Gear Review for Extreme & Downhill Snow Skiing & Snowboarding
We all have a perception of what is considered "cold" when we look outside the window in the Winter time, especially as we get older and our bodies continue to change and go through the aging process. When we were younger we had no fear of the cold and usually when we conceded that it was time to come inside and warm up, we could barely feel or toes or fingers and our cheeks were a shade of frozen deep red. If you grew up in the 50's, 60's or 70's, you also know that the choices for Winter Gear were limited and usually the best thing to wear on your feet and hands were the wool socks and mitts knitted by your own Grandma.
At the same time back in the old days, many of the downhill ski boots came with laces and you learned how to ski on the neighborhood hill and who the heck ever knew the term "snowplow" as it related to snow skiing? The "star" skiers in our neighborhood were the ones that could make it all the way to the bottom of the hill before crashing, as the only way some of us learned to ski was straight down the hill with speed to burn. The gear we used to stay warm was poor in terms of today's standands and by the time we got back home we were wet and frozen, but that hot cup of cocoa and six slices of buttered toast to dunk into the cocoa easily melted away the memories of the crashes and the snowplowing that we did with our faces down to the bottom of the hill, but we did have fun, I think?
As the year's passed, slowly, the Winter gear advancement was tremendous. The warm mitts to wear had progressed to leather choppers with a wool insert liner and our feet were apeased in our boots with synthetic socks that didn't seem to work much better and didn't wick the moisture away any better and our hats were made from some type of cheap woven material that stretched to fit every different sized head on the planet and who knew what neck gaiter was? We looked cooler with the always wet leather choppers on our hands that weren't much warmer, our toes were still frozen and we never thought twice whether our head was cold because the scarf to cover our face was down around our neck and the wind was burning our face, so who gave a second thought to whether our heads were warm or not.
Some of us were there when 3M Thinsulate(r) was introduced as an insulation to Winter gear and garments, however not much has changed in all of these years in terms of much better warmth, because the manufcturers never stick in the adequate grams weights of Thinsulate that they in our opinion, should be putting in. What has changed from then to now for a fact, is that most Winter Gear and Garments are not built here in the USA, rather they are built for the purpose of making huge profits on mediocre stuff built in China or elsewhere.
The difference with our Technical Advantage Gear, besides being built here in the United States, is that we build it to actually work. We build it so that it actually works and it surpasses your expectations when you use it. We manufacture Expedition rated gear under and within our "Arctic Series" heading in our Products Tab, but we also build gear for the end user that is not going on a Polar Expedition or racing in the Iditarod, but still wants something that is better then what they can find in the store and is going to keep them warm on their weekend adventures like skiing or snowboarding. This type of gear is designed, sewn and referenced under our "Prairie Snowstorm Series" of gear under our Products Tab.
Prairie Snowstorm Thermal Stocking Style Hats:
These hats are designed for recommended outdoor temperatures ranging from +32F to -30F. They are built using a 2 layer technical fabric layering system, with the outer shell layer consisting of a 100% thermal windblocking, breathable and DWR water resistant fabric and the inner shell layer consists of a mid-weight technical fleece. These hats are great for any temperture range that you are going to challenge when you're out snowboarding, downhill or cross country skiing and are proven to keep your head warm and toastie. For the same price as a logoed knit hat from one of the better known brands, you could instead actually own a hat that really works!
The Prairie Snowstorm Winter Hats are available to 2 different sizes, Small/Medium and Large/X-Large. As you can see from the two pictures, they are also available in the colors of Black and Red. These hats will block 100% of the wind, will keep your head warm and they generally don't make your head overheat and sweat. Click here for more information>>>>>
Prairie Snowstorm Windblocking Thermal Beanie Style Hats:
We designed our Prairie Snowstorm Windblocking Thermal Hats for those customers that live in normal Winter conditions, where cold is considered +5 F to +35 F degrees above zero. These customers want a hat for these everyday Winter temperatures, but also want one that works great when the thermometer falls in the -minus temperature range as well. Our Prairie Snowstorm Hats are built with a 2 layer fabric system that not only blocks out 95% to100% of the wind with the Outer Shell fabric, but also provides thermal warmth with both layers of technical fabric combined that produces an average insulating thermal R-value of R-2.5.
