We sought out warmer weather in Arizona, climbed freezing pitches in northern New Mexico, and ski-toured in Rocky Mountain National Park this January. Here’s the gear that helped us start the year out right.
Iksplor Baby Adventure Zippy ($89)
My husband and I spend many weekend days ski touring in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, and in January we decided it was time to let our 8-month-old in on the fun. A lifetime of skiing has taught me how to dress and layer for winter adventures, but dressing and layering a baby for the cold comes with a steep learning curve. In the face of uncertainty, I’ve learned to go with what I know: a quality base layer paired with an insulating midlayer is the best line of defense against the cold. We put our son in the Iksplor Baby Adventure Zippy under a fleece onesie, then stuffed him into a down bunting. At the end of a 1-hour ski tour in 40-degree temperatures, his core, hands, and feet were warm. Ever since, the Iksplor onesie made of midweight Merino has become our go-to layer for our son on winter adventures. We love that the Merino is soft to the touch and doesn’t irritate his skin; the integrated hand mitts add an additional layer of warmth under his separate mitts; and the two-way zip for quick diaper changes on the go is a big bonus. Ten-ten would recommend this baby base layer for outdoorsy families. Sizing note: The Adventure Zippy runs large, so consider sizing down for your little one. —Jenny Wiegand, associate gear director