There’s no escaping the fact that this winter looks a little different. When we’d usually be counting down the days until our next escape to the mountains, instead it’s all about adventures on home soil – and there are plenty of those to go around. But with the UK weather as unpredictable as it is, what you really need is a curated wardrobe of versatile gear that can go anywhere you do. Snow+Rock asked their clothing buyers, Lorna and Johnny, to choose their most versatile pieces for the winter season, and they didn’t disappoint. Add-to-bag potential: considerable.
Lorna, Womenswear Buyer
Patagonia Triolet Jacket
Goes everywhere, does everything, and looks great doing it. If you want versatility, you just found it. A 3-layer GORE-TEX construction with a recycled face fabric means the Triolet is built to last and does its bit for the planet, too. Lightweight enough for your pack, breathable enough for working hard in the mountains and complete with a loop for ski pants for powder days, this is one you’ll never head out there without.
Rab Valiance Parka
Brand new for this season, the Valiance could just be what you’ve been waiting for. It’s the perfect resort parka, the longline coat for when you slow the pace down a little, the sleek-looking final layer in your around-town look – and the down-insulated, waterproof, ready-for-anything jacket you need in the mountains, too. Absolutely everything you could demand from a jacket in the unpredictable UK weather, if you only buy one jacket this season, you need to make it this one.
Mountain Equipment Hispar Fleece
We’ve all got a can’t-live-without fleece – now meet your new one. A great solo performer and a dream to layer with too, the Hispar jacket is made from POLARTEC Pro Hi Loft grid fleece, which Lorna loves for its breathability, light weight and unrivalled heat trapping. Worn on its own it’s a breathable outer perfect for climbing and hiking on cold days; under a waterproof shell, it’s a super-insulating mid-layer for the summits and the slopes. Quick-drying, extra durable and with a great-looking fluffy appearance, it’s function meets fashion times ten.
Johnny, Menswear Buyer
Arc’Teryx Beta AR Jacket
Updated for the new season, this is a shell that means business. Waterproof, breathable and extremely durable, it features rugged GORE-TEX Pro Shell 2.0 throughout – 80D in high-wear areas and 40D for where breathability is key – to keep up with any of your alpine adventures. But that’s not all it does. A longer fit, redesigned hood and internal collar transitions seamlessly from the mountains to the trails and even to the slopes – it’s our best seller for good reason.
Patagonia R1-Air Full-Zip Hoody
You know the R1. You love the R1. It needs no introduction – but this one deserves your attention. In a brand new style, the new R1-Air fabric is lightweight, super breathable and quick-drying for moving fast on the trails or in the mountains, and with a few extra touches like off-shoulder seams for unrivalled comfort beneath pack straps. After even more versatility? Check out the quarter-zip model for all this in the perfect style for the slopes, too.
Arc’Teryx Atom LT Hoody
Another reimagined favourite for the new season, the updated Atom LT features the latest generation of Coreloft Compact insulation – long story short, it keeps you even warmer, even when wet. Available as a vest, a jacket or in four standout colours as a hoody, as a standalone insulator it’s good – but layered under a shell in the rain or snow, it’s flawless. In Johnny’s own words: “this has been stripped back to the granular details, resulting in improvements to an already-faultless staple”.
