Many people on the slopes are not wearing ski wear at all – on warm days you might see good skiers, confident of not falling, in a pair of jeans and fleece top. At the other end of the scale you might see people wearing knee-length down-filled parkas.
Depending on your viewpoint, specialist skiwear can be either essential or a waste of money; either you feel that you need the ‘right’ kit, or think that you have at least some perfectly serviceable clothing in your wardrobe. Both viewpoints are right – so let’s look at them in turn.
For your first ski trip it is more than feasible to wear a
decent waterproof jacket over a warm fleece and a base layer of some kind.
But you’re unlikely to have any padded waterproof trousers –
by all means borrow some from a friend or relative, but if you want to buy an
inexpensive pair you are probably looking at about £50. Try Decathlon's megastores, or rummage through the racks in TK Maxx.
If you want to buy new skiwear, the choice is pretty much
unlimited. We deal with the options in the sections below. Generally, good
skiwear is designed to last a season – but that means a season FULL of skiing,
such as a local living a few minutes away from a resort might get in. If you’re
doing a week every season, you can surmise that you will probably grow tired of
the design before you wear it out.
First, some terminology. Hard shell means a tough waterproof
outer fabric. Soft shell means a more giving, often
stretchy, material that is fairly waterproof.
The whole idea is that what you wear on top is becoming more
modular, so you can tailor your clothes to the conditions. If you bought one
jacket with lots of padding, that’s great for a January day when it’s freezing.
But you’ll be too hot on a sunny spring day. One good option is a two- or three-part
jacket with zip-out linings, for example those made by North Face.
Essential to a good jacket is a snow skirt (to keep out the
powder when you fall), and adjustable cuffs (ditto). Try out the hood; is it
adjustable, do you want to be able to stow it away or remove it? Look for taped
seams (better waterproofing), a high collar to keep out the wind, and
easy-to-use zip pulls (think of doing them up with gloves on). Finally, look out
for pockets you’ll need; the most important is a ski pass pocket on your left
arm, to pass through the gates to the lifts easily.
Ski trousers, or ski pants, vary in fewer ways than jackets.
The main differences are the outer material (like jackets, hard or soft), the
degree of padding, and the width of the cut. The trend is towards softer,
narrower, but still warm and padded pants. They might have straps to go over
your shoulders, which are adjustable and often removeable. Salopettes, which are
best described as ski dungarees, will keep you warmer as they cover up much of
your torso.
A fancy term for a top. If you are wearing a light jacket
and it’s cold, you’ll need a heavy mid layer – ideally a fleece as it will be
breathable, light, and not hold water if it gets wet. Fleeces vary enormously
in cost and quality – we currently like the Berghaus technical fleeces for fit
and quality, but you can get a serviceable fleece for not very much money.
Also known as underwear. Give it some thought though because
it’s next to your skin and you’ll probably wear it all day. Some people swear
by knitted thermal silk, while polyester and polypropylene offer good low-cost
alternatives – some have special ‘anti-smelly’ technology built in. Long johns
and long-sleeved undershirts are fine here, but don’t buy cotton as it retains
perspiration and is slow to dry. Top of the line is merino, which will keep you
warm and also help disperse perspiration by ‘wicking’ it away from your skin.
Specialists here include Helly Hansen LIFA, Falke and Icebreaker.
We do recommend specialist socks. Don't wear two pairs; your feet will slide and you'll get blisters. They should not be too thick – the padding is in the boot. They are not cheap, but
because of the limited wear will last several seasons. We recommend Salomon,
Falke, Bridgedale and Thorlos among others.
Gloves
Good gloves are utterly essential. You don’t need to spend a
fortune, but you do need quality and a good fit. Look for long gloves with
adjustable straps at the wrist and also higher up the forearm, to provide a
good seal against the snow and cold. Look for good materials too – like
Gore-Tex or treated leather. If you really suffer from cold extremeties, think
about mitts – they will keep your fingers warmer. Some people like silk glove
liners too. Many have vent zips on the back to help excess heat and moisture
escape – this is a great place to put your proximity-swipe lift pass. Just
don’t lose them!
We personally use helmets, but if it gets very cold then a
hat is a good idea. But please – no ‘jesters’.
