What To Wear on the Mountain
Are you a first time skier or boarder? Or are you tired of being cold and wet after a day on the slopes? Dressing the right way can make the difference between an epic ski day and cold, wet misery. Follow these simple guidelines to stay warm and dry.
Base Layer
Long Underwear
Your foundation layer is essential to staying warm and dry. Use wool blend, silk or synthetic technical fabrics that fit close to the body so they effectively wick moisture away from your skin. Cotton is a poor choice because it holds moisture next to your skin.
Socks
Not the cotton tube socks you wore in gym class—those will get soaked and leave you with cold, wet feet. You’ll want a low to medium cushion sock with some stretch in a wool or synthetic blend that will wick moisture away from your feet
Insulating Layer
For warmth, choose a turtleneck, fleece, vest or sweater for your next layer (fleece pants are great too!). It’s best to stick with wool, wool blends or synthetic fabrics.
For extra warmth on really cold days, you will want two insulating layers. In addition, neck gaiters pick up where turtlenecks stop keeping you nice and toasty on cold days. Stay away from scarves which present a safety risk especially around chair lifts. Under helmet caps or beanies are also great for fending off the winter chill.
Outer Layer
Your goal here is to keep wind and snow out. Make sure sleeves are long enough and that you have sufficient overlap between your jacket and pants, so snow doesn’t creep in.
Gloves
Waterproof gloves or mittens with some insulation are all you need. The key is to keep the rest of your body warm, so your fingers follow suit.
Helmet
Helmets are growing in popularity, even among the most competent skiers. Head injuries are serious business—a hard bump can have lasting consequences, particularly in children. A helmet provides protection as part of the old better-safe-than-sorry philosophy.
Eyewear
Sunglasses are fine for sunny days, but on cloudy days visibility is poor and goggles are preferable. When it's snowing, goggles are a must. If you're a contact lens wearer, you'll probably want to wear goggles regardless of the weather due to the dry air.
