Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent
A three-plus-season tent might shed heavy snow. But it might buckle, too. Mountain Hardwear's four-season Trango-2 offers hardcore protection that's been field-tested for a decade in the nastiest conditions by the company's top athletes. Only bummer: it weighs nearly ten pounds.
Toughstakes
Keep the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 tethered to the snow with Toughstakes. The cables attach to the wide shovel at the base of each stake, and they're way easier to rig than standard snow stakes.
Nemo Tuo Standard Sleeping Pad
It's bulky, yes, but Nemo's 1.6-inch-thick Tuo Standard is comfier and safer than your average pad. Because it has two insulated chambers, you'll still be able to inflate one should you accidentally puncture the other.
Sea to Summit Alpine Ap III Sleeping Bag
Pair Nemo's Tuo Standard with Sea to Summit's impressively light and body-hugging (read: thermally efficient) Alpine Ap III, which is stuffed with 850-fill down and was comfortable to ten degrees (or four below if you sleep warm), with no cold spots or drafting.
Buff Reversible Storm Neck Warmer
Heading someplace truly frigid? The outer Gore-Tex Windstopper layer in Buff's Reversible Storm neck warmer blocks icy blasts, while the inner layer lets you breathe and helps reduce cold-weather hacking.
The North Face Animagi Hat
Think about getting a warmer hat. The North Face's Animagi is DWR-treated, stuffed with top-shelf PrimaLoft insulation, and still slim enough to slip nicely under a climbing helmet.
Montbell UL Tec Down Pants
If you're one of those people who always wants an extra layer, Montbell's 800-fill UL Tec down pants will be a lifesaver.
Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated Bottle
Klean Kanteen's Wide Insulated bottle, a 20-ounce stainless steel container with a freeze-resistant lid, keeps tea or coffee hot for up to six hours.