Lenz Heat Sock
I laughed out loud when I saw the price of the Lenz Heat Sock 1.0 + Lithium Pack RCB 1200 (at $300, socks need an impressive name). Toronto’s recent record-breaking cold gave me ample opportunity to test them, but first I had to figure out how they worked. From Austria, the nylon/wool blend socks come with an instruction booklet in 19 languages, six-by-eight centimetre battery packs and a British plug with a North American converter. Also, for unknown reasons, a bag of colourful rubber bands. Oddly, there was no way of making the supplied converter work, so I used my own. Once charged, the battery packs heat the socks to three levels: low, medium and “OMG, how do I turn these things off?” So don’t use the high setting unless you’re entering frostbite territory. The chunky battery packs snap on near the top of the sock and stay in place once you fold over the cuff – just don’t try wearing these under skinny jeans. Heat settings can be changed with the touch of a button, or via your smartphone if you sync up the socks’ Bluetooth capabilities (I kid you not). A thin electric heat pad runs along the foot bottom and up the calf and – ooooh – does that feel nice in a wind chill. But the socks did not keep my toes warm on -20 C days. Winter campers, backcountry skiers and hard-core outdoor folk may want to invest in a pair. Otherwise, heated socks are like heated car seats – nice to have but not necessary to own. $300; mec.ca
Lolë Fallon jacket
Snow bunnies who shop Frauenschuh and Fire + Ice should turn their attention to Lolë’s new line of ski wear. The Fallon jacket has the impressive attention to detail the Montreal-based label is known for: Look for the hidden neck warmer, tucked away for sudden cold gusts, and the goggle/iPhone wipe deep inside an interior chest pocket. Slip it on and you’ll love the fleece wristlets that feel like a warm hug, and then there’s the small pocket over the left wrist – well-placed (for righties anyway) to store lip balm or ski passes. Design-wise, this fitted coat is in tune with runway trends – a contrasting belt cinches in the chic factor – but there’s not a lot of room for layering and it works best with just a base layer. Paired with Lolë’s Fiona ski pants (consider these the skinny jeans of snow pants; they are not for all body types), this outfit will kill it at après. Jacket, $580; pants, $250; lolewomen.com
Nano-Air Hoody
Sometimes you find something you never knew you needed until you slip it on. Patagonia’s Nano-Air Hoody has the technical savvy that outdoorsy types demand, but the design of this hooded jacket makes city life more comfortable, too. The stretchy soft shell is remarkably wind resistant on its own and downright cozy when layered under a ski shell or dress coat. The quilted side-panel design and cottony fabric (it’s ripstop nylon with polyester stretch insulation) means you can wear it about town without (necessarily) looking like you should be climbing a mountain. You’ll find pockets in all the right places – the hip ones are exceptionally deep – and the close-fitting hood keeps the wind at bay better than any tuque. Trimmed with elastic, the hood also never blows off; it will, however, make your head look like an egg. But when looks become more important than warmth, the incredibly flexible hood pulls off in an instant, no need to unzip. $349, patagonia.com
Heat 3 Smart Gloves
There are great gloves and there are cozy mittens – and then there are the shockingly warm Heat 3 Smart Gloves, just making their way into North America. They are made in Austria by the Heat Company and were designed to be used by German and Austrian special forces combat troops, so this mitten/glove combo has an impressive CV. While they’re too bulky to be considered chic, I was ready to try anything, since I’ve never been able to ski for long without my hands going numb. Not with these gloves. On long lift rides up the Alps, wind seared through my ski jacket, but my Heat 3-covered hands always stayed warm. Underneath the goatskin leather and Primaloft-insulated mitt is a thinner insulated glove. The mitt top zips open and stays open when needed (thanks to magnets), so you can tweak those boot bindings or thumb through phone messages without exposing fingers to the elements. If there’s a downside, it’s that your hands might get too warm, and pulling off the mitt and damp glove together is tricky. The Heat 3 mitts also come with thick, rather dorky looking cuffs to Velcro around your wrists. As if! Thankfully, they are easily removable, but then again, you really don’t want to drop these off the ski lift. $199.99; coolsportinggear.com