An Ambassador’s Closet

 By: Kim Yamauchi, TMS Ambassador

As an ambassador for TMS, I’ve been fortunate to test and assemble quite a collection of sporting gear and clothing.  As winter is now upon us, I am reaching back into my storage closet and pulling out items I haven’t seen or used for the past 6-7 months.  Following are some of my favorites, broken out by my favorite winter sports. 

Winter trail running:

Though my running volume decreases significantly in the winter months, it is still great to get out and enjoy the freedom of running.  Sometimes it is on our snowy roads, but we can often run on the packed out trails, or trails that might be bare at the lower elevations.  Some items I enjoy for winter running are traction devices, with my choice being microspikes from Snowline.  They’ve worked well and held up through many miles of usage (read more about traction devices here). I partner microspikes with a trail shoe that has a Gore Tex upper such as the Salomon Speedcross Gore Tex or the Hoka Speedgoat GTX.  These uppers keep your feet dry and warmer than a typical all season breathable upper.  If you intend to run in all winter conditions, you might check out other winter running shoes that have built in spikes and gaiters (contact TMS to special order).  Other important items are hats, mittens, and sunglasses.  Lightweight beanies such as Skida or a neck gaiter with a brimmed hat seem to work well for all but the coldest conditions.

Nordic Skiing

Skate skiing has become my favorite winter sport, providing a great cardio workout but also building core strength.  You can read more HERE about the various types of Nordic Skiing.  TMS has some great clothing to get you ready for the ski trails such as outerwear from Bjorn Daehlie.  The nordic pants are fantastic, weather resistant, and able to layer as needed for the coldest days into warm spring days.  I have the Pro Pant in black (and these can even double for trail running).  Their Nordic skiing jackets are also fantastic and the fit is great.  Honestly I have 3 of the jackets and rotate between them.  Another great jacket is the TLT Dynastretch Dynafit jacket which has a water resistant coating (DWR) and a hood for the stormy days.  You can pair this clothing with many of the base layers available at TMS.  Some of the go-to’s here have been Kari Traa.  These wool base layers with fun fabrics allow me to turn my base layers into athleisure clothing!  When it comes to keeping the hands warm, I have a variety of gloves and mittens depending on the temperature.  The Hestra ergo-grip active is a glove I like for most days. 

Last year I upgraded my classic skiing setup to the Atomic Pro skis and the Atomic Pro CS boot.  The skis are a skin ski which has a skin underfoot (instead of the fish scales) which is helpful for ascending.  I found the boot to perform well and is comfortable and warm.  The setup worked great and helped to further my enjoyment with classic (in track) XC skiing.  

Backcountry skiing

There is nothing better in life than getting fresh tracks in the backcountry after a new snowfall!  A few years ago I purchased the Scarpa GEA backcountry boot.  I like this boot so much that my husband and daughter have also purchased the same boot. I love my Pret Lyric helmet.  It is lightweight and has the latest MIPS protection.  Also in my closet is my Mammut 3.0 avalanche airbag.  I don’t bring this on every outing, but certainly have it available when the conditions warrant having an airbag.  My outerwear closet for skiing contains clothing from the various brands carried by TMS - Northface, Ortovox, Stio, Patagonia, FlyLow, Dynafit - with a variety of shells and insulation, depending on the temperature and conditions.  There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear…so make sure you always have the right gear to grab!  

Other life necessities

Coffee!  I am in love with the AeroPress coffee press.  This small, compact device makes a superior cup of coffee.  Check out some of the great podcasts touting this great device!  This press travels with me so I can have a delicious cup wherever my travels take me.  I have to admit, I have 3 of these - one in the camper, one in the vacation box, and one at the house!  

Garmin Forerunner 955.  (Note: The 965 is the current model you want) This has become my everyday tracking device for running, biking, skiing, and even monitoring my sleep!  The watch is durable, the battery life is excellent, and it has been my go-to for a few years.  Garmin has many different models (and products) so you may decide that a different model may be a better option.  

Tahoe Mountain Life!  Sometimes we have to actually wear “city” clothes, head to a work meeting, or we go on vacation and need to spruce up our wardrobe!  I’ve enjoyed stopping into TML and have found some great items such as the Duer black wide leg pant which has been a great go-to for work meetings.  The little Vuori black dress was a perfect item to throw in my suitcase for a summer trip to Paris.  If you are looking for some great casual (or even “city” clothes) head to TML and check out the constantly changing items.  Plenty of options for all those special people on your XMAS list too!  

100L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag with Wheels!  This monster bag will handle a big packing trip with ease.  We’ve taken this bag many places and love the simplicity of just throwing it all in the bag and having what we need when we get to where we are going.  With all this space, we can make sure we are bringing all the necessities (such as the AeroPress) and not leaving important items behind.

Author: Kim Yamauchi

Kim is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys playing in the mountains whenever she has the chance. You’ll find Kim trail running, hiking with her dog, and mountain biking in the summer. In the winter months, Kim enjoys skiing of all types – whether skate skiing on the Nordic trails, touring in the backcountry or charging downhill at our local resorts. When she’s not out playing in the mountains, she works from her home office for Oracle NetSuite.