WORDS
Georgie Lane-Godfrey
There are very few sports out there where looking good is just as important as actual skill, but skiing is most certainly one of them. Being able to navigate a perilous black run means very little if you’re not doing it in style – preferably with all the trappings which identify you as a seasoned pro. Thankfully, a few well-chosen accessories can help with that. These are five of the best luxury pieces to take you from altitude to après, delivering peak performance along the way.
POC Obex MIPS Communication snow helmet, £255
A decent helmet is as much about style as it is safety, and this one from Swedish brand POC delivers on both fronts. Combining technology with design, the Obex helmet has adjustable ventilation to keep you cool whatever the weather conditions, and integrated goggle vents to prevent pesky fogging. But most importantly, the Obex comes with an integrated communication headset, letting you keep connected on piste. Go for the sleek Uranium Black option for a classic, understated look.
GoPro Hero10 black camera, £329.98
Whether you’re heli-skiing, heading off piste or simply wanting to capture those unforgettable runs, you’re going to need a decent camera to do so. GoPro has been ubiquitous on the sport and adventure scene for 20 years now, but the latest Hero10 model brings a new level of technology to the table. 5.3K video, game-changing HyperSmooth stabilization and enhanced low-light performance will make your footage as life-like as possible, while cloud-connection means that from the moment it’s charged, the Hero10 automatically uploads to the cloud, saving all your thrills (and spills) in real-time.
Vallon Freebirds ski goggles, £120
Inspired by the Vallon d’Arbi valley in the glamorous Swiss resort of Verbier, Vallon is an independent, family-owned brand that is dedicated exclusively to creating sports eyewear. As a result, its chic range of goggles is known to winter sports insiders as one of the best around. The new Freebirds range combines minimalist design with state-of-the-art spherical, mirrored lenses that provide exceptional contrast for on-piste visibility. An added perk? 1kg of plastic waste is cleaned up with the purchase of every pair.
Hestra Philippe Raoux mitt, £150
The incontrovertible name to know when it comes to gloves, Hestra’s retro-inspired mittens are made from chrome-free Ecocuir cowhide that’s better for the environment. They also feature a super-soft removable woolpile liner to keep you fresh, as well as handy cuffs to stop you losing them on lifts. This design is also available in a five-fingered glove version, but serious skiers know that mittens will keep you warmer when the mercury starts to drop.
Bogner St Moritz boots with spike system, £399
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been skiing for a day or a decade, taking off your ski boots after a long session is always a feeling of sheer relief. So, one of the most important accessories to have to hand has to be a pair of comfortable yet chic snow boots. Bogner’s St Moritz boots are made from a warm mix of leather and lambskin, and feature specialised rubber soles with spikes to help give you extra grip when you’re walking around in icy conditions.