Remember this when you are buying ski wear
Are you renewing your skiing wardrobe this season? Here's some tips from our pals at Bergans.com that will make it easier to find clothes that will bring you skiing pleasure for many years.
Use the correct equipment when trying clothing on
Try on pants with ski boots on, and a jacket with helmet and gloves. Our ski pants are tailored to sit perfectly when you lean forward with your knees bent, as you do in alpine boots. The pant legs are also made shorter at the front than the back in order to follow the contours of the boots better. If ski wear is to sit correctly on the body, you must try it on using the proper equipment. Many sports stores let you borrow equipment for testing and if the store doesn't offer this service then you should test the ski wear when you get home.
Cover as much as possible
The jacket and pants must cover well – including when you're in motion! Small openings and gaps mean that you will quickly get cold on a chilly winter's day. Extended back, extra long sleeves, high collar and a helmet-compatible hood that covers the face well means that as little skin as possible is exposed to the cold. The hood should also be shaped to ski goggles and not impede your peripheral vision.
Carefully considered ventilation
Good airing options are always a plus but be aware of where the zip vents are located on the garment. At Bergens we are careful to ensure that these functions are easy to reach when sitting in the lift or wearing a backpack. You should also test that the zip vents are easy to open and close while wearing ski gloves. This is useful when it's -20 degrees.
Stop the snow
The jacket should have a snowskirt that prevents snow from penetrating and provides insulation when skiing on loose snow. It is a plus if the snowskirt can be detached with a zip. Then it is easy to remove if you want to use the jacket for something other than snow activities. Some of our jackets and pants can also be joined together via a zip in the snowskirt. Ingenious when you're skiing on the powder!
Familiarize yourself with pockets
Spacious pockets for goggles, avalanche tracker, etc. are always a good idea. A good tip is to check that the pockets don't interfere with movement when you fill them up. A separate pocket for a ski pass is both practical and smart. Then you'll always know where it is and you'll get through the lift gate without a fuss.
What should you wear underneath?
In order for ski wear to work properly in both winter storms and Easter sunshine it is important that it feels good with different layers underneath. Try clothing with different fabrics in one or several layers. Always use ¾-length tights and alpine socks when skiing. With tights that end above the boots and only one layer of socks in the boot, you will prevent anything from creasing and chafing.
Think product lifetime
Skis, boots and activity take their toll on clothing. Look for details that make the product more robust. Our ski pants are sewn with double crotch seams from the crotch and 15 cm down the inside of the thighs. The pant leg is also reinforced at the inside bottom and on the rear section. This protects the pants from the steel edges and friction between the boots.
Date: 27 Oct 2016