What To Wear Skiing: A Definitive Guide To Apparel And Equipment

Skiing is like a first date–it’s hard to know exactly what to wear. But unlike the date goer, who’s merely concerned with wooing a potential mate, skiers and snowboarders have a more daunting task: not freezing to death. In this article, our resident winter gear expert breaks down exactly what you should wear while skiing, sharing helpful shopping tips and head to toe gear recommendations (or rather, balaclava to ski sock recommendations).

Whether you’re new to skiing or you’ve been ripping it up in jeans and want to modernize your winter wardrobe, you’re in the right place. There's no better feeling than skiing powder. However, it's hard to enjoy if your toes are numb. ... [+] Wear the right kit, though, and you'll be comfortable from first chair to last.

When we talk about “what to wear while skiing,” most people think of ski jackets and pants. We’ll certainly touch on those essentials below. However, we’ll also talk about less exciting layers that are just as critical—like ski socks, base layers, mid layers, insulated jackets, mittens and more.

For each article of clothing, we’ll break down what we look for in that specific piece of gear, give a top recommendation and share a handful of additional picks. We’ll also link out to Forbes Vetted content when helpful, as we have entire articles dedicated to many of these gear categories. Below these gear picks, we’ll dive into some educational content, answering a couple of frequently asked questions.

We’ll also break down the background of our gear expert–a lifelong snowboarder and gear nerd based in Tahoe who’s tested hundreds of pieces of gear over the last decade. But before we dive into the gear, remember to revisit this article if you’re ever looking for more product recommendations down the line, as we’re constantly evaluating the latest and greatest gear, testing products in the field and updating this guide.

Now, let’s talk ski gear. Base Layers Base layers have many names–thermal underwear, long johns, long underwear, you name it. Call them whatever you want, just don’t forget to include them in your ski kit. Base layers sit against your skin and underneath the rest of your ski gear, and “base layer” can refer to a top, leggings or even a onesie.

Not only do base layers help insulate your body and keep you warm, but they also help keep you dry by wicking sweat and moisture away from the body. There are two primary features you need to pay attention to when shopping for base layers: fabric type and weight. Best Base Layer REI Looking for more base layer recommendations? Check out our favorite thermal underwear of 2024 .

Ski Socks Ski socks are socks designed specifically for skiing and riding. They’re available in different thicknesses and materials, but they all sit high enough on the calf to be used comfortably with ski and snowboard boots. Some even have padding to minimize hot spots that stem from long days in ski boots.

If you’ve ever tried to ski in socks that aren’t designed for skiing, you know that blisters are a real hazard. Ski socks aren’t just warm, but they’re built to pair with ski boots and handle intense friction. Pay attention to thickness. You may love thick socks because your feet run cold, or you might overheat easily and prefer a thinner sock.

Additionally, sock preferences will stem from your boot of choice. If you have an ultra tight performance ski boot, thinner socks may be the way to go. Beyond that, some socks have more structure or engineered padding to provide additional comfort and shock absorption on the slopes. Best Ski Socks Overall REI Looking for more of the best ski socks? Check out our favorite ski socks of 2024 .

Mid Layers And Insulation “Mid layer” is a broad term, and it can refer to anything that sits underneath your outerwear and over your base layers. This might be a puffy vest, a puffy jacket or a simple fleece. Mid layers are one of the most important pieces of the layering puzzle, as they provide the insulation that’s responsible for keeping you warm on the hill.

Again, “mid layer” can refer to everything from a light fleece hoody to a heavy puffy jacket. As such, pay close attention to apparel aspects that dictate warmth, like insulation type and weight, fabric type and weight, and so on. Additionally, look for features like hand pockets and hoods that increase the mid layer’s versatility, allowing you to rock it as an outer layer if the day heats up.

Best Insulated Hooded Jacket Moosejaw Ski Jackets Ski jackets are designed to handle the extreme weather conditions you’ll find on the slopes, all while managing moisture build up. Ideally, they’re both waterproof and breathable. Outerwear is the final piece of your layering puzzle. Without a decent ski jacket to protect you from the elements, your base layers and mid layers are rendered virtually useless.

And the longer a ski jacket keeps you dry and comfortable, the longer you can be out on the slopes. Best Ski Jacket Overall Arc'Teryx Looking for more of the best ski jackets? Check out our favorite ski jackets from 2024 . Ski Pants Just like ski jackets, ski pants are designed to keep snow out and let perspiration escape.

Frequently, ski jackets are designed in tandem with ski pants. For instance, the Arc’teryx Sabre Jacket can be paired with the Arc’teryx Sabre Bib or Sabre Pants for seamless style and performance. Ski pants protect you from the elements and keep your long underwear bottoms warm and dry. They can also be insulated, providing you with warmth on the hill.

