Essential Gear for an Après Ski Session
Whether celebrating or cozying up, items for comfort and warmth off the slopes
It doesn’t get much better than warming up by a fireplace with friends, while sipping on something satisfying, after a long day on the slopes. The French word “après” (meaning after) has become synonymous with the various activities people partake in after a day of skiing or riding. Whether you’re getting cozy at Mount Engadine Lodge after a big tour in Kananaskis Country or skiing straight into the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole, everybody does après a little differently. The one common thread, however, is comfort and warmth. From slippers to sweaters and beyond, these options range from tech-forward to vintage-influenced—but all will keep you cozy while you tell tales of your day on the snow.
Black Crows Ventus Hybrid Alpha
The French ski brand Black Crows may not have invented après, but they seem to have perfected it. With functional and sleek designs, the brand’s softs goods are especially spot on. Our favorite piece is their textured Ventus Hybrid Alpha jacket. The interior is made from soft and breathable Polartec Alpha, while the exterior is Pertex. The top of the jacket features padded chevrons (the hallmark of Black Crows items designed by Yorgo Tloupas) while the inside hood and arms feature a map of Chamonix.
Aether Apparel Racer Sweater
Aether Apparel has made it their mission to make stylish clothing with “undercover tech” properties. From their soft Japanese loopback fleece pants to their big weave cashmere sweaters, comfort is never compromised for style nor vice versa. The Racer Sweater is made from 100% extra-fine boiled merino wool and, thanks to the simple stripe design, adds a little vintage style without becoming kitsch.
BAABUK Boots
Swiss brand BAABUK not only makes wool footwear, but is also a B Corporation with strong ethics. Beside working closely with their workshops in Nepal and Portugal for their evergreen products, they also do limited edition collaborations like their upcycled slippers, which have soles made with leftover material from fellow Swiss brand POMOCA’s climbing skins. We’ve found their wool boots, with a hard rubber sole, to be ideal footwear for indoor or outdoor après.
Patagonia Silent Down Shirt
Over the years, Patagonia has mastered balancing style and tech. This season, Patagonia has released some of their most practical and durable sustainable components, like 100% recycled GORE-TEX. The Silent Down shirt is significantly less “swooshy” than many similar pieces, but its other advantages are also significant. With 100% recycled 700-fill-power down (reclaimed duck and goose down products like pillows and duvets) this piece is cozy, and its work-shirt style is an elevated take on a puffy jacket.
Duckworth Powder High
The brand Duckworth was conceptualized by its founders while on a chairlift. With a “sheep to shelf” motto, the brand boasts a rather large herd of sheep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, and produces all final products in-house. Unique and ethical, Duckworth uses a chlorine-free process to soften their wool. Their collections feature several items of après appropriate attire, but our pick is the 100% wool Powder High Neck sweater, which is breathable and can be worn all day on the slopes and then to drinks afterward.
Icebreaker Tech Pants
New Zealand brand Icebreaker recently released a new collection called Tabi—made in collaboration with iconic Japanese apparel house GOLDWIN. The Tabi line blurs form and function with minimal designs that truly elevate the concept of snow apparel. Tabi Tech pants offer the comfort and softness of sweatpants, but a clean and sleek appearance.
Rab Hut Slippers
Whether you have finished up a big tour or a marathon of laps at the resorts, chances are your feet will ache. If your après doesn’t involve a wet dance floor, Rab’s hut slippers are a sure bet after a long day of torture from ski or snowboard boots. Filled with Cirrus—a super-lofty, featherless synthetic insulation—the slippers are also made with a tough Pertex microlight ripstop water- and abrasion-resistant outer material. Although these slippers are actually made for mountaineering adventures, they could also pair nicely with a smoking jacket and a martini glass.
Backcountry Strawberry Fleece
One of the biggest suppliers of gear for outdoor adventures, Backcountry, recently began making their own gear, which runs the gamut from tech pieces to lifestyle. The brand’s Strawberry Fleece jacket boasts an asymmetrical zip, moto-style collar and is a more sophisticated take on the humble fleece sweater. Comfortable and cozy, the high-cut neck will keep you warm indoors or out.
Images courtesy of respective brands
