What to wear Skiing

 Inner Gloves

As you can lose up to 40% of your body heat through your head, it is essential to keep it covered whilst skiing. We would recommend making sure your hat is suitable for skiing and that you can be sure it will not fall off on the slopes. There is fervent debate at the moment about whether it is necessary to wear a helmet when skiing. It is our recommendation that skiers do so, although, as studies have shown that those who don helmets can tend to ski less responsibly, we would advise reminding everyone in the group that wearing a helmet will not make them invincible! Many countries and resorts are now making helmets compulsory and most Tour Operators include the hire of the helmet in the cost of the trip.

A small but important part of every skiers kit, you do need to wear suitable socks that will keep you dry and will keep your feet comfortable. It is not recommended that skiers don two pairs of normal socks, as it is likely that this will simply lead to painful blisters. Instead, we recommend tube or inner loop socks. It is also worth taking the time to cut your toenails before you travel, trust us!

The key word here is layers! Not only is layering an effective way of trapping air to keep you warm, but it also means you can remove them if you get too hot, which is not an option if you go for one very thick layer. It is better to wear items made of cotton or polypropylene, as these materials are more effective at transporting moisture away from the body.

Both your jacket and trousers must be water and wind proof. Opt for plastic zippers rather than metal (metal can freeze to the skin), and avoid anything too chunky, as you will need to be able to move your limbs freely. You should ensure that your jacket is long enough to fully cover your kidney area and it is better to choose cuffed sleeves. When looking for trousers, it is handy of they unzip at the bottom, so that they will fit around your ski boots. Generally, the most popular type of trousers for skiing are salopettes, as they have both a high back and shoulder straps.

Invest in a good pair of gloves – cold hands do not make for happy skiers!  Mittens generally keep hands warmer as they permit better circulation than gloves.

Some form of eyewear is essential on the slopes. Goggles are your best bet if it is snowing heavily. If not, you may prefer sunglasses with good UV protection – even when it is not that sunny, the reflection of the suns rays on snow can cause snow blindness. If you do opt for sunglasses, make sure that they are made of unbreakable glass.

Despite the cold temperatures, sunburn can be a real issue on the slopes. Even when the sun isn’t shining, the reflecting effect of the snow means that any rays that are getting through can easily burn. Make sure you use a high factor sun cream and lip balm.