The best outdoor gadgets: Gear for spring

Spring is finally, officially, here. Yeah, right. Tell that to the 90-million or so Americans still digging out from piles of snow in the East, or those sad ski bunnies in the West where freakishly warm and dry conditions have made it downright balmy for months already. If you're suffering from some serious weather-related stress, there's a perfect storm of really cool gadgets and gear to help get you out and about, no matter what Mother Nature has in store.

New wearable tech heats in cold and cools in heat

I just got back from Jackson Hole, Wyo., where over a span of four days, I skied, fat-tire mountain biked, and ran through the Tetons where the temperature fluctuated some 50 degrees in the matter of a few hours — all in an effort to test the newest gear first hand.

The one wearable I couldn't have made it without was the Stio Azura Jacket ($195). It's lined with new Primaloft Gold Insulation that somehow kept me nice and toasty when it was 14 degrees, and kept me cooled off when both the weather, and I, heated up. I paired it with a Women's Divide Tech Tee ($49) base layer that I — shhh, don't tell anyone — wore three days in a row without washing. The impressive tech behind this one is a proprietary fast-wicking "drirelease with FreshGuard" material that kept me warm, dry and stink-free. Oh, the true wonders of new technology.

Also worth checking out is another all weather go-to, Thermoball Jacket ($200) from The North Face. Like the Stio Azura, it keeps you dry and insulated in cold and warm conditions. The Thermoball name is actually what they call their insulation. It's a down alternative that keeps the jacket light while retaining heat in tiny air pockets.

Keep your hands warm

Your fingertips can be one of the first parts of your body to really feel the cold, so it's worth it to check out gloves that have your hands' best interest in mind. I really like the Serius Ignite Heated Gloves ($375). You may have tried hand warmers that you keep inside your gloves, but these go way beyond that. They have a three-temperature heat panel right inside that keeps your entire hand warm. If you can't fathom spending that much mula on gloves, Blazerwear ($60) makes a pair that heats all five fingers and the back of your hand for up to two hours with lithium polymer batteries.

BearTek gloves ($250) are techy, but in a different way. With controls right in the gloves, you can talk to your tech with a tap of your finger. You can wirelessly access your music and answer calls with Wireless/Bluetooth technology so you don't have to take off your gloves to find your gadgets under your weather gear. Of course, the gloves are insulated too, so you can stay warm and connected.

Keep your toes toasty

My feet are in a perpetual state of cold, so I don't skimp on socks. To keep my feet warm, I like Serius's Heatwave Socks ($35). They're super form fitting so they don't slide around inside my boots, and they keep my feet warm with a thermodynamic lining that's still flexible so my feet don't feel all bound up.

Therm-ic Powersocks ($250) are another option in the feet department that are even more high tech. These work with a battery-powered heating element that's at the top of the sock. Its heat transfer system keeps the warmth circulating throughout and your feet feel like they're warming in front of a fire.

For running in the cold

Getting motivated to run in the cold is basically a workout in itself, and the right gear can get you over the mental hurdle a little faster. TheGlofaster ($243) jacket is great for running in chilly temperatures. It's lightweight, breathable, water-resistant, windproof and fully-equipped to keep you connected in all kinds of ways.

First, it actually glows with fibre-optic lighting down the center and along the sleeves. Second, you can connect it with a gadget specific to this jacket that monitors your heart rate, distance and speed, turning the whole thing into a wearable device. Post-run, check all of your stats right from your smartphone.

If you want something a little lower-tech and lower-priced, I can't get enough of the Stio CFS Hooded Jacket ($129). (No, Stio isn't paying me to say this.) As a lifetime layer-er, it totally surprises me when one thin article of clothing keeps me warm when it's cold and cools me off when I get hot.

To further get a grip on all-weather running, grab some shoes that are made to give you more traction in wet conditions. Icebug shoes ($150) are equipped with some serious grip action built into the bottom — tiny studs that really help you gain traction in ice or mud. Don't worry, these are not hiking boots. They're still lightweight, and cute at that.

Winter wearables for die-hard spring skiers

If you want to feel a little cooler on the slopes, there are lots high-tech ways to get connected. One way: Smith's i/o Recon ($650) goggles. Inside of these things you can see your speed, location, temperature, total runs taken, and even where your friends are. It's like having a video-game screen right inside your goggles. Oh, yeah, and they sync with your smartphone, too.

If you don't want to go all-in with the techy goggles, you can opt for an Outdoor Tech Bluetooth ($130) audio system that keeps you connected with music, calls and Siri from your smartphone, all wirelessly. All is takes are two little earbuds connected with a wire that discreetly slip under your helmet.

If you're in the market for a smartwatch that's all sport, the Garmin Fenix 2 ($400) is probably right up your alley. From hitting the pavement to hitting the slopes, this one keeps tabs on you through all of your athletic pursuits. It knows your location and the temperature in addition to tracking and comparing your speed, distance and vertical drop. With the chest strap, you can track your heart rate with more precision than you can get with any watch or wrist tracker alone. Feel free to take it off the slopes, too, because it has special functions for running and swimming.

Stay warm (or cool) and don't let the finicky spring weather keep you inside. Outsmart it with tech that can keep you connected. I'll be getting the scoop on what's what in the world of fitness gadgets soon, so tune in for that.