Getting cold is part and parcel of going skiing — temperatures and conditions change constantly at altitude and even a warm and sunny day in resort can turn into a windy, chilly day at the top of the mountain.

So EcoSki has put together some advice on what to wear for skiing when temperatures really dip.

SKIING is all about snow, but some times of the season are colder than others. As a general rule of thumb, December to February are traditionally the harsher months of the ski season, with March, April and early May bringing warmer, longer days filled with more sunshine. But with the elements so easily changeable at any time in the mountains, and weather patterns no longer as predictable as they once were, anyone planning a ski holiday must prepare for cold spells at any point of the season.

Plan your layers

Don’t choose one or two bulky items — even if you have an insulated ski jacket and pants, layering is key to keeping warm on the ski slopes (see our article on how to create a layering system). Air trapped between layers creates pockets of warmth, a job made even easier by the high-tech materials now available from insulation to body-mapped clothing. The Ortovox Thermovent hoody (below), for example, has a mesh structure on the torso and arm areas that wick sweat so it stays warm and dry in the right places.

A vest and a second baselayer, for example, will be warmer — and easier to move in — than one thicker baselayer and down (artificial or natural) is not only used in jackets. You can now buy down long johns to wear under ski pants, or a down skirt to wear over the top — a really handy layer to put on when it gets really cold, on chairlifts or when sitting to eat your lunch.

Mind the gaps

It might sound silly, but warm air escapes wherever it can, so if you’re cold, make sure you do up all the zips on your jacket — on the pockets, too. Close the poppers over the zips if you have them, and button up the snow skirt on your jacket if you have one, to keep the warm air inside. Choose gloves that go well over your wrists, salopettes or bib instead of pants and baselayer tops that have a hood — the fewer areas that get exposed to the cold, the warmer you will be.

Heated kit

Ski boot heaters, heated socks, heated gloves and even heated gilets do an incredible job of helping you warm all day on the ski slopes. Hestra’s Power Heater Gauntlet gloves (below) offer up to 10 hours of warmth on low heat, or two hours if used on full-setting for a quick blast in the afternoon.

Cold-weather extras

Glove liners provide an extra layer for the hands and a neck gaiter (like this one from Ortovox) or snood (we love this one from Yuki Threads made from recycled bottles) gives an extra layer for the throat and neck. Another handy hint is to wear a neck gaiter under your ski helmet (if you don’t have a helmet liner like this one from Mons Royale) as even just a thin layer provides a great deal of extra warmth — and prevents heat loss — without compromising fit. Neoprene face shields work well in really freezing temperatures and handwarmers are also really useful to keep in your pocket for emergencies, whatever the weather (EcoSki stocks both rechargeable handwarmers and reusable ones from Lifesystems).

Keep your kit in good condition

If your clothing is re-proofed, clean, dry and stored properly between ski holidays, it will make all the difference to how it performs on the slopes. The materials in quality ski clothing work best if cared for using the correct products and stored properly (read our article here on how to make your ski kit last) and of course they will last longer, too.

 

Cold weather skiing