, a pass pocket, and an inner pocket for valuables like keys and cards, among others. Recco reflectors to assist rescuers earn points for safety, while underarm vents and buttery soft wrist gaiters with thumbholes provide extra hand protection.

Best Jacket, Runner-up

Stio Shot 7 Down Jacket

$649 at Stio.com

Our skiers who prefer insulated jackets with a bit of extra coverage, a roomier fit, and Stio’s vibrantly polished look swear by the Shot 7 Down. Smooth outer fabric covers a luxuriously soft interior, which includes an impressive 800-fill down that makes it lightweight and warm. We were perfectly comfortable in this jacket during frigid ski days in Vermont, Wyoming, Canada, and upstate New York while wearing minimal layers underneath. When we needed to cool off, dual zippers on the underarm vents and front of the jacket allowed for precise airflow. Spacious pockets abound, including one on the right arm for ski passes, two dump sleeves big enough for water bottles, hand pockets lined for warmth, and an internal zipper pocket we like for securing cards and phones.

Best Ski Bag

Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller Bag

$300 at Amazon View on Publiclands.com $300 at Bloomingdales

Incredibly spacious, waterproof, and tough enough for the roughest terrain out there, the Thule Roundtrip Ski Roller Bag is our favorite way to transport gear. The wheeled bag has room enough for two skis and much, much more, with dedicated spots for clothing and a host of handy extras. There’s a pole slot, a padded divider that can separate pairs of skis or be used for extra protection on your bindings, a zippered mesh pocket to help organize, and two tip pads that double as waterproof stuff sacks for wet or dirty clothes. The zig-zagging zippers are another genius touch, preventing skiers from having to frantically dig around the bag to find something in a pinch. We love that the hardy wheels take on icy bumps with ease, and sturdy handles in all the right places make it easy to carry the packed bag up and down stairs. A reinforced section at the bottom also helps prevent sagging and makes for smooth rolling. When it came to standing up against the elements, the Roundtrip Ski Roller kept all of our sweaters, thermals, and pajamas dry whether it was sitting in the snow or stuck on the tarmac in the rain.

Best Boot Bag

Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag

$140 at Backcountry

As for carrying boots, we were immediately blown away by the premium feel of Backcountry’s backpack. Although it’s more than roomy enough to fit all of our gear for a weekend ski trip, the bag has heavy padding and a sternum strap for weight distribution that makes it comfortable to carry. It’s loaded with vents to help dry out wet gear, a flap that we love using as a waterproof changing mat, and a heap of pockets for everything from goggles to water bottles. Despite the generous size, we had no problem fitting it in an overhead bin on a plane.

Best Shell Pants

Stio Figment Bib

View on Stio.com

If you're looking for a good ski bib, the Figment Bib won us over with a stretchy, highly customizable construction. The adjustable suspenders and waist allowed us to tailor it perfectly to our bodies for peak mobility, and we were particularly impressed by how comfortably it fit around our curves. It's also breathable despite 20K/20K waterproofing, with lengthy vents to help out when you work up a sweat. There's tons of storage space, including an inner pocket, a pocket with a key ring, hand pockets, and deep thigh pockets for bigger stashes. Topping it all off with recycled materials, Stio made us very happy customers. It's available in both women's and men's sizes.

Best Insulated Pants

Helly Hansen Men's Legendary Insulated Ski Pants

$200 at Amazon $200 at Backcountry View on Hellyhansen.com

The Legendary Insulated Ski Pants performed flawlessly during our snowshoeing excursion in the Pacific Northwest. We were impressed by how well they retained heat without feeling overly stuffy or inhibiting movement. The seam-sealed fabric proved to be entirely waterproof, and an adjustable waist and belt loops help athletes achieve their perfect fit. Helly Hansen’s variety and size range are also admirable here: The Legendary Insulated Pants are available in eight colors and sizes small to 4XL for men and XS to 3XL for women.

Best Men's Gloves

Swany X-cell Men's Gloves

$170 $108 at Amazon $180 at Backcountry View on Swanyamerica.com

Your hands and fingers will be the first things to suffer from the chill on a frigid day, so a reliable pair of gloves can mean the difference between enjoying run after run uninterrupted and needing to warm up in the lodge every hour or so. The Swany X-cell gloves are made of tough-yet-supple leather on the outside and a moisture-wicking interior to keep you comfortable when sweating. Not even a drop of water made it to our hands when we held them under a faucet with these gloves on, and they feature a zipper pocket on the top to carry hand warmers or other necessities. Women’s sizes are also available.

