Layering Techniques for Skiing

[Nick]

What do you guys normally do?

I'm trying to figure out my best layering "strategy".

Used to be this way, and I'd be covered down to about 15 degrees or so.

Pants:
1. Thermal underwear, normally a slightly looser one (not tights).
2. Insulated ski pants on top

Top:
1. Thermal shirt (like a hot chili's)
2. Fleece pullover
3. My gore-tex North Face shell


I'm finding now that I just switched to new ski pants that are just a shell themselves (instead of insulated like my old pair), I was getting just a little chilly last night at Wachusett with that setup, and it was probably around 25 - 28 degrees or so.

I don't want to add much bulk though. Same up top - I don't really like wearing the fleece pullover, as it is just too bulky. I feel like a marshmallow in the thing.

I guess I'm looking for:

- A bottom layer that will go in between my ski pants and my thermals for those colder days
- A good top layer that goes in between a ski jacket and thermals, that doesn't have the bulk of the fleece I was using today (which probably sucks for moisture wicking, anyway)

 

[snowmonster]

It's a personal thing. Depends a lot on your body's heat regulating system/metabolism. This works for me:

Top: thin and tight Polarmax baselayer, fleece jacket and uninsulated shell.

Bottom: thin and tight Polarmax baselayer and uninsulated bib.

It's worked up to -35F. I also tend to have a stoic disposition to weather and can tolerate cold temps.

I guess I'm looking for:

- A bottom layer that will go in between my ski pants and my thermals for those colder days
- A good top layer that goes in between a ski jacket and thermals, that doesn't have the bulk of the fleece I was using today (which probably sucks for moisture wicking, anyway)

On colder days, for the bottom, consider heavier weight thermals. Make sure they hug the skin so that there's less air between the skin and the fabric. Fabrics don't keep the cold out as much as keep the heat in. If you have loose clothing, that's more air that your body has to warm.

For the top, consider investing in a thin down vest. It will keep your core warm but keep your arms unencumbered for skiing.

 

[Nick]

That's pretty crazy that you can use thin baselayer and uninsulated bib and be OK to -35.

 

[snowmonster]

^ Yeah. But, it works. I think the secret is right fitting baselayers. See my edited post above.

 

[TheBEast]

Anything 10F and colder I switch from a light weight bottom base layer to an expedition/heavy wieght bottom base layer + some insulated spyder pants (going on years old). My legs don't tend to get cold in general so this set-up has worked for years. This year I'll likely be going with an uninsulated ski pant and thus will probably bump up the temp to anything lower than 20F or so to switch to the heavy weight bottom base layer. Best advice is to get some different weight base layers (usually come in light/medium/heavy) and mix and match for different conditions. Nothing to say you couldn't double up 2 light weight layers to make a medium weight layer of your own.

 

[Glenn]

I wear CWK things on my legs and then ski pants over those. If it's cold, I throw on some fleece North Face pants.

Top layer; under armor and jacket. If it's cold, NF fleece between those.

 

[Nick]

Anyone ever had to go > 3 layers deep :lol:

 

[o3jeff]

Anyone ever had to go > 3 layers deep :lol:

As Gss would call you, a 3 layer player

 

[Hawkshot99]

On they cold days I wear...
Bottoms- 3/4 length UnderArmour waffle pants and euro socks. For pants I wear a uninsulated shell.
Top- Underarmour Mock Turtle neck, a t-shirt, and a uninsulated shell.

I am very warm in this outfit, down to any temp i have experienced so far(-10 or so) as long as I am skiing. When I just start standing around for promotional stuff, or waiting for my race run is when I get cold.

O the days that are around 25+ i wear the same outfit, just open the vents top and bottom. I go out on cold days with friends, and they look like the Michelin man, and I am perfectly happy in my shell outfit.

 

[Warp Daddy]

"3 layer player" at Tremblant every time i'm there .

Compression 3/4shorts and lt weight
Northface lt weight fleece pants under Spyder insulated pants


Compression shirt and EMS technicalshirt or if really nasty A vest under my Karbon jacket

I've used this at Tremblant in 75 below windchill

If its above 15 ( which it NEVER is at Tremblant ) i drop a layer .

Also use "Boot Gloves " on my boots

and I have a Polartech Thermal "Heat Exchanger" mask and balaclava under my Giro Streif and Gogs

 

[bigbog]

Top:
baselayer: Polarmax's 2x-layer works well for me...
mid-layer: Think I'll be going with either lighter fleece or a light wool shirt or loose-fitting sweater of some kind under my light Marmot Vest.
outer-layer: Marmot Shell or NorthFace Light(water-resistent)

Bottom:
Underarmour or light fleece pants.
Insulated(below waist) bib. <-- This is New, so my top mid-layer will be a work-in-progress for a while this winter.

Head: Headfleece (under helmet) works like a dream on Sugarloaf's windy 0 - days.
*************************
A somewhat light mid-layer that vents with the light vest is as far as I go in the 2nd layer Nick...
Patagucci's R2 is too much, even without a vest...under a shell jacket...but I've never been to Tremblant...*I'm getting the feeling they're going to get more business from Americans this winter...

**Am really wondering how these newer insulated jackets are working as far as breatheability..?...Anyone... (Have always passed on for their overheating...)

 

[Nick]

I"ve never used a bootglove, is that this kind of thing?

http://www.rei.com/product/679011/bootglove

 

[drjeff]

I"ve never used a bootglove, is that this kind of thing?

http://www.rei.com/product/679011/bootglove

Yup. Me and the family each have had a pair of them for a few years. The best way to think about how they work is they won't heat up your boots/feet, but what they will do is slow down the rate at which your boots/feet get cold.

I use mine on COLD days (air temps at most 10-15 degrees before you add in the wind), days where my feet might be the limiting factor in how long I stay out between lodge warm up sessions. Lets say that if its a COLD day where I might want to warm up every 5 or 6 runs because of my feet, if i'm wearing my boot gloves that will increase to say every 8 to 10 runs. They work!

FYI - if you get a pair, its best NOT to slip them over your boots until you get out of the lodge and onto the snow, as walking on harder. more abrassive surfaces such as lodge floors and/or pavement/concrete that might between the lodge doors and the snow will expedite the rate of wear on the strap part that wraps around the sole of your boot.

And if you're someone who is always buckling and unbuckling your boot buckles down by the toe box of your boot, you'll hate these and find them way more of a hassel than the performance you get from them. I know of some people who actually cut a few "buckle holes" in their boot gloves so they can buckle/unbuckle every run, but those holes somewhat defeat the purpose of the boot glove and allow more access of the cold air into the toe region of your boots

 

[aaronbru]

If I can't wear my leather vest, speedo, and moon boots, then its too cold for me.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I"ve never used a bootglove, is that this kind of thing?

http://www.rei.com/product/679011/bootglove

Yes !! Dr jeff's comments are on target , i put them on just as i leave the lodge and pull them off at lunch .

They DO the JOB !!!!!!

 

[jrmagic]

**Am really wondering how these newer insulated jackets are working as far as breatheability..?...Anyone... (Have always passed on for their overheating...)

I wouldn't want to be wearing one no a moderate day but anything < 20 they are pretty good. I have an insulated Spyder jacket I wear in those conditions with just a Patagonia base layer and I am good to a little under zero. Colder than that and I will add a light layer over the base layer. I have not found conditions cold enough to make me uncomfortable with that on.