I can remember perusing the Roxy section at a Cape Cod surf shop many years ago and being overcome with a sense of cool. The brightly coloured swimsuits, the sporty gear, and the beachy-cool-laid-back clothes – I wanted it all. I wanted to be a Roxy girl.
Somewhere along the way, I got a little confused – somehow, I ended up in the mountains instead of at the beach. Luckily, Roxy makes gear for a snowier lifestyle, too.
I still think Roxy is the coolest, but for different reasons than I did when I was 11. For one, the brand is exclusively geared towards women. Everything is designed especially for ladies, not as a mere afterthought as it is with so many other brands. Roxy gear looks good -- but more importantly, it works. The proof is in the roster of mighty talented Roxy athletes – if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.
Today, we’re talking about Roxy’s cold weather gear. I’ve put in several solid days on the mountain in my Roxy kit, and here are my thoughts.
The Fiona Jacket
Wearing a neon jacket makes it incredibly easy for you friends to find you on the mountain – I highly recommend it. The Fiona jacket is your best friend for the backcountry: GoreTex, check; warm but not too heavy, check; fully taped seams; check. This jacket was designed to a tee – for instance, the adjustable hood can accommodate a helmeted noggin and there are thumb holes (my favourite!!) to keep your wrists dry and your hands warm. I’d love to see a few more pockets to stash my stuff – compared to most other Roxy jackets, it is pretty minimalist.
The Creek Pant
I used to think that I needed to wear baggy pants to be able to move on the mountain. Then, I tried Roxy’s Creek Pant. These slim-fitting pants (order a size up) look gooooood, but they move with you. They don’t sacrifice function for fashion – they kept me warm and dry, and the design made sense (like the flared bottoms to go over snowboard boots). And they’re on sale right now. They come in white, navy, and – my favourite – black.
The Mouna Mitt
The fun, bright colours first lured me to the Mouna mitt, but it was the impossibly soft fleecy interior that made me fall in love. I am notorious for having perpetually cold hands, but these mittens have done an A+ job of keeping my digits warm thanks to the Hydro-Tex insert, which is waterproof and windproof, but still breathable.
They’re not available on the Roxy website anymore, but check out the Mouna glove or the fantastically puffy Victoria mitt.
The Biotherm Neck Warmer
You guys, THIS is seriously cool: Roxy and Biotherm (the skin care product company) teamed up to make the world’s smartest neck warmer. Believe me when I say that I have struggled to find a decent neck warmer – what’s up with the ones that freeze from the condensation of your breath, creating an ice mask on your face?
Well, not only does this one actually keep your face wind-free and warm, but it goes one step farther: IT MOISTURIZES YOUR FACE. It’s not slimy or anything, but the fabric contains microbreads and when you wear it, it hydrates your poor, wind-chapped face. Absolutely brilliant. I’m buying this for everyone I know next Christmas.
Here in Whistler, I’m confident that we’ve still got a few months of snow ahead of us. But I understand if you’ve got spring on the mind. Let me leave you with a few of my favourite Roxy spring/summer pieces.
