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70 years of ski expertise
Ellis Brigham celebrates 70 years of ski expertise this winter, so it seemed a particularly good time to ask its team to help us pick out some of the most interesting gear for the season ahead.
From skis and boots to clothing and accessories, these are products selected by people who know what works on snow and what skiers should be looking for in 2026/27.
Consider this your expert edit of the gear worth knowing about this season.
Jump to: Ellis Brigham’s Skis of the Year · Boots · Helmets, goggles and comms · Protection · Ski jackets · Warm hands and feet · Après and around the mountain · For little skiers
Ellis Brigham’s Skis of the Year
Nordica Multipista DC 80 Ti FDT + TPX 12 FDT
£780 (includes bindings)
Ellis Brigham’s men’s Piste Ski of the Year, this is built for the piste purist, delivering high performance while remaining forgiving. With exceptional power, precision, and stability, it is crafted for those who demand the very best on groomed runs but who want all-day usability too.
Blizzard Black Pearl 84
£595
Ellis Brigham’s women’s Piste Ski of the Year rocks the boat by going wider than what might traditionally be thought of for a piste ski, and that’s because so many skiers will benefit from the extra width and stability that the Blizzard Black Pearl 84 offers. It’s the slimmest in the Black Pearl range at 84mm, delivering a nimble feel for hard-snow skiers who still want all-mountain versatility. It offers confident edge hold and an easy, intuitive ride that makes carving on piste feel effortless for progressing skiers wanting an encouraging ski. Ultimately it was an easy decision, as all the testers loved how it felt on piste, whatever the conditions. It was an especially easy choice because of just how good it made horrible, chopped-up pistes feel.
K2 Mindbender 96
£645
Ellis Brigham’s All Mountain Ski of the Year makes the most of the way a resort day changes from first lift to last, a trait that impressed all the testers across every ability level. It has enough width to enjoy soft snow, trees and the odd powder stash, yet remains stable when the route back is chopped, firm or fast.
Prefer something narrower and more piste-focused? Read our InTheSnow K2 Mindbender 88 review.
Armada Antimatter 100W
£650
Ellis Brigham’s Freeride Ski of the Year uses the same construction and shape for the men’s and women’s versions, with just the graphic changing. It comes alive once the corduroy has gone and the piste is chopped up, or when you are leaving the trails behind.
Boots
Salomon S/Pro Alpha C Boa 120 Ski Boot
£560
This new boot delivers three defining advantages for performance-driven skiers: unmatched steering and power transmission with EXODRIVE, superior heel hold and ankle stability for precise ski control and refined fit and comfort thanks to a new liner construction, easiest step-in and cuff micro-adjustment.
Helmets, goggles and comms
Giro Neo II Mips
£140
A redesign of one of their best-selling models, it’s super comfortable, lightweight and has a modern shape with a very slight peak. The size adjuster is second to none, the ventilation can be adjusted depending on the weather and Mips provides increased protection from angled impacts.
Salomon Pioneer 3 Mips
£130
One of our most popular models for many years has just had an overhaul. It now has a more modern shape, an extremely comfortable liner, a fully adjustable fit system and active ventilation. The addition of Mips increases protection against angled impacts.
Dragon Slain MAG
£140
With a medium/large frame size and coming with two premium lenses included, these offer exceptional value for money. Changing the lenses takes seconds, thanks to the magnetic changing system.
Smith Stash XL ChromaPop Pro Photochromic
£160
Replacing one of Smith’s best-selling frames, this model uses a cylindrical lens shape and features a photochromic lens, which automatically adapts to different light conditions. A firm favourite with team riders and staff alike.
GoggleSoc Pro Soc Goggle Cover (Pow x Kate Zessel colourway)
£14
Fits securely over your lens, protecting it when not in use. Made from recycled plastic bottles, it fits almost any goggle and can also be used to clean lenses. The design is by Vancouver-based artist Kate Zessel in association with POW (Protect Our Winters), with a portion of the profits going to the charity.
Cardo Outdoor Bluetooth Communication Headset
£220
Communicate hands-free with family and friends without the need for internet or mobile phone reception. Connect with up to 15 other Cardo users via a Bluetooth unit that clips onto your helmet. With high-quality headphones and a microphone, you can also take calls and listen to music on the go.
Protection
POC VPD Air Vest (male and female versions)
£170
One of the most comfortable back protectors out there, thanks to its ventilated mesh construction and soft, honeycomb-shaped back guard, which moulds to the shape of your body. Don’t be fooled, though: this meets Level 1 certification for spine protection.
Demon Zero Plus RF D30 Impact Shorts
£75
Great for anyone looking for some extra protection when skiing in the park, or for more confidence on icy slopes. Stretchy and designed to fit like cycling shorts, they have padding on the hips/thighs and D30 foam on the coccyx, which absorbs and dissipates impact energy in a fall.
