PlanetSKI Gear Review #2 Winter 2024/25

23rd November 2024 | Alf Alderson - Gear & Equipment Editor

In our second gear edit of the season Alf Alderson reviews some great stocking fillers including goggles, sunglasses, bluetooth speakers & more…. NEW

VALLON HAZLEWOOD SUNGLASSES £98 www.vallon.com

I knew as soon as I put on the Vallon Hazlewood sunnies that they were going to be my go-to shades this winter.

They’re super-comfy, made of quality materials and they look great too.

The Hazlewood’s rounded aviator shape is a classic retro design, whilst the combination of Cat 3 mirror lenses and a gently curved frame offers 100% UV protection.

They come with a useful faux-leather hard case which provides a certain level of protection when they’re in your pack or pocket, and a microfibre cleaning cloth to keep the lenses in tip-top condition.

The Hazlewoods are versatile enough to wear on the snow – where they look right at home – or for everyday use.

Provided the sun is shining, you’ll get to use this pair of sunnines all year long.

VERDICT: The Hazlewoods look good, feel good and perform admirably.

Vallon Hazlewood Sunglasses £98 – image © Vallon

SALOMON SENTRY PRO SIGMA SKI GOGGLES £135 www.salomon.com

The Sentry Pro is a cool looking goggle that comes with a rash of impressive features, not least of which are two interchangeable lenses (ours came with a Sigma Gun Metal Cat 3 lens and a Sigma Silver Pink Cat 2 lens) so you’re covered for all eventualities.

Changing them is just a tad fiddly and it’s hard to avoid touching the lens surface when you do so.

You also get a soft microfibre bag that can be used to wipe off any finger-marks as well as a hard storage case.

The Sigma lens range is designed to improve colour contrast on snow so you can instantly read terrain variations in a wider range of light.

It filters out 100% of UV rays, whilst the minimalist frame provides excellent peripheral vision both horizontally and vertically.

It also features triple layer face foam for a comfy, snug fit whatever your face shape, and improved airflow across the lens to prevent fogging.

I particularly liked the extra wide silicone backed strap which allows for easy and quick adjustment as well as providing a smooth and secure grip on your helmet.

VERDICT: Good looking, comfortable goggles with good peripheral vision; lens changing is a bit fiddly though.

Salomon Sentry Pro Sigma Ski Goggles £135 – image © Salomon

VALLON STAIRWAY GOGGLES £120 www.vallon.com

Vallon’s Stairways goggles are an update on a classic 80’s design but with a better field of vision than you’d have got from the old retro designs, along with industry-leading optics developed with Carl Zeiss.

There are four lens colour options, as follows:

Sky – Cat. 2 – 20% VLT (visible light transfer)
Blue – Cat. 2 – 24% VLT
Copper – Cat. 2 – 25% VLT
Green – Cat. 2 – 23% VLT

Plus, at the time of writing you also get a complementary yellow Cat 1 (76% VLT) lens for bad light conditions.

Changing the lens is a bit fiddly and will invariably leave finger marks on the surface.

As with the Salomon goggles reviewed above it’s not a major hassle and the supplied microfibre storage bag can be used to clean the lens.

All the lens options offer 100% UV protection, with the outer lens being made from shatter poof 1.6 mm polycarbonate.

The Stairway’s frame is made from ultra-durable TPU lined with triple-layer face foam, and offers excellent compatibility with all the major helmet brands.

VERDICT: Stylish retro goggles with a good range of lens options.

Vallon Stairway Goggles £120 – image © Vallon

MARSHALL WILLEN II PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER £99.99 www.marshall.com

There are plenty of portable Bluetooth speakers out there but few are as cool as Marshall’s Willen II with its mini-amp appearance and, of course, the superb sound quality associated with Marshall speakers.

It provides a finely balanced sound at any volume and you can vary the sound setting on the associated app.

You don’t need to worry about giving it a trip into the great outdoors either.

The Willen II has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating which means you can submerge it in 1-metre of water for up to 30 minutes, so a bit of snow, wind or sleet are of no concern.

You get over 17-hours of battery life on a full charge (which takes 2.5 hours; 20 minutes charge gives 5.5 hours of playtime).

It comes with a fastening strap so you can use it pretty much anywhere (it has a Bluetooth range of up to 100-metres).

There’s a built-in microphone so that you can take phone calls completely hands-free.

