With the winter season coming to a close, it’s time to break out the patio furniture, dust off the bicycles, and buy some snow gear.
Wait. Buy snow gear?
Winter sports gear is obviously seasonal — all the top retailers need to make room for next year’s products. That means this year’s perfectly good gear is deeply discounted. Here are a few places to get sweet ski and snowboard gear deals right now. Don’t wait long to catch these, because some of them are gone as soon as the stock runs out.
Jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket
Arc’teryx makes some of the best jackets you can get but they rarely go on sale. Online retailer Moosejaw has some of its Arc’teryx jackets discounted right now, including the Beta SL. The SL version of the brand’s super-popular Beta AR jacket uses two-layer Gore-Tex in the body and arms to be light and packable. The shoulders get three-layer Gore-Tex for extra durability while wearing a pack. Contoured cuffs, waterproof zippers, and a multi-way adjustable hood keep the snow and rain out.
- Discount: $299, down from $399
Snow Pants: The North Face Freedom Pants
The North Face is no stranger to terrible weather, making some of the toughest jackets, shells, and tents on the planet. The Freedom Pant is not insulated so you tailor just the right amount of insulation underneath as you need. Zip pockets keep the valuables with you and Chimney Venting and inner-thigh vents keep air flowing on the warmer spring days. Zip everything up when the weather gets nasty.
- Discount: $98, down from $140
Base Layer: Smartwool 1/4 Zip Base Layer
Poor base layers that don’t wick or dry quickly can make a ski or snowboard trip miserable. At the end of the day, friends will give a wide birth around the synthetic material stench. The Smartwool 1/4 Zip Base Layer alleviates all those problems. Thin merino stays light and comfortable all day long. Zip up the neck for warmth and down to dump heat. At the end of the day merino still doesn’t smell so you can actually sit with your friends for après festivities.
- Discount: $59, down from $85
Insulation: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Pullover
Nothing is better than natural down for pure insulation. You never know how cold it might get outside in the winter and a good puffy is worth its weight in gold. The Down Sweater from Patagonia is simple in its features but has the most important one in spades: warmth. The 800-fill-power down is certified by NSF International to ensure the birds have not been force-fed or live-plucked. The polyester shell is 100-percent recycled polyester ripstop. Stuff it into its own pocket when you don’t need the extra warmth.
- Discount: $174, down from $249
Gloves: Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor Glove
It’s hard to have fun when you can’t feel your fingers. Bulky gloves can keep your hands warm but when you just have to take them off to do anything, they still get cold. The Backstop Sensor Glove from Outdoor Research has fleece palms and Gore Windstopper lining across the back. Keep your gloves on to use your phone with the phone-friendly Sensor index finger. Use these on their own for warmer temps or as liners in bigger mitts when the weather is really terrible.
- Discount: $24, down from $40
Skis: Rossignol Soul 7 HD Skis
“Strong and light” is the holy grail in the outdoor industry and Rossignol is pushing the limits with the Soul 7 HD skis. The Paulownia wood core is wrapped with a Carbon Alloy Matrix, reducing chatter and giving you a smooth ride in any conditions. Rossignol Air Tip 2.0 inserts are on either end, made up of honeycomb structure filled with air. These provide strong tip and tails without the swing weight.
- Discount: $563, down from $850
Snowboard: Lib Tech Cygnus Snowboard
Lib Tech spares no expense on the Cygnus snowboard. It’s more expensive than many other snowboards, however, it is on sale for 50 percent off. Mike Olson from Lib Tech handcrafts every Cygnus. With bio-plastic caster bean top sheet, self-healing biopolymer sidewalls, and Magne-Traction edges to grip ice and hardback, this board has quite a few high-end features. You’ll never want to ride anything else.
- Discount: $1,242, down from $3,000
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