Whether it’s morning meetups, quad-resting coffee breaks, or lunchtime defrosting sessions, a ski area’sbase lodge is a sanctuary. But not this season. Sure, they’ll still be open, but thanks to COVID, we can expect reduced seating and limited capacity, withless of the festiveatmosphere we’re used to. That means we all need to betterour tailgating game. Here’s the gear that’ll help.
Layer Up and Dry Off
The reason most of us typically head indoors during a ski day is to warm up. Hanging out in the parking lot doesn’t have to feel like the Arctic by comparison.
Start with your feet. Keeping your piggies wiggling is a two-step process. First, when you get to the car, swap your ski boots for the($150, available , too), a slip-on bootie that combines the coziness of an Ugg with the pillowy feel of Hokas. They’re exactly as comfortable as they sound, and the water-resistant leather outer gives them necessary chops for navigating messy parking lots. Next, plug the ($45) into your car’s outlet, and slide the wands into your ski boots. Its heating elements andfan kill perspiration, so you can set yourself up forhappy feet the next day. You can also use the Travel Dry during a midday break to keep your toes toasty on that freezing post-lunch lift ride.
Keepyour upper body toastywith the ($100). It’s more than roomy enough to wear over your ski kit, with a hefty dose of synthetic insulation that’ll helpyou staywarm during a ten-degree rest stop. Flip up the hood for even colder days on the hill.
Now you’re ready to settle in for a little après hang. First things first: a fire. Solo Stove’s stainless-steel ($270) has vents all the way around, to feed the flames. This means itburns wood hot, smoke-free, and efficiently. All that’s left when it goes out is a little ash. The foot-high cylinder weighs 15 pounds—not the lightest out there—but the easy cleanup is hard to beat.
Fuel Up
Once you’re feeling the glow, it’s time to rest and refuel. Instead of standing in line, spending too much money on mediocre food, and then hunting for a spare seat, bring your own food and chow down in style.
Somewhere to sit is a must. The ($300) consists of collapsible poles holding up a fabric body. When set up, it’s wide enough for two, yetit packs down into an 18-inch-long tubeand easily disappears in a trunk loaded with ski gear.
To keep chilledbeverages close at hand, we love the ($369). With its big wheels, navigatingparking-lot ruts is a nonissue. Meanwhile, two-inch-thick insulation and an airtight gasket mean beer stays cold (but never frozen) all day. Inside, an included bin separates drinksandice from happy-hour goodies,like cheese and crackers. It also comes with a collapsible bag that restson top, in case you need to lug other essentials, like cups or plates.
If you want to go with a room-temperature drink, we recommend ($30). It’s aged in the same barrels the company usesto brew itsDragon Milk stout, which lends a soft bite, with notes of vanilla and malts. It’s a great way to toast a wicked day on the slopes. If hot drinks are more your style, light up the ($120). The efficient, integrated stove-pot system boils a liter of water in 100 seconds, and thanks toitssilicone French-press plunger, you’ll have coffee faster than if you’d waited in line.
Of course, a long day of skiing in the cold makes a person hungry. That’s why we love ($45). The vacuum-insulated, double-wall design keeps chili or chowder hot for up to 13 hours,and an included stainless-steel spork, which has its own pocketonthe grippyleather wrap, means you’ll never need to slurp—or heat anything up.