Whistler Outerwear, Lifestyle Clothing & Adventure Gear

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Choosing The Raddest Sunglasses

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Choosing The Raddest Sunglasses

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Sunglasses in Whistler can be a year round thing- Protecting your eyes from the glare of the snow or the elements as you hike your way up a line or the sun as you climb up a trail on your bike. We also know how important it is for your sunnies to make a statement and keep you adventuring in style. Choosing the right pair can be time consuming and frustrating. So we’ve assembled some things to take into account so you can get back playing in the mountains and performing your best!

Face Shape

Round, square, heart, oblong, oval and diamond make up the general face shapes. Determining what your face shape is can help you better select a style and frame shape that accentuates your best and diminishes those not so favourite features!

Style

Aviator, butterfly, rectangle, shield, semi-rimless all refer to a frame and lens combination. Each style suiting a certain face shape and features. Your best bet is to ask the knowledgeable employee helping you at McCoo’s to recommend styles for specific face types. Style can also determine functionality and be related to performance.

UV Protection

UV or Ultra Violet light comes from sun and can damage your eyes as well as influence optical clarity. Chances are if you’re adventuring, you’re going to want sunnies that block out all UV rays, in other words, 100% protection- Go big or go home!

Technology

Technology can range from the materials used to create the frame to lens material, tint and colouring. The technology you choose can have an impact on the sport you are performing so make sure you understand what your needs are from a pair of sunnies.

Sunglasses can make or brake your fun in the wild and can also protect you from harmful environmental factors. Its best do some research before investing in a pair for performance. Don’t be afraid to spend some time at McCoo’s, trying on various styles and utilizing the knowledgable staff! Let’s make it your one stop shop for sunnies!

5 Whistler Instagram Accounts to Get Inspired by!

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5 Whistler Instagram Accounts to Get Inspired by!

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These are the people that inspire you to experience everything Whistler. From mountaineering to art fuelled by the mountains, these instagrams are sure to get you out and on your own adventure!

 

1. Eric Poulin

Snowboarder, photographer and a pharmacist, this guy can shred, document it and treat your cold. Epic pow shots and touring adventures into remote mountain ranges, Eric’s Instagram is one not to miss!

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Via Instagram/ @ericmpoulin

 

2. Ollie Jones

Professional mountain biker turned photographer turned snow junkie. Ollie takes each season to the extreme and can be seen maxing out whatever weather system is coming through. Sledding into the high alpine one day and shredding brown pow the next, watch Ollie take on the Sea to Sky Corridor!12767269_10153690874489342_1452662343_n

Via Instagram/ @olliegregoryjones

 

3. Kate Zessel

A local artist that looks to the mountains to inspire her art. When Kate isn’t creating wondrous works of art, she can be found ripping the resort or touring into the back country. If you seek the wild essence of Whistler, check out Kate’s Insta!

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Via Instagram/ @katezessel

 

4. Chelsea Sullivan

This badass babe is a mountaineer extraordinaire! First climbing up a mountain and then catapulting herself down, Chelsea explores all the nooks and cranny’s of Whistler’s mountain ranges. Want to get into expeditions? Be sure to watch Chelsea to learn a thing or two because she moonlights as a guide too!

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Via Instagram/ @chelseahsullivan

 

5. Evan Macalister

Ripper of Whistler Backcomb and always in search of new pow to shred. Evan’s Insta is loaded with unreal ski shots and videos. Get a sneak peak of where to ride through Evan!

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Via Instagram/ @kev.macc

To get a little motivation every day to get out and into the mountains, be sure to follow @mccooswhistler on Instagram as well!

The 5 Bags You Need in Whistler

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The 5 Bags You Need in Whistler

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Whistler has four distinct seasons, each with its own weather and sports to enjoy. Cross over is key in gear so you can get the most of it, so we’ve come up with the 5 bags you need in Whistler to accommodate almost all sports and seasons.

Ski Bag

Whether you are pounding out laps on the chairlift all day, venturing into the backcountry or getting a heli drop into a gnarly line, you’ll need a ski pack for your winter outings. When searching for the perfect ski bag think about if the majority of your winter will be on the resort, in the backcountry or a mix of both. If the backcountry is your playground, purchasing an avalanche float pack might be the best decision you’ve ever made. Some float packs have a removable portion so it can be worn as a regular pack as well. McCoo’s has a large selection of different capacity bags geared towards your favorite type of skiing. Making sure your gear fits in your new bag is key, so feel free to bring your gear shopping with you to make sure it fits into the bag you’ve been eying, with room to spare! If you’re more of a resort cruiser, we’ve got plenty of smaller options for you too!

