Featured image: Bruno Long

Last week, a group of 30 FREESKIER staffers, apparel testers and brand representatives congregated at British Columbia’s legendary Retallack Lodge with a singular goal: to put next year’s best ski outerwear to the test over four days of cat-skiing in the Selkirk Range. These threads will be hitting internet marketplaces and shop walls this fall, and the best will be featured in FREESKIER’s annual Buyer’s Guide, hitting newsstands in September. This year’s Apparel Test saw 40-plus pieces of next year’s jackets, ski pants, midlayers and baselayers, along with a full run of Auclair Gloves, as well as weather ranging from warm, bluebird days to wet, soggy storm skiing. Scroll down for a quick preview of next year’s ski outerwear, and subscribe now to see which will rise above the rest and make it into the Buyer’s Guide.