A waterproof, breathable, and insulating ski trouser to conquer the slopes!

Just like the ski jacket, the Ski & Snowboard Trousers are an essential part of your seasoned skier's kit. Especially if you love to kick up powder under your skis or if you tend to take tumbles of all sorts. The Ski & Snowboard Trousers are therefore a key element for your powder sessions. However, with all the different models of trousers available, how do you find the one that fits you like a glove? In this article, we provide you with all the elements to complete your ski outfit and find the Ski & Snowboard Trousers that are right for you.

Ski trousers: how to choose them well?

If you've given up on the bulky ski suit, it's still necessary to equip yourself with a proper Ski & Snowboard Trousers to keep you warm in the snow.

Ski trousers: waterproofness and breathability above all!

Just like with a jacket, waterproofness is a crucial criterion for your Ski & Snowboard Trousers. It allows you to stay dry, even if you decide to roll in the powder! However, the level of waterproofness can vary from one Ski & Snowboard Trousers to another. This is expressed in Schmerber numbers: for 10,000 Schmerber, your trousers are relatively waterproof; from 20,000 Schmerber, they will be very effective against snow and rain. But waterproofness also means sauna effect! And we know how unpleasant it is to sweat during a ski session under a dazzling sun. To avoid this unfortunate inconvenience, it is therefore important to stay vigilant about the level of breathability offered by your Ski & Snowboard Trousers. This time, there are two measurements to consider, namely MVTR or RET. For MVTR, it works like the Schmerber level: the higher it is, the more breathable your Ski & Snowboard Trousers are. For RET, however, it's the opposite: the lower the rate, the more breathable your garment is. However, below a level of 6 RET, you can consider that your Ski & Snowboard Trousers are very breathable. For moderately regular use with an intermediate level, a ratio of 10,000 / 10,000 (waterproofness/breathability MVTR) is ideal and more than sufficient. For ski mountaineering, for example, consider a ratio of 20,000/20,000, which is more suited to the snowier conditions of the practice.

Ski trousers: what is a membrane for?

To be waterproof, your garment must be made of a membrane that prevents liquid from passing through the fabric while allowing your body moisture to evaporate as vapor. Among the most well-known, we can mention the Gore-Tex membrane, which is undoubtedly the most widely used. However, some brands offer their own membrane, which is generally very effective as well. Moreover, as is the case with a hardshell, for example, your Ski & Snowboard Trousers can be constructed in several layers, namely 2 layers, 2.5 layers, or 3 layers. Depending on the construction of your garment, it can be more or less fragile, but also more or less protective. Thus, for a 2-layer Ski & Snowboard Trousers, the membrane is placed directly against the outer fabric and will therefore be in direct contact with your skin. For a 2.5-layer, the principle is the same, except that a separation in the form of mesh is present between the membrane and your skin. For a Ski & Snowboard Trousers with a 3-layer construction, there is a coating between your skin and the membrane. This last type of construction offers the best results in terms of protection and durability.

Ski trousers: the importance of insulation

As a criterion in its own right, insulation helps to maintain warmth inside your Ski & Snowboard Trousers, which is quite different from a membrane that only protects against external elements without providing warmth. Most Ski & Snowboard Trousers are equipped with insulation, often synthetic. Among the main insulations, we find Polartec, Primaloft, and Thinsulate, which offer thermal performances that have proven themselves time and again. Depending on the conditions and temperatures under which you ski, try to find the right balance between insulation, breathability, and waterproofness. These are the three key characteristics to look at. For the rest, they are more options, which can be interesting depending on your practice and needs.

Ski trousers: what about reinforcements at the bottom of the legs?

Highly useful for powder fans or beginners in skiing, reinforcements at the bottom of the legs provide better durability for your Ski & Snowboard Trousers, making them more resistant. Pole strikes, falls,... these reinforcements are often very appreciated, especially to prevent snow from entering your trousers or even to avoid a torn trouser! There are also snow gaiters, which some Ski & Snowboard Trousers come equipped with. These provide better protection against snow, especially for powder enthusiasts and ski touring! Finally, for more comfort, some Ski & Snowboard Trousers feature pre-shaped knees that facilitate your movements during practice.

Ski trousers: an additional safety measure in case of avalanche with the Recco system

Rarely present in piste skiing, the avalanche danger is more prevalent in alpine skiing and freeride skiing. In this regard, the Recco technology, known worldwide, offers a location system for rescuers in ski resorts. Present through beacons sewn inside your Ski & Snowboard Trousers, this technology is therefore an interesting and safe option for practicing more serenely off the beaten track.

Ski trousers: which cut to choose?

