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Ski Pants Buying Guide

Ski pants are designed for ski-ing, and take into account the special conditions you’re likely to come across as you speed down the piste on a couple of planks (albeit waxed planks) of wood. Ski-ing is quite unlike any other outdoor activity . . . well, I suppose it’s a bit similar to snowboarding, but that’s also different. Anyway, ski pants have to keep you warm, comfortable, dry, protect you from the inevitable bumps and crashes and any other outside forces you may come into contact with (oh, and making “snow angels” when you get to the bottom . . . great fun).

Ski Pants Construction

Ski pants experts (I’m sure there are some) will tell you that the best method of construction for a pair of ski pants to help maintain your thermal equilibrium and stop you from cooling down too much is the three layer system.

• layer #1 – the base layer, the part of the pants which actually touches your skin with the job of getting any moisture away from your skin asap so you don’t feel cold and wet.
• layer #2 – the middle layer has the main job of insulation, it also needs to let the moisture pass through from layer 1 of course, but generally it traps body heat and keeps you toasty.
• layer #3 – the outer layer, this bit is on the outside and has to cope with all of the elements . . . it has to keep you dry and protect you from the wind, yet allow the body to breathe and let all of that moisture which is coming up from the base layer through.

These 3 layers will cope with most conditions you’ll meet on the ski slopes, but if you will be ski-ing in extremely cold conditions you might want to think about wearing an extra base layer beneath your ski pants for a little extra warmth.

Important Tips When Choosing Ski Pants

• Even beginner skiers need to wear proper ski pants . . . just think about it, they’re the ones who are most likely to spend time rolling about in the snow than ski-ing over the top of it. Denims won’t do, they’ll just get very wet, you’ll get very cold and it will simply spoil your first ski-ing experience and you’ll probably never want to go out on the slopes again.  Proper ski pants will keep you dry, warm, comfortable and allow you to enjoy the ski-ing experience.
  

  That's my kind of ski-ing . . . on flat ground!

• Whilst you’re busy falling off your skis and crashing into things (help . . . no brakes), then you could probably do with a little padding too, particularly around your buttocks and knees. If you do find ski pants with added protection in those areas it will also make them more tear resistant and help them to keep the snow out whilst you’re busy rolling around in it.
• Of course, we can’t all go out and buy the most expensive ski pants in the store, but do use a little common sense (if you have any). Cheap ski pants won’t stand up to the same rigorous treatment as some of the more well known brands of ski-ing equipment will, and if you’re really serious about this ski business then a decent pair of ski pants will last you for a long, long time (just so long as you don’t change shape).
• Function over fashion . . . . although ski-ing is one of the “coolest” sports around (especially when you fall over in the snow) you’ve got to remember that ski pants are designed to keep you warm, dry and comfortable while you’re ski-ing, and trendy comes towards the bottom of the list. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great ski pants which are trendy as well, but remember to get your priorities right.

“Visually pleasing” . . . . that’s a good phrase, I’m gonna’ remember that . . . . those ski pants are not visually pleasing to me . . . and they don’t match my ski jacket.