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This article was first published in the November 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
WIRED product editor Jeremy White -- winter sports enthusiast and gadget buff -- decamped to Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental in Westendorf, Austria, for a WIRED snow sports special. You can see all of the coverage here.
The Rab's lightness makes it suitable for a wide variety of sports.
This slim-fit jacket's combination of Polartec Alpha insulation with a water- and wind-resistant Pertex Microlight outer meant that the disconcertingly thin shell was effective at retaining heat. Sweating was kept to a minimum thanks to its breathable membrane, and the only factor preventing it from maximum points was the efficacy of its waterproofing when a blizzard closed in. 8/10 £160 rab.equipment
A Plygiene mesh with antimicrobial silver salt tames nasty odours.
The lightweight Alpha has Polartec Alpha synthetic insulation for extra breathability. It can be worn as a water- and wind repellent shell or as a middle layer. And it's warm: only when WIRED was caught in a snowstorm did the cold penetrate the jacket. 8/10 £249norrona.com
Just how well does the latest heated skiwear perform at the summit? WIRED puts two electronic extremity-warmers to the test.
Unlike conventional heated ski gloves, these breathable leather gauntlets self-regulate (using a flexible conductive polymer derived from smartphones) to create a consistent temperature throughout the day.
Although the gloves themselves are on the hefty side, the "play" and "pause" buttons on the cuff make it easy enough to activate the hand-warming element on the go; WIRED clocked six hours of continuous use, although with so much surface area the leather required considerable time to dry. The gloves conveniently have a recharging cable built in. 8/10 $399 chavalusa.com
These padded ski socks come with two rechargeable lithium battery packs that supposedly giving up to 14 hours of heat, though WIRED never got near this mark.
The system supplying warmth to the toe region and balls of the foot is controlled wirelessly via Bluetooth using a smartphone app. The batteries are hidden in the cuff at the top of the socks. The temperatures on the machine washable socks can be adjusted manually, but the system comes into its own when used with the app (for which, annoyingly, you must pay extra).
WIRED found the app basic in design but functional, and the heat supplied discernable but mild, and certainly nothing seemingly approaching 60 degrees (yet still welcome, particularly on ski lifts). The battery charge time was lengthy, also. 6/10 £150lenzproducts.com
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
