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This year was a windfall for gearheads. In most seasons, we only see 15 to 20 pieces of winter gear that are truly ground-breaking or category-defining -- a high bar for our elusive Editors' Choice award. But this year, we were stunned to find 32 prize-worthy products across the 500-plus pieces we tested for our annual Winter Gear Guide. Below, we've included 24 of those top-scoring pieces of gear, as well as links to comprehensive reviews of all the rest.
What merits an Editor's Choice award? Performance, first and foremost. To receive this award, products have to demonstrate best-in-class performance over months of rigorous testing, besting the competition in their respective categories. Items that showcase innovative new technology or significant moves towards sustainability also get brownie points. But it's not just the newest and shiniest toys that are considered for an Editor's Choice award. Sometimes, products that have been around for a while continue to outperform in their field. Items like the Gnu Barrett snowboard and Fisher Ranger ski get an Editor's Choice nod because, even though they're not new to the shelves this year, they're still the best.
If top-of-the-line gear is what you're after this season, then you've come to the right place.
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The Nitro Alternator can cruise groomers and surf wind lip-laden pow fields -- and it can charge steeps, drop cliffs, and straightline sketchy runouts like it's trying to break the sound barrier, too. Snowboard purists (read: the anti-rocker contingent) will appreciate the Alternator's frills-free traditional camber profile. Testers also praised the stability provided by the mid-stiff, high-grade poplar core, which is reinforced by nose-to-tail carbon stringers. The classically directional deck sports subtle setback and minimal taper, as well as an early rise nose and a kicked tail. While the Alternator wasn't the best in test when it came to float in powder or switch stomping and ripping ability, the design provides what testers agreed is a solid balance between the two. Testers also loved the Alternator's carving prowess, which comes courtesy of Nitro's Dual Degressive sidecut -- a smaller-radius sidecut between the bindings that's bookended by larger-radius sidecuts at the nose and tail. Compare it to our other top-scoring snowboards of the year.
Stamped by both aspiring all-mountain shredders and our most aggressive freeriders, the Gnu Barrett was the highest-scoring women's board of our test again and well deserving of yet another Editor's Choice award. Testers dug the progressive Magne-traction -- a design update that features a smooth sidecut in the front half of the board, transitioning to Gnu's characteristic serrated sidecut in the back half of the board. "The Magne-traction delivers a precise ride with superb edge-hold fit for a queen, and the Barrett performs well wiggling through the trees and arching long turns alike," reported one tester. We also loved the "energetic" flex pattern -- supplied by the Forest Stewardship Council-certified aspen and paulownia core, and reinforcing carbon bands -- which we found balanced enough for all types of terrain. Read our full review.
The Venture Paragon is a classically shaped, easy-to-ride, neutral-cambered chameleon, able to adapt to any conditions or terrain you throw at it. Testers appreciated the Venture's neutral profile, which transitions from zero-camber underfoot to a gentle rocker between the inserts, nose, and tail. The profile combined with a semi-tight sidecut offers a balance of float in powder and dependable edge-hold in hardpack. The Paragon was one of few splits reliable enough to navigate through the garbage with a semblance of grace, all while encouraging riders to throw little spins, ride switch, and pop off rock-hard pillows without too much concern for landing stability. Read our tester's full review.
If you would rather blast through chop than daintily pick your way through it, Union's updated Atlas binding is an all-mountain workhorse that can handle everything from hellish straightlines to heavy cliff drops. Thanks largely to a stiff, carbon-injected nylon baseplate and highback, it's a lively, responsive binding that likes to go big and go fast. For dampening, Union deploys high-density, vibration-reducing Vaporlite bushings between the board and baseplate. They might not absorb bigger impacts as well as a softer rubber or foam, but they provide moderate dampening and, more important for charging riders, immediate response. See how the Union Atlas shakes out compared to the other best bindings of the year.
From powder days in Tahoe to damp training runs, the Woolies became our top choice for high-output activities and all-day wear alike. In western Canada, the Woolies Pro Tech Crew top and bottom survived a gauntlet of winter smokejumper firefighter training sessions with little fuss -- or stink. That's thanks to the Nuyarn construction, which wraps odor-repelling merino wool around a nylon core, creating a lofty yarn that resists the stretching and tearing that can plague 100 percent merino garments. In terms of design, one tester summed it up well, as "simple and highly functional." Raglan sleeves on the crew top meant no seams to interfere with pack straps. Flatlock stitching throughout the top and bottoms boosted comfort, and generously sized thumbholes played well with gloves and mittens. Read about the other top men's baselayers of the season here.
Helly Hansen's two-layer LIFA merino tech, which sandwiches an internal synthetic layer with an external merino layer, allows folks who are wool-sensitive to experience the material's benefits. The result was a hit among our testers, who uniformly felt that LIFA's combination of warmth and breathability made this the ultimate base layer for any winter activity where big temperature fluctuations require the need to stay warm and dry. While testing in regions ranging from the Northeast to the Tetons, testers agreed that the LIFA Merino Midweight crew top and bottom provided warmth on lift rides and windy summits but also wicked moisture extremely efficiently. Here's how it stacks up to the rest of the year's base layers.
