What to Look for When Shopping for Ski Gear?
With so many brands of ski gear out there, making sure you choose high quality ski products isn’t always easy – especially when everyone claims their products are the best. Naturally, we disagree because our products are clearly the best (and we’re definitely not biased).
Even though we always want to you shop with us, we’ve designed this guide to show you what to look for in good ski gear, no matter where you’re shopping.
How to Choose Good Skiing Clothes?
Choosing good skiing clothes can be the difference between having a happy ski trip or a miserable and cold one, so you should pick your ski wear with care. Some resorts allow you to rent your outer layers of ski clothing like ski pants and jackets, but it isn’t as common as renting items like skis and can quickly become expensive. Good quality skiwear is easy to find, so it’s usually better to buy clothing items instead as you can ensure a comfortable fit that you’re happy with. If you’re uncomfortable throughout the day, you won’t last very long out on the slopes and will struggle to enjoy skiing.
With loads of different skiing brands out there, it’s easy to find skiing clothes you like. There’s something for every size, style, and skiing ability as well as every budget. For a casual, intermediate or even an advanced skier, there’s no need to spend a fortune on the most technical articles of skiing clothing, the basics will do just fine.
As a minimum, you’ll need to buy a thermal base layer, quality ski socks, and a good waterproof ski coat/pants to keep wet snow out.
What to Look for in a Ski Jacket and Ski Pants/Salopettes?
A good ski coat should feature a waterproof and windproof outer layer made from a breathable material such as Halti DrymaxX ® fabric or a material such as Gore-Tex. For general skiing, we recommend choosing a fabric that has a waterproof rating of at least 5,000 mm as this will withstand moderate levels of snow falling. Your ski jacket should also be loose fitting enough to fit multiple layers of fabric underneath.
When choosing your ski jacket, it’s a good idea to buy your base layers and mid layers first, then wear those to shop for your ski jacket, allowing you to check your jacket will fit over your layers with plenty of room to move. Your ski coat should also be short enough to allow free movement of your legs – some coats like the Dynastar Longshell have adjustable lengths which allows you to switch between a longer length for warmth when waiting between runs and shorter length for ease of movement.
For your ski pants/salopettes, the same idea applies. You need a fabric that lets sweat out and keeps heat in, all whilst keeping snow out. Good skiing pants often have covered zips that keep water from coming through the zips whilst allowing convenient access to your boots for easy adjustment. They may also feature ankle and waist cuffs that tighten to keep snow from getting inside.
What to Look for in a Thermal Set?
A good set of skiing thermals should be tight fitting and made from a flexible fabric, allowing for comfortable and easy movement. They should also dry easily to allow sweat to wick away from the skin, which is why most base layers include specially made synthetic materials for extra moisture wicking properties. Good thermals usually contain a blend of materials for versatile properties like extra stretch.
Avoid cotton-based materials like denim or cotton tops, as cotton retains sweat and doesn’t dry easily, instead look for synthetic or wool blends. Good synthetic materials to look out for are polyester and elastane blends if you’re looking for something on the cheaper end of the scale. If you have a bit more budget to spare, then blends that include merino wool come out as the best material for skiing thermals thanks to its incredibly soft touch and extra warmth.
You might also want to consider other comfort factors such as a seamless finish to prevent uncomfortable digging into your skin when on the slope.
Our favourite thermals are Falke brand, but we also offer a full range of base layers to fit a range of budgets including matching sets from well-known brands such as POC.
What to Look for in a Pair of Ski Socks?
Unlike a pair of winter boot socks, high quality skiing socks should be thin to allow for good contact with the boot to you better control over your skis. This also helps keep your feet warm by improving circulation – a pair of thick ski socks will feel tight in your boot and reduce the supply of warm blood, making your feet feel cold (check out our other blog to read more about the science of how to keep warm when skiing).
Ski socks should also include reinforcements and padding in high contact areas like the toe, heel, and shin areas to prevent discomfort. Ski socks come in a variety of materials, but merino wool blends offer warmth and an exceptional soft feel.
We love the Falke brand ski socks, but we also offer a full range of ski socks including heated ski socks from Therm-ic and Sidas for those of us who suffer from cold toes!
The Final Verdict?
Good quality ski gear should be comfortable and specially designed to keep you warm and dry. It should fit comfortably and allow for a full range of movement – you shouldn’t feel restricted in any way.
If you’re having trouble picking your ski gear, contact us for help or come say hello at our specialist ski shop in Sheffield where our friendly staff will be more than happy to help you choose the right fit.
