Outside Magazine Announces Winter Gear of the Year for 2015

Winter may still be a couple of months off, but it is never too early to start thinking about the gear you'll use to stay warm on those cold-weather outdoor activities. With that in mind, Outside magazine has announced its picks for their Winter Gear of the Year heading into 2015.

Some of the items that make the list include a pair of Atomic Vintage Ritual skis, the new North Face Brigandine Jacket, and snow-ready running shoes from Salomon. A pair of ski boots from Scarpa, and a great looking pack from Deuter also earn a place amongst the best gear for winter adventures.

In addition to the items that earn "Gear of the Year" status, Outside has also published a Winter Buyer's Guide that contains even more great gear for the season ahead. The Buyer's Guide is broken down into categories, offering the editor's choice for best outdoor equipment based on activity. For instance, there is one category for Nordic Skiing, and another for Winter Hiking. There is even a category that specifically focuses on winter gear for women as well.

If you're in the market for some new gear to help you enjoy the winter season, than you'll want to take a look at what Outside recommends. I live by the old adage that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear, and if you have the right equipment, you can enjoy your time outside no matter what the conditions are. Of course, Outside doesn't always take into consideration that we tend to have more modest budgets, but is is always nice to dream about some of the exceptional equipment that they get to play with.