For such a classy hoodie, the Sentinel has a lot going on. First and foremost, it's knit using Nuyarn, a product from a New Zealand-based company that's developed a way to spin merino wool fibers into a stretchier, loftier, and more durable, yarn. Nuyarn creates a custom yarn blend for each brand partner, and we love that Lé Bent chose to integrate natural bamboo fibers -- rather than synthetic polyethylene -- making for a more sustainable garment. In our testing, no performance was sacrificed in the choice; the Sentinel was remarkably stretchy, tough, and warm for its weight. The Sentinel's waffle knit structure adds further loft, and therefore warmth, and lends a chic texture that made the garment stand out from the rest of the fleeces we tested.
Here's a do-it-all fleece for virtually every outing, year-round. Testers described the W-Halfmoon Bio's fabric thickness as a "light-midweight" and said it delivered Goldilocks warmth and proved "just right" for a huge range of pursuits. Over the testing season, we wore it under a shell when downhill skiing, over a T-shirt on summer peakbagging missions, at the climbing gym before a workout, and on its own around an evening campfire. Its moderate warmth and breathability make it ideal for mid-pace, stop-and-go activities. Compare the Halfmoon bio to the other top midlayers of 2025.
This marshmallow-soft, super puffy parka shines for its balance: It won't break the bank compared to some other options we tested, offers serious warmth without being wildly heavy or bulky, and has a classic, streamlined look that's still distinctive. The Aspire Puffy Parka's generous cut fits easily over bulky layers -- the same tester made a habit of zipping it over her entire ski kit, shell and all, on cold mornings. Helly Hansen's high-loft synthetic insulation compresses like down, making it surprisingly packable. See our other favorite winter coats and parkas of 2025.
The Cloudboom Strike is a brand new supershoe that rivals the best. Restricted by the 40-millimeter stack height limit set by World Athletics, On's engineers stripped away all non-essential elements to maximize the amount of their ultra-bouncy PEBA foam, Helion HF hyper underfoot. Inside, instead of a traditional flimsy insole, there's a removable thick layer of PEBA foam resting directly on the carbon fiber plate. Plus, the upper is stitched directly onto the plate, eliminating the need for a strobel board. The result is more high-performing foam in the same 40-millimeter stack, which delivers a plush, cushioned feel and gives the impression of more thickness than there actually is. Read our full review and check out our other favorite winter running shoes here.
The all-new Rossignol Arcade 88 hit the jackpot in this year's frontside ski test, not only winning our Best in Test award after impressing testers across the board, but snagging the highest category scores in our carving, quickness, and playfulness criteria. It's not often that a ski, even the year's top-performing ski, bests its rivals in multiple skill categories. Testers who clicked into the Arcade 88 agreed that this versatile frontside ski will speak to a wide range of skiers. Most said it's ideal for intermediates to experts looking for a narrower all-mountain tool that excels on groomers but is also quick and dependable enough for variable terrain. Read our full review here.
The Black Pearl 88 has some serious history -- not only because it's been a top-selling ski for multiple seasons, but also because the line has been around for more than a decade. After years of tweaking and perfecting, we thought there wasn't much left to improve. We were wrong. Previous iterations of the Black Pearl 88 all shared the superpower of accessibility and appeal to a wide range of ability levels. It was one of the most confidence-inspiring frontside skis out there, but it wasn't exactly agile or energetic. Blizzard's goal with the redesign was to make Black Pearl 88 more maneuverable, lighter, and easier to handle -- all without sacrificing power. Read more about the new Black Pearl 88.
The Stance 96 earned the highest ranking at our 2024 SKI Test after impressing testers with its supreme versatility in a very competitive field. It's a chameleon, adapting seamlessly to everything from groomers to chutes to bowls to bumps -- making it the very definition of a great all-mountain ski. When Salomon rebuilt the Stance 96 last year, the iconic French brand redirected its focus toward off-piste freeride terrain with astonishing success. Without sacrificing much performance on groomers, the new Stance 96, built on a caruba and poplar platform with a redesigned Titanal frame, is less hooky, more responsive, and more forgiving -- the kinds of virtues we look for when speeding over manky snow. It's easygoing yet confidence-inspiring, making it feel as though your skis all but disappear under your feet. Check out our tester's full review.
More fun, less work. This is the simple ethos of the Fischer Ranger 96, which gained the coveted No. 1 spot in this year's rankings. Testers pushed its limits in nearly every type of terrain -- ripping on groomers, bombing through crud, and sucking up bumps -- and awarded the Ranger 96 the highest versatility score by a long shot, which is, of course, what this category is all about. The ski's general architecture features a wood core, sandwich sidewall construction, and a sheet of vibration-damping metal that's customized for each model in the Ranger line. In the 96mm width, the metal extends further into the tips and tails for better edge-grip and precision, while in the wider models it shortens for better float and playfulness. The 96 also has a flatter tail, which makes each turn feel like it's good and finished. Learn more in our full review of the Fischer Ranger 96.
