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How to Solve Cold Hands

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How to Solve Cold Hands

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We’ve all been there. It’s clear blue sky after a dumping of fresh snow and the temperature is well into the negative. You get on the chair and by the time you reach the top, your hands are so cold that they hurt. It’s an unfortunate reality of being on the hill but that doesn’t mean you have to let cold hands put a damper on your day.

When your body gets cold, it reduces blood to the extremities in an effort to keep vital organs warm and functioning. It’s a natural response and generally isn’t cause for concern but it can cut your day short or even cause damage if the temperatures are cold enough. Luckily, there are a number of things to do that can solve having cold hands on the mountain!

Stop It Before It Starts

Let’s get this straight- Once your hands are cold, there is no going back. Even the most expensive gloves can’t warm already cold hands. In order to prevent them from getting to that point, you have to nip heat loss in the butt! Hands lose heat fast because they have blood vessels close to the surface. Wearing a thin liner underneath your gloves will keep them toasty but be very careful with this option as it can compromise breathability- then your back at square one!

Protect Your Core

As mentioned, if your body gets cold then your hands are going to be the first victim. By preventing your core from feeling the freeze, you can reduce your chances of suffering from cold hands. A proper base layer and mid layer are crucial- heck, just layer and the insulation will do it’s job. Also, don’t forget the power of snacks. A fed body will have the fuel to fight the cold and the very act of digestion can give off energy.

Gloves

Gloves are the most obvious solution to keep the cool temperatures out and choosing the right ones for your needs can take it one step further. Here are a few things to take into consideration when purchasing protection for your frigid fingers:

  • Mittens are warmer than gloves but you sacrifice dexterity.
  • Down is the best insulator and is known for being light and breathable. However, synthetic insulation dries a lot faster and can be more cost effective.
  • One word: Gore-Tex. This is the Grade A of fabrics since it is both breathable and water proof!

No one likes cold hands and there are many options that can drastically improve your chances of making it through even the coldest of temperatures. Still not sure how to personally solve the age old problem of cold hands on the ski hill? Come in and speak to our staff, your digits will thank you!

 

The 5 Bags You Need in Whistler

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The 5 Bags You Need in Whistler

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Whistler has four distinct seasons, each with its own weather and sports to enjoy. Cross over is key in gear so you can get the most of it, so we’ve come up with the 5 bags you need in Whistler to accommodate almost all sports and seasons.

Ski Bag

Whether you are pounding out laps on the chairlift all day, venturing into the backcountry or getting a heli drop into a gnarly line, you’ll need a ski pack for your winter outings. When searching for the perfect ski bag think about if the majority of your winter will be on the resort, in the backcountry or a mix of both. If the backcountry is your playground, purchasing an avalanche float pack might be the best decision you’ve ever made. Some float packs have a removable portion so it can be worn as a regular pack as well. McCoo’s has a large selection of different capacity bags geared towards your favorite type of skiing. Making sure your gear fits in your new bag is key, so feel free to bring your gear shopping with you to make sure it fits into the bag you’ve been eying, with room to spare! If you’re more of a resort cruiser, we’ve got plenty of smaller options for you too!

Beach Bag

Summer living means plenty of days at the beach. Beach bags come in all shapes and sizes, so pick one that will hold all of your beach necessities. We’ve got you covered with a separate blog post about beach bag essentials to make sure you’re ready for a summer filled with lake days.

Camping Pack

Whistler has endless places to escape for a night, or a week of camping by foot or by car. With so many options it’s nice to have a camping pack that can handle it all. A minimum of 35L is recommended for overnight camping to allow adequate room for your sleeping bag, tent, food, water and other camping supplies. The longer the trip, the bigger the pack should be. It’s important to be fitted for your pack as well. Most camping packs come in sizes based on your body frame, so keep that in mind to get the pack with the perfect fit for you. Another camping pack tip is to look for a pack with more than one point of entry so that if you pack something at the bottom you can get to it with out unpacking the whole bag. Bags with outside straps are great for hauling a tent on the outside as well.

Day Pack

Your daily backpack will be the most well used packs in your quiver, so choose wisely. Invest in this bag, as it will be the pack you wear for the most missions. This pack should have room for the essentials and then some so that it can accommodate a variety of activities with out too much bulk. Ideally your backpack will with stand dusty bike rides, day hikes and even an impromptu snowshoe adventure with ease.

Multi-purpose Bag

Heading to the gym? A sleepover at a friends? Maybe out for some sight seeing? This is the bag you’ll need at your side, or on your back. We are especially loving the variety of bags for both guys and gals by Herschel Supply Co bags right now. This bag doesn’t need to be a heavy-duty pack, but it should be something you’re ready to grab for all your random outings.

McCoo’s has you covered year round for all your bag needs. We love to see you play in our beautiful backyard, so we’ll set you up with the right bags so you can make the most out of every season. Come see our brand and product selection in stores and then get busy exploring!

5 Tips for Staying Dry on the Mountain

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5 Tips for Staying Dry on the Mountain

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We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, as long as you’re properly outfitted. We’ll admit, we’d choose a powder day over a day skiing in the rain, but when the only other option is to not ski at all, we’ll make the most of what we’ve got.

Here’s what you need to know to stay as dry as possible on the mountain, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Start Dry

It’s a no-brainer, but if you start your day off with wet gear, you’ll forego that warm and dry feeling right from the get go. If you’re skiing back to back days, make sure to lay out all your gear the night before to give it a chance to dry off. If you’ve got boot dryers, you’re well ahead of the game. If not, pull the liners out to give them a chance to dry off. You can also stick scrunched up newspaper into your boots to absorb moisture. If any of your clothing isn’t dry the morning of, toss it in the dryer.

Your Outer Layer is Everything

Your outer layer – the jacket and pants you wear on the outside of your gear – is your key to staying dry on the mountain. Your best bet is to choose pieces made of GoreTex – this is as waterproof as it gets. To keep your GoreTex gear in good shape, you’ll need to wash it every so often to keep the little pores clean. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you.

Don’t Forget Accessories

Soaking wet gloves can ruin your day in a shockingly short amount of time. The good news is that they make GoreTex gloves, too. You might also want to squeeze an extra pair of mitts into your coat pocket: after lunch, you can simply swap out your gloves for the dry pair.

The other accessory you’ll want to make use of: a hood. When you’re picking out a jacket, look for one with a big, roomy hood large enough to accommodate your helmeted noggin. You’ll want to throw that hood up in lift lines and on chair lifts.

Stay Dry

Once you’re geared up with your waterproof stuff, don’t take it off! As soon as you take off your gloves or unzip your jacket, you’re exposing yourself to moisture. If you must, try to adjust your GoPro or text your friends somewhere sheltered to avoid getting soaked.

To Garbage Bag or Not to Garbage Bag

On a particularly soppy day, you might have seen people skiing by you wearing a very fashion-forward garbage bag poncho. If you don’t have good, waterproof gear, by all means – sport the garbage bag. However, it’s not very aerodynamic, it makes obnoxious flapping sounds, and it certainly is not breathable – and though studies are inconclusive, we’re not sure it does much for your style cred.