The Reckoner 102 is an extremely versatile ski at an amazing price. At 102 mm underfoot, we find that this ski can handle a variety of conditions, from fast groomers to messing around in a dusting of fresh snow. Our favorite thing about these skis is how easy they are to manipulate in and out of turns. For the freestyle-minded skier, the Reckoner has a nice soft flex and plenty of tip and tail rocker, giving the ski a surfy, loose feel.

K2 uses carbon and a 360 sidewall to add stability and durability making the ski sturdy on edge when compared to other skis at this price point. That said this is not a unicorn ski and at high speeds, this ski can feel unstable and jittery. Yet we would argue that this ski isn’t trying to be a stiff all-mountain ski and truly is one of the best at providing a fun and easy skiing experience at the resort.

There are numerous options when it is time to choose a pair of bindings for your new twigs that all seem very similar. For this list, we chose the Tyrolia Attack 14 for its versatility at an amazing price. These bindings sit extremely low on your skis helping with energy transfer from edge to edge by positioning your feet closer to the skis which enables your skis to flex more naturally and feel like an extension of your body.

Our favorite part of this binding though, is the three-piece heel design which makes it extremely easy to step in and out of when compared to their competitors. This is an especially great feature if you are like the editors at FREESKIER and find yourself occasionally double-ejecting after sending it a little too big.

This might be our favorite bang-for-your-buck product on this list. The 3-in-1 Powdertown jacket comes with an extremely high-quality exterior shell and interior midlayer that you can zip in and out of the jacket. This system has you covered for whatever the ski season throws at you—whether it’s below zero at the top of the resort or a slushy spring day, you’ll never have to throw anything else in your ski bag. The exterior shell features Patagonia’s tried-and-true H2No shell to repel water and snow, while the interior puffer features 60g of insulation to keep you warm. With the value of versatility here—you can’t go wrong.

Featuring Patagonia’s bulletproof H2No shell, the Powdertown pant will be able to handle all the inclement weather Mother Nature has in store. The waterproofing is then combined with a relaxed and articulated fit to help you not only look good but feel good when you are skiing. Our favorite aspect of this snow pant is that for $168.96 you are getting an extremely high-quality product and you enter the Patagonia family. Once you are part family, they will repair your pants free of charge forever through the brand’s Ironclad Guarantee program in an effort to keep them out of a landfill.

New for the 2024-2025 season the Dakine charger is the perfect example of a minimalist and safe helmet packaged in a killer deal. Featuring MIPS technology and passive venting, you get a helmet that protects your dome from rotational impact while also regulating your temperature. Additionally, the magnetic buckle on the strap allows for effortless one-handed adjustment if you need to take a quick call from your boss on the lift in the case a pow day makes you ‘call out sick.’ This helmet packs all the necessities you need into a well-built product with no nonsense bells and whistles in a good way.

The Gordini Storm Mitt embodies the phrase “bang for your buck” with all the value they were able to pack into the glove for under $100. A Gore-Tex liner leads the charge, keeping your hands totally dry and simultaneously enabling them to breathe, while plenty of synthetic insulation keeps your hands warm. On the palm and on the back of the glove, you will find water-resistant leather for added durability in these two high-use areas. Rounding the glove out is a large cuff and two wrist closures keeping the glove secure and the snow away.

Finally, We have selected an often-forgotten piece of gear paramount to keeping you comfortable on the hill. While there are many options in the balaclava space, We are a huge fan of the Expedition Hood because of how securely it sits on your head. Once you put it on, that’s it – you no longer have to worry about it shifting around underneath your helmet. We also appreciate how thin the material is, as we find some other balaclavas can tend to feel bulky and slightly suffocating. This is not the case with the Expedition Hood—which will also keep your face and neck quite warm while the elasticity allows for adjustments to be made when when more airflow is preferred.