{"id":46333,"date":"2019-04-16T19:24:20","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T02:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=46333"},"modified":"2020-11-06T08:42:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-06T16:42:48","slug":"essentials-you-need-for-spring-skiing-and-riding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/essentials-you-need-for-spring-skiing-and-riding","title":{"rendered":"The 8 Essentials You Need for Spring Skiing and Riding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring skiing and snowboarding are some of life\u2019s purest joys. Why? Spring is the time of year when the sun shines that much brighter, the snow softens just perfectly, <\/span>apr\u00e8s<\/span>-ski outside becomes as fun as the riding itself and the prospect of skiing in shorts no longer elicits worries of frostbite. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say you can simply roll into the spring calendar without a few changes to your gear regimen\u2014and we don\u2019t just mean dropping insulation so your body doesn\u2019t turn into a sauna in your midwinter layers. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are a ton of insider tips and unique pieces of gear you can use to truly enjoy spring, but we wanted to highlight the most critical, surprising and useful gear items for skiers and snowboarders to use at this time of year. So we polled a couple of people who know a thing or two about skiing deep into the calendar year\u2014pro skier Hadley Hammer and Exum Mountain Guide Zahan Billimoria, both based in Jackson, Wyoming\u2014to find out their favorite gear for when the weather gets warm. Here are their picks:<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith Wildcat ChromaPop Sunglasses<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"Smith's

Block the sun and look cool in Smith’s Wildcat ChromaPop Sunglasses.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re going to be out for prolonged periods in the backcountry or the resort when it\u2019s warm out, you want breathability and low weight for all of your gear\u2014including your optics. That\u2019s why Hammer goes for <\/span>Smith\u2019s Wildcat ChromaPop Sunglasses<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re<\/span> big enough to work as goggles on the way down, so you\u2019re able to keep your pack lighter,\u201d said Hammer. \u201cAnd, if anything, they make you look like you\u2019re always going super fast.\u201d Hammer has a point: The Wildcats will have you looking like you just stepped off the set of <\/span>Hot Dog: The Movie,<\/span><\/i> regardless of your abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampons<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"Petzl

If you’re climbing a big peak in the springtime, you need crampons like Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampons.<\/p><\/div>\n

As a mountain guide, spring skiing means one thing for Billimoria\u2014high alpine missions. \u201cSpring, for me, is the time to try to find powder in the high country,\u201d said Billimoria. \u201cIt might rain in the valleys, but up top you get high-water-content snow. It really smooths out the high-country terrain that\u2019s craggy in the winter.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

When he\u2019s climbing snow-covered, big-mountain peaks, Billimoria needs a good set of crampons. Enter the <\/span>Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampons<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of a metal bar that connects to the heel of the crampon, it has two pieces of Dyneema cord,\u201d said Billimoria. \u201cIt weighs a fraction of the weight of a normal crampon, and you can fold them in half to be about the size of a grapefruit. Plus, it fits a boot better and performs better if you\u2019re kicking around rocks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roll-Top Dry Bag<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"Sea

Stash stinky ski socks or wet towels in the Sea to Summit Lightweight View Dry Sack.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d you might be saying. \u201cI know it\u2019s warm out, but I\u2019m not going swimming. Why do I need a dry bag?\u201d Just ask Billimoria. He uses a roll-top dry bag for ski mountaineering in the event that he gets cliffed out and needs to rappel. (\u201cYou\u00a0can fill the stuff sack with snow, and it becomes like a tree trunk,\u201d he says. Then you just dig a trench, wrap your rope around it, bury the bag and it\u2019s like an anchor.\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

Not a ski mountaineer? You\u2019re probably not going to use it for that. But you can still use a small <\/span>dry bag<\/span><\/a> to store your sweaty base layers, stinky socks and post-ski hot tub towel after a day on the hill, until you can find a laundry facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"Ursa

No time for a shower? Enter the Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes.<\/p><\/div>\n

