My hand-comfort dilemma? It's a wacky combination of my poor appendages tending to get really cold but also sweating a lot. So my search last season was for warm ski gloves that breathe, a search that ultimately brought me to the Marmot Randonnée. The brawny but not stiff Cordura shell and fluffy Primaloft insulation kept my hands cozy; the breathable outer coating and velourlike moisture-wicking lining kept them dry -- with extra protection provided by the Gore-Tex insert sandwiched somewhere inside. Perhaps the glove's best feature came as a bonus to me: The palm is reinforced with soft, grippy, water-resistant Pittard Digital leather. $99/Marmot/707-544-4590/www.marmot.com -- B.W.