It’s 3 P.M. on a weekday. I’ve been staring at my laptop for seven hours, and I’m frazzled from being on deadline. My fingers are sore from typing. A 30-minute run would be the perfect reset, but it’s 35 degrees and windy. Do I really want to go outside?
Thanks to some specific, well-used gear, I usually make it out the door. The first quarter of the run is a slog, but the rest is pure joy. When I get home, I feel energized and present. Still, there are days when I can’t find the motivation when it’s so damn cold that running would be pure misery. That’s when I pull out the yoga mat or these other essentials to help me regain focus to finish the workday.
Best For: “Oh shit” moments
Packed with gobs of PrimaLoft insulation, the Alpha SVs are the warmest mittens I own, keeping my hands cozy when all other gloves fail. I’ve used them on bitter powder days, when friends had to head inside to warm up, and they live in my backcountry ski pack in case something goes wrong. If I get stranded, or a partner does, and we have to wait for a rescue, these mittens will be the first piece of emergency gear to go on. (
Editor’s Note: this glove is discontinued bummer. If you’re looking for something for similar purposes, Arc teryx’s Fission SV mitten has a lot of the same features as the Alpha SV, but we haven’t tested it. The most comparable gloves we have tested are the Black Diamond Absolute Mitts.)