Snow sports are not like other sports. Skiing and snowboarding require serious gear, which means navigating a confusing cornucopia of weatherproof fabrics, ergonomic design details and protective layers. It’s a minefield of Gore-Tex and four-way-stretch out there so, just in time for the season’s start, we hit the slopes in off-piste paradise Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise in the French Alps to put the best of MR PORTER’s ski and snow offerings to the test. Happy slalom season.

The bulk of your packing list will largely depend on whether you feel most at home on skis or a board. Though it’s true that a good portion of snow-specific apparel will be suitable for both pursuits, if you plan on only partaking in the latter, it’s well worth investing in specially adapted gear. For starters, clothing designed principally for snowboarding tends to be looser and easier to move in, allowing for a greater range of motion. The sport’s more seasoned practitioners will no doubt be familiar with Burton – the Vermont-based snowboarding brand founded by Mr Jake Burton Carpenter in 1977, which helped to catapult the sport into the mainstream. The label’s approach – marrying powerful new tech with an old-school design sensibility – is exemplified by pieces such as this powdery-white Frostner shell jacket and matching bib suit. Both are made from triple-layer Gore-Tex to protect from harsh wind and wet weather, and are cut in what the brand calls a “rider-driven fit” for restriction-free carving.

Next up, one for the skiers. Kjus has the distinction of being the first alpine brand stocked at MR PORTER. Founded by Norwegian skier Mr Lasse Kjus with a simple mission statement, “to always strive for perfection”, the brand will soon celebrate its 20th birthday. However, advancing years haven’t impeded its innovative streak. The Sight Line jacket, for example, might look like your average puffa at first glance, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find Fast Thermo Core stretch insulation, which means each pocket will move as you do, while reinforced panels provide extra protection where you need it most. We’re also big fans of the 3D mesh shoulder inserts, which make the often-cumbersome task of lugging your skis on airlifts a touch more comfortable. It’s just an added bonus that the two-tone design is easy on the eyes, too.

Which leads us to Aztech Mountain, the adventure-ready line tried-and-tested by Olympic champion skier Mr Bode Miller, who is also the company’s chief innovation officer. True, the camouflage doesn’t serve its intended purpose against the gleaming white backdrop of a snow-capped mountain, but the general idea here is to stand out, not blend in, which makes this military-inspired design even more attractive in our books. Good looks aside, the jacket itself is the latest iteration of Aztech Mountain’s signature Nuke Suit, an award-winning, state-of-the-art design puckered with down pockets, which are thermo-welded (as opposed to stitched) to prevent water and wind penetration. In the event the rank-and-file look isn’t for you, you’ll be pleased to know we’ve also bagged it in white, red and stone colourways this season. The Colorado-based brand is also responsible for the checked ski shirt (a lightweight tech-shacket of sorts) which, on warmer days, will serve you well on both the slopes and, later on, for any apres-ski activities you have planned.

German brand Bogner’s offering is in a similar league. The expert line has been around since 1932 and is credited with popularising athleisure, before athleisure became a thing, of course. The label itself has its own word for this: “athluxury”. And while it might sound like something you’d say after one too many glasses of gluhwein, it’s an appropriate moniker for the brand’s virgin-wool jackets, slick-looking quilted base layers and suede-trimmed puffas. It all packs a technical punch, too – it’s been the German ski team’s brand of choice for more than 80 years.

Exhilarating though it may be, there’s no doubt that hurtling down a mountain at high speeds, especially if you choose an off-piste route, carries risks. Helmets, goggles and gloves, therefore, are non-negotiable pieces of kit. To protect your noggin from bumps, POC provides a range of tried-and-true helmets, each of which is developed and tested under extreme conditions in the brand’s Swedish laboratory. Meanwhile, Oakley is the name to know for unrivalled eyewear. The label’s goggles utilise its proprietary Prizm lenses which offer wide fields of vision for optimum peripherals. Finally, head to Hestra to keep your hands free from frostbite – the Stockholm-based brand does a fine line of specialist gloves spanning everything from Primaloft-padded pairs to shearling-lined mittens.

Aztech Mountain and Bogner’s wares may have too many bells and whistles for beginners or casual skiers. For reliable yet restrained style, you could do worse than Peak Performance, which offers just what its name suggests. This season, the lineup includes an array of base layers, salopettes, shells and jackets, all of which conform to the label’s “real clothes for real skiers” mantra. Top of our packing list is a crimson-and-black Gravity jacket (and matching ski trousers) – the 33-year-old brand’s hallmark style offers high-tech protection (think triple-layer Gore-Tex, Recco rescue system and a helmet-compatible hood) at a surprisingly reasonable price point.

Falling into the style-meets-substance bracket is Moncler, a brand that’s been synonymous with mountain pursuits since 1952. The label is responsible for popularising the glossy puffa jacket, a hallmark of alpine and apres-ski style since the 1980s. If you’re serious about snow sports, though, opt for the technically advanced Grenoble line, which combines a retro aesthetic with high-performance features. Part of its latest collection, the emerald-green Gollinger jacket (in classic resin-coated nylon “laqué”) boasts a breathable waterproof membrane, quick release MagZips and heat-sealed seams.

Black Crows, an independent label based out of picturesque Chamonix, France, is landing at MR PORTER very shortly. Founded in 2006 by Messrs Camille Jaccoux and Bruno Compagnet, two friends and pro skiers, the brand is on a mission to challenge the sport’s status quo. For its first project, they reformulated the wingspan of skis to make them better suited for off-piste skiers, offering a freer and faster ride. The apparel selection is similarly inventive. Paying special attention to fit and fabrication, the brand makes excellent use of the latest technology to cater to different skiing styles. The label’s trademark Corpus jacket, for example, is available in either Gore-Tex (for free-skiing) or a special insulating stretch material (for piste or all-terrain skiing), depending on your pleasure.