What to wear for skiing how to layer properly

What to Wear for Skiing: How to Layer Properly

When you head off up the slopes, if you want to have a great ski day, its critical you’ve got all the clothing that you’ll need to make sure you are not only warm but dry and comfortable as well.

Now you can spend hundreds if not thousands on the gear we recommend if you head out and buy the highest end gear. The thing is, if you’re just starting to learn or you prefer to stick exclusively to the resort and ski on-piste you do not need to spend this amount on your gear!

In this guide we will cover all of the gear that you will need and where a cheaper item will be more than enough – we’ll let you know what to look out for in terms of features to make sure it’s still up to scratch!

How to Layer for Skiing or Snowboarding

In terms of your key clothing (that is above your waist and below your waist) there are three main layers and these are:

  1. Base layer
  2. Mid Layer
  3. Outer Layer
  4. Ski Gear and Accessories (some optional, some not so optional!)

Now that is not to say that you will need one of each of these layers. For example, if you have an insulated ski jacket (outer layer) which has thick insulation or a thick fleece lining inside then you may only want to wear a base layer underneath your outer layer. 

Lets go over exactly what we mean by each of the layers.

Base Layers

A base layer is generally considered to be a thermal layer which you put on underneath everything else. They’re usually pretty snug and made of soft material to keep them comfortable.

When you’re looking at thermal base layers make sure they are made of a decent wicking material as the idea is that they’ll keep any moisture and sweat away from your body to keep you (somewhat) dry whilst your skiing down the slopes. 

All thermal layering is pretty generic so you’re not really looking for any kind of specific features here only that it’s made of wicking material which will be comfortable for a full day skiing. 

Thermal base layers for skiing

You want to grab a thermal top and thermal bottoms/trousers (preferably a couple of pairs of each if you’re skiing for more than a day). 

You’ll also need socks – you can get ‘skiing’ socks however any thick pair of socks will do and we recommend you bring a few pairs.

Mid Layers

Your mid layer is effectively extra insulation from the elements and again we’re not looking at anything particularly fancy here and it really comes down to personal preference on what you find to be the most comfortable.

mid layers hoodie

Mid layers can be hoodies, jumpers, fleeces – just about anything that you would normally wear over a t-shirt and that you will feel comfortable whilst you’re active for most of the day as well as into the evening if you’re heading to the bar after.

Just make sure that it isn’t restrictive or too tight as you may find this quickly becomes uncomfortable. If you have a ski jacket which is insulated or a soft shell with a good amount of insulation, you may actually find that you don’t need a mid layer at all. 

We would recommend that you stick one on for your first day if you’re unsure and take a backpack as you can always take it off during the day and pop it back on in the evening.

For trousers/pants the same rules apply (jeans are a big no-no!) so some jogging bottoms might be ideal for you. One final thing to note though is that most ski trousers/pants are usually insulated and so more often than not you can get away with just a base layer here and your ski pants on top.

Outer Layers

Here is the big one – your outer layers are of course your ski jacket and ski trousers/pants (or salopettes in Europe!).

outer layers ski jacket and ski trousers

In terms of your ski jacket you want to make sure that its completely waterproof (they will usually have a rating between 5000-20,000mm), breathable, durable and as lightweight as possible. A rating between 5000 and 10,000mm is more than enough for resort skiing. 

There’s a few different kinds of ski jackets which we go over in our Ski Jacket Guide but essentially there are three main types of ski jackets – insulated, soft shell and hard shell. Which one you go with is down to personal preference and what your budget is.

What we would recommend though is if it’s your first time on the slopes or you are a skier or snowboarder that sticks to on-piste skiing at a resort then you absolutely do not need to spend hundreds on your ski jacket!

In terms of features, our guidelines of what you should look for are:

  • Waterproof – rated to at least 5000mm (with sealed seams if possible)
  • Breathable – rated to at least 5000g
  • Ski pass pocket on the sleeve (this will make your life a lot easier!)
  • Snow skirt (a skirt which fixes together underneath the lower portion to stop snow entry)
  • Hood (they can be detachable, adjustable and/or helmet compatible)

Some more expensive ski jackets come with a host of other features, some of which you’ll use on-piste, some you probably won’t and they’re more ‘nice to have’ features than essential.

For ski trousers/pants then again you should be looking for similar features – waterproof, rugged and as lightweight as possible.

Ski Gear and Accessories

Once you have all of that, you’re almost there! There’s a few extra bits of gear that you’ll need though to make sure you’re safe and don’t get chilly up the mountain.  

  1. Ski Helmet – an absolutely essential piece of gear for your ski trip, you can usually rent these on resort but you definitely need one to protect your noggin should you take a tumble.
  2. Beanie – for the evening you’ll probably want something on your head to keep you warm once you’re finished at the apres ski!
  3. Neck Warmer – whichever ski jacket you’ve grab you’ll always get wind blowing down your neck and you definitely do not want that all day. It’s easily prevented with a scarf, snood or balaclava if you really feel the cold.
  4. Gloves – ideally you’ll want a couple of pairs, a pair of ski gloves which are tough and insulated so you don’t injure your hands on your skis, gear or terrain if you take a tumble as well as a pair for the evening.
  5. Goggles/Sunglasses – If you prefer goggles then you’ll need a pair (plus any additional lenses for different light conditions). Even if you prefer sunglasses, we recommend that you still pick up a pair of goggles as if you hop off the lift and its tipping it down with snow – sunglasses will not be enough to maintain your visibility.
  6. Backpack – Not absolutely critical this one but it is extremely handy to carry lunch/drinks bottles/goggles and everything else you’ll need during the day.
  7. Suncream/Lip Block – This one is absolutely essential. When you’re skiing the sun is reflected off the snow all day long and, because you won’t necessarily feel it due to the cool air, you will get sunburnt if you don’t have suncream on. Lip block obviously gives you the same protection but for your lips!

If you’re staying on piste – everything on this list of gear will make sure that you have a great ski day and don’t feel cold or uncomfortable on the slopes which makes skiing that much harder!