Panasonic HX-WA10 waterproof cameraNot a name that might be easily recalled, the HX-WA10 is, however, worth noting. It's got pistol styling reminiscent of old Super 8 film cameras which gives it a good point-and-squirt feeling once you get over the initial novelty.
What makes it good for travelling is, firstly, it’s waterproof. Secondly, it’s got a smart mode called iA (intelligent auto) which optimizes the shot depending on conditions and whether there are people in it or not.
This type of function is always eerie as it starts boxing off faces in the fold-out screen like the Terminator assessing potential targets, but it makes for a better hit rate if you like to photograph your family or friends.
You can override this technological hand-holding and tweak the shot yourself but, if you can do that, this probably isn’t the camera for you. It shoots high definition video in a multiplex of formats, has a 16 megapixel sensor for stills and a decent 12x digital zoom.
* Cost€369.
Oakley Wind JacketThis isn't a jacket from Oakley, it's a pair of shades. Mostly. The name hints that these are really designed for bikers.
Oakley is a top brand for all manner of optical toy-nology, including ultra high-end digital film cameras used for commercials and movies. The Wind Jacket bit refers to snap-in, rubbery gaskets that seal your eyes from the wind, hence the biker-chic.
The lenses can be changed quickly thanks to what Oakley calls “switchlock”. So you can go from a high spec tinted lens to clear ones. Switching out the shades might be the biker equivalent of a bloke ordering a Snowball in a bar, but perhaps it’s acceptable in extremis – like the dead of night.
* Cost€225 (ie.oakley.com).
Columbia Omni-Heat rangeOmni-Heat is a bunch of proprietary heat management technologies from the boffins at outdoors specialist Columbia. It marks a renaissance for the brand and embraces a number of different approaches, including metallic reflective dots on the inside of Omni-Heat gear that bounce your body's heat back at you to keep you snug – and give your lining a sparkly space-disco look. You'll find the dots on everything from base layers up.
The top end of the range involves active thermal generation, with several different electrically-heated pieces, like gloves and boots, and jackets like its Electric Amp Parka, for instance. You stash a couple of lightweight rechargeable batteries in the special internal pockets and, at the press of a glowing button, your jacket starts to warm up thanks to integrated carbon fibre strands.
You’ll get five hours out of a charge – more than enough to slalom through the coldest parts of the day and get to the après ski. You can even use the battery’s juice to charge your USB devices out on the slopes.
Now this cutting-edge technology doesn’t come cheap – yet – but it works.
* Baselayers from €50, Parka around €1,000, Great Outdoors
Moshi Moonrock earphonesMoshi's Moonrock offers an elegant alternative to earphone knotting, with its flatish, pebble-shaped cord organiser. Credible sounds, too, thanks to the ubiquitous Neodymium drivers. And with an in-line mic and remote, you can use your smartphone MP3 player with them. Then when you've rocked, simply wrap them up in the Moonrock for your next audio foray.
* Cost$39.95 (€29.23) moshimonde.com.