Beach Bag

Summer living means plenty of days at the beach. Beach bags come in all shapes and sizes, so pick one that will hold all of your beach necessities. We’ve got you covered with a separate blog post about beach bag essentials to make sure you’re ready for a summer filled with lake days.

Camping Pack

Whistler has endless places to escape for a night, or a week of camping by foot or by car. With so many options it’s nice to have a camping pack that can handle it all. A minimum of 35L is recommended for overnight camping to allow adequate room for your sleeping bag, tent, food, water and other camping supplies. The longer the trip, the bigger the pack should be. It’s important to be fitted for your pack as well. Most camping packs come in sizes based on your body frame, so keep that in mind to get the pack with the perfect fit for you. Another camping pack tip is to look for a pack with more than one point of entry so that if you pack something at the bottom you can get to it with out unpacking the whole bag. Bags with outside straps are great for hauling a tent on the outside as well.

Day Pack

Your daily backpack will be the most well used packs in your quiver, so choose wisely. Invest in this bag, as it will be the pack you wear for the most missions. This pack should have room for the essentials and then some so that it can accommodate a variety of activities with out too much bulk. Ideally your backpack will with stand dusty bike rides, day hikes and even an impromptu snowshoe adventure with ease.

Multi-purpose Bag

Heading to the gym? A sleepover at a friends? Maybe out for some sight seeing? This is the bag you’ll need at your side, or on your back. We are especially loving the variety of bags for both guys and gals by Herschel Supply Co bags right now. This bag doesn’t need to be a heavy-duty pack, but it should be something you’re ready to grab for all your random outings.

McCoo’s has you covered year round for all your bag needs. We love to see you play in our beautiful backyard, so we’ll set you up with the right bags so you can make the most out of every season. Come see our brand and product selection in stores and then get busy exploring!

5 Tips for Staying Dry on the Mountain

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5 Tips for Staying Dry on the Mountain

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We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, as long as you’re properly outfitted. We’ll admit, we’d choose a powder day over a day skiing in the rain, but when the only other option is to not ski at all, we’ll make the most of what we’ve got.

Here’s what you need to know to stay as dry as possible on the mountain, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Start Dry

It’s a no-brainer, but if you start your day off with wet gear, you’ll forego that warm and dry feeling right from the get go. If you’re skiing back to back days, make sure to lay out all your gear the night before to give it a chance to dry off. If you’ve got boot dryers, you’re well ahead of the game. If not, pull the liners out to give them a chance to dry off. You can also stick scrunched up newspaper into your boots to absorb moisture. If any of your clothing isn’t dry the morning of, toss it in the dryer.

Your Outer Layer is Everything

Your outer layer – the jacket and pants you wear on the outside of your gear – is your key to staying dry on the mountain. Your best bet is to choose pieces made of GoreTex – this is as waterproof as it gets. To keep your GoreTex gear in good shape, you’ll need to wash it every so often to keep the little pores clean. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you.

Don’t Forget Accessories

Soaking wet gloves can ruin your day in a shockingly short amount of time. The good news is that they make GoreTex gloves, too. You might also want to squeeze an extra pair of mitts into your coat pocket: after lunch, you can simply swap out your gloves for the dry pair.

The other accessory you’ll want to make use of: a hood. When you’re picking out a jacket, look for one with a big, roomy hood large enough to accommodate your helmeted noggin. You’ll want to throw that hood up in lift lines and on chair lifts.

Stay Dry

Once you’re geared up with your waterproof stuff, don’t take it off! As soon as you take off your gloves or unzip your jacket, you’re exposing yourself to moisture. If you must, try to adjust your GoPro or text your friends somewhere sheltered to avoid getting soaked.

To Garbage Bag or Not to Garbage Bag

On a particularly soppy day, you might have seen people skiing by you wearing a very fashion-forward garbage bag poncho. If you don’t have good, waterproof gear, by all means – sport the garbage bag. However, it’s not very aerodynamic, it makes obnoxious flapping sounds, and it certainly is not breathable – and though studies are inconclusive, we’re not sure it does much for your style cred.