Ontest:gearandgadgets

Weputaselectionofmountaingearthroughitspaces, fromhigh-techactioncamsandgadgetstogoggles andtop-performancejacket-pantcombos

Tested by Chrigl Luthy PRICE: £460

REVIEW:Let me start this review with a statement that is probably the most important to first-time buyers ofa 360 camera, or even a single-lens action cam: this Insta360 X3 is one of the easiest ways to help ensure you 'get the shot' when you are out skiing or biking, etc.

The coverage, the clarity and the ease-of-use that this camera offers means that, as long as you are there among the action, the X3 will capture it. Attach the X3 to a one-metre telescopic invisible selfie-stick (one of several mounting options) and you will have endless options for camera angles, shooting others near you or yourself.

This is the camera to get if you want that close-up perspective of your snowboarding or skiing, as well as the people riding next to, behind, or in front of you.

This is not the first 360 camera: its predecessor, the X2, and GoPro's GoPro Max have been used for years, but it is probably the defining model, where the quality and features make it a viable choice to span one's needs for both a 360 cam and a more 'traditional' single-lens cam.

When the 5.7k360 footage is cropped to flat format, the footage is still only 1080p, which won't excite users looking for the highest resolution, but for 95% of users it is all they will ever need. If you require more resolution than that then you will be spending a good deal more money for a less-portable camera. In single-lens format the X3 can record at 4k resolution, which is plenty enough to scare the existing single-lens action cameras like the GoPro Hero.

In the hand, the X3 feels robustly built and with clean lines. The dual cameras protrude a fair bit from the body so the supplied silicone sheath is essential for protecting the lenses when not in use. The buttons are large and easy to operate, with handy shortcut buttons for switching lens modes or camera modes for switching between settings out in the field. The doors for the SD card slot and the battery are all waterproof to 10 metres, assuming they are closed properly.

One major upgrade from its predecessor is the LCD touchscreen on the back. In the X3 it is a massive 2.29 inches, and is bright enough to see on the sunniest of ski days. Cycling through the menus and camera settings is therefore completely pain free. There is a shortcut to Skiing mode even, which sets the camera to 360 lens, at 30fps and 5.7k. If you want to get some slow-motion powder shots, however, you will have to drop the resolution to 4k so the camera can achieve 60fps.

There is an incredible SK resolution available for Timelapse, which will look impressive on any screen size. And there are some cool new features such as 'Me Mode', which tracks the user to avoid editing later in post-processing.

One of the main advantages with these modern action cams are the smartphone apps they are linked with. The Insta360 app is a great tool for editing your footage from the day. It's great fun spinning the perspective through the full 360 degrees of your run, pausing to freeze-frame or slow-motion a cool shot, like a particularly deep powder turn or cool grab. Perfect for people wanting to make quick edits put to music to share with friends.

The subject-tracking feature is excellent; if there are multiple people skiing together, for example, you can easily select one to track for a few turns, and then swap to a second skier for the next few turns, tailoring the edit in seconds.

VERDICT:Easy to use with all the latest action cam tech, it's the easiest way to help ensure you 'get the shot'. insta360.com

Tested by Nicola Iseard PRICE: £370JACKET,£320PANTS

REVIEW: My number one priority for a ski jacket/pant combo is that I feel good in it. 'Feel' can be a hard thing to spell out on a spec sheet, but I believe it comes down to the fit, the texture of the fabric, the general ergonomics (pocket placement etc.) and, of course, the colour on the mountain.

This Scott Vertie combo has that feel that makes me reach for it every time I go out, choosing it over outfits that, at least on paper, should leave the Vertie in the dust. That's because this isn't Scott's most 'technical' outwear option -that accolade is reserved for their 31 GTXLine Chaser range. Instead, the Vertie is mid-high-level spec, reflected in the modest waterproofing and breathability numbers of the 31 DRYOsphere material (15kand 10k respectively), and also in the more affordable price. With an RRP of £370 and £320 for the jacket and pants respectively, this combo is very keenly priced in the company of other triple-layer offerings.

What is impressive, however, is how Scott have made their mid-level kit feel so premium. Rather than keeping the best colour combinations for the top-of-the-range kit, Scott has given us some really smart colour options; I tested the Aruba Green, but I have also seen the Pale Yellowin the flesh and it looks equally smart and would pair seemlessly with either the green jacket or pants.

Tested by Nicola Iseard PRICE: £140

REVIEW: "Please, not another gadget for the kids!" With young 'uns glued to their tablets on car journeys and staring at screens in restaurants, it is hard to conceive that bringing another device into the family orbit could be a good idea. Or at least that was my thinking before getting to know the Xplora watch.

Yes, the screen is bright and attractive, there is a small selfie camera and your kiddos can send emojis back and forth via the messaging app, but I can attest that this wearable 'phone' has none of the addictive qualities of a tablet or smartphone. Instead, our family immediately benefited from being able to call and message each other when on the mountain, organising pick-ups from ski club more easily, or simply just sending funny little messages.

In short, the designers at Scott have really nailed it with the colours this season.

The texture of the Dryosphere material is nice to the touch -it doesn't have that crinkly crisp packet feel, but rather is soft and quiet when skiing or touring.

