Hasta La Ideas

Boots, packs, flannels and more apparel for both on and off the mountain

When tackling Whistler slopes while braving British Columbia winters, wearing the right gear can make all the difference. Find my favorite picks for keeping warm in the final segment of my week-long snowboarding adventure below.

On the mountain

Holden Northfield 3L Jacket and Pants

My go-to performance apparel for a couple years running, Holden’s line gets better every year. Since the beginning they have worked closely with Schoeller to use their C_Change 3-Layer Fabric, a highly technical textile membrane that reacts to changing body climate by opening and closing to regulate temperature. The result is that the Northfield 3L Jacket ($440) and Pant ($360) is perfect in any situation. Even better, Holden is committed to using more environmentally friendly materials, laminates and packaging.

Icebreaker Aspiring Zip

Numbered with a BaaCode so you can track the New Zealand flock from which your jacket’s wool came, the Icebreaker Aspiring jacket ($175) provides non-bulky warmth that doesn’t get stinky.Made from wind-resistant “real fleece” the zip-up jacket works great as an outer layer as well.

Patagonia Underwear

Patagonia’s silky midweight Capilene base layer ($45) keeps you warm but dry, and forward-set inseams allow for more room in the crotch, meaning you can board all day without chafing. (For other styles of long underwear, check out our full list of favorites.)

Burton Buffer Socks

Warm, form fitting and supportive in all the right places, the Buffer socks ($22) also have padded channels across the top of the foot to ensure the most comfort when boots and bindings are cinched down tight. I always pack several pairs of these in my snowboard bag.

Osprey Manta backpack

Staying hydrated on the slopes is critical and having a place to stash a snack, tools and extra layers doesn’t hurt either. The Osprey Manta backpack ($140) comes with a custom-fitted Nalgene water holder. A mesh suspension back does its job to make you never feel like you’re carrying around a sack of water. Adding a magnet to the on-off pivoting bite valve lets it snap to the sternum strap, keeping the tube from flying around while you’re flying around.

Freehands Ski Gloves

Thinsulate lining, a waterproof membrane and wind protecting cuff make these great gloves for the mountain. Being able to flip back the thumb and first finger tips to text on the chairlift makes them Freehands ($45). With improvements on this year’s design the overlap on the “finger hoodie” does a great job keeping air and elements off your skin while the tips are closed.

In the village

Arc’Teryx Veilance Field Jacket

A high-tech reinterpretation of the classic field jacket, the Arc’Teryx Veilance Field Jacket ($995) has an incredible shell, finished with fold-over pocket closures, invisible wrist cinches and a stow-away hood that’s as good as any full-time hood (if not better!). As it’s wind and waterproof and a modernized classic, it actually travels with me everywhere—city or country.

Isaora Insulated Overshirt

Isaora, a new line now in their second year, added a smart evolution to their Insulated Overshirt ($270) this season with a soft, Japanese cotton outer and a hand-quilted PrimaLoft lining, which also happens to be wind resistant. Worn over a t-shirt and even under a shell, it’s the perfect piece to wear around the village.

Limmer Standard Mountaineering Boots

Perhaps the single possession I’ve had the longest, my Limmer boots ($275) are still going strong 18 years later. Built in Bavaria for the New Hampshire-based company, these mountaineering boots are incredibly durable, but surprisingly comfortable.

Bonfire Toasty Wolly beanie

The Bonfire beanie ($25) has recycled fleece on the inside and a knit exterior, offering a comfy twist to the classic cap.

Four tips on where to eat, sleep and get pampered in North America’s largest mountain resort

Recently spending a week at Whistler Blackcomb (my annual snowboarding destination), I stuck to some of my favorite gear and places but also used the trip as an opportunity to try some new things. This first story, in a series of three, focuses on highlights of Whistler itself. Stay tuned for a gear round-up and apparel review both later this week.

Four Seasons

While a little off the beaten path, the Four Seasons makes up for it with spacious rooms that all come equipped with cozy fireplaces, thick terry robes and toasty down comforters. Impeccable food throughout its two restaurants and full bar service at the hot tub lends easy indulgence to a stay there. Being out of the fray of the main village provides a peaceful atmosphere, and a constantly rotating shuttle bus and Mercedes MLS courtesy car provide easy access to everything—nearly on demand.

Scandinave

New to Whistler this year, the Scandinave Spa is exactly what the resort town has been missing. The 3 acre property has multiple baths of varied temperatures, a large steam room and huge pine sauna. All of these features are outside and set in to a beautiful, rustic slope, complimented by modern Nordic-style buildings that house a café, along with locker and treatment rooms. The deep tissue massage I had there was one of the best resort-town massages I’ve ever had.

Rim Rock Cafe

Down near the Creekside Village is the Rim Rock Cafe, an old Whistler standby. Skipping the fanfare of complicated dishes and stuffy interior design, this restaurant features local foods in simple preparations alongside a wide selection of regional wines. Be sure to request a table by the fireplace for a touch of authentic charm.

Crystal Hut

At the top of the Crystal Chair on Blackcomb is the best food on either of the mountains. While you’ll smell the waffles before you enter the door, it’s the salmon, potatoes and veggies prepared in their wood-burning oven that win me over. Plan ahead though, Crystal Hut is a small space that gets crowded, and food is made to order so there’s plenty of waiting.