By: Levi Opsatnic
While we haven’t had too much true winter weather lately, most of the days have still been on the cooler side of things, and with the sun being gone before 5:30pm, you’re bound to be grabbing for a layer of warmth at one point or another. Fortunately for all of us, our vendors release a ton of products right around the time that our temperatures cool down. Here at Appalachian Outdoors, we do everything that we can to stay on top of these products in order to find just the perfect piece to outfit you (and ourselves) for your next adventure—town or trail. And whether you need to tack something onto your holiday wish list, need the perfect link to your winter skiing system, or just want to see some new stuff, this list should give you a perfect place to start.
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We’ll start things off by giving the ladies the floor first with one of Canada Gooses’s timeless jackets. Sure, this isn’t a “new” product by any means since Canada Goose has been crafting their cozy jackets for decades, but their Kensington Parka is definitely a jacket worth mentioning. All thanks to a 625 fill duck down and waterproof exterior, this jacket is rated to keep you feeling good on days that make zero degrees feel warm. The Kensington Parka doesn’t stop at pure warmth, as its long, slim construction does an excellent job at providing a flattering look on those snowy days spent stomping along unfamiliar sidewalks.
Patagonia Lightweight Better Sweater Marsupial Fleece
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With their Lightweight Better Sweater Marsupial, Patagonia has created a piece that’s sure to sing songs of joy into all of their fan’s ears. Combining two of their most classic styles—the Better Sweater and Synchilla Snap-T—into one, this fleece offers the pinnacle of style and comfort. A Better Sweater construction with a Snap-T entry turns their Marsupial into a distant cousin that’s a hit at every family get together. And not only that, but you can count on a ton of comfort thanks to a flat-seam construction and fuzzy fleece interior.
The North Face Summit Series L3 Jacket
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You may have seen that The North Face has taken their “Summit Series” line to new heights in the last few season, and this season is no different, well, except for the fact that they’ve began adding some awesome colors into their monochrome scheme. While The North Face offers a slew of products for men and women in this line (L1 through L6), their L3 seems to be the perfect fit for cold days that lie somewhere between fall and winter conditions. An insulation of RDS-Certified 800 fill goose down makes this jacket super packable and traps heat like no other, which makes it ideal for lightweight missions that span the long route. That warm insulation also meets a DWR finish to shed light precipitation and morning fog on a face fabric that has a striking color scheme that any gear head is sure to love.
Prana Martina Heathered Jacket
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Prana shows you that warm comfort doesn’t always need to be so technical in their Martina Jacket. This soft jacket ensures your comfort over a variety of conditions by marrying a weather-resistant liner with a bonded fleece lining. A deadly combination, this jacket is stunning enough for casual living, yet technical enough to get you through just about anything you can come up with this season.
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Patagonia’s Brodeo Beanie has been in their line for a number of seasons, and there’s no reason to stop that. Easily one of the warmer beanies around, this hat blends the power of (recycled) wool with the durability of nylon to keep you happy during any day that’s got a harsh bite in the air. Another added bonus to the Brodeo is that some colors now offer a larger Patagonia logo for those of us who really like to wear that brand with pride; minimalists, don’t fret, there are still a ton of colors that have a more simple logo as well.
The North Face Apex Etip Gloves
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The Apex Etip Gloves are another tried and true favorite from The North Face and for a good reason. These gloves blend casual styling with superior comfort to let your hands rest on cloud nine no matter where you go. Crafted for both men and women, these gloves are as versatile as can be. They feature a softshell design that’s matched with The North Face’s Apex ClimateBlock to prevent the wind from freezing your knuckles as well as a brushed tricot interior that will leave your hands nice and content. Throw in a touchscreen ability and a gripper palm and you’ll see that these gloves have just what the doctor ordered every day of the week.