Sure, the breathability when touring isn't the greatest, but the zips for dumping excess heat are massive, and unless you are regularly touring multi-hour days then it is totally adequate. Personally, I took the bib off and hung it on a clothes peg to save for the deepest of days -it makes the mid-section another notch more breathable and allows for easier pit-stops too. But, the bib does include a neat transceiver pocket, so some users may prefer to keep it attached so they can use this.

The pant cuffs have super-tough Cordura fabric panels to protect from ski boot or crampon scuffs. There are two hip pockets and, my favourite, one on the thigh -perfect for gloves in a pinch, or snacks for kids. As for the jacket, it has premium features like thumb-loops at the wrist cuffs, keeping drafts or powder from going up your wrists. The jacket pockets are also a good size, unlike the comically small ones in some ladies' jackets. The DWRwaterproofing is PFC-free, which is something I look out for in all modern outerwear.

VERDICT: Aprettyperfectset-up and great value -my go-to combo. scott-sports.com chairlift. Other communication options include sending voice messages and texts, photos and emojis; the list of emojis is a little short, with only 25 or so, nothing like the options on a smartphone, although this may increase with a future firmware update. Being SIM connected, the watch is also trackable via GPS, so it provides added security if you are in a crowded area or anywhere you want to keep track of your kiddo's location.

The watches come in a cool range of colours, and if you upgrade to the X6Play you can customise the colours in a kaleidoscope of combinations. Whether the customisation and the upgraded selfie camera are worth the extra cost of the X6Play is up to you, but I think for young kids, the XG03 has more than enough appeal, so save your money.

As for the kids' opinion of the watches? It's easy to use with its touchscreen 'swipe' action, the fit is good, with no sharp edges, although the strap is unnecessarily long given how small most kids' wrists are. There is no question our boys both enjoy the feeling of being connected to us on the mountain, for safety, for confidence and

Xplora, a Norwegian tech company, has a range of three watches. The XMove is basically a step counter, designed to make kids aware of their activity time. Their other two models, the XG03 (tested) and X6Play are delivered ~------ for convenience. The fact there is GPS for with full-blown SIM cards and phone contracts (the data plan is very reasonable, considering it includes free calls and messages, averaging out to £90 for the entire year).

The watch can make and receive calls (audio, not video, and only with people saved as contacts on the watch), with your child speaking into it via a decent microphone. The call clarity is perfectly good, even on an exposed emergencies and also some silly emojis on the side is a bonus.

VERDICT: It's hard to see the benefits ofa GPSwatch for your child until you start using it. This watch is not only a safety aid, but an easy and convenient way of communicating with the littlest, often funniest, members of your family. xplora.co.uk

Tested by Chrigl Luthy PRICE: FROM£170

REVIEW:A completely free online option to customise the frame, strap and lens combination? Count me in!

Once you've settled on the Vanguard -the larger and slicker-looking ofSunGod's two goggle models -you are offered some pretty cool colour options. I went for full pink with a purple general-use lens and blue low-vis lens.

When my goggles arrived it was great to see that the packaging was a super-smart cardboard box. SunGod, being a Blue Sign company, claims their products are all carbon neutral and their packaging is made from recycled or recyclable materials. A good start. This ethos is also backed up by their lifetime guarantee. If you break their goggles, for example, SunGod will repair or replace them for you for free.

I had chosen the new nylon SKO,rather than polycarbonate 4KO lens, for extra clarity. The verdict is that yes, the lens is super clear, although there is a part of me that suspects you will only notice this difference if you keep your lens very clean 100% of the time. The Vanguard's 'flexible frame', which 'conforms to your face' is a nice idea, but in reality the lens itselfis so stiff it determines the shape of the goggle on your face more than anything else. Thankfully, the lens shape, combined with some of the cushiest triple-layer foam I have ever seen in a goggle, plant the Vanguard comfortably on my face with no gaps or pressure points.

The view from inside, although touted to maximise peripheral vision, is normal for a mid-large-sized goggle. I have some goggles that, granted, have a slightly larger overall frame -but from which the view outward is entirely unobstructed. I have a feeling this is partly due to the

Vanguard goggles sitting some way off the face, which allows for compatibility with glasses, but means they lose out on a little range of view.

Leaving the goggles on a warm head in a steamy gondola could fog them up, like any pair would, but they cleared exceptionally quickly when I started moving again; the vents performed well.

When it comes to swapping the lens for a different tint if the weather changes, I found that, although there are no fancy switches or magnets for a fast changeover (as seems to be the rage these days), the frame was flexible enough that with a little practice I was able to make the lens swap pretty easily.

Having opted for the purple lens, with 23% visible light transmission (VLT)for daily use, I would be swapping to a 38% low-vis lens for stormier days. In my opinion, 38% light transmission is actually a decent all-round lens. It's not as bright as the yellow-tinted storm lenses from some other manufacturers, which can offer 50% VLT and above. This has both advantages and disadvantages. If the sun peeks through thin clouds when you have a bright yellow storm lens on, it can instantly be blindingly bright and this 38% blue tint will help avoid that.

Conversely, when the light is at its most horrendously flat, or even beginning to fade at the end of the day, a 50% VLT lens lifts the detail off the snow better, in my opinion. When choosing two lenses for the Vanguard, buyers may want a full sun-specific lens, like the smoke lens and the high-vis, to give a broader range of performance.

VERDICT:Very comfortable, great customisable looks and clear vision. Customers will have to sacrifice a little ease of lens-swapping and storm-lens clarity, however. sungod.co