If you’ve been skiing then you probably already have your favorite layers and outerwear. There are a few items Here are a few articles of clothing that were game changers for me for one reason or the other. I own most of the items on this list and hope you love them as much as I do. All of these items can be found at skiwest.ca.
Table of Contents
1. A pair of insulated shorts or insulated capri pants.
These items are multi-purpose but work especially well to keep your tushy warm on the lift or to and from the hill. These can be used for skiing, winter running, hiking, cross-country skiing, or virtually any other winter sport. Look for a pair with stretch panels built-in for maximum flexibility.
Pro tip: wear these over your base layer to the hill and throw your shell pants on top when you arrive.
2. Snow pants with a removable bib.
Bib pants are great for keeping snow and wind away from your lower back. They act as another layer without adding bulk by keeping your core warm. On warm days you can get away with your base layer and bib pants in the morning. When it warms up in the afternoon, simply unzip the bib part of your pants and tuck it away in your jacket.
Pro tip: instead of taking off all your upper layers when using the ladies’ room, simply lift your jacket and unzip the bib from the pants.
3. A reversible vest.
While a vest is by no means a ground-breaking clothing technology, a reversible vest is easily my favorite piece of outerwear. I love them for their versatility. Vests are great for layering on top of down jackets on milder ski days. It changes the look of any outfit depending on which side you wear on the outside.
Pro tip: pack a reversible vest on a ski trip, you can wear it while skiing, during apres, and touring the sites.
4. Matching base layers
Monochromatic outwear separates and one-pieces are all the rage on the slopes. Check out any influencer’s ski garb and you’ll likely see them clad head-to-toe in some shade of pink. The tone on tone look also works well for base and mid layers.
Pro tip: don’t cheap out on base layers, they are directly next to your skin so you want them to be high quality.
5. Heated insoles
This should really be heated anything, insoles, socks, mitts, etc. are all incredibly effective if you’re like me and get super cold hands or feet. The term heated insoles can be a little deceptive, they don’t actually warm your feet. They DO prevent your feet from getting cold, which is much desirable than sweaty feet. Make sure to charge your batteries the night before every ski day and drain the batteries at the end of the day by cranking them up and leaving them on.
Pro tip: attach the battery pack to the buckle above the outside ankle of your ski boot and pull the snow guard over the battery to help hold them in place.
