Shoulder season doesn’t mean stop; it means get creative. That’s where the Bella and Temple base layers thrive.
It’s the shoulder season rite of passage. Empty chairlifts abandoned overhead. Ski boots strapped to planks, planks strapped to backpacks, backpacks strapped to you. You, crew in tow, pedalling uphill through tussock-heavy trails and whatever snow you can find. No one asks whether there’s enough cover. That’s what your rock skis are for. Around here, you earn your core shots.
Enter, the Bella and Temple base layers. Your shoulder season partner in climb. The one for the in-between, conditions be damned. That slips into your pack right next to your bike pants and ski boots. That performs, come mountain sun or late spring snow. That doesn’t stop when the chairs do and never waits for permission from the season. They say no lifts, you say no lift lines.
The Mission: Bike > Skin > Ski
For us, the incredibly handsome humans behind Mons, there’s nothing better than ditching the desk for a multi-mission in the name of, quote unquote, product testing. Especially when it involves biking, skinning and skiing hard-earned dusty lines up Cardrona at peak shoulder season. So that’s exactly what we did. Easiest payslip we ever earned – thanks, boss.
The day began with clear skies, mild temps and just enough snow to make it interesting. So, minimal. Bags packed, skis strapped and tyres pumped, we headed for Captains up at Cardrona. We could almost feel the call of our Merino mountain sheep just across the valley at Tuohy’s Gully Farm, not a stone’s throw from where our designers were sitting at their desks.
The mission, as it often does, started with a decent climb by bike. With cups full and stoke high, we saddled our trusty wheels and got pedalling. Eventually, dirt became snow. We parked our bikes, slapped on our skins, and transitioned to touring skis to finish the climb. It goes without saying that the coverage was thin. But, thin is all you need. Meanwhile, Bella and Temple did their job – keeping us warm in the cooler temps and cool when the hike got hot.
Finally, at the top, we took a beat to soak up the views and savour our hard-earned snacks. Skins came off, gear came on, and from there, it was one clean line back down. As clean as a whistle flying over a thin layer of snow, many a tussock, the odd shrub and a cheeky rock or four.
So, how did the Bella and Temple base layers do?
With our Mons hats on, we’ll tell you exactly how breathable these base layers were, especially on the push. We’ll tell you how they regulated temps during transitions, wicked sweat before it soaked, kept us comfortable at every altitude and how fresh they were after a full day of pushing ourselves.
With our mission hats on, the truth is, we barely noticed them. Just like we didn’t notice the sweat. The cold. The heat. The smell. Rubbing at the seams. We never had to change, we never got uncomfortable, we never overheated. We never stank, or sweated through, or felt the chill of wind against damp backs. We just biked, and climbed, and skied, with no frills or fuss or second thoughts. Our base layers simply kept us moving, all mission long.
Here's looking at you, Merino.
For mountain people, seasons are suggestions. We don’t wait for the perfect window to get outdoors; we work with what we’ve got. And we know that creativity and versatility define the best days, which is why we need layers that keep up. With every adventure, and then some.
So, with one last wistful look at the mountains and gooey smiles on our faces, we headed back to Wānaka. Skis scratched, hearts full. Satisfied that we made the most of a beautiful, seasonless day and the last snow on the hill. Tipping our beers to the Merino sheep that made it all possible: because when the season stalls, the right layer keeps the mission alive.
