How to Keep Warm When Skiing
Unless you’re only every going dry slope skiing, it’s pretty obvious that the best places to ski are going to be cold – otherwise there wouldn’t be any snow! Packing the right clothes and dressing properly can be the difference between a fun skiing holiday or feeling miserable, cold, and wet the whole time.
Keeping yourself warm and dry when skiing is a combination of science, thermodynamics, and a fair bit of trial and error. What feels best for one skier might be different for another, but this general guide is a good place to start. Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to dress for skiing, you can start to experiment with materials, cuts and styles to find something comfortable for you.
How to Keep Warm When Skiing?
The trick to keeping warm (and dry!) when skiing is layers. Wearing multiple thin layers will keep you warmer because your body heat will get trapped by the air between layers. Air doesn’t conduct heat very well and will act as an insulator, keeping you much warmer than you would be with one thick layer.
Whilst layers will keep you warm, being too hot will make you sweat, and sweat will make you cold. Yes, being too warm really can make you feel colder – that, and nobody likes being sweaty.
That’s why it’s important to choose a proper moisture-wicking base layer that is quick drying. In addition, you’ll need a breathable outer layer that will keep you dry but also let moisture evaporate out. Otherwise, the warmth from your body will cause the sweat to condense on the inside of your coat when it meets the cold air, leaving you feeling humid like a rainforest – yuck!
Keeping warm when skiing is all about choosing the right layers and the right types of fabric to properly manage your temperature.
What to Wear When Skiing?
As a bare minimum, you’ll need a set of long thermals as a base layer and a waterproof ski jacket and ski pants or salopettes. Salopettes often have a higher waist and usually a bib design that goes over the shoulders like suspenders to help keep snow out.
You might also want to wear mid layers such as a jumper or a fleece jacket – the trick is to choose clothes that are breathable and won’t get in the way. They should also be easy to take off as you warm up whilst skiing. Avoid hoodies as the hood can get in the way when skiing. Also avoid cotton as cotton doesn’t dry quickly and retains moisture which will contribute to feeling cold.
Most casual skiers don’t need to go all out buying lots of gear or spending hundreds on the latest, most technical pieces of skiwear. In fact, casual skiers can rent most of the things they need at the ski resort, saving you money and precious luggage space!
In addition to thermals and waterproofs, properly fitted boots are another must! A pair of correctly fitted boots can make all the difference when it comes to staying warm and comfortable when skiing. Boots that are too loose will make it hard to control your skis and boots that are too tight will restrict circulation, making your feet cold.
You might think the best socks for skiing are super thick, fluffy winter socks, right? But thick socks will work the same way as boots that are too tight, squeezing your foot and stopping warm blood from flowing. This makes your feet feel cold as well as causing a range of other problems which you can learn about in our guide to finding your perfect ski boot.
Socks and shoes are the one area where you really can’t skimp when it comes to staying warm! A pair of technical ski socks can be a bit pricey, but they’re well worth the cost because they’re made from a blend of specially designed thermally insulating and sweat-wicking fabrics. Also, good ski socks will feature reinforcements in areas like your toes and shins where your feet will be in contact with the boot. This extra padding can make your day skiing much more comfortable. If you’re skiing on a budget, good ski socks and ski boots are the most important investment! Our ski boot fitting service in Sheffield will help you pick a perfect pair of boots and socks, customising the fit.
The last things you’ll need to keep warm are a good pair of ski gloves. Whilst traditional gloves offer better range of movement, mittens might be a good option if you find your hands get cold easily as they allow your fingers to share warmth.
Other optional extras are a hat and a neck warmer. Scarves have a lot of additional fabric which can be bulky and uncomfortable – neck tubes are generally better for skiing, but there’s nothing wrong with a scarf.
Skiing Bare Essentials Clothing Checklist:
- 2-3 thermal tops
- 1-2 long thermal leggings/tights
- 1 waterproof ski jacket
- 1 pair of waterproof ski pants or salopettes
- 1 mid layer fleece jacket (optional)
- 2-3 pairs of technical skiing socks (hand wash during your trip if needed)
- 1 pair of skiing gloves
- 1 pair of properly fitted ski boots
- 1 pair of ski goggles (optional, but recommended)
- 1 ski helmet (optional, but recommended. Read our how to choose a ski helmet guide to find out why!)
How do I Layer my Clothes for Skiing?
Keeping warm when skiing comes down to more than just having the right clothes, you also need to wear them in the right way to prevent water from entering in gaps by tucking clothes in strategically.
Here’s how to dress for skiing, step by step:
- Start with underwear (obviously!) or sports underwear to wear beneath your thermals. An extra layer keeps your tush toasty, and it’s also more hygienic – especially if you’re going to be re-wearing the same thermals throughout your skiing trip. Choose something comfortable and moisture-wicking with minimal seams as you’re likely to be on the slopes most of the day and the last thing anyone wants is uncomfortable underpants.
- Dress in your thermal base layer. The important part here is that you tuck your shirt into your pants to keep heat in and snow out!
- Now, add your special ski socks and tuck your thermal pants into your socks. Your shirt needs to be tucked into your pants, and your pants tuck into your socks for extra warmth.
- Put on your mid layer clothes if you’re planning to wear them. Some people wear a full set of clothes underneath their ski gear whilst others wear just a fleece jacket/jumper. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you’re wearing a material that dries quickly as being damp will make you cold. You should avoid materials like denim that are thick and slow to dry.
- Put on your final, waterproof layer of clothing along with any gloves, hats or neck warmers. Some people prefer to tuck their coat into their gloves and tighten the glove cuff to keep snow out, whilst other skiers prefer the untucked look.
- Have a final check that all clothes are tucked and tightened properly to keep snow out. Add your helmet and you’re ready to hit the slopes!
The Final Verdict?
Keeping warm when you’re skiing comes down to wearing layers of breathable fabric. The three most critical factors are:
- Keeping heat in
- Letting sweat out
- Keeping snow out
Getting damp from sweat or from snow will make you feel cold, so it’s important to choose quick drying, technical materials and layer them in a way that keeps snow from getting in any gaps.
If you get cold easily, you might also want to consider heated gloves or heated insoles and socks.
Our goal is to help you enjoy skiing as much as possible. By following our simple guide, you’ll be able to keep cosy on the slopes. For help choosing the right gear for skiing, contact us or visit us in person at our Sheffield ski shop, and our friendly team will guide you.