Scenario: It\u2019s Saturday, and you\u2019ve got dinner plans at 8pm, but that backcountry ski tour you thought would end at 5 doesn\u2019t wrap up until 7. You\u2019re pressed for time, nowhere near a shower and sweatier than a bowl of gumbo\u2014none of which tends to make for a good night out on the town. That\u2019s where the <\/span>Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes<\/span><\/a> come in handy.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese are a great, quick solution for the warm spring adventure that doesn\u2019t end in a shower,\u201d said Hammer. \u201cPlus, the company has been making donations to the <\/span>National Park Foundation<\/span><\/a>. So it\u2019s a win-win: You smell good and our National Parks receive funding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wax Scraper<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"Swix

A scraper, like the Swix Snowboard Plexi Scraper, can help get sticky snow off your board.<\/p><\/div>\n

All the sunshine and warmth of spring skiing comes with one major hassle: The snowpack inevitably gets sticky. For that, Hammer carries a <\/span>wax scraper<\/span><\/a> everywhere she goes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI always have a scraper in my ski bag,\u201d said Hammer. \u201cI mostly use it to get the ice off my bases as opposed to trying to use a ski pole, but it also works if your skin glue leaves residue or your boot sole is jammed with snow and ice. Or, you can just use it if you want to cut up some cheese to share with friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Soft-Sided Cooler<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"REI

Keep your post-ski beverages cold in REI Co-op Cool Haul 12 Soft Cooler.<\/p><\/div>\n

You\u2019re going to work up a thirst in those warm conditions, and nothing tastes quite as good as a cold beverage with the sunshine on your face after a day on the slopes. The best way to keep that drink cold? A compact <\/span>soft-sided cooler<\/span><\/a>, which you can toss in your truck or the back of your car while you\u2019re out skiing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA cooler bag is perfect for keeping your preferred apr\u00e8s beverages chilled in your car while you\u2019re out skiing,\u201d said Hammer. \u201cIt keeps ice cold and is super easy to clean out, which is essential in the spring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Patagonia Dirt Roamer Jacket<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"The

The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Jacket is used by mountain bikers but works well for spring skiing, too.<\/p><\/div>\n

When the weather gets warm, breathability is key in your outerwear, while the ability to repel moisture without adding too much weight is equally important. For that, Billimoria looks to an unexpected source for his shell solution: the Patagonia Dirt Roamer<\/a>, a jacket often worn by mountain bikers. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis one might not seem obvious, because it\u2019s a mountain bike jacket,\u201d said Billimoria. \u201cBut it\u2019s really breathable and lightweight. When you\u2019re doing high-aerobic activity, you need breathability and simplicity. The Dirt Roamer doesn\u2019t have any velcro or pockets\u2014it\u2019s really light, and when you\u2019re dealing with mild temperatures, it\u2019s great to have something low-impact.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nut Butter<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
\"RXBar

RXBAR’s Nut Butter is the perfect snack for powering you through spring’s longer days.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re going to be spending long days in the mountains, you need to keep your caloric intake high. Bulky foods can cause a mess in your pack while taking space from more essential items. Billimoria solves this conundrum with help from compact, nutrient-rich nut butter pouches, like this Nut Butter from RXBAR<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to fuel more with fats than carbs recently on long missions because they\u2019re a better energy source and better on the belly,\u201d said Billimoria. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spring skiing and snowboarding are some of life\u2019s purest joys. Why? Spring is the time of year when the sun shines that much brighter, the snow softens just perfectly, apr\u00e8s-ski outside becomes as fun as the riding itself and the prospect of skiing in shorts no longer elicits worries of frostbite. That\u2019s not to say […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":46367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[724,364],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-46333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-snowsports","tag-gear","tag-snowsports"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/essentials-you-need-for-spring-skiing-and-riding","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The 8 Essentials You Need for Spring Skiing and Riding","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/essentials-you-need-for-spring-skiing-and-riding","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/essentials-you-need-for-spring-skiing-and-riding"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Content_Team_071817_0202-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Content_Team_071817_0202-1.jpg?fit=1494%2C703"},"articleSection":"Snowsports","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["gear","snowsports"],"dateCreated":"2019-04-17T02:24:20Z","datePublished":"2019-04-17T02:24:20Z","dateModified":"2020-11-06T16:42:48Z"},"rendered":"