Editor’s Picks: Anneka Williams Head To Toe

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It’s pretty fun to review ski gear as part of my job. It gives me an opportunity to try pieces of equipment my friends swear by, test the latest technology, and think really critically about how gear enables me to maximize both performance and efficiency when I’m out in the mountains. While I have to try a lot of different items as a gear reviewer, I think the goal is really to find the products you love and stick with them. Switching between kits can be exhausting (and expensive) so I’m always on the hunt for something that can hold up for multiple seasons and that makes me feel right at home. Here are some that fit the bill for me.

Anneka Williams’ Editor’s Picks

Skier Profile

• Height: 5’4”

• Weight: 115 lbs

• Style: Curiously playful

• Inbounds/Touring Bias: 10/90

• Location: Wasatch Mountains, Utah

Headwear

I’ve been loving Smith’s Method Helmet this year. It fits well, looks pretty good, and works well for me both inbounds and in the backcountry. I like pairing this helmet with Smith’s I/O Mag S goggles. I usually struggle to find goggles that fit my face, fit well over my helmet, and aren’t prone to sliding off. These ones fit great, come in great color options, and work well in variable light conditions.

I run pretty cold so I like to wear the hood of Patagonia’s Capilene Air Hoodie under my helmet. It’s a great way to add some warmth without too much bulk. I pair this with a Party Shirt International Neck Shirt, which adds a fun flare of color to my kit and makes sure I’m nice and bundled against the elements.

Outerwear

The outerwear choices these days are overwhelming. It seems like there are a million and one kits to choose from and even more options if you’re open to mixing and matching tops and bottoms. My go-to kit right now features Flylow’s Siren bibs and an ancient Patagonia shell that I got as a hand-me-down from my mom.

The Siren Bibs fit well, make it really easy to pee without taking all your layers off (a must-have feature for touring), and feature simple but effective pockets. I should probably get a newer shell at some point, but I love how broken in mine is and it just feels good when I wear it. I wear this kit for pretty much all skiing. I like finding gear that can transition well between the resort and the skintrack. It certainly makes it easier to pack for multi-sport trips and it speaks to well-designed and versatile gear.

For insulation, I’m a big fan of Kari Traa’s Silja kit. Made from 100% merino wool, these layers are cozy, soft, fit well, and are super cute. They insulate quite well without being unbearably hot on the skintrack and I can wear them day after day without them getting too stinky.

Originally from Vermont, I have to go with Darn Tough ski socks as my foot insulation of choice. I have put my Darn Tough socks through the ringer but they still last for years. And if you actually do wear through them, you can conveniently exchange them for a new pair. So, theoretically, you only ever need to buy 1-2 pairs of Darn Tough socks… for your entire ski career. They also have such fun patterns which, let’s face it, is a pretty important part of any skiers kit.

Packs

Packs are tricky, especially if you’re a short-torsed person like me. I haven’t really loved any of the packs I’ve used in the past few seasons, but Deuter has stolen my heart this season with the Freescape Pro 38+ SL and I am stoked. Its size and design caters to the needs of badass mountain ladies, making it easy to carry everything you need for a regular day of touring while expanding to accommodate a rope and more technical tools for bigger objectives. Deuter’s “SL” fit acknowledges the unique proportions characteristic of female bodies and the pack is designed to fit this type of body. I can definitely confirm that this pack will be a great companion on any mountain adventure, offers awesome organization for snacks, water, avalanche gear, radios, etc.

Gloves

My favorite glove right now is Hestra’s Fall Line 3-finger. I like that it’s a glove and mitten combined into one and find that it offers the dexterity of a glove and the warmth of a mitten all in one. On most days, I’m using this inbounds and in the backcountry. Also, the leashes on this are a game changer and I can’t imagine wearing gloves without leashes ever again.

Boots

In the backcountry, I stand behind the Scarpa F1 LT as my favorite touring boot out there. It’s definitely not for everyone’s foot but it’s pretty freaking sweet if it works for you. I have small, narrow feet so these work really well for me. I feel like I have tons of ankle mobility and flexion when going uphill but the ski mode on these is pretty solid for the descent, too. Ski boots can make or break a long day out in the mountains but these are so comfortable that I would wear them for 12 hours straight without even thinking about my feet.

I haven’t yet found a pair of inbounds boots that I totally love so stay tuned on that!

Bindings

I can’t say I’m too much of a binding snob (at least not yet) but my go-to for the last year has been Salomon’s Mtn Pure. It’s worked really well for me for some big backcountry objectives. I wouldn’t ski it in-bounds, but it certainly makes for efficient uphill travel.

Skis

Prior to becoming a ski journalist and gear reviewer, I was exclusively skiing on hand-me-down skis from my brother. It was a cost-effective way to try some different skis and ripping down on skis that were always bigger than my size was definitely good for my skiing ability. But it’s pretty dang nice to be trying skis that actually work for my body.

For the last year, I’ve been loving Renoun’s Citadel 106. A 106 underfoot can be a bold choice for a backcountry ski but we tend to have a lot of powder in Utah and having a wider touring ski makes the descents way more fun. The Citadel is surprisingly light and holds up really well in varied terrain and different snow surfaces and textures making it a great daily driver.

I’ve been using Coalition’s Rafiki Powder Ski inbounds and absolutely loving them. It shreds the steep downhills at Alta, floats through powder, and is a super fun and playful ski.