Latest posts for the topic "How do you keep warm on the slopes? "

How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:23:23 GMT

Hi all,

Ive been wondering just recently what people wear to keep themselves warm whilst on the slopes. I know peoples preferences are different i myself dont like to feel bulky and so i was wondering what you guys wear to keep warm?

I have been and bought icebreaker bodyfit leggins and long sleve crew T today to use as base layers. If i wore these with another icebreaker 320 midlayer will this be sufficent in cold conditions worn under my jacket and trousers...

If there are any icebreaker experts on this forum id love to hear from you as the staff i spoke to today at ellis brigham were well pretty useless to say the least. :(

Are there any products out there that perform better than icebreaker, if so what are they?

Lets hear your thoughts. :D

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:52:41 GMT

The first choice you have to make is whether you want your jacket and ski pants with insulation, or just a shell. This really determines what layers you wear underneath. You can get away with insulated pants on a warm day, but an well insulated jacket needs very good venting to be versatile. There is not as much difference in the performance of different brands of thermals as people seem to believe. I like wool mixes, or silk for a thin base layer. Depending on the temperature, and wind, I use either a micro fleece, or a thicker fleece top and bottom over the base. In between I'll just wear micro fleece only.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:56:07 GMT

Hi,

I still use my trusty old ( it must be getting on for 18 years old now.....god I must be the tightest skier on the planet ) Berghaus Tramontana Fleece with its Gore-Tex windstopper lining.

Its only a Polartec 200 fleece but with the Gore-Tex lining is as toasty as can be , I normally just wear either a t-shirt or thin long sleeved top under it......

.....it's the best bit of ski kit i've brought....mind you at the age it is ....it could well be the only bit of kit i've brought :D . Years ago I was sitting on the Toviere chair in L'espace Killy for the last trip up of the day and the sun had gone behind the Grande Motte and was about -18 oC , but it still did the business.

Apart from that my hip flask is pretty good....hic !

jon.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:57:26 GMT

I can't tolerate anything except cotton against my skin, so I wear cotton leggings and T-shirt (cotton is not really advised as a base layer for ski-ing), with a thin tight fitting fleece on top of the T-shirt, and then just my insulated ski jacket and salopettes.

If I wear any more than this I get too hot (even at minus 20 C) because I work pretty hard when I'm ski-ing (trying to keep up with the rest of the class!). And when I'm really feeling too hot I unzip my jacket to cool off. If I'm on a freezing chair lift in the wind I put my hood up over my helmet and my neck warmer over the lower part of my face.

I suppose what one needs to wear depends on the weather (especially the wind) and what one's doing. I think the beginner groups should dress up extra warm because there's usually a lot of standing around while people learn the basics.

Ally

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:59:50 GMT

Make sure that your boot liners are dry. If they are damp,the cold quickly penetrates and numb feet will ruin your day!

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:18:16 GMT

I just ski it certainly keeps you warm ....

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:31:02 GMT

Depending on how cold (or warm) it is depends on what I wear...

-20 or below and humid then I will be wearing my thermals, a t-shirt, shell jacket and then my ski jacket.

Its my feet that suffer the most hence the next item on my wish list is heated insoles! :shock:

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:43:20 GMT

Perhaps you guy's that feel the cold should stick to summer holidays :D

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:46:09 GMT

On a serious note I wear .... Tshirt, Micro fleece and a jacket , hat, Gloves and one on those neck things for cold days.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:54:27 GMT

Trencher wrote:The first choice you have to make is whether you want your jacket and ski pants with insulation, or just a shell. This really determines what layers you wear underneath.

Coundldn't agree more Trencher. My jacket and trousers are just shells with a soft fleece linning/backer. There new for this season so i havent had the pleasure of finding out yet how warm they actually are.

Until now i alsways just wore cheap thermals with maybe a fleece under my jacket but like Ally says i found i got too hot too quickly and this clothing didnt do a very good job of breathing properly so whenever i stopped for a drink on the mountain the inside of my jacket felt wet/damp.... This isnt ideal when you then have to set off in minus temps...

