Winter's nearly here - getting the right gear

As many readers will know, team Alpine Ethos made it back to resort this week. It’s been a few days of unpacking, dealing with the summer post and adjusting back to the pace of mountain life. The weather has been glorious since our arrival. The autumnal colours on the trees look stunning and we’ve taken full advantage of the views of them whilst out walking with Benny.

We have also reacquainted ourselves with our local, La Tsaretta in Les Allues and met Steve, the new business owner, who took over during the summer. He’s been making a few changes to the bar including a new paint job (deep red downstairs – very nice), a new sound and light system, TV and projector and a new menu overseen by head chef, Paul.

Inspired by all the chatter on Goneboarding about the new kit people are planning to buy / wear on the slopes this season we thought we’d share our top to bottom guide of what you need to be comfortable, safe & stylish on the slopes this season:

Helmet – a safety garment for sure but can be stylish and should be comfy & warm too.
Goggles/sunnies – protect your eyes from those UV rays with some trendy eyewear. A second pair of goggles/an additonal lens for flat light conditions can be very useful too.
Buff – good for keeping any cold breeze from whistling down your neck
Thermal baselayer – we’re big fans of merino but this is pricey. A Lifa or other synthetic baselayer will do the job.
Midlayer – this can be anything from a t-shirt to a fleece, it depends how cold it is outside, how warm/cold you like to be and how warm your outerlayer is too.
Jacket – A fashion item as well as a must for keeping you dry and warm.
Long Johns – not the height of fashion we admit but if you have shell-like trousers as opposed to insulated ones you’ll appreciate the added warmth.
Ski/snowboarding pants – Baggy, bright, warm and waterproof is our motto here.
Socks – perhaps the most important piece of kit we own, we go for the single layer, ski/boarding sock which have padded bits where you need them.
Boots – Every skier/boarder has their own preference but getting a good fit is essential for maximum enjoyment on the slopes.
Skis/snowboard – whatever your thing, park, piste, off-piste there are skis and boards out there to suit every style.

Here's wishing away the autumn for winter and a big dump of snow!