Choosing a Ski Jacket

Skiwear that communicates, base layers that monitor blood sugar and skis that turn for you. From fashion and freestyle to technology and gadgets, what's the future in snowsports?

Gone are the days when all a ski jacket did was keep you warm. Nowadays, mountain wear is multitasking, interactive and super high-tech. Can you keep up?

I remember my first ever snowsports outfit. It was neon pink (such a great look in the 80s) and. er, actually that's about it. It was pink.

OK, so it kept me warm. Well, warmish. But that was all it did. Fast forward 20 years and my mountain gear keeps me warm, it breathes so that I stay dry, it helps me communicate thanks to in-built gadgets and, if I were to upgrade to the next model, it would even be able to recharge itself with solar panels.

Yes, if you've got the money and like to stay at the cutting edge of cool, skiing and snowboarding are the perfect sports in which to indulge your James Bond side. So where are we at with high-tech hedonism?

Well, jackets lead the way in wearable technology, with built-in radios, microphones, earpieces and 'push-to-talk' technology for hands-free communication. Even if an MP3 player isn't built-in, an MP3 pocket and understated portals for earphones have become a winter essential.

On the more practical side of high altitude style, jackets are now controlling how hot you feel and how well you can see. Powered by small battery packs, some jackets have electroluminescent panels that light up on low visibility days (or when you're stumbling back to the chalet after a few après-ski drinks). If the mulled wine doesn't warm you up, some manufacturers are now producing clothing with battery-driven heating, which warms you up at the push of a button. This technology is also available in mittens, and so cold hands are a thing of the past.

Futuristic fabrics such as soft shell mean skiwear doesn't have to be bulky to be effective. Soft, breathable and water-repellent, soft shell regulates body temperature but is lightweight and stretchy, allowing designers to create sleek, figure-hugging styles.

If you're not wearing your gadgets, there are plenty of high-tech options you can carry that will mark you out as a futuristic snow rider. Among the most useful for speed demons are watches that can measure and store both your maximum speed and average speed of a run. With altimeter, barometer, compass, stop watch and PC interface, wearing a watch like this means you can suss out your day's activity, record it and, most importantly, brag about it in the bar afterwards.

Other manufacturers have launched two-way adventure radios, designed to withstand a harsh environment and provide extra communication range (often up to five miles) - perfect if you're on their home turf and want to save on international mobile phone roaming costs.

But it's in the area of safety where advanced technology and new ideas are really proving their worth. Avalanche airbags have been developed to work as a backpack with an exploding double airbag stored in the side pockets, leaving enough room in the middle of the pack for your personal kit. If you are caught in an avalanche, the airbag will inflate and rise to the top of the debris and snow, indicating to rescuers exactly where you are.


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