Lions into Lambs

Catching Pow at Utah's Ski Resorts

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Spring is arguably the most festive of the four seasons. Flowers burst onto the scene, the days grow elastic, and multisport enthusiasts shed the winter layers, rub on the sunblock, and dive into all variety of activities—running, skiing, cycling—often all on the same weekend. And there lies the one central gear challenge: how to suit up for weather that can nip at you with a persistent cold and steady rain one moment, then bask you with unblemished warmth not even half an hour later.

Well, we have the answers.

Skiing and Snowboarding
Due to the daylong commitment typical to most alpine outings, skiing and snowboarding in the spring can be the most unpredictable of activities, where bluebird skies give way to gray clouds and silver dollar-sized snow flakes before turning into a brilliant-orange sunset. In short, versatility has never been more essential, which is why we suggest the Synchro Jacket ($190) from Mountain Hardwear. This soft shell's outer layer boasts the company's proprietary Conduit laminate, offering wind- and waterproof protection for when the climate turns harsh. But the jacket is breathable enough to avoid overheating—the true bane of spring skiers and boarders. One-handed hems make syncing up against the elements nearly instantaneous, taped seams assure bone-dry comfort, a bevy of pockets offer plenty of storage options, and a low profile and a lack of a hood let it also transfer easily from the slope to sliders at the après hotspot. It's also a clutch jacket for spring hiking, cycling, and—well, damn near anything else.

And when it comes to the right spring-specific gloves, we turn again to Mountain Hardwear. Its Jalapeñ;o glove ($90) offers the warmth and comfort you need without sacrificing any dexterity. The mid-length cuff provides ample coverage over the sleeve seam, and the gloves easily glide on, even when your hands are wet. Conduit laminate offers water- and windproof protection, water-resistant goat skin provides additional strength and grip (as well as a great workman's-glove appearance), and the wrist strap synches tight, meaning you won't drop them while sitting on the lift just after you fall in love with them.

Vision is the third primary challenge in spring skiing—especially if you're on a mountain where the brown earth has punched through the thin snow cover. So in order to see that spring corn, turn to the Crowbar goggles ($135 and up) from Oakley. The much-heralded lens quality is 100 percent justified, and this helmet-friendly model melds the company's high-tech optical advances with the latest in frame design, complete with stabilizing struts that distribute the pressure on your face for all-day comfort, triple-layer fleece foam that wicks away sweat, an expanded lens size for increased visibility, and a permanent anti-fog treatment—an essential ingredient in the variable-temp days of March and April. As with all Oakley goggles, you can choose from a variety of lenses, from polarization that dramatically reduces glare to a fire iridium tint that makes the details of shadowy snow pop like neon Japanimation characters.