| You're heading for the slopes this season. Maybe it's | | | | excellent high quality synthetic fabrics available, |
| your first time skiing, or snowboarding, and you've | | | | Polarfleece and Gore Tex are 2 that you have |
| decided to find out what everyone sees in skiing. But | | | | probably heard about already, primarily because they |
| you know it's going to be cold, and maybe wet as well, | | | | are very good. High quality fabrics are of course more |
| and you need to dress so that you will stay dry and | | | | expensive. However if you factor in the cost of the |
| warm and enjoy your trip to the slopes. | | | | higher quality ski wear over the life of the ski clothing |
| Here's 5 tips for dressing for skiing or snowboarding to | | | | you'll find that the extra cost is not so much. |
| maximize the chances of staying dry and warm on | | | | That's because the high quality fabrics will usually last |
| the snow. Follow each tip and you should stay comfy | | | | much longer than lower quality copies, so although you |
| and toasty, and you'll find yourself back on the snow | | | | are paying more initially you are buying skiwear that will |
| next year for some more skiing. | | | | outlive the cheaper ski clothing, and will pay for itself in |
| 1. Dress in layers. It's important to understand that | | | | the long run. There are many fabrics that are copies |
| dressing for the snow is a process. It's not just a | | | | of the high quality fabrics, but don't perform as well or |
| matter of buying a pair of ski pants and a ski jacket, | | | | last as long. A good quality ski jacket, for example, |
| and you're good to go. You need to consider the | | | | should have you skiing and comfortable when you |
| under layers that you use as much as the outer layers. | | | | may well be back in the apartment if you were |
| Get good quality thermal underlayers and a great | | | | wearing a poor quality jacket. |
| synthetic fleece to go under that ski jacket and pants, | | | | 4. Buy a known brand name. There are some very |
| and you'll be set to be out on the snow on the coldest | | | | well known brand names in the ski clothing industry. |
| of days. Ignore the underlayers and you may not. | | | | Names that are well known amongst skiers for the |
| 2. Avoid natural fibers, especially next to your skin. | | | | quality of their ski gear, and with a solid reputation to |
| There are some wonderful fibers like cotton and wool, | | | | protect. Names such as North Face and Patagonia. |
| and they have been in use in cold and wet climates | | | | And there is a stack of ski clothing with brand names |
| for many years. This is because they were the best | | | | that you would never have heard of, usually cheaper. It |
| available years ago. But now there are much better | | | | can be a false economy to buy a cheap unknown |
| synthetic fabrics available, which do a better job of | | | | brand. Stick to those that are known to produce high |
| keeping you both warm and dry. | | | | quality long lasting ski clothing. |
| Cotton and wool attract damp. Cotton next to your | | | | 5. Don't forget the accessories. It wouldn't be the first |
| skin will absorb your sweat and so leave you feeling | | | | time that someone had all the best ski clothing, but |
| chilled and damp. A high quality synthetic fabric is | | | | cheap gloves, and ended up back in the apartment |
| designed to wick moisture away from your skin and | | | | because their hands were frozen. Or bought poor |
| encourage the moisture to travel to the next layer. | | | | goggles, and couldn't ski because they fogged up all |
| This is what is known as "breathing". The fabric allows | | | | the time. Don't spend all your money on your ski |
| the moisture generated by sweat and exercise to | | | | clothing and skimp on the accessories. Good quality |
| pass through the fabric, and the fabric doesn't trap the | | | | gloves and goggles are important. |
| moisture and become damp. A natural fabric such as | | | | Stick to those 5 tips and you'll be learning to ski like the |
| cotton doesn't do this satisfactorily, and will get damp | | | | best of them when others are back inside cold and |
| over time. Whilst cotton and wool will retain heat well in | | | | damp. It may be a little more expensive following some |
| some circumstances, such as when you are continuing | | | | of those tips, but over time the expense will pay for |
| moving, they make you cold and damp very quickly | | | | itself, and of course there are always places online |
| when you stop and your body cools, and so should be | | | | where you can buy high quality ski clothing at a |
| avoided. | | | | discount. But if you go cheap and poor quality you will |
| 3. Use high quality synthetic fabrics. There are some | | | | regret it one day. I promise. |