Snow Protection F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
As riders venture to higher altitudes, safety becomes a top priority. Protection brands are responding with product development focused on enhanced protection, comfort, and adaptability to varying conditions. By Rocio Enriquez.
The unpredictable weather patterns are resulting in declining snowfall at lower elevations. Riders are moving to higher altitudes to find their lines. This trend is influencing the market for body protection just as significantly as other snow-related products. Similarly to what’s happening to snow helmets, the necessity for increased safety in the backcountry makes body protection an essential piece of equipment. Product development responds with easy-to-wear and reliable pieces that can adapt to varying conditions. “These conditions are inspiring us to create even more versatile products that can withstand diverse weather while remaining comfortable and light”, says Joeri van de Vliet from Clover. Bestsellers reflect this trend. Amplifi, Xion PG and Evoc have done best with their Reactor Waistcoat, Lite Vest, and Protector Vest that offer reliable features at a very attractive price point. The combination of comfort and safety has made for good results too. Xion PG has experienced good sales of their Vest Evo and Vest Lite. “The Vest Evo is loved by our customer for its fit and protection, and especially the bonus lower limb pad”, says Björn Claussen. Clover’s back protectors have capitalised on the seamless integration with the RZ Labs technology. Rekd’s Energy Impact Shorts have exceeded their sales expectations. “We have had a lot of positive feedback from riders and are happy to announce that a pro model will be available later this year”, says Grant Devonshire-Ryan. Good fit and attractive price will drive growth in the snow protection category.
2025/2026 Collection
Product development has focused mainly on two factors: fit and safety, delivered as much as possible in a sustainable format. The goal is to offer a product that provides the best level of protection, and that you can forget you are wearing it. Amplifi launches the all-new AEGI:S protector. It combines hybrid honeycomb with a unique micromolecular compound, creating interconnected and super light flexible cells that exceed EAN Level 2 protection. This compound employs DeCel braking, which reduces rebound and redirects force through its complex geometry. The result is a protector four times more effective than a similar TPE one. The material is also moisture and temperature resistant, so the protection level is not affected by varying conditions, and the lightweight and breathability ensure comfortable use. Rekd presents their Energy Ranger Protective Vest with laser stitching. The precision this stitching provides allows for increased stretch and freedom of movement. “The combination of mesh and our Energy Foam offers complete protection while maintaining breathability and comfort”, says Grant Devonshire-Ryan. They also push their Energy Freedom Wrist Guards, that reduce fatigue, maximise mobility, and offer advanced protection in a unique slimline design. Rekd will be expanding the use of their Energy Foam to a wider range of products. Clover uses RZ Labs technology that enables products to adapt to the body and stiffen upon impact. “The use of RZ Labs technology remains central, but we are pushing this technology further with new eco-conscious materials,” says Joeri van de Vliet. They highlight their Back Protector and their Crash Pants as the ultimate back and tailbone protection without sacrificing freedom of movement.
Xion PG highlights their Vest Evo, the Vest Lite, and the Shorts Evo. They all combine D3O® technology with premium breathable fabrics. The Vest Evo will be offered in a range of colours for the first time, breaking from the traditional black offering typical of their stunt protection market background. Triple8 uses neoprene to keep their protection soft and stretchy. The goal is to provide the largest range of mobility possible while being protected. Evoc pushes the three versions of their Protector Vest – Vest, Vest Lite, and Vest Pro – offering a range of functional sports underwear with integrated protectors, blending functionality and comfort. “We offer the outstanding and certified protection properties of our Liteshield Protection Technology combined with very functional outer fabrics for comfort”, says Jan Sallawitz.
Sustainability
Care for the environment and social responsibility are at the forefront of the minds of product developers. The choice of materials for the fabric part of protectors is predominantly sustainable. Amplifi uses bamboo-based fabrics, which are not only eco-friendly, but anti-bacterial too. Evoc employs coffee as an environmentally friendly alternative for odour control. They also introduce coffee grounds into the fibre mix of the outer fabric, where it is mixed with recycled PET. Clover focuses on recycled and eco-conscious materials too. Production processes are carefully monitored to avoid unsustainable practices. Amplifi and Clover spend efforts in reducing waste material. “The AEGI:S protector can be returned to us at the end of its useful life and be directly reused in our manufacturing facility to create brand-new protectors”, says Jens Hartmann from Amplifi. Evoc takes back all protection wear at the end of their life cycle to recycle it. Xion PG keeps their production and supply chain 90% within Europe. “We choose only fabrics produced and coloured within the EU”, says Björn Claussen. This practice reduces emissions and ensures high ecological and quality standards. Packaging gets revisited. Amplifi cuts down on all unnecessary packaging and Rekd produces most of it with recycled materials. Longevity of the product plays a big part. This is a factor that both Clover and Evoc report having in mind right from the design process.
Retailer Support
Brands will be communicating about their products through dedicated stories. Functionality is the main theme that Amplifi, Clover, and Triple8 will push through their channels. Clover goes beyond safety and aims to boost the confidence in every rider, from beginners to pros. Triple8 talks about their soft and flexible padding that fits comfortably underneath the snow gear. “We don’t want users to know they are wearing it until they need it during a fall”, says Noah Todaro. The narrative of sustainability is important too. Amplifi and Clover share their sustainable practices in order to spread ecological awareness. Evoc talks loudly about their new protection wear fabrics and the recycling opportunities they offer. Other messages tap into style and influencer validation. Clover pushes their simple, no-nonsense design. Xion PG promotes the professional validation they get from their ambassadors. Their “Xioneer Team” includes Benjamin Jenkins, who is Ryan Gosling’s stuntman, and winter sports athletes like Isabele Lötscher.
There are many support tools to carry these messages to the end consumer. POS materials boost in-store visibility. Amplifi develops custom designed materials for in-store use. Xion PG offers retailers a free mannequin with their products to help make protection gear more visible and show that protection items can be low profile and good-looking. Triple8 have developed POP items to support in-store branding. Evoc offer a modular and individually customisable display system, to which they add a large complementing selection of graphics, pictures, and product information. Visual content is key to attract the attention of consumers. Xion PG produces videos of each product, which their retailers can use to boost their online sales. Evoc develops visualisations and graphic animations with the same purpose. Rekd makes a lot of supplementary media assets to be used as advertising materials by their retailers. They also advertise directly to end consumers. Easy B2B practices make a big difference to retailers. Having uncomplicated ordering processes allows them to focus all their energy on sales. “We keep things super simple for ordering, reordering, and easy processing of warranty and related issues”, says Jens Hartmann from Amplifi. Clover also enhanced their B2B system to make restocking as seamless as possible. Their genderless collection and strong offer of carry over items helps sooth the worries about outdated stock. Evoc has upgraded their B2B shop and developed an extensive download centre where retailers have 24/7 access to all digital media assets.
Snow protection brands are pulling from cutting-edge technology, superior performance, and sustainability to deliver gear that adapts to the changing snow sports environment. Coupled with strong retailer support, these innovations position body protection gear as an essential category that meets the needs of today’s riders and prepares for the future of winter sports.
Brand Previews
