Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

6 Biggest Ski Gear Innovations to Look Forward to in Winter 2022

As a sucker for burly winters, I caught this bug and went down a rabbit hole of web crawling and phone calls across the industry to round up the biggest gear innovations to hit the slopes with this winter. Advancements range from performance, safety, and sustainability.

Skis: Renoun Citadel

Skis: Renoun Citadel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Forget the brand names. Forget iconic mountain towns. Hidden in Burlington, Vermont is an 8-year-old upstart called Renoun that just launched a pair of skis called the Citadel. They are a wider, lighter, carbon fiber ski with … less chatter? Using a proprietary non-newtonian polymer called HDT, the polymer hardens when exposed to vibrations, actively damping the ski. This ability to adapt to conditions is completely new and worth a deeper look.

Jacket: Patagonia Ascensionist

Jacket: Patagonia Ascensionist
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Designed primarily for ski mountaineering, the Ascenionist builds on a well-established line of packs and apparel used by world-class athletes. The jacket is a lightweight, waterproof, breathable three-layer GORE-TEX, but none of that is new. What makes this jacket special is that it is made from fully recycled materials – just like all 60 other shells that Patagonia launches this fall. Fair Trade Certified, too.

Wax: DPS Phantom

Wax: DPS Phantom
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A permanent, one-time application, Phantom forever eliminates the need for waxing skis and snowboards. It’s patented technology offers both convenience and performance, that works well across almost all snow temperatures and for the full life of the ski. While some racers may never give up the pre-race ritual of a fresh wax, Phantom is great for the vast majority of skiers, from inbounds to remote backcountry users.

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Prism Pack

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Prism
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Designed specifically to be a rugged climbing pack, the Prism is built to carry all the tools necessary for ice climbers, alpinists, and backcountry skiers and snowboards. It was designed as a hybrid of speed, weight, and comfort, the pack uses the Dyneema material that Hyperlite has become known for and adds a removable lid, strong hip belt with gear racks, and straps to keep the pack close to the body. Also, it has a rope and ice axe carry.

Helmet: POC Obex BC Spin

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The first snow helmet to incorporate NFC Chip technology, the Obex Spin stores users’ medical profiles and can be accessed by first responders. The information allows first responders to provide the best care as fast as possible. Further, the Spin technology is patent-pending to address all types of impacts. A Kevlar reinforced foam liner adds additional strength.

Airbag: Black Diamond Jetforce UL Airbag Pack

Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the lightest avalanche packs on the market, the Jetforce UL utilizes two small cartridges that combine compressed gas to inflate in less than five seconds. The innovative Alpride 2.0 system clocks in at only 440 grams, making the pack light and still powerful. The cartridges are sealed, making them travel-friendly too. A dedicated avy-tool pocket stores a probe and shovel, and the pack has enough room for essential gear like extra layers, water, and food, too.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Cochrane
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andy is a freelance writer, producer, and photographer living nomadically with his dog Bea in Tacoma. He spends his free time…
Add these East Coast ski resorts to your winter plans
Skiing and snowboarding at these East Coast resorts is fantastic
Sugarloaf ski resort

There are two things the East Coast doesn't lack, mountain ranges and formidable winters. East of the Mississippi River, incredible ski resorts let you challenge some of the East's best mountains — like those in northern New York’s Adirondacks, Vermont’s Green Mountains, New Hampshire's White Mountains, and the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania and West Virginia — have been drawing skiers for nearly a century, since the days when slopes were serviced only with rope tows and solely reliant on the natural powder provided by Mother Nature.

While the East Coast may not have the acreage or the altitude of the West’s most iconic ski resorts, the region’s resorts still have plenty to offer, from vertiginous steeps and spellbinding glades to meticulously groomed cruisers perfect for novices. As this season ramps up and the snow starts to settle on the mountaintops, we're getting to that time of year when you should really have something booked for skiing. But isn't it time you tried somewhere new, or perhaps a little closer to home by hitting the slopes at some of the best East Coast ski resorts?

Read more
Rock the après-ski party this winter with our guide
What is après-ski? A guide on where to go and what to wear
Group of friends gathering in front of a fireplace.

If you're dreaming about hitting some of the best ski areas around the country this year, it's never too early to start thinking about updating your skiing gear or your snowboarding wardrobe and get excited about winter. While we'll probably never agree on whether it's better to spend your day on a tray, or sending tricks on your sticks, we can all agree that no day on the slopes is complete without a few drinks in the bar with your buddies.

The concept of après-ski may have originated in Europe — après literally means after in French — but here in the U.S., we know how to make it our own. In the end, your après-ski experience is really whatever you want it to be -- whether it’s a laid-back hangout around in a rustic dive bar, a whiskey tasting at a slope-side distillery, or a lavish dinner at a ritzy mountain lodge. For starters, here’s a quick guide to making the most of your après-ski experience.

Read more
The camping and hiking gear we’re most looking forward to in 2023
new outdoor gear for camping and hiking 2023 pexels jens mahnke 776117

Is there a better feeling than pulling out all of your favorite outdoor gear ready for those first camps or hikes of the season? There's no getting around it; outdoorsmen love outdoor gear. We can't help ourselves. There's always more to buy, always ways to make our hiking setup lighter or our camping setup more comfortable. However you justify it to yourself, you've probably got shelves overflowing with tents, sleeping bags, and stoves.

Well, I have some good news for you because a new year and a new camping season mean — that's right — more gear to be had. Companies around the world are releasing their 2023 outdoor lines, complete with new-and-improved versions of gear we've come to love or exciting new releases that might break the mold. Here are some of our favorite outdoor gear items we're looking forward to this year.

Read more