We designed these hats for people who desire a simple pull-over "beanie" style hat that pulls on over the head and covers down to the bottom of the ears. The style cut is nothing new, but the fabric configuration is because it will keep your head warmer then most of the rest of the beanie style hats out in the market. 8 Different Colors to choose from! Click here for more information>>>>>
Prairie Snowstorm Neck Gaiters (Gators):
Our one size fits most straight Winter Neck Gaiters are built with a 2 layer technical fabric system, with the outer layer blocking 100% if the wind, with the inner layer constructed of a mid-weight technical fleece. These neck gaiters will NEVER EVER FREEZE UP and you will always be breathing in warm air when they're up over the nose area. Finally, a neck gaiter that doesn't get wet and soggy or frozen up from your breath moisture and it won't sag down around your chin and neck. Take these skiing at 10,000 feet or just to the local ski hill or trail, as you won't be disappointed.
The Prairie Snowstorm Straight Neck Gaiters are built to operated in temperatures from +32F to -30F and will turn around your face with ease because your breath NEVER penetrates the moisture throught the 2 layers of technical fabric to ever have a chance to freeze up. These gaiters are slightly wider and longer then the status quo and they also come in two colors as shown. Black or Red. Click here for more information>>>>>
Cross Hybrid Windblocking Thermal Drop Pad Neck Gaiter w/4 Pockets:
Extremer's rejoice! A warm upper front chest core and a rear upper neck area that will never feel the cold air and snow again from a front freelance face plant from tipping an edge...and pockets for the carbo gel packs and protein bars. Our exclusive 2 layer technical fabric layering system & 4 pocket design does it all.....and it gets its excellent warmth from 100% USA made synthetic polyester. Jump off the chopper at the summit with this gear item on and there's no looking back and rest assured you'll still be the warmest one in your ski rat pack at the bottom of the run, bare none! Even though you won't be skiing or snow boarding at -100F, this baby will be ready to endure those elements even though you won't!
The Cross Hybrid offers the mainstay assets of 100% thermal windblocking protection, excellent overall thermal warmth, pull tight top edge shock cord & cord loc, DWR water resistant outer shell layer, but it also again allows you to always breathe in warm air when pulled up over the nose while not allowing moisture to penetrate through and freeze up. Click here for more information>>>>>
Prairie Snowstorm Mitts:
The Prairie Snowstorm Winter Mittens pack a whopping thermal insulation value of R-7.15 on "both" the top and bottom sides of the mitts. Virtually no other mitt manufacturer in the World does this, nor do they equalize the amount of insulation material on both sides of the mitt. They put it all on the top side and in reality you need it on the bottom side of the mitts even more. As you can see from the picture, these mitts are generously sized so that you can use them inconjuction with your warning protective gloves on, so that your hands and fingers are always protected from the elements. These mitts also do a great job in minimizing conductive heat loss and with a pull on the wrist area shock cord with cord-loc, your convective heat loss is also minimized.
The outer shell of these mitts block out 100% of the wind, are DWR water resistant and breathable. The inner most layer that surrounds the hand offers superior thermal moisture wicking to help keep your hands warm and dry. The recommended temperature range of to -30F is based on our actual experience and testing, using the mitts without the addition of gloves on our fingers. With some type of thermal glove on your hands, you can easily extend the "minus" temperature range of use, but again that is going to be based on the individual thermal regulation system in your body. These mitts use an extremely durable outer shell technical fabric that will take the punishment, will not tear if punchered and are equipped with the toughest gripping material in the industry.
These are a great Winter Mitten for keeping your hands and fingers toastie warm during the Ski and Boarding season and are a great mitten for people that are getting a few years on under their belts, that just can't find anything out there that works for them. These mitts will do the trick for those of you that are like some of us here that have two index fingers that have been frost bitten and burned so many times that they can forecast how cold it is outside by just standing with them near the window before going outside. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about don't you? These are another great gear item to take on that next extreme plunge over a crusted rock face on your way down to that dreamy powder that awaits below, or perhaps just in you dreams. Click here for more information.....
We can't offer you a solution at this time for keeping your toes warmer - longer yet, even though we have been testing some liner socks that we built for the last two years. So in the mean time we will give you a free suggestion for extending you pre-frozen toes timeframe outside in the cold and that is to make sure you give your toes a heavy dose of a good "foot powder" before you put your socks on. The foot powder will help to absorb the moisture around your toes and will keep you on the hills or trails for a longer period of time before you have to come in and warm up. It does work!