gear

WHEN it comes to ski and board socks, SmartWool have leapt head and shoulders above the pack in recent years. SmartWool was formed by some American ski instructors tired of so-called 'high-tech' materials leaving them with cold, sweaty feet. They returned to the tried-and-tested natural fibre: wool. While these socks may have been warm, they were

NISEKO'S famous, fluffy and plentiful powder is what brings thousands upon thousands of snow enthusiasts to this little corner of Japan every year. Every winter, harsh weather from Siberia travels across the Sea of Japan, drawing moisture from the ocean. And where is one of Mother Nature's first ports of call? Niseko, Hokkaido would be the correct

Hestra has a long history of making the finest ski gloves from the finest materials. They began producing durable gloves for lumberjacks in Sweden in 1936, and leather quickly emerged as Hestra’s favourite and most resilient material. Today, Hestra continues its leather legacy, bringing you the highest quality handwear built with additional

Admit it. You don’t wash your thermal layer after every day on the hill. Hiking the peak inevitably leads to perspiration, and unless you choose a natural fibre fleece, it’s not going to be pleasant for those stuck in a gondola with you. The Wool 3 Crew Long-Sleeve fleece is made from natural wool, so it won’t itch, but it will

Everybody knows the best time to buy sporting equipment is at the end of a season. And nowhere is that more true than Japan. The Japanese love to buy and be seen with the latest gear and in the latest fashion. Which means at the end of winter everything that hasn’t been sold is almost worthless. The best bargains go down in Tokyo’s

Marmot make some of the best outdoor adventure gear there is and you can now get them right here in Niseko thanks to Larry Adler Ski and Outdoor. Made for the ladies only, these toasty numbers have a unique Exol leather that can be machined washed and tumble dried without becoming brittle. To ensure you never suffer from frozen phalanges they have

It seems that no matter what you buy these days it’s iPod compatible. And Surfanic are right on their game with the Royal iPod Jacket with a soft control pad on the sleeve. So cool!

These things aren’t in shops yet but Powderlife has one to give away to readers. To win, simply email ed@powderlife.co.jp and tell us why

This innovative Swedish brand is taking Europe and Japan by storm, but has yet to expand to Australasia or North America. Haglofs make top quality winter gear and this husky fleece is no exception. Constructed with two of of the best fleece materials: Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft, the warmest fleece combining high thermal properties with low

There’s nothing worse than having the last song you heard in the morning stuck in your head when the powder’s untracked. Especially when it’s Rick Astley. The Burton headphone beanie produces great sound and unlike the bud style earphones, leaves your ears feeling decidedly un-violated at the end of the day.

Available

FOOSH! No it’s not the sound of gliding through powder - it’s themedical abbreviation for ‘fall on out-stretched hand’. The abbreviation exists because it’s the cause of so many injuries. Sure Niseko’s snow is soft, but wrist fractures are still as common among learner snowboarders here as everywhere. While there