Ive never worn morino wool as a base before so it will be interesting to see exactly how warm and breathable they are. There not exactly cheap items of clothing but im a believer of you get what you pay for.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:56:38 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Perhaps you guy's that feel the cold should stick to summer holidays :D

Ian its to be hoped my OH doesnt read this post..... Id probably never hear the end of it. :D

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:57:46 GMT

Layers depending on the weather! Long sleeve thermal + T shirt + fleece and Jacket for the cold. When it's less cold then just T shirt + micro fleece. I have, on occasions, worn just T shirt under my jacket.

A good pair of mittens is a must for me!

If it's really cold then I stop regularly for a hot chocolate and warm up.

:D

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:05:02 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Perhaps you guy's that feel the cold should stick to summer holidays :D

Ian, maybe some of us feel the cold a bit more because we are fitter and are more efficient skiers so don't expend as much energy :twisted:

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:08:28 GMT

Brimster wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Perhaps you guy's that feel the cold should stick to summer holidays :D

Ian, maybe some of us feel the cold a bit more becasue we are fitter and are more efficient skiers so don't expend as much energy :twisted:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:24:00 GMT

I've not skied in really low temps like you get in Canada for example, but I had a week in Val Thornes when it topped -25, and I was on a chair in Serre Che last March when it hit -17.

The secret is to layer up.
Thermals under your sallos for starters as you will get cold legs sitting on the chairs. Bandits right - make sure you keep boot linings dry and cold. Take them out if needs be each night but at least keep the boots warm and dry if you dont want them out.
I go for a base layer, usually breathable material as I actually sweat more when its cold. A microfleece over that, and then a ski jacket at the top. If its going to be really cold, thermal t shirt under the base layer.

I have to say the key thing is to keep moving, so keep skiing - dont fanny about waiting all the time! Also, a really good pair of gloves does the trick - not necessarily the most expensive either, but double insulated with inners and waterproof outers worked best for me.

Then to top it all off, a nice warm cozy BOBBLE HAT to keep your head warm and ears covered. :mrgreen:

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:34:54 GMT

No one has mentioned silk liner gloves!
When the temperature drops a pair of these under good gloves makes such a difference.
I like to keep the extremities warm, hence gloves, good socks (dry boots as has been said), hat (vital, no hair for me!!) and a neck warmer thingy I can dip mt chin into.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:10:12 GMT

I find the better I get at skiing the colder it becomes. Especially on piste you start to work less and suffer from more windchill. The same applies to a certain extent off piste but there is always a little more work to do to at least help keep warm.

I find that with good layers of technical clothing you can wear almost the same regardless of temperature and it seems to adjust to your demands a little.

My personal preference. is base layer of thermals top and bottom. Goretex shell ski trousers.

On top I wear a windstopper base layer over my normal base layer and then a thin fleece. Then a primaloft synthetic down jacket followed by a Goretex shell ski jacket.

If it's really cold I can add a fleece and if its warm I can loose the down jacket.

I did a night time ski tour on Wednesday night and going up I only needed a fleece and windstopper layer but at approaching -20 on top with windchill things got very quickly very cold and the down and goretex all came out of the back pack.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:19:38 GMT

My ski clothing & comfort has evolved year in year out & for piste skiing I think I have finally got the layering balance about right. Basically after twenty years of skiing I treated myself to a really good insulated ski jacket & trousers (schoffel), a single base layer is enough for most days to keep warm. Always pack lightweight balaclava & use mitten style ski gloves & pack a pair of liner gloves just in case it's Baltic & one of those buff mufflers. I suppose it depends on how active or how hard you are having to work (depending on skiing ability, group lessons etc & having to hang about alot) to how many layers you will need.
I find on really cold days (wind chill) it is the face & neck that suffer the most, hence the balaclava & neck muffler. Helmet usually works well to keep the elements at bay.

Re:How do you keep warm on the slopes?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:40:56 GMT

I agree with Finn, a good quality jacket and salos with minimum layers seems to do the trick. We went up the Festkogl chair in Obergurgl last week just prior to it being closed due to high winds and snow. It was -9 in the village at 1930m and we were close to 3000m with a shere wind and snow blowing straight through us. God knows what the windchill factor was :roll: Needless to say, and in keeping with Ian and Tony's suggestion we did not hang around and skied like mad to get some shelter from the elements. It was the worst conditions I have ever skied in and being a smoker at altitude I was struggling for breath (must give up this year) As Finn said, I was fine apart from my face and neck. I unpacked my balaclava for the rest of the holiday and kept moving when possible.