Photo: Joan Oger//Unsplash
With all the snow the Western U.S. has received this winter, we’re looking at a very, very long spring ski season this year. Maybe even a spring ski season and a summer ski season. And while the snow is still falling (will it ever end this year?) the days are getting longer, the temps are starting to rise, and in just a few short days (March 21) it will officially be spring, to boot. Time to break out the ’80s outfits and start working on your goggle tan. Below, we’ve outlined a few key products that will increase your steeze, make you the talk of the town (or at least the friend-group), and show that you know how to have a good time on the slopes.
The Best Apres-Ski Gear of 2023
Roll Recovery R1 Massage Gun ($129)
The R1 from Roll Recovery packs a punch. Compact and super durable, this little guy is not only easy to chuck in your car for instant relief of soreness once you’re off the slopes, but it also won’t take up too much room in your carry-on, making it an easy choice for destination ski trips. The battery life, rated at 7 hours, is more than twice as good as options like the Hyperice Hypervolt, and with four powerful speeds and an aluminum body that can take a knock or two, it’s hard to believe it costs just over $100.
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Trew Gear Trewth Bib ($500)
If you’re planning on skiing without a jacket this spring, it might be worth upgrading to a pair of bibs instead of the ski pants you’ve been wearing the past four seasons. A full-coverage pair of bibs like the Trewth Bib from Trew Gear will keep the spring slush out of your layers and look damn good while doing so with a loose-fitting style and a wide selection of colors. With a plethora of pockets to load up with snacks and doodads, you won’t need a jacket or a backpack. It’s perfect for high-performance spring-ski antics. Not stoked on the Trewth Bib? Check out our other top picks for bibs this season in our guide to the best ski bibs.
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Line Ski Aprés Booties 2.0 ($119)
The only thing better than getting off the slopes to a ready and waiting massage gun is taking your feet out of your ski boots after a long day and laying them to rest in the fluffy comfort of the Line Aprés Booties 2.0. I’ve had my feet in these all winter, and while I’m not going to say they speed up my recovery or anything, there’s no better feeling than the fluffy interior and squishy footbeds on these guys. Michelin branded rubber keeps you firmly connected to the ground whether you’re walking on ice or asphalt, and I’ve lost count of the number of compliments I’ve gotten while wearing the pink and blue colorway around Tahoe and Jackson Hole this season. They’re basically guaranteed to up your aprés-style, no matter how you define it.
If the higher “boot” design of the 2.0s doesn’t appeal to you, check out the half-cab version of the Line Aprés Booties.
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Blackstrap Summit Baselayer Top ($89)
I’ve worn a lot of different baselayers in my time as a skier, and I’ve got a penchant for merino wool. So I was skeptical when Blackstrap asked if I’d like to try their Summit baselayer, made of synthetic fabric, but having heard some positive feedback from elsewhere in the industry, I thought I’d give them a shot. Now, at the end of this season, it’s easily my favorite baselayer with great body-temperature regulation in both warm and cold temps. The hood is comfortable and a great addition, especially for layering under a helmet on colder storm-ski days, and I like how the hood fits closely under your chin to minimize drafts.
The looser fit is not what I expected from a baselayer, but the garment does a great job of keeping my body temperature regulated, so no complaints there. The long arms and thumbholes are my favorite feature. As a longer-armed person, I sometimes find thumb holes useless, but the length of sleeves on the Summit top and the comfortable reinforced thumbholes have been keeping snow out of my layers all winter long.
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Blackstrap Balaclava ($38)
Want to fit in with the crowd? This is the buff everyone has been wearing this season. Chairlift, lift-line, food-court line, look left, look right, and you’re sure to be surrounded by the Blackstrap Balaclava. Why? Because it freakin’ rocks. The medium-thin three-section balaclava is exceedingly comfortable and easy to adjust, works in both sun and dumping snow, and comes in a variety of fun colors and prints to match whatever colors your spring ski outfit might be.
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Solo Stove Ranger ($199)
Want to be the talk of the town, or at least the friendgroup? Use one of these bad boys to (safely) start up a fire in the resort parking lot for tailgate aprés. Better yet, make use of the Solo Stove cast-iron grill system made for the Ranger and chef up a meal for everyone. Solo Stove’s bonfire pits and wood-burning camp stoves have been making a splash recenty for their easy-to-use and hot-burning designs that minimize smoke output. The Ranger is the smallest of their “firepit” line, best suited to car camping and parking-lot aprés, but those looking to turn up the heat will be stoked by the size of the Bonfire and the Yukon firepits.
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Line Blade Optic 104 ($750 600)
If you’re looking for a ski that absolutely charges, look no further than the Line Blade Optic. This all-mountain style from Line Skis has a plate of titanal running almost the entire length of the ski for dampening power and stability. Chatter begone!
The 114s are a great width for in-bounds powder days, especially those that end with chopped up snow to charge through. That’s where this ski doesn’t just shine, it dazzles. The 104s bring the same level of charge to a thinner, more all-mountain ski that is just as suited to hard, fast snow as it is to the softer stuff. Stay tuned for a full review once the season is over.
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Pit Viper Flip Offs ($100)
Pit Viper Sunglasses have gained legendary status for their brash 80s style, and one of their latest styles, the Flip Offs, continue that legacy of brashness. Any pair of Pit Vipers is guaranteed to up your steeze, but these ones give you an excuse to flip off whomever you care to. Flip sunglasses up (or down), flip off. Rinse, wash, repeat, just don’t come whining to me when you “accidentally” start a bar fight.
For other awesome apres-style sunglasses, check out our guide to the best sunglasses for skiing.
Check Price on Pit ViperEditor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