When we clicked into the Peak 110 by Bode at our 2024 gear test at Mt. Rose, Nevada, we weren't sure what to expect -- a fat-bodied charger, or a loose cannon like Bode himself. In the end, this ski defied all of our expectations to claim the top spot in the 2025 powder ski category. Just like its namesake, the Peak 110 by Bode is charge-y and sure of itself, offering what testers called insanely smooth vibration dampening; but it's also a remarkably forgiving and intuitive platform. It floats like a much fatter ski and carves like a much narrower one, fusing all-mountain spirit with a powder ski's personality. Read our tester's in-depth take.
Known for their energy, playfulness, and solid feel in variable conditions, QST skis have an uncanny ability to please pros like Cody Townsend as well as us mere mortals. The QST Echo 106 shares the shape and profile of the all-mountain QST 106, with slimmed-down construction (the Echo shaves off 200 grams per ski). It's spry on the skintrack yet maintains a quiet feel through variable snow in the backcountry. Salomon opted for a lightweight and responsive caruba-and-poplar core, with basalt fibers that bump up the stiffness. The result is a ski we would take anywhere, from chundery alpine terrain to wide open corn runs. See how it compares to the best backcountry skis of 2025.
This boot not only received perfect 5.0 scores in three of our on-snow performance metrics (dynamic balance, quickness and steering, and edge power), but it also impressed testers with its supreme comfort. How is it that the Mach 1 MV can be so comfy and yet ski with race-worthy power and quickness? For one, the boot's stance angles have been refined over several years to hit that Goldilocks sweet spot: not too flexed, not too upright, and dead-flat edge-to-edge underfoot. The Mach 1 boots also use a polyurethane plastic with a thickness adjusted to enhance vibration damping and stability. As for comfort, credit the shell's anatomical shape, which seamlessly contours the foot, and its thoughtfully designed liner. The padded liner is pre-molded to cup the ankles, eliminating hot spots. See how it stacks up against the other women's backcountry boots we tested.
We could dazzle you with data but let's just cut to the chase: the Mach 1 LV was the highest scoring boot in our entire test.The precisely contoured shell shape provides a very close fit through the instep, ankles, and heel, but with enough curvature to encompass -- rather than crush -- bony protrusions. A low-friction panel at the rear of the liner enhances heel glide during entry. Testers said the T-Drive cuff-to-lower shell connector is as good as it gets: it anchors the two core components of the boot to ensure a more efficient transfer of energy into the ski. Flex resistance is progressive against the shin without collapsing or folding, and return-to-center is snappy. One tester described the T-drive as a suspension system component on an Italian supercar, and another just said it did all the thinking for him. Compare it to the other top men's alpine boots of the year.
Thanks to a new liner and snugger fit, the 4-Quattro Pro was the best downhill performer in our test. Many testers reported that it skied even better than their heavy alpine boots. While plenty of touring boots struggle to deliver the precise power transfer that skiers expect from four-buckle models, the 4-Quattro Pro excels as a perfect fusion of precision and power. This combination was perfect for California's June Mountain side-country, where testers pushed the boot's limits through tight trees, open glades, and steep, consequential descents. On the uphill, the 4-Quattro Pro also saw improvements over its predecessor, the 4-Quattro XT. For one thing, the 60-degree range of motion was the most accommodating in this year's freeride test. The liner felt supple right out of the box -- an improvement from previous models, which took some break-in time to reach their stated range of motion. Read more in our in-depth review.
This pack's meticulous design includes a back panel zipper, modular ski- and rope-carry systems, and a side probe compartment you can access with one hand while the pack is still on your back. An outer stash pocket stores wet skins, a helmet, or other quick-access items while keeping them out of the way of diagonal ski and vertical board carry. While its features are unobtrusive enough that the LF 30 can be used as an everyday touring pack, it shines in steep terrain when it disappears on your back thanks to a low profile and lightweight. See how the Raide LF 30 stacks up against the season's other top packs.
Scott's first foray into the integrated magnetic lens system is a huge success -- testers loved these goggles across the board. The React Amp Pro comes with a chrome-coated mirrored transition lens that can handle gray days or bright sun, as well as a non-chrome lens best suited for low-light. One tester wore them to ski two California volcanoes, Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak, and opted for the darker lens the entire time. "When you're skiing 7,000 feet in mixed conditions, you need goggles that protect your eyeballs from getting burned and still give you enough clarity to see in low light. These did both," she said. Compare it to the other top-scoring goggles of 2025 here.
The Pret Fury X and its women's version, the Vision X, are crowd pleasers. Every tester who wore this helmet -- each with different tastes and needs -- liked it. "The liner material is best described as fuzzy wuzzy. It felt soft against my ears," said one tester. A Tahoe-based tester went for an inbounds hike in this helmet in sunny spring weather and found it cooled and breathed nicely, despite its fuzziness. (The liner's EPS foam also has an antimicrobial treatment to help keep it from getting funky.) Vents in the front and across the top of the head are all controlled easily with a single switch and make the helmet highly breathable. Cozy ear flaps can be removed on warm days and the magnetic chin strap was easy to attach, and can be even done using one hand. The helmet fit seamlessly with both Pret and non Pret goggles without leaving any gaps. Read more about the Pret Fury X and the season's other top performing helmets here.