It’s a Fact: Staying Toasty and Dry Helps Guarantee a Great Day on the Slopes

By Steve
Owner - Skis.com

When I was a teenager, I skied in blue jeans. Not just any blue jeans, mind you. I took the time to spray them down with Scotch-guard in the morning to make them slightly waterproof and so snow wouldn’t stick. It didn’t work very well, but I thought I was cool. Of course, I wasn’t cool -– I was cold...very cold.

Naturally, clothing styles and technology have changed immensely since those Levis days. Fabrics and the art of dressing have evolved to the point where less is more, and racks are filled with high-tech materials that your grandmother never heard of. Every skier will agree that to a have a great day out, you have to stay warm and dry. Once your fingers or feet start freezing, hot chocolate sounds a whole lot more tempting than another lap. So read on for some hard-earned tips on staying toasty on the slopes instead of bailing out to the closest lodge fireplace.

Rotten Cotton

First let’s talk about cotton. It’s a great fabric, but not for skiing. Like a towel, cotton is designed to hold moisture. You may not always feel it, but everyone sweats when they ski. Blasting through moguls, rocking in the park or even just getting up from another fall are all work-outs. If you’re wearing cotton that moisture gets trapped in the fabric as you sweat, and this trapped moisture then pulls the warmth from your skin. It’s just like when you get out of the shower and you are cold until you get the water off your body.

So the first step in organizing your gear is a cotton check, making sure that nothing touching your skin is cotton based. You can get away with a cotton sweatshirt if you must, but you won’t get much warmth out of all that bulk – and you’ll need to be prepared for it to freeze up into a hard sheet if you fall.

The First Layer

The first layer, also known as the base layer, is a key step in staying warm and dry. You want a fabric that “wicks” moisture away from your skin, ensuring that moisture doesn’t get trapped to keep you cold and wet. These days, ski shops stock an array of socks and thermal (long) underwear boasting a wide range of styles and fabrics, from wool-blends to space-age polymers with moisture-wicking properties.

The cost for setting up a solid first layer may seem overblown at first glance, but in the end it’s a small price to pay for warmth. First, buy a pair of good quality ski socks. A decent pair will cost about $20, and it’s best to use only one pair of light or medium weight ski socks. Thicker socks won’t actually keep you feet warmer, but can be a good choice if you need to take some volume out of your boot if it is too big. A good set of breathable and lightweight thermal underwear will set you back between $40–80, but again the cost is well worth it as a good brand should last you several seasons of hard skiing.

The Second Layer…and Beyond

Once you’ve nailed down a comfortable base, it’s time to start adding layers. The key here is thin, multiple layers as compared to one thick layer. From the start through the heart of the season, you can expect to be skiing in temperatures hovering anywhere from freezing to well below zero. And frigid mountain winds can make everything feel a whole lot colder. In these conditions, you’ll want to wear a second layer shirt made out of some sort of synthetic material. On top of this, you’ll want a third layer, usually a fleece or a thin, non-cotton sweater. While any fleece will work, consider a micro fleece that is thinner and less bulky. All of these materials will pull the moisture away from your skin and release it to the outside world, while maintaining warm air pockets between the layers to keep you toasty.

To top it all off, you’ll need a jacket or shell: jackets have insulation as a lining with a nylon outer shell, while shells have just the nylon outer layer. While jackets tend to be warmer, they are also more bulky. The key with both is to get one made from a waterproof and breathable fabric. How can a fabric be both waterproof and breathable? It’s because air molecules are smaller than water molecules, and fabrics such as Gortex are made and treated so that there is enough room between the fibers for air to get in but not water. That’s a lot more high tech than my Scotch-guarded blue jeans!

Lastly, you’ll need strong ski pants. The same rules apply as above, and often your ski pants will be made from the identical material as your jacket or shell. Most people need just one layer of thermal long underwear unless it’s extremely cold. When shopping around, consider pants with zippered vents as well, which allow you to let air in before you get overheated.

Accessorize

You’re almost ready to go. As important as making sure your toes stay warm is keeping your fingers happy with a good pair of gloves of mittens. Many gloves nowadays take advantage of the layering principle by coming with a thinner fleece or microfiber under-glove that slips into the main glove. As for your head, I recommend a helmet – not only can a helmet be warmer than a regular ski hat, it’s obviously much safer. Toss in a pair of goggles along with a neck warmer for windy days and you’re ready to ride.