Choose your ski clothing wisely to prevent blue lips or sweaty pits.

One of the most important factors when planning for the season is ski clothing. You may think “well it’s pretty much all the same, I’ll just pick up whatever I find”. But no. Ski clothing ranges from exquisite to functional just like any other type of clothing. With these tips I can help you prepare for as many eventualities as possible in this coming season.

1. Know your size. Yes, shops make all different sizes but a rough guide definitely helps speed up the shopping process. Those that hate shopping , this is the best advice I can give to shorten that agonizing time spent browsing a shop with hundreds of other people in the exact same, horrible situation.

2. Know the jargon. Ski-wear will be branded with all sorts of terms which may make no sense to most average people. Yes, breathable is a word but what does it mean in terms of my clothes, they have no lungs. Here are the most common terms you will come across:

• Breathable – This means that the item of clothing transfers moisture from the inside of the piece of clothing to the outside. Even in the cold you will still sweat under all those layers, dont take them off, breathable clothing makes sure that sweat doesn’t stay on the inside so that it is more comfortable to wear.
• Waterproofing rating – Some items come with a waterproof rating. This is the amount of water which can be loaded onto the jacket before it seeps through the material. It is measured in mm. Obviously, the higher the rating the more waterproof the jacket.
• Choose a jacket or a shell – Shells are used as an outer layer to protect from wind and rain. They have no insulating property and are often used in a layering system (see tip number 3). On the other hand, a jacket usually has similar wind and rain stopping features but the difference is that they are insulated for extra warmth.

3. Use a layering system – If you are someone who gets cold on winter days, you will benefit greatly from a decent layering system when it gets chilly. The system basically goes as follows, you may have personal preferences for some parts of it:

• The Base Layer – This layer is the closest to the skin. These layers tend to be tight fitting to maximise the potenital of moisture wicking (draws sweat away from the surface of the skin). The best fabric for base layers is polyester. This is a great moisture wicking fabric as opposed to cotton which absorbs sweat, which is uncomfortable and will decrease your body temperature in cold conditions.
• The Mid Layer – The most versatile piece of clothing you may buy. The mid layer is great while active on the slopes during the day and also a useful outer layer to head out on the town with on cold evenings. Many people use a fleecy garment in this layer. Its purpose is to insulate you by trapping warm air between the layers. Make sure also that this layer is breathable. This is so that all the hard work of removing sweat from you skin the base layer did is not wasted.
• The Outer Layer – Buy a Ski Jacket and Salopettes. A shell jacket could be used here for people who get overly warm doing exercise. The outer layer should be of a good waterproof rating. It should also be breathable to allow sweat to escape from your layering system. There are even more features for jackets so see the next tip.

4. What does your jacket need?

• A fixed or removable hood.
• Taped seams to waterproof stitching.
• Venting zips (usually under arms) to allow heat to escape from between your layers so that you can adjust your temperature.
• A snow skirt (extra elasticated piece of fabric around your waist) which stops snow going inside your jacket from underneath.
• A goggle/ski pass pocket for easy access to essentials.