All winter we’ve been bringing you some of the best winter gear on the planet, but we’ve yet to detail our picks when it comes to winter apparel. Today, however, that’s all about to change, as we’ve got a look at some of the greatest skiwear mankind has ever seen. It comes from a little company by the name of Spyder, a brand that has become synonymous with greatness in the ski world.
Founded in 1978 by David Jacobs, former star and later head coach of the Canadian National Ski Team, Spyder burst onto the market in 1978, unveiling a padded slalom sweater designed “for racing, by racers.” Since then, Spyder has dominated race circuits across the globe, reaching the Olympic podium more than 20 times and becoming the gear of choice for the U.S. Alpine, Canadian Alpine, and Jamaican World Cup Ski Teams. Now based in Boulder, Colorado, Spyder is the largest ski-specialty brand in the world, and their skiwear is without question the best in the business.
I own a variety of products from Spyder, and to be honest, you can’t go wrong with anything they offer. But in an effort to help you narrow down your skiwear choices, here are our top picks for both men and women, all-mountain use.
Men’s Monterosa Jacket ($599)
When it comes to gear for men, I love the Monterosa Jacket, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it’s breathable. Thanks to what Spyder calls OSMO technology, the Monterosa delivers the highest breathability on the market, with a rating of 20k/30k in waterproof/breathability. Inside, PrimaLoft One insulation does a fantastic job keeping you warm, while X-STATIC silver fiber technology helps keep your body temps regulated during intense runs (and also provides exceptional anti-microbial protection). And of course, from a style standpoint, the Monterosa jacket looks great, with my personal preference being the Volcano Red option (there’s also a black verision and a white version). As for other features of the Spyder Monterosa, here’s a more complete rundown:
Men’s Davos Pant ($399)
Paired with the Spyder Monterosa jacket, the Davos pant is the perfect way to keep you protected from the elements. The Davos features almost identical technology in terms of insulation and construction, with highlights including OSMO technology rated at 20k/30k in waterproof/breathability , X-STATIC silver fiber technology to regulate body temperature, and PrimaLoft One insulation to keep you warm when the cooler temps hit. The Spyder Davos full list of features include:
Women’s Zermatt Jacket ($499)
For the women, our choice has to be the Zermatt jacket, an incredibly good-looking jacket boasting the best winter apparel technology in the business. As with the men’s gear, the women’s Zermatt features OSMO fabric technology delivering the highest breathability on the market (rated at 20k/30k in waterproof/breathability tests). Inside, X-STATIC silver fiber technology again helps regulate body temperature and dissipates static electricity, while PrimaLoft® One insulation is super soft and provides ample warming in the cooler temperatures. Additional features of the Sypder Zermatt jacket include:
Women’s Davos Pant ($299)
Complimenting the Zermatt jacket, we again chose the Davos pant – this time the women’s variant. Several members of our staff use and love the Davos, with much of their praise stemming from the Davos’ fit. Featuring what Spyder calls an Athletic Fit, there’s the perfect amount of room in the waist, hips and thighs for female athletes, and our staffers all adore them. In addition to their superior fit, other highlights of the women’s Davos include OSMO fabric technology for superb breathability, PrimaLoft Sport insulation to keep you warm, and X-STATIC silver fiber technology to regulate body temperature. More features of the Spyder Women’s Davos Pant include:
For more information on any of the Spyder all-mountain gear we’ve told you and to view the rest of the current collection, head over to the official Spyder website for the full details and ordering info.