A Selection of the Best Selling Ski Trousers
The purpose of ski trousers
Ski trousers have several purposes. Firstly they keep the snow and wind from making you feel cold. Even when it is very sunny it can still be windy up on a mountain. If you are an experienced skier and you are flying down the mountain at speed, you’ll soon feel the difference if you have opted for a cheap and thin pair of substandard trousers.
But they should also provide a great deal of comfort. You should be able to move around easily in them, even if they are very thick in nature. And if you are a beginner, you are likely to end up rolling around in the snow quite a bit to start with, so you’ll want a bit of padding to protect your falls!
How waterproof are they?
Make sure you check to see what waterproof rating the trousers have got. If you see a pair with a high rating, they will give you a lot more protection against the snow than you would get from a lower rating.
This is particularly important when it comes to ski trousers, and the reason will be obvious if you have tried your hand at skiing already. While the experts will make skiing look easy, it’s hard when you first try it, and you WILL fall over!
Just imagine landing on your behind a few times and then realising that your ski trousers aren’t that waterproof after all. That makes for the rest of the day being very uncomfortable and cold.
Are they breathable?
You’re obviously going to sweat a bit wherever you might be skiing. The effort of the sport means that you need clothes that are going to let that moisture dissipate. Regardless of whether the trousers are insulated or not, the material used should be breathable.
What else do the ideal pair of ski trousers or salopettes offer you?
In a word – comfort. There is more than one style to choose from, and which one you opt for depends entirely on your preference.
Firstly you have ski trousers which are just that – very similar to the design of a standard pair of trousers. The only difference is in the materials used. The second choice looks more like a pair of dungarees. These tend to sit higher up your body and come with braces to keep them firmly in place.
You might feel warmer and comfier in the latter choice, but they will mean more problems if you need to use the loo. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get there if you opt for this choice!
You should try both pairs on to see which ones you like best. Ideally, do so with the ski jacket you plan on wearing too. If you are going for the dungaree style trousers you need to make sure the jacket will zip up over the top of them.
In addition to this, watch out for the following items which might be incorporated into your ski trousers.
Deep pockets
These are an absolute essential in your ski trousers, no matter how much you decide to spend on them. After all, you won’t be able to carry anything in your hands, and you’ll have room keys, a mobile phone and some cash on you at the very least.
If the pockets can be zipped up, so much the better. It means your valuables have no chance of slipping out or getting wet if you are prone to ending up in the snow quite a bit!
Reinforced areas (such as the knees)
These are ideal for giving you that extra level of protection from bruises. The most experienced skiers won’t need them, but if you are new to those skis then you will certainly want all the help and protection you can get. This will ensure that you can keep your knees from getting cold and bruised as you are learning.
They also have the additional benefit of making the trousers more hard wearing. They effectively give double the amount of material on the areas that need it the most. You will also often find this padding in the seat of the trousers, since that is the area that will really benefit from it!
Zips
In a similar way to the ski jackets, some ski trousers have additional zips along the sides of the legs. You can get hot while skiing, and the purpose of these is that you can simply unzip them to let some of that hot air out and some cool air back in.
Taped seams
If your seams aren’t taped fully, then you may find that even those trousers with a high waterproof factor won’t keep you completely dry. This is because the snow can get in through those seams.
Trousers with taped seams are likely to cost more, but the greater comfort factor makes them an ideal buy. If you have ever worn leaky ski clothing before, then you will know how true this is.
So you can see that there is a lot to think about when you are trying on ski trousers and seeing what will suit you the best. Don’t rush into it – make sure you pick the pair that will protect you and keep you warm.