Ski jackets
Schoffel Safuna Jacket
£500
This long-standing German skiwear company has earned a lot of trust and love among UK skiers, who appreciate the all-weather protection and sophisticated alpine style.
WINTERSTAR Puffy Jacket
£249
WINTERSTAR is Ellis Brigham’s first private-label skiwear brand. This first collection features stretch, waterproof and breathable fabrics, fully taped seams, warm insulation and lots of features, all at a price that’s hard to beat.
Salomon Absolute 3L Jacket
£380
Salomon is undoubtedly one of skiing’s favourite brands and a serial innovator. This jacket is for resort skiers who love to explore everything from pistes to easy-access off-piste terrain.
Warm hands and feet
Hestra Army Leather GTX 3 Gloves
£165
This all-time best seller is beloved by mountain lovers who demand durable, warm, all-weather protection. This new stealth black limited edition is destined to sell fast.
Looking for a lighter glove for spring? Read our InTheSnow Hestra CZone Incline review.
Therm-ic Ultra Warm Comfort Socks S.E.T + S Pack 3000B
£250
Heated socks, app-controlled via Bluetooth, keep your feet perfectly warm and cosy, with the temperature adjustable straight from your phone.
Therm-ic Ultra Heat Glove Liner
£240
A slim, power-efficient heated under-glove offering three adjustable heat levels and up to 7.5 hours of comforting warmth when the temperature really drops.
Après and around the mountain
Sorel Women’s Torino V WP
£150
Sorel designed the Women’s Torino V Waterproof snow boot for everyday use. Its OutDry membrane, suede upper, and coated leather mudguard combine to provide reliable waterproof protection. Warmth comes from the 200g synthetic insulation and microfleece lining. The soft faux-fur cuff traps heat around the ankle for extra comfort.
Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers
£45
Rab’s Cirrus Hut Slippers are the rest that tired feet need after a long day in the mountains. With a cushioned insole and grippy sole, they’re perfect for walking around the mountain refuge, bothy, or sitting in your tent.
Grivel Explorer Micro Crampons
£40
Grivel’s Explorer Micro Crampons are lightweight, packable microspikes for hiking or running on icy paths and frozen non-technical terrain. Fourteen large crampon spikes are evenly spread out, with horizontal spikes at the heel and toe providing reliable traction, while the hinged front section doesn’t restrict your stride.
For little skiers
Roarsome Spike the Dino Ski Suit
£185
How to be fearless on the slopes? Roar like a dinosaur. This suit combines playful dino detailing that kids get excited about with a design parents actually love too. With 10K waterproofing and recycled insulation, it keeps little adventurers warm, dry and easy to spot.
Picture Snowy Toddler Bib Pant and Seady Jacket
£79.90 and £139
Wild on the slopes, in all the right ways. Picture’s leopard-print ski set brings serious attitude to the mountain, with 10K waterproofing, cosy insulation and clever grow-with-me technology designed to keep up with little skiers for more than one season.
Reima Kuoski Jacket
£155
Born in Finland, Reima knows a thing or two about dressing for the cold. The Kuosku Jacket brings serious winter credentials, with 10K waterproofing, recycled PrimaLoft insulation and clever slope-ready details to keep young skiers warm, dry and comfortable.
Barts Nylon 3D Mitt
£26.99
Less wrestling, more skiing. Barts’ Unicorn Gloves turn keeping little hands warm into playtime, with a fun unicorn finger-puppet design they’ll actually want to wear. Cosy fleece insulation, a water-resistant shell and a handy “don’t lose me” cord complete the package.
Watch our gear reviews
See the kit in action on YouTube
Prefer to watch before you buy? Our ski gear review videos take you through skis, boots, jackets and more, so you can see exactly what you are getting.
Watch the gear review playlistSubscribe to InTheSnow on YouTube
Read our InTheSnow reviews of more new gear from Issue 82
- SCOTT Element Pro MIPS Helmet: our InTheSnow review
- SCOTT React Goggle: our InTheSnow review
- SCOTT Patrol E2 30 Kit: our InTheSnow review
- K2 Mindbender 88: our InTheSnow review
- HEAD Discovery skis: our InTheSnow review
- HEAD Tyrolia Protector+ bindings: our InTheSnow review
- Hestra CZone Incline gloves: our InTheSnow review
FAQs
What are Ellis Brigham’s Skis of the Year for 2026/27?
Ellis Brigham’s Skis of the Year for 2026/27 are the Nordica Multipista DC 80 Ti (men’s piste), the Blizzard Black Pearl 84 (women’s piste), the K2 Mindbender 96 (all-mountain) and the Armada Antimatter 100W (freeride).
How long has Ellis Brigham been selling ski gear?
Ellis Brigham celebrates 70 years of ski expertise in winter 2026/27.
Specification