What to Wear on the Mountain

Clothing is important on the mountains… well you could ski naked but it is probably not the best idea unless your idea of fun is having wind burn and frost bite all over your body. When it comes to layers there are lots of options and it will take some time to figure out what works best for you and the weather conditions. I did not figure out what layers work best for me without some trial and error. It is sometimes hard to predict what the conditions are going to be because they can change in 10 minutes and from the base to the summit. Everyone will find something that works for them so I wanted to share a starting point which will be handy if this is your first winter.

Outer layers:

When it comes to outer layers there are so many choices. Very simply you want snow pants and a ski coat. You can either pick an insulated outer layer or an outer layer shell. All your outer layers have to be waterproof because, funny enough snow melts sometimes and becomes water (crazy! I know!). I like being warm, and find it easier to layer with insulated outer layers. When you are shopping for outer layers remember that you are going to be wearing more layers underneath so you want some room under. You could even try on new outer layers with some mid layers so you have an idea of how everything will fit together. For snow pants you can have normal pants or what people call bibs, which are more like overalls and have suspenders. I have not become a bibs person, yet; I think it has to do with having snow pants with suspenders as a child.

Base layers:

You want warm breathable base layers and that fit smug to your body. Not tight, because you want to be comfortable while skiing. Something that is merino wool is going to be your best bet but can be pricey. You can also wear leggings and an athletic top. I suggest a long sleeve top. Just stay away from cotton since it is not as moisture witching as other materials. For bottoms you might want to choose something that is three quarters length just because you do not want the extra fabric in your boots. Basically, you want something warm and fitted that is either synthetic or wool.

Mid layers:

Mid layers are where you have the most room to play around and will likely be the layer you change based on weather. A fleece sweater or a down jacket is a good mid layer. Some days you might have more than one mid layer and others you will skip the mid layer. I personally opt of a mid-layer without a hood or take the hood off just so there are less layers hanging out in my jacket hood. At the moment I have an insulated jacket so I have a warm hood if I want one. If I get a shell outer layer I may chose to have a hood on my mid layer. Again, staying away from cotton is likely tour best bet.

Your hands:

You are either going to be team mittens or team gloves. I am team mittens so I am cannot speak much about gloves. For either you need something water proof and warm. I have a few pairs of mitts that I will chose depending on the conditions. My warmest pair are leather on the outside and super warm, so much so that my hands will sweat sometimes. This is when I chose my other mitts, which my hands will still sweat in but they are not quite as warm. All my mitts have a strap on them that either go around my wrists or I attach to my jacket, so when I inevitably take my phone out to capture a picture of the same mountains I have millions of photos of but today they look extra good so I had to take another photo, I do not lose my mitt off the chair lift or into the snow. There are lots of good mitts out there and people will tell you to get the ones they have because they think they are the best but it is really up to you and how you want your hands to feel. The other thing to mention is how you want your mitts to sit with your jacket. Sometimes, especially on powder days I will make sure my mitts are inside my jacket so I do not get snow up my arm when I wipe out. Other days I will decide not to care where the snow ends up and will just shove my hands into my mitts. `

Your feet:

The only thing you put in your ski boots, other than your feet are your ski socks. The one big flaw I have noticed when it comes to ski boots is that they are not designed to keep your feet warm even though this whole sport resolves around snow which is generally colder than zero degrees. The socks you chose are going to make the biggest difference for the warmth of your feet. Ideally you want something wool and something thin. Most ski socks will come up to about your knees, especially if you are smaller like me. Some will have thicker cushion spots and some will be crazy colours. I have had many different brands of ski socks and I always found myself gravitating towards the same pair and when you are skiing every day you probably should not wear the same socks. When it came time to buy more ski socks, I bought more pairs of my favourite socks so I can wear the same one every day and it not be weird.

Your head:

Obviously, you have your helmet. Under your helmet you might want to wear something to keep you extra warm and the wind off your neck. A balaclava is great for this since it is basically a thin, but warm hood. I used to always wear a balaclava but then I determined that I did not really love the way it sat on my forehead and how my goggles sat on top of it. I mostly use what is called a gaiter or buff, which is basically a tube of warm fabric. I pull this tube onto my head and get it to sit where a high ponytail would sit and have it cover my ears and then sit on my chin. This keeps my ears and neck warm and is easy to pull up over my mouth and nose on those really cold days. I will also often have another neck warmer that is fleece around my neck that I can pull up if it is a cold one, and also to spin around when it inevitably gets soaked from all the breathing I have been doing.

That is all for layers. What works for me might not work for you so be prepared to not have everything figured out right away. I still have days where I am overdressed or end up being cold and have to go warm up. I would always recommend checking the conditions for the resort you are going to and know that the temperature can change from the base to the summit.