Gear Review
Featured Article
The grit of skiing in tough conditions shaped me. Growing up in New England, I learned to navigate poor conditions, icy terrain, bitter cold, and fierce winds. It’s a wet cold entirely different from the dry chill out west. You know what I mean if you’ve skied the frozen hills of West Virginia or braved the winds at Stowe. Skiing the East Coast hardens you—it makes you appreciate every edge, every run, every moment.
That’s where the story of Nivis Gear begins.
The company was founded by Carter Ramos, an East Coast adventure athlete like myself, with deep ties to the mountains and an unrelenting drive to create better gear. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Carter started Nivis in high school solely out of a passion for the snow and mountains. And all it took was one brutally hot summer job to spark the idea of starting a brand based on his passion for winter sports. Is it just me, or have we all been there – it’s the heart of a summer heatwave, and you can’t stop dreaming about the cool rush of a deep powder day that feels so far away. For Carter, this is when he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Before I started to write this article, I had to ask myself, how did a kid from Richmond, Virginia, get into creating high-performance mountain apparel? Quick fun fact: Jim Bridger, the legendary mountain man Bridger Bowl was named after, was also a Richmonder. Maybe something in the water in Richmond inspires exploration and grit.
From those East Coast roots, Carter and his team have taken Nivis (Latin for snow) nationwide, testing gear in every imaginable condition. They’ve traveled thousands of miles, driving and flying from coast to coast, storm to storm, showcasing their prototypes and building connections with fellow skiers and riders who share their vision. One trip nearly ended in absolute disaster when Carter’s truck full of gear lost traction on an icy stretch of Interstate 80 during a snowstorm, kissing the guardrail just barely avoiding a disaster. If the hard elements of the outdoors would not stop them, neither was a near-death experience. The Nivis team kept going.
We’ve all spent years searching for gear that meets our demands. When it’s a killer storm day with free refills on tap, the last thing you want to worry about is the damp chill leaking into your jacket on the ride back up instead of the run you just had. So Carter and his team wanted to create a jacket that was so good in every aspect that you’d never have to worry about that chill and could comfortably ride all day, no matter the conditions. They believe investing in your gear will make you enjoy every run more – and I agree.
This makes Nivis’s story unique; it isn’t just the jackets—it’s the story behind them. These jackets are designed with real skiers in mind and crafted by people who live for the mountains. Each piece results from countless hours of testing, refining, and perfecting. This brand is committed to creating functional gear that represents the men and women wearing it.
Take the new pocket system they included on the Protego Pro Shell. Its vastness and sealability eliminate the need for a pack when skiing the resort. Remember when you lost your water bottle or that special something you put in your drop pocket because of a wipeout? The guys at Nivis did and decided to prevent it from happening. From the oversized hood to the sturdy cuffs and accent stitching, they are all about the details.
One of the things I respect most about Nivis is their commitment to bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. While many brands have outsourced all of their production to cut costs, Nivis has partnered not just internationally but with factories in New Jersey/NYC to ensure every jacket meets their exacting standards. As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I find it awesome that they support local manufacturers while still creating world-class products.
And their decision to manufacture in the U.S. wasn’t just about quality—it’s about accountability. They needed more control over the manufacturing process to achieve the precision required to manufacture some of the world’s most serious outdoor jackets. This brought Carter and his partners Bobby Morris and Matthew Goodwin to a partnership with Better Team USA, based close to their East Coast headquarters. After decades of experience helping to manufacture gear for the U.S. Olympic team and others, Better Team USA allows Nivis to nitpick every detail, given the significant efficiency of being just miles from each other instead of an ocean apart. Even though not all Nivis products are made in the USA, they begin here with design and sample prototypes. And if, by chance, your jacket has an issue over time, they can work with their US-based friends to get it repaired.
Nivis Gear isn’t just about jackets—it’s about creating a community of skiers who share a passion for the mountain no matter where you come from. Whether you’re cruising by Killington’s run “Nivis Walk,” chasing powder in the Rockies, or skiing steeps in Tahoe, their gear is built to keep up with your adventures.
For skiers like me, skiing is more than a hobby—it’s how I live, and finding gear that can handle the challenges of the mountains while staying true to your values isn’t always easy. That’s why Nivis resonates with me so much. They’re not just selling jackets; they’re selling a mindset, a commitment to excellence, and a passion for the outdoors that I can relate to.
So, whether you’re an East Coast diehard who’s cut your teeth on icy moguls or a powder hound chasing the next storm, Nivis Gear has something for you. Their story, gear, and vision make them a brand worth watching—and wearing. I can’t wait to see where they go from here.
