Gear Review: Winter’s not over yet

In what has overall been a weird winter weather pattern, early April is following suit with plenty of snow and cold weather. But these items have kept me cozy, no matter what Mother Nature brings.

Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket

Mountain- and ocean-lovers win with this lightweight jacket, the shell of which is made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean pollution. Insulated with 800-fill power, which all meet the Responsible Down Standard — including animal welfare practices — it’s quilted for both warmth and ease in movement. The stylish, fully zipped jacket snuggles up nicely to the chin, and elastic cuffs allow me to pull the extra sleeve length over my hands when I forget gloves walking around town. Inner and outer pockets make it super functional, and I love the fact that it folds into its own self-contained carrying case. In addition to its warmth and comfort factor, I appreciate the nine choices of women’s colorways (six in men’s). My Marion red adds cheer to a long-lasting winter, without screaming garish red.

$279, patagonia.com

Arc’Teryx Atom SL Hoody

With a different look and construction than the above Patagonia, this jacket easily crosses over into spring as an airy yet well-insulated, full-zip jacket. It dries relatively quickly and maintains its warmth factor even when damp. Though it’s meant to emphasize lightness (especially compared to the original Atom SL Hoody) over durability, it’s held up brilliantly to my trekking. The fact that the man-made insulation wraps around the core of the body — and doesn’t bulk up the sleeves and hood — make it an excellent layering accessory or standalone. Additionally, the thinner fleece side panels provide both breathability and lightness, and it’s made with a lower footprint in a Fair Trade Certified facility. Two huge outer pockets hold energy bars, a phone, and much more. It’s the perfect accessory for those trips — or days — where you’re not sure if it’s going to turn out to be spring-like or wintery.

Comes in men’s and women’s, $280, arcteryx.com

Vallon Freebird Goggles

Classic and minimalistic design meets high performance in these Freebirds. Optics developed in partnership with Carl Zeiss provide exceptional clarity and depth perception in both sunny and cloudy conditions. The spherical lens maximizes peripheral vision, which is key to preventing close calls on merging trails. These fit the three different-brand helmets my husband and I have without gaps, and the anti-fog technology stands up to wearing a mask on powder days. Triple-layer foam ensures all-day comfort on the face, and the goggles come in 10 different frame and strap color combinations to match just about any jacket. Extra lenses can be purchased. Inspired after years of exploring around Verbier, Switzerland, Vallon offers quality goggles at a great price.

$127, vallon.com

Ibex Woolies Pro Tech Crew and Bottoms

As Ibex’s lightest-weight base layers, these feel like wearing next to nothing, yet they perform remarkably well in cold weather. The company’s spinning technology makes the merino wool 35% more thermally efficient and nearly nine times more durable than ring-spun wool, while also resulting in 85% more elasticity. Flatlock stitching and a waistline that stays put while feeling like it’s hardly there result in a high comfort factor. And, a nylon core improves durability on both the crew and bottoms. Plus, I love the thumbholes for additional warmth on the crew. Soft, breathable, and odor-resistant, these range in use from mid-winter to cool summer nights. Note: They are best as a base layer, as they don’t repel dog hair.

Each $115, ibex.com

Farm to Fleet Breckenridge Light Targeted Cushion Ski Sock

For the first, say, decade we were together, I had a tendency to “steal” my husband’s jackets. So when he saw these socks, his first comment was: “Those are swipe-able.” He was talking about the adorable skiing yeti on the calf. Fortunately, he doesn’t need (or like) targeted cushioning, which I find very effective in my shin area. The merino wool wicks away moisture and truly does resist odor (TMI: I wear my ski socks in boots for a few days). These have become my go-to socks; they’re some of the warmest socks I own. And, the seamless toe closure is a must in my ski-sock world. The only thing I wish they would’ve done is move that cute little yeti lower on the leg — or atop the foot — so I could see it better; when I look down at my feet, I mostly see white, and I’m all about fun when it comes to socks.

$39, farmtofeet.com