Part II of our Essential Gear Picks to help you avoid seeing a rescue chopper during your outdoor adventures this year.  Suit up with this essential winter gear and survive the worst of weather in style and more importantly comfort and safety.

If you missed it, be sure to check out Part I.

La Sportiva Men’s Spantik Mountaineering Boots

 
The only way you’ll keep moving – at any respectable pace – is if you can still use your feet.  The La Sportiva Men’s Spantik Mountaineering Boots ($629) give you the warmth for high-altitude and winter mountaineering and the agility to assault difficult ice and mixed pitches. The synthetic outer boots increase flexibility and help reduce weight to a low 5lb 1oz per pair. Heat-moldable, removable liners give the Spantik Mountaineering Boots a precise fit to ease foot fatigue and minimize heel lift when you front point steep ice.  The Fast Lace System, lets you cinch down these boots with a single pull—even with gloves.  Boots are arguably the most important item when getting outdoors in the winter – well maybe a tie with gloves – so don’t skimp.

Smith Prodigy Goggle

 
Seeing is kind of important.  When the temp drops, wind picks up and sun starts bouncing off the snow you run the risk of snow blindness.  Goggles protect your eyes from the elements so you can find your way. Smith uses its spherical Carbonic-X lens to give you super-clear vision with the Prodigy Goggle ($84). A Vaparator lens with adjustable vents helps you regulate airflow and eliminate fog while the spherical shape increases peripheral vision. Smith added an Articulating Outrigger Positioning System to create an excellent fit whether you’re wearing a helmet or a beanie.

Smartwool PhD Ski Light Sock

 
Seeing a trend here?  Keeping your feet warm and dry is important!  The Smartwool PhD Ski Light Sock ($22) is lightweight without skimping on comfort and support; Smartwool added an extra layer of wool on high impact zones to increase durability and sustainability. Wool’s natural anti-odor and moisture-transporting properties keep your feet fresh, dry and warm.

Petzl MYO XP Belt Headlamp

 
Extreme cold can wreak havoc on gear.  Nothings worse than starting a 2am alpine ascent only to get 10 minutes in and have your batteries die from the cold.  You’ll appreciate the excellent cold-weather performance of the Petzl MYO XP Belt Headlamp ($90) next time you find yourself in extreme cold temps. Regular headlamps run out of energy very quickly when cold weather saps their power, but the MYO XP Belt Headlamp has a remote battery pack that can be worn inside your jacket to keep it warm and therefore keep the light going. A single ultra-bright LED bulb provides light up to 97m in boost mode and lasts for 180 hours on the lowest setting.

CAMP USA X-Class Ice Axe

Steep ice and snow requires an axe you can trust. Reach higher with the comfort and security of the CAMP USA X-Class Ice Axe ($140). The steel head and spike hold up against massive amounts of abuse, while the angled shape reaches over bulging rocks on the ascent and enables a more effective self-arrest on deadly unintentional descents.  Don’t leave home without one.

Primus Omni-fuell Stove

 
Whether you’re idea of survival is cooking pancakes at 17000ft in winter or melting snow for hydration and warmth, the Primus Omni-fuell Stove ($145) gets the job done and it’s the only stove I trust when the going gets tough. With its easy-to-use Ergo Pump, this durable stove is designed to handle extreme conditions, altitudes, and temperatures. The Omni-fuel Stove’s ability to fire up with nearly any type of fuel—LP gas, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and even aviation fuel means you can almost always find something to get it fired up.