Beyond a question of style, the cut of your Ski & Snowboard Trousers is also a matter of practice! Thus, for a freeride practitioner, for example, a higher cut is ideal to provide better protection against snow projections. Cut, insulation, waterproofness, membrane, breathability, Recco system: you now know all the key points to consider when choosing your Ski & Snowboard Trousers. We will now focus on your practice, whether it be piste skiing, freeride skiing and touring, or nordic skiing, to give you our recommendations for each discipline.

Ski trousers: and practice in all this?

Running and trail running do not require the same equipment, swimming in a pool and swimming in the sea do not either…: it is the same for skiing, which offers a variety of disciplines, all as different and specific as each other, and thus requiring suitable equipment for each of them. Our explanations will help you find the Ski & Snowboard Trousers most suited to your practice, so that your powder sessions turn into wonderful moments of pleasure!

Ski trousers for piste skiing

Very popular, piste skiing calls for warm and insulating clothing. Your Ski & Snowboard Trousers for piste skiing should therefore be equipped with an insulation type such as Primaloft or Polartec, which are highly effective. Moreover, to keep your legs warm, especially when you find yourself at the top of the slopes where the biting cold nips at your skin or simply on the ski lifts, a totally waterproof Ski & Snowboard Trousers will be essential. In this regard, a 3-layer membrane is ideal, as it ensures protection against any powder projections, even in case of a fall in the powder. In terms of Schmerber level, a level between 10,000 and 15,000 is preferred. Additionally, for piste skiing, good breathability is also required. This avoids any “sauna” effect or feeling of suffocation, which is never pleasant! Therefore, we recommend a MVTR level equivalent to the Schmerber level, between 10,000 and 15,000 MVTR, or a RET level below 12. Finally, to ensure your Ski & Snowboard Trousers last a few seasons without too many issues, it may be useful to equip yourself with a Ski & Snowboard Trousers with reinforcements. Pre-shaped knees are also a feature that can make a difference in terms of comfort on the slopes, just like suspenders which represent an appreciated “luxury” addition.

Ski trousers for freeride skiing and ski touring

Adventurous and seeking thrills, you turn to freeride skiing, off the beaten path? Your Ski & Snowboard Trousers must therefore adapt to this change of discipline and offer optimal performance to carve your way through the powder. For ski touring or freeride skiing, the characteristics to consider are essentially the same as those of a Ski & Snowboard Trousers for piste skiing, but to be reviewed upwards! Indeed, for such disciplines, your physical efforts and sensations are amplified, thus requiring much higher performance from your Ski & Snowboard Trousers. To adapt to your long climbs in the powder, a lightweight and less insulated Ski & Snowboard Trousers will be necessary to facilitate your movements, and the effort you exert is significant enough to do without strong insulation. Therefore, a MVTR level between 15,000 and 20,000 is essential for these activities. The same goes for the level of waterproofness, which should be increased, between 20,000 and 28,000 Schmerber. This will allow you to face the significant amount of powder, but also the much more present humidity. Also, as we have seen previously, a high cut is ideal, while snow gaiters are perfectly suited to these disciplines. Reinforcements on your Ski & Snowboard Trousers are also essential to provide you with additional protection against potential crampon strikes on the way up and edge strikes on the way down. Finally, for skiers who like to feel free in their movements, a Ski & Snowboard Trousers with pre-shaped knees can offer better comfort and facilitate directional changes.

Ski trousers for nordic skiing

Let’s not forget, nordic skiing is also part of the gliding sports universe and requires very specific equipment. In this regard, nordic ski trousers must offer optimal performance to adapt to this demanding sport that is nordic skiing. Indeed, this discipline requires particular insulation against the cold, with significant management of perspiration. Thus, for nordic skiing, Ski & Snowboard Trousers are more akin to ski tights, better suited to the wide movements of this discipline. The Infini Compression, for example, is particularly effective for nordic skiing, compressing the calves and thighs to enhance physical capabilities while offering pre-shaped knees to ensure incredible freedom of movement. Your Ski & Snowboard Trousers for nordic skiing are therefore quite different from those you would use for piste skiing or ski touring.

You will have understood, each discipline requires its dedicated Ski & Snowboard Trousers to allow you greater ease in the powder, on the slopes, or on the cross-country ski trails.

Find your ski trousers on Hardloop.fr

Nordic skiing, piste skiing, ski touring, freestyle skiing: each discipline requires a Ski & Snowboard Trousers that is suited to your needs. Indeed, each universe has very different requirements: freedom of movement for nordic skiing, significant insulation for piste skiing, warmth for ski touring… With this article, you now have all the cards in hand to find the Ski & Snowboard Trousers suited to your level as well as to the discipline you practice and your needs. Still have a question about choosing your Ski & Snowboard Trousers? Our team of ski specialists will be happy to assist you at 01 48 58 30 28 (free call) or by email at hello@hardloop.fr.

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