Aspen - A perennial favorite, this resort seems to be geared towards adults, with few beginner runs on the ski slopes and lots of great restaurants and shopping in town, as well as a satisfying mix of romantic and luxury accommodations.

Vail - Lots of lifts and more groomed terrain than any other resort on the planet, Vail is great for skiing, but the resort is so large that you won't have a problem finding off-mountain activities, from luxury spas to excellent eateries.

Kirkwood (pictured)- This California resort is somewhat off the beaten path, but all the better for it, as it provides skiers with the steep slopes and great snow they could want, with plenty of relief from the crowds at other mountains. The town is quiet, but only a short drive from Tahoe.

If you are a skier and didn't get one for Christmas, you might want to consider getting yourself an Audex Motorola Dutchess Jacket before the season is over. Much like the hat we saw several months ago, this women's ski jacket has a Bluetooth stereo system built right into it. The jacket itself features Thermacore Insulation under a shell of plaid Storm-lite 3.0-E ballistic nylon. It has a removable hood, faux fur lining and collar and, despite having a reasonable amount of bulk that will keep you warm in almost any weather conditions, it has flattering, tapered seams. The Dutchess jacket is $600.

And don't worry guys, there are plenty of men's jackets to choose from, too.

Sporting equipment is very personal, since every sport has so many variations in the capabilities and performance benefits of the various shoes, racquets, clubs or, in this case, skis. You have to start somewhere, no matter what you are specifically looking for, so Style has a guide for men's skiing gear that will help you get the ski season started off on the right foot. Or slope. They cover ski, binding and boot picks for four categories: Downhill Racer, All-Mountain Expert, Powder Hound and Laid-Back Cruiser. They also provide a great FAQ section with the 9 things you need to know before buying skis. Their tips include how to choose the right length, buy wider skis for powder skiing and narrower for icy downhills and recommending parabolic-shaped skis for just about all recreational skiers. You can also find some great skis at rental shops, where they tend to have the very latest equipment and you don't have to commit if you only ski once or twice a season.

• Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado (12%)
• Big Sky Resort, Montana (10%)
• Crested Bute, Colorado (25%)
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming (10%)
• Mammoth Mountain, California (20%)
• Park City, Utah (33%)
• Swuaw Valley, California (15%)
• Stowe Mountain, Vermont (80%)
• Sunday River, Maine (92%)
• Taos, New Mexico (50%)
• Telluride, Colorado (17%)
• Whistler Blackcomb, British Colombia (7%)

Some ski resorts that offer night skiing also play music over the slopes, giving the whole activity a completely different feel than daytime skiing. If you want to listen to music as you cruise down the mountain during the day, you'll have to wire your iPod up through your jacket or try to fit headphones under or around your hat and goggles. The Audex Ordinance Hat, from Motorola, is a padded hat with built-in Bluetooth headphones that can be set up to work with any wireless music device, allowing you to listen to music while participating in your favorite winter activities. Because they are wireless, there is no risk of getting anything caught up in a cord while you ski (or snowboard). They can be configured to answer calls and have a wind-resistant microphone built-in, too, so you won't have to take your gloves off on the slopes to search for your mobile phone in a pocket. It is available in black and white. Price: $180.

[via SciFi Tech]