We look for a lot of things in our ski pants–namely wallets, cell phones, keys... Apologies for the dad joke, we had to. Best Ski Pants Overall Patagonia Beanies and Balaclavas Beanies are knit winter hats, while balaclavas are hooded masks that provide more coverage of the face. To be honest, we rarely wear beanies on the slopes since we’re always wearing helmets (more on that below), but we do find helmets more comfortable with a balaclava.

Especially when you’re skiing in a snowstorm or extreme temperatures, your exposed nose, lips and cheeks can be ravaged by wind and snow. A balaclava protects your face and insulates your skin from gnarly weather. Balaclavas that are purpose built for skiing also often have air holes to help you expel breath without fogging up your goggle lenses.

We look for warm, well made beanies that look stylish–simple as that. Check out Autumn Headwear. They make our favorite beanies, hands down. Our Favorite Beanies Backcountry And for balaclavas, we like fleecy materials for super cold days, and wind and weather resistant materials for wet ones. Oyuki makes our favorite balaclavas–they’re comfy, well made and stylish.

Our Favorite Balaclavas evo Ski Helmets Ski helmets are specifically designed to handle impacts you might experience on the slopes. Not only that, but they’re warm enough to withstand winter weather. As such, don’t just grab a skate or bike helmet–invest in a high quality ski helmet. In our opinion, the helmet is the most important piece of gear in this entire article.

Ski helmets can be literal life savers in the event of a crash, and even if you don’t have an impact, they can keep you warm and comfortable on the slopes. Best Ski Helmet Overall Amazon Looking for more of the best helmets? Check out our favorite helmets from 2024 . Ski Goggles Ski goggles are eyewear purpose built for skiing and snowboarding.

Unlike sunglasses, ski goggles sit flush against the face. They often come with interchangeable lenses, allowing skiers to adapt to ever changing weather conditions. First off, ski goggles allow skiers to see better. With the right lenses, you can make out nuances in the snow you might otherwise miss, and with the right frames, you can have improved peripheral vision.

Not only that, but since goggles fit flush against the face, ski goggles protect your eyes from snow, sunlight and wind, even tree branches and wayward ski poles. Pro Tip: Always try your goggles on with your helmet, or vice versa, to ensure there’s a seamless fit. There shouldn’t be a gap between your goggles and helmet, or a gap between your cheeks and goggles.

Best Ski Goggles Overall Burton Snowboards Looking for more goggles? Check out our favorite goggles of 2024 . Gloves And Mittens You don’t want to grab any old pair of garden gloves and hit the slopes (although Kinco’s work gloves do have a cult following). Ski gloves and mittens are purpose built to insulate your hands and withstand cold temperatures and unrelenting precipitation, all while delivering the dexterity required to buckle your boots or fiddle with your ski jacket zipper.

Waterproof and insulating, the best ski gloves and mittens protect frostbite prone fingers from harm. Cold, wet hands are a one way ticket to the lodge for hot cocoa, and high quality ski gloves and mittens can keep you out on the hill from first chair to last. Best Ski Gloves Overall evo Check out more of our favorite ski gloves and mittens here , and peruse our favorite heated gloves here .

Frequently Asked Questions About Ski Attire This is a simple question with a complicated answer. The simplest response is this: it depends. What you should wear skiing depends both on the conditions at hand, as well as your athletic output. We’ll explain further below. Skiing conditions can range from extreme winter storms to mellow spring sunshine.

Dressing for the weather is always a smart play, and the best way to do that is by layering up for colder days, and layering down for warmer ones. If you build a ski wardrobe with layers–base layers, mid layers and outerwear–you can adapt to any forecast. And if you’re on the hill and conditions are changing, you can always layer up or layer down as needed.

Some people ski extremely hard, and by the time they get to the bottom of the hill, their heart is racing. Others like to chill and cruise leisurely on bunny slopes. Both folks are skiing in the same conditions, but it stands to reason that the hard charging shredder will need less insulation than the chill cruiser.

Regardless of the ski conditions or your output, you should be wearing high quality layers crafted from premium materials that are purpose built for skiing and/or wintersports. Avoid fabrics that are slow to dry like denim and cotton. Ditch the torn gloves and dented helmets. Get yourself waterproof and breathable outerwear, warm, insulating mid layers and cozy, soft, sweat wicking base layers.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted gear team consists of gear nerds who live and breathe for skiing and snowboarding. Case in point, the author of this article, Drew Zieff . A Tahoe based freelance journalist and diehard snowboarder, Zieff directs Outside Magazine ’s annual snowboard test in the winters and men’s shell jacket test in the summers.

He is also Backcountry Magazine’s Rider in Chief, where he directs their annual splitboard test. He has tested hundreds of ski and snowboard products over the last decade. He has personal experience with the vast majority of the picks in this article, and the rest he has thoroughly researched, reading reviews from other trusted gear reviewers as well as verified customers..