Best Women's Gloves

Outdoor Research Women's Carbide Sensor Gloves

$130 $120 at Amazon View on Outdoorresearch.com

The gloves from Outdoor Research's Carbide line impressed us just as much as its jackets. They're made from a mix of fabric and leather materials, and the touchscreen-compatible fingertips came in handy to send quick texts from the lifts. Most importantly, they kept our hands warm and dry, even in whiteout conditions.

Best Mittens

Gordini Men's Polar II Mitten

$120 $90 at Amazon $72 at Backcountry View on Gordini.com

If you prefer mittens over gloves, Gordini won’t let you down. Apart from being incredibly warm and perfectly waterproof, these mittens won us over with convenient touches like a clip that ensures they won’t get separated in your bag. A handy leash on the wrist makes it easy to whip them off for adjustments on the chair lift without the risk of them plummeting to the ground. We also think they have the perfect snug fit that allows for some dexterity and fitting a hand warmer in on extremely cold days. They come in women’s sizes as well.

Best Men’s Base Layer

Odlo Performance Wool Base Layer

View on Odlo.com

Odlo’s deliciously soft matching top and bottom won us over with an athletic fit that’s neither too tight nor too loose. A blend of super-star athletic fabrics — merino wool, polyester, polyamide, and elastane — provides the moisture-wicking that’s crucial for a base layer while keeping us warm through the coldest days of winter. A subtle pattern and flattering cut also helped the Odlo thermals win style points.

Best Women’s Base Layer

Kari Traa Rose Half Zip Base Layer Top

$110 $95 at Amazon $84 at REI $120 at Backcountry

Every great ski outfit starts with a form-fitting, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating base layer, and we’ve been hitting the mountain time and time again in Kari Traa’s signature wool top and matching bottoms. Don’t be fooled by the extensive color options or intricate snowflake patterns: These base layers put performance first. Made of 100 percent merino wool, they have all the warmth and sweat-management ability that makes the material a winter-sport staple but in a flattering, breathable cut that perfectly moves with the body. The high-neck top comes with a zipper so you can cool things down when necessary, and we love the svelte look so much we’ve rocked it on its own in the lodge more than a time or two.

Best Goggles

Smith 4D MAG Goggle

$277 at Amazon $320 at Smithoptics.com

After trying nearly a dozen goggles this season, Smith’s 4D MAG still reigns supreme in our books. “ChromaPop technology” may sound like marketing gibberish, but the brand’s signature color-enhancing lenses really do allow skiers to see the mountain with a stunningly vibrant clarity. The low-light lens helped with visibility on overcast days, and the goggles come with a lens for sunny days as well. To switch them out, you push two levers on either side of the goggles and separate the lens from magnets that attach it to the frame. Also of note is the unique curve at the bottom of the lens, which helps skiers see better in their periphery and expands their lower field of view. It took us a second to get used to the slight warping on the bottom of the lens, but before long we were fully appreciative of the increased view it provides. While pricey, the 4D MAG goggles come with a pile of accessories to help keep them in pristine condition season after season: a hardsided case with a ventilation window, a lens sock, and a microfiber goggle bag with a sleeve for your spare lens. Smith also offers the 4D MAG S for smaller faces, the 4D MAG Low Bridge Fit for skiers who have either high or wide cheekbones or a lower nose, and the 4D MAG S Low Bridge Fit for those who have a combination of both.

Best Helmet

Smith Vantage MIPS Snow Helmet Women's

$275 $160 at Amazon $162 at REI $270 at Nordstrom

Also available for men, Smith’s Vantage helmet is our favorite when it comes to comfort and safety specs. MIPS is one of the most popular technologies in the helmet world — it works by sliding upon impact to mimic the brain’s natural shields and reduce the rotational forces that make it to your head. The Vantage also benefits from Koroyod coverage, which leads the industry in energy absorption that doesn’t add weight or inhibit airflow. In the Koroyd zones of the helmet, tiny tubes crumple upon impact to disperse and absorb energy. In terms of comfort, the helmet is so light that we frequently forget we’re even wearing it. A host of vents keep sweat at bay during tough runs, and they’re easy to close even with thick gloves on. We also love the range of soft matte colors — perfect for coordinating with your favorite ski suits — although we wish there were as many choices in the women’s version as the men’s.