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Skiing
Alpine skiing is demanding on gear. Leaving the hardware (skis and boots) out of the equation, the committed skier still needs base layers, mid layers and shells for both top and bottom as well as socks, gloves, a good hat or helmet, and glasses and/or goggles. But the good news is that many of the demands of skiing are similar to hill-walking, so many components of a carefully chosen outfit will earn their keep all-year round.
In this month's sellers guide we look at the items that do crossover, and a few essentials that don't.
Shell Jacket
Breathable fabrics were almost made for skiing, and a good breathable jacket will keep the wearer dry no matter how bad the weather or how many times he or she falls over, yet still encourage enough perspiration to escape to keep the wearer relatively dry from the inside - critical for those 15 minutes on the lift back up. Straightforward shells with a lining but no insulation are best - especially as the insulation can be added underneath when needed and the shell will also do for everyday wear and walking or other outdoor activities throughout the year. Features such as snow-skirts and lift-pass pockets have their uses on the slopes, but become clutter back home.
Soft Shell
Soft shell is inherently more breathable than hard shell but not as weatherproof, although it'll shed a few snowflakes from the ground or sky. This is lovely for dry, sunny days - especially late season when it's warm; but most walking softshells don't have hoods, so it might get cold on those lifts
Shell Trousers.
As with jackets, good quality, breathable, lined shell trousers are perfect for skiing (long johns or similar beneath them in colder weather), and will double up for walking too. Very lightweight fabrics tend to tear on lifts or at the ankles where edges catch them.
Soft Shell Trousers.
OK for ski touring but usually absorb a little too much water to be particularly useful for downhill skiing.
Base Layer (top)
Snug fitting, long-sleeved, synthetic or merino wool base layers are perfect for skiing as well as all other outdoor sports. Often overlooked in favour of t-shirts, they are one of the most critical pieces of clothing, especially as your outer layers, including that expensive shell jacket, can't work properly if your perspiration is being trapped next to your skin by cotton.
Base Layer (bottom)
As above really, but in a long john style if possible. Note that almost any snug-fitting synthetic trousers will work so running or cycling leggings could also be used.
Mid Layer
Fleece is still the standard, and does the job well. 200gsm fleeces are a good compromise and can be used all year round. Thicker ones are obviously better for really cold days but for more versatility, pair a 100gsm fleece with a 200gsm and get a 300gsm equivalent with both components usable on their own. Soft shell jackets can also be used as mid layers but generally offer less insulation for their weight.
Gloves
Waterproof, breathable ski gloves are expensive and have limited use for walking etc. Better perhaps to plump for a pair of breathable shell mitts with fleece or other synthetic gloves beneath. These will certainly have other uses through the year and will also allow you tailor the right glove for the right day (or time of the day).
Hat
It's almost a cliché these days but we do lose most of our heat through our heads - especially when the rest of our body is covered up, so a hat is essential. A good woolly hat is fine, although one with a fleecy headband will feel warmer and deal with sweat better. Windproof fabrics feel warmer on lifts etc as they keep the cool wind off, but they don't breathe as well so can get sweaty - all these can be used year round so no need for a dedicated skiing hat. It's also worth having a baseball cap, especially for hot sunny end of season skiing, when the sun can really burn. Again, this should be versatile enough for year round use. But remember that hats offer no protection against impact and that many helmets will offer warmth and comfort as well as vital head protection (see below).
Socks
This is one area where specialist ski gear wins every time. Skiing socks are different from walking socks. Sure, they should contain similar fibres for wicking away sweat and keeping your toes warm, but ski boots can rub in different places to walking boots - particularly on the shins, where a lack of padding soon becomes painful. One pair is never enough for a week's skiing as ideally they should be washed as often as possible to sustain their performance.
Glasses/Goggles
Protection from UVA and UVB is essential - bright sunlight reflected from snow can and will damage eyesight incredibly quickly. Some skiers prefer sunglasses - fine, but they can easily come off in a fall and allow drafts to get into the eyes at speed. Others go for goggles, which alleviate these problems, and are almost always better in bad weather, but can be hot and cumbersome and not much fun to wear when soaking up the sun on a terrace bar. The best solution is to carry both, but even this isn't complete utopia as bad-weather goggles won't be dark enough for bright sunlight, and really dark lenses won't help in a white-out. At least glasses can be used for driving and year-round wear so perhaps the cheapest solution is to use these for good weather and keep the goggles for the bad days. Glasses should fit like gloves otherwise they'll be falling off/down every time the skier hits a mogul. Goggles need to sit comfortably on the nose and forehead and must have an effective anti-fog system to be of any real use in poor visibility.
Helmets
On crowded pistes there's a huge danger of two skiers colliding and an innocuous coming together can become quite serious if heads clash. And then there are rocks, piste markers, signs, snow cannons and even trees. Most skiers wouldn't cycle without a helmet so it would make sense not to ski without one either. As a minimum, they should comply with CE EN1077, and fit snug enough that you can't twist them t in any direction once they're done up. Chin straps should be comfy and not chafe anywhere and goggle wearers should check that the goggles fit inside the helmet. Skiers that work up a sweat might want some vents too.
