Après means something different to everyone. Whether you like beers or ’booch, a successful post-adventure hang has two key ingredients everyone can agree on: good food and good entertainment. We spent a month testing accessories for cooking, drinking, and relaxing and came up with a list with something for the whole crew.
Swissmar Classic 8 Person Raclette Party Grill ($125)
A Swiss raclette meal involves melting cheese in small shovel-like drawers that rest under a heating element. Slide the resulting gooey goodness onto a plate filled with potatoes, cold cuts, vegetables, or pickles. Then repeat. Swissmar’s grill has eight trays and a nonstick top for preparing additional fixings like vegetables or brats right at the table. In the morning, flip the top over and use the crepe molds to make breakfast.
Rumpl Merino Softwool Twin Blanket ($199)
Rumpl’s first blanket designed for the home doesn’t disappoint. Made from a warm, buttery blend of merino wool and organic cotton, this throw begs to be cuddled under on a snow day.
Breeo X Series Smokeless Fire Pit with Sear Plate ($349 and up)
We love this pit’s versatility: add the wide sear plate to the rim to cook shrimp or add a finishing crust to steak. Want to add some smoky flavor to your chili? The kettle hook (from $80) can hold the chili pot over the pit. Add the Outpost ($140 and up) to grill directly above the flame. Beyond these bells and whistles, the pit looks good too, thanks to small yet sturdy legs and either stainless- or Corten-steel finishes. It can be your go-to outdoor hang spot in any season.
Field No. 8 Dutch Oven ($295)
Cast iron is renowned for its durability and its power to spread and retain heat evenly. The downside: it’s heavy. Field’s 4.5-quart Dutch oven is the lightest we’ve ever used, and thus easy to handle. If your only concern is dialing in a perfect, crackling, gold-brown crust on your sourdough loaves, we’d suggest a heavier-bottomed pot. But this was the one we reached for most on a daily basis because it’s easier to handle but still delivers superior heat conduction. If you’re looking for one cast-iron pot to do it all—stews, soups, loaves, whole roasted chickens—this is it.
Poetry for Neanderthals Board Game ($20)
The company that brought us the cult-classic board game Exploding Kittens now has a new and improved take on charades. Pick a card and get your teammates to guess the phrase on it. The catch: you’re limited to one-syllable words. Score points if you succeed. Fail, and get bopped with an inflatable bat. It’s jolly good fun—and a great way to get your blood flowing after a long day on the slopes.
Lodge 15″ Seasoned Cast Iron Pizza Pan ($43)
After a long day of skiing, few things taste better than fresh pizza. A sheet pan will do the trick, but the crust just doesn’t turn out the same as the pros’. That’s why we love this simple cast-iron tool, which lets you cook like an Italian gourmand for about the same price as a month’s worth of base-lodge slices. Preheat the pan so your crust will crisp just as your cheese bubbles. Handles make for easy transport from the oven.
Snowe Cocktail Shaker ($120)
While an integrated lid on a cocktail shaker (rather than using two separate cocktail-shaker cups) is good in theory, a lot of times shoddy construction leads to leaks, sticky hands, and wasted drinks. Snowe’s handsome shaker is made of durable stainless steel and shuts tightly. No liquid escaped during testing, even with vigorous shaking, so drinks came out perfectly chilled and strained with no mess.
Hirsch Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Whiskey ($90)
Those who like a whiskey that fights back will appreciate this spirit, which has a fiery flavor reminiscent of a Highlands malt. We like it straight or as a classic Manhattan.
OluKai Ku’una Slippers ($120)
OluKai’s Ku’unas are splendidly fleecy, with a cushy insole and just-right arch support—sublime after a day in ski boots. Our narrow-footed testers especially liked these for their slim silhouette. Where many plush slippers tend to feel like clown shoes, these fit snugly, like a bear hug for your feet.