Ski accessories we use and recommend
The HOT GEAR BAG is an insulated boot bag with an electric heating pad inside. It runs on household current, warming and drying your boots overnight. In the morning, plug the 12 volt accessory cord into your car, and the HOT GEAR BAG keeps your boots toasty on the trip to the hill and will render stiff boots easy to put on. Throw your gloves and hat in, too—there's plenty of room.
Hot Gear Bag information
Sven Coomer's Zip Fit custom inner boots capture our "best product in any category" nomination, year in and year out. No matter what shell you use, Zip Fits increase comfort, warmth and performance, for any level skier from beginner to World Cup athlete. We seldom ski without using this wonder product. Race boot skiers will love the new "plug" model.
CW-X® CONDITIONING WEAR® - "The ultimate anatomically-engineered tight, featuring the patented Conditioning Web™, providing Tuned Support to the key muscle groups and joints of the lower limbs," according to cw-x. We simply think of them as long johns that increase power and reduce fatigue. That's hard to beat!
Dahlgren Thin Ski Socks provide most of the benefits of the defunct BlaxSox and are better at wicking moisture from the foot. Available at high end specialty shops, or by phone order from Superior Ski, phone number 801.209.6681. Ask for "Steve".
Euro Ski Socks are offered in styles ranging from a super light weight technical Ski Liner to a beefier, padded Ski Zone and use the technical fibers of MicroSupreme™ and Thermolite (no wool). These are superb socks, especially for plug boot wearers.
Hotronics are among the most effective, least bulky, easiest-to-install and reasonably priced boot heaters. There is nothing macho about cold feet! In fact, cold feet are inefficient feet, incapable of providing maximum balance for maximum performance. Skiers with cold feet tire more easily, too.
The Booster Strap replaces stock power straps with an engineered elastic device that aids boot flex and rebound. The end result is like adding extra muscle to tired legs. Edge hold, rebound and carving power are all enhanced.
Few mishaps are more aggravating than getting caught on the hill with a minor technical problem, like a loose binding screw, settings that have slipped, a small P-tex gouge, or broken edge. Some of these can lead to a long, embarrassing walk down the slope. Avoid getting stuck; carry a Leatherman tool. It can save the day. We like the Wave model.
Even more important than Leatherman's "ski shop a tool" are chamois, for drying goggles in snow, rain or after a face plant, and the most important tool, a diamond stone. Both of these items are available at most specialty shops.
For as long as we can remember, serious skiers have been forced to carry both sunglasses (for the deck) and goggles (for skiing).
We have now found a superb product that covers all the bases. Panoptx eyewear are combination sunglasses and goggles. This is done by placing foam dams, as found around the lenses of all goggles, completely around each lense. Originally designed for motorcycling, they protect against wind at any imaginable skiing speed.
We have used these both in blizzards and on 80 degree sun-drenched days at 10,000 feet and can report that Panoptx work superbly in all conditions. Available at top ski specialty shops and most Harley Davidson dealers.
Leki Poles are, to put it simply (and in our opinion), the best ski poles available. Of particular interest are the releasable-grip models, to which a special glove or harness is clipped to the pole in lieu of traditional straps. Some skiers, we should point out, find this annoying in that it is all but impossible to loosen buckles with poles attached, but the truth is that most chair operators demand that poles be removed anytime one rides and skiers whose boots are so tight that they release them while just standing around may find the clip-on feature a hassel, but will likely love the performance. That aside, the poles are light, flexible enough to absorb shock and vibration yet stiff enough to provide needed support on demand. Our favorite model, the Vision Venom Vario (shown above), uses an adjustable shaft to allow milimetrically-precise length adjustment.
