Smart brands are innovating with nature鈥檚 performance fiber.
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Voormi AN/FO Pants听
Backcountry skiers, meet your new outerwear. Made from thick, four-way-stretch wool that鈥檚 reinforced with nylon thread and lined with a waterproof membrane, the听AN/FO鈥檚 breathe significantly better than your typical synthetic waterproof ski pants. Durability isn鈥檛 an issue: they were none the worse for听wear after a season鈥檚 worth of encounters with ski edges, trees, and rocks.
Price $499
Cotopaxi Kusa听Blanket
Cotopaxi stuffed llama-poly insulation inside a DWR-coated ripstop-nylon wrapper to create this utilitarian blanket. We kept it in the trunk all season long, pulling it out for chilly apr猫s parking-lot parties or as an extra layer when crashing in the car before a powder day. Come summer, it works just as well for music festivals and picnics. 听听
Price $90
Filson Mackinaw Cap
Beanies? Meh. On cold days, this is your new jam. With a 100 percent wool outer, nylon lining, and drop-down earflaps, you鈥檒l look like a hipster lumberjack, and your noggin will be warm even on below-freezing days. The solid colors are classy, but we personally like standing out in classic red and black check.听
Price $75
Patagonia Recycled Down Shirt Jacket
This is a study in eco-friendly gearmaking. Everything鈥攆rom the burly wool face fabric to the 600-fill down to the interior lining鈥攊s made from recycled materials. Heck, even the buttons contain reclaimed polyester. It performs great, too: we wore it instead of a puffy while hanging around town.听
Price $199
Mission Workshop Renan听Shirt
It鈥檚 not all about the sheep. This alpaca-wool midlayer is ridiculously plush鈥攎ore akin to thick-pile synthetic fleece than merino. And like all of Mission Workshop鈥檚 pieces, it鈥檚 beautifully crafted and athletically cut. We wore it under a shell during resort ski days and by itself while running around town. 听
Price $265
Woolrich Fully Woolly Slip Boots
Live in a mountain town? Like to ski? You鈥檒l wear these easy-on, easy-off boots almost every day this winter. Underneath the water颅proof suede upper, a thin layer of felted wool keeps the bulk down but still protects your feet to minus 25 degrees. There鈥檚 also a high-traction sole so you don鈥檛 wipe out when the pavement is coated in black ice.
Price $140