Dressed from Head to Toe

Too hot, too cold... In the mountains, the extremes are unforgiving. Whatever the activity, the rule is three layers, or the "onion technique." It's nothing like soup. Although it warms you up too...

Thermal underwear like the ones you find at Odlo : short-sleeved or long-sleeved T-shirt and boxer shorts. Cotton is out; it's not so kind as it retains sweat. To stay dry even when it's cool, opt for synthetic fabrics, or better yet, wool, for its magical thermo-regulating power.

A zip-up fleece to manage heat evacuation during exercise, or a micro-down jacket that keeps you warm without taking up space, advises Columbia & Sorel.

A windproof, breathable jacket and pants, as waterproof as required, depending on the activity, Helly Hansen tells us.

The same principle applies to hands. Layering is the best solution for the mountaineers of the Valley. They generally set off with a pair of liner gloves for precise handling; for them, tying a figure-eight knot;  for you, blowing your little one's nose for the 8th time. A thin pair that, as the name suggests, can be slipped under another pair; "climbing" or "summit" gloves for very cold days. So... Gloves or mittens? The glove, classic and practical... The mitten, warm and protective... And for those who can't decide, neither one nor the other, or half and half: lobsters, like those sold at Intersport (Bouchet’s road).

A helmet to prevent breakage. It's mandatory for children taking lessons, and is now being extended to all heads and all types of snow sports, including sledging. To be effective and comfortable, a good helmet must fit well and be well ventilated.

And a good-looking helmet? On display, two teams: the purists in minimalist monochrome (seen at Salomon), or the hotheads in freestyle helmet covers (by Bozon Sports).

Eyes are precious. In the mountains, exposure to the sun's rays increases by at least 10% every 1000m, and snow reflects nearly 90% of the rays. And no, an overcast sky doesn't protect against UV rays. Sunglasses or goggles, the choice is yours, as long as the lens tint is at least SPF 3, and even SPF 4 from 3,000 m altitude (Mont Buet, for example). And for optimal protection and that iconic Chamonix mountaineering style, glacier goggles with side shields are a must.

Fun fact: it was at the request of the Valley's crystal hunters that Jura-born Jules Baud created the first models in the early 20th century. Alpine chic, already...

Snowboard boots? Liners.

Nordic ski boots? Flexibility and freedom.

But can you really be comfortable in ski boots? Yes, promises Arthur from Sanglard Sports. This Chamonix establishment has been expertly advising skiers since 1924. The flex should suit your level: soft for beginners, stiff for carving. Before trying them on, you must pass the honesty test.

Want a pair as unique as you? Snell Sports, Ravanel & Co, offer bootfitting workshops: just for you, the soles are moulded, the liners thermoformed or injected, and the shell heated for shaping. Custom-made for the 28 bones, 16 joints, 107 ligaments, and 27 muscles in each foot, this little jewel of nature.