Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Ski Season Preview: Voormi Core Construction

By


Winter is upon us. For those of us that worship at the altar of the Snow Gods, this in-between seasons time is one of anticipation as we carefully watch weather forecasts, tune skis, and update gear. Every snow flurry brings hope that opening day at our favorite ski resorts will be that much closer. This year, we’ve carefully researched the best gear, found new trends in the industry, and discovered what will become favorite innovations. Stay tuned as we unroll our Ski Season Preview.

It’s no secret that merino wool is a wonder fabric. From moisture wicking technical baselayers to wool based fleece and puffy jackets, the outdoor industry has a well deserved love affair with merino. However, one small Colorado brand’s model of locally sourced wool, jobs in the mountain towns, and new waterproof technology is poised to upend the outerwear market.

Related: AMOS: Hand Crafted Goods | Woolrich Niner Boots

VOORMI Intro

Voormi got their start sourcing wool and sewing garments in a tiny shop in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Surrounded by more than a million acres of National Forest, they made local jobs and serious mountain inspired design a core foundation from the very beginning. Their early baselayers and hoodie designs show off that backcountry aesthetic, but it is the new Core Construction concept that has got us convinced that Voormi is the the future of wool.

Related

Voormi’s Core Construction model relies on knitting a single layer of wool around a waterproof core membrane rather than the typical laminated two and three layer market standard. This means that rather than relying on slow vapor transfer through a polyurethane or teflon membrane and bonded face fabric, your wool jacket can provide ultimate breathability like a soft hoodie, but water resistance of a serious soft or hardshell. Right now there are a few products in development for the season, but the one we are most excited to look at is the AN/FO 3.0. Before, a wool jacket and trousers would have been the realm of mid-twentieth century skiers, Voormi’s new technology could return natural fibers to the forefront of fashion and function in the outdoor world. Combined with their sustainable business model and USA sourced materials, We won’t be surprised to see them start to take over the very competitive wool market overnight.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Austin Parker
Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Epic Pass, the world’s best ski and snowboard season pass with access to over 80 resorts (including Vail), to raise prices
This happens every year, so consider this your PSA to buy a pass ASAP
Epic Pass backdrop photo

There might still be the little issue of fall to negotiate before we get our first turns, but with signs pointing to another incredible ski and snowboard season, most of us are already dreaming of that first chair of the winter. If you're one of the many already planning for a shredding winter and have not already lined up with an Epic Pass for winter 2023, time is running out; price increases are coming after Labor Day.

There's one bragging right that every snow bum and shredder looks for: who has the best price per day? At the end of the winter, you want to know that you got the most snow for your money and the most vertical meters logged for the ticket price. You can't win the prize if you don't buy the ticket, and the Epic Pass is the hottest ticket. The expanse of Epic Pass mountains spans continents and opens up unrestricted access to the best snow around. With price increases expected after September 4, now is the time to get your winter kickstarted and get your hands on an Epic Pass.

Read more
This is the strongest indication yet that we should have another incredible ski and snowboard season in ’23-’24
It could be another excellent winter
A person snowboarding down a hillside.

We’re a hopeful bunch, us skiers and snowboarders, and maybe a little superstitious. Living in ski resorts worldwide, I’ve heard everything from the high number of berries on a rowan tree to fog in August indicative of "the best winter for a decade." We spend our summers looking for signs that our winter will be knee-deep and we’ll be shredding the powder, but for winter 23/24, the strongest indication is now here: it’s not the berries.

The 2024 Farmers' Almanac will be released soon, including what they claim to be their renowned 80% accurate weather forecast. While the outlook might not be favorable for farmers, it’s good news for all of us looking forward to a winter of ski and snowboard action. Winter 2023/2024 is looking set to be another incredible season of snow. Here’s what the Almanac is lining us up for.

Read more
‘Historically strong’ El Niño may wreak havoc on ski and snowboard season
From huge dumps to long dry spells, what does El Niño mean for your local ski area?
A man skis on a clear run, with mountains and trees behind him.

It seems surreal to be looking toward winter 2023 while there are still ski resorts with lifts rolling for summer skiing into August. True powder hounds know that while summer might mean packing away their ski gear, this is when you should be making plans and sorting your snowboarding gear. Most importantly, it's a time to keep an eye on weather patterns to start predicting where your best bet is for hitting the steep and deep the following winter.

We've had some unusual winter conditions these past few years. As well as this year's ski season rolling into summer, there have been records set for warm winters and freak weather patterns across the U.S. Mainly, these are attributed to climate change's effect on U.S. winters, but winter 2023 looks set to be affected by a weather phenomenon unrelated to climate change. According to the NOAA, there is a greater than 90% chance that the current 'historically strong' El Niño pattern forming will continue through winter 2023 and is likely to wreak havoc on skiing and snowboarding across the U.S.

Read more