VERDIC: Great sounds from a cool and easily transportable little package

Marshall Willen II Portable Bluetooth Speaker £99.99 – image © Marshall

MAMMUT HALDIGRAT SHELL JACKET £550 www.mammut.com

Some ski jackets just feel ‘right’ as soon as you slip them on, and Mammut’s Haldigrat is one such.

It’s light enough for more strenuous activities such as skinning up and freeriding, but at the same time tough enough to take plenty of stick and keep you warm and dry.

That’s thanks to a supple, sustainable outer fabric made of durable recycled nylon, and a Drytech Pro Technology waterproof membrane.

From the top you get a helmet-compatible, adjustable hood with reinforced peak and high, microfleece lined collar to protect effectively against snow, wind and rain.

Beneath are easy-access, backpack-compatible chest pockets with water-resistant zippers, a zippered inner security pocket and an internal stretchy mesh stash pocket for goggles and the like.

Yet more pockets are found lower down in the form of two zippered hand pockets.

There’s a zippered lift pass pocket on the left sleeve as well as generously sized pit zips, whilst a zip-off snow skirt with anti-slip grip and double button placket for adjustment provides further protection from the elements.

The whole lot is rounded off with super-comfy wrist gaiters and adjustable cuffs and hem.

Add to all that a great cut that provides excellent comfort and freedom of movement and the Haldigrat is a top piece of kit.

VERDICT: A supremely comfortable and functional freeride jacket that’s well worth checking out.

Mammut Haldigrat Shell Jacket £550 – image © Mammut

MAMMUT HALDIGRAT AIR HS HARDSHELL SKI PANTS £400 www.mammut.com

Mammut say these pants are ‘made for the backcountry’ but tbh I’d be happy to wear them anywhere on the mountain.

That said, their backcountry cred comes about thanks to the fact that they’re extremely breathable and ultra-lightweight, which means that you’ll need to layer up beneath them on all but the warmest of days since they offer very little insulation.

Featuring a Pertex Shield Air membrane, they’re also waterproof, and in addition to the excellent breathability they have half-length side zippers for good venting.

All this, along with the relaxed, loose cut, makes for a very comfy pair of strides.

Additional features include an easily adjustable, large Velcro waistband (note there are no belt loops), zippered cargo pockets on each leg, the right-side pocket also having an internal phone pocket made from warming neoprene to help extend battery life.

They also feature integrated snow gaiters with anti-slip grip and adjustable hems – which is pretty much all you need in a pair of backcountry ski pants.

VERDICT: Top quality shell pants for the backcountry crowd.

MAMMUT NIRVANA 28 DAY PACK £140 www.mammut.com

The Nirvana 28 is a very sturdy daypack made mainly from recycled materials, which will easily carry everything you need for a day of ski touring or freeriding.

Access to both the main compartment and the avy gear compartment is quick and easy thanks to a 270° zip on each.

There’s also a full rear zipper allowing access to the main compartment which enables you to easily get to stuff at the bottom of it when needed.

In addition, there’s a hydration sleeve in the main compartment, whilst the avalanche equipment compartment has a dedicated internal sleeve that makes the pack compatible with a Mammut Back Protector.

You also get a good-sized zippered outer pocket with a soft lining for goggles and other bits and pieces.

The shoulder straps and harness provide a comfortable, secure carry and are easily adjustable, and as for carrying hardware, both skis and splitboards can be attached diagonally or A-frame style and there are attachments for ice axes/walking poles.

The robust outer fabric ensures that sharp ski edges and ice axes don’t do any damage, and there’s also an integrated helmet carrier on the bottom of the pack for those hot and sweaty ascents.

VERDICT: A tough, well-designed pack specifically built for backcountry days out.

ADIDAS TERREX FREE HIKER 2.0 COLD.RDY £220 www.adidas.co.uk

If you’re into traditional-looking winter boots the Terrex Free Hiker may not instantly appeal, but in terms of warmth and comfort – surely the most important features of winter footwear – they score on both fronts.

Light and comfy straight out of the box, the boots feature a storm-sealing zip shroud and GORE-TEX lining to keep your feet dry along with PrimaLoft insulation to keep them warm in snow, sleet and rain.

An Adidas ‘BOOST’ midsole and EVA stabilisation provide good support on uneven terrain.

A Continental Rubber outsole ensures traction in wet and/or icy conditions.

The look, of course, is a bit ‘Marmite’, and I’m not sure I’d use the Terrex Free Hiker for serious winter walking in the hills, but for everyday wear, particularly in cold, snowy conditions, they do a fine job of keeping your toes toasty.

VERDICT: Light, warm and comfortable in snowy conditions – what’s not to like?