Skiing and Snowboarding .Guide To Ski And Snowboard Brands

This innovative brand has been ramping up the cool factor of snowboard clothing, pushing the boundaries of fashion and function to produce some of the most serious gear on the market. Backed by a team of top riders, Analog consistently turns out cutting-edge kit that style-savvy snowboarders want to be seen in. Case in point, these killer pants: the Summit ATF Jean (£80) - made from waterproof denim with a soft flannel lining for extra warmth and zippered ankles for an easy boot fit.

The name behind some of the toastiest toes in the industry, Conform´able continues to innovate with new foot warming products for perfect thermal comfort. Think customisable liners, 3D insoles that provide maximum stability and support, protective gel pads to prevent friction blisters, and warm socks designed to hug the shape of your foot. Try the Transfoam Flex (£209.99) - the new generation of injected inner boots with a wider and softer tongue for maximum comfort, adaptable forefoot, neoprene toe box and an elasticated clip for a heating cable.

The eGlove Ski F3S (£59.99) is no ordinary glove! The innovative design has self-closing thumb and forefinger ports, allowing you to tweet, talk, snap photos, turn up the volume or zip down, without the faff of having to remove your gloves. Built to withstand extremes of temperature and activity, the gloves feature air pocket fingertips for maximum warmth, adjustable wrist strap to keep the powder out and velvety soft, stitched-in inner liner for added comfort. Available in small, medium and large.

No self-respecting snow-tographer would be without their GoPro HD Helmet Camera (£299.99). Capture professional quality 1080p/960p/720p HD resolutions at 30/60 frames per second and record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card (not included). GoPro accessories include a Chest Harness (£39.99) for adding a different perspective to helmet-height footage - great for boarders.

For snow gear that´s sure to put a smile on little faces and invite impromptu puppet-shows on the pistes, Invicta´s Animal Mitts (£15.99) are as fun as they are functional. With a wide side opening for ease of use and Primaloft insulation to keep fingertips toasty, these mitts will keep their hands happy in four colourful designs including shark, hedgehog, polar bear and kitten.

2012 marks the 50th anniversary of two iconic names in the music and ski industries. In 1962, the Rolling Stones turned the rock and roll world on its head with their unique sound. Meanwhile new ski brand K2 was making its own tracks on the slopes. Fifty years on and the K2 is still going strong with a cutting-edge range of skis, helmets, poles, gear and accessories. To mark the anniversary, K2 are launching Limited Edition Rolling Stones Sideshow skis to get you rocking on the pistes with great satisfaction!

The sun protection product on many a skier´s lips (and nose) each season comes in the form of a unique double-duty tube from Manbi. The SPF50+ Combi (£8.95) features a 20ml tube of sunscreen and integrated SPF15 lipbalm with dome applicator for quick and easy use. A handy safety release neck cord completes the nifty package.

Pros in the know including elite riders Shaun White, Eero Ettala and Jenny Jones lend their talents to Oakley for good reason. The brand´s snow goggles are some of the best on the planet, combining airflow, anti-fog and lens design technologies juiced up with 100% UV filtering, extreme impact protection and a big dose of attitude. The Shaun White Signature Series Airbrake (from £210) promises instant shred cred!

This brand is synonymous with cutting-edge pro style, turning out team rider-designed gear with great technical features that perform on and off the snow. This season´s urban-inspired offerings include the Caiman Down Jacket (£255) for retro, old-school cool, and the Return Jacket (£185) if you like your colours to pop with your board.

Just when you thought it was safe to strip down to your boring, old, thread-bare thermals, some smart cookie has come along and put the bling back into base layers. Blingy Piste Star is injecting glitz and glamour into women´s undergarments with its sparkling S´No Queen collection of thermal-tech tops, luxury long johns and accessories (from £30) that you won´t mind showing off when the apres action heats up.

Stomp your way to apres style! Save your old sheepskin shufflers for the local shop run and trade up to something way more exciting (and practical) in the shape of Ugg´s ruggedly good looking snow boots for men, women and kids. Features include waterproof leather uppers with breathable membranes, traction soles and soft sheepskin linings for comfort and warmth. Try the women´s Adirondack Boot II (£225) in a range of colours or the very handsome and blokey Butte (£245) in black or brown - both designed for snow and wet conditions.

If you don´t mind standing out on the slopes, you´ve got to love Willyfinder! These funky Brit-designed all-in-ones are fast becoming the ski-suit du jour for the brave and bold. Turning heads in surprising colour combos, Willyfinders are as functional as they are fashionable - you´ll never get lost while youre wearing one (kit out the kids or match-up a whole hen party) and should you overdo the apres, you can sleep it off without taking it off and be the first one ready to go in the morning! For kids (£75), women (£145) and men (£150).

German company Yeti is at the cutting edge of down production - high-tech sleeping bags, clothing and blankets constructed from the softest, warmest, lightest down on the market. Their Yuko Yamazaki limited edition jackets for men and women (from E325 plus postage) claim to be the lightest on the planet. The secret is in the 1000km of micro-fine yarn (1/20th of a human hair) holding the down together. Only five machines in the world are capable of producing this material and each one manufactures only 35m per day. Jackets available from www.yetifashion.com