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Sartorially Speaking: How to Dress For Backcountry Skiing

By

Jediah Porter

  At a tumultuous turning point in life, over 10 years ago now (and, therefore, more than 10 years after reaching “adulthood”…), I joked that I had “just started dressing myself.” With only a decade, therefore, of “experience,” I’m no huge authority. But I know that one can always learn about clothing, especially in the…

Responses

  1. J K

    One additional layer I didn’t see mentioned but has proved amazingly useful: Nordic skiing windproof boxer briefs. Paired with a basic unlined, nonmembrane softshell pants they allow skiing in colder conditions than the pants alone would allow without freezing precious parts on the way down. For the coldest days windproof boxers pair well with a base layer pant too. Most days now I just use synthetic undies, windproof boxers and softshells.

  2. bruised

    Kinda shocked that zip off insulated knickers/pants didn’t even get an honorable mention either as a cold start layer or emergency back up.

    1. Jason Albert

      For a fine zip-off knicker, still coveting the Stellar UL Down Pant. More for staying warm at long breaks or an emergency.

    2. Jediah Porter

      Good catch on the knickers. After initial draft writing I caught that myself but wasn’t sufficiently loud with Jason to get it included in this published version.
      “Puffy knickers. Norrona makes some now. I had mine custom made years back. 3/4 length, down insulated, full or mostly full length side zips. To be carried for extra warmth, in addition to your day to day chosen pants.”

      1. Jason Albert

        I’m at fault here, I formatted this piece after a weekend skiing the best-ever April conditions in December. Think excellent corn. Long approach in a t-shirt, def not wind brief weather, and not a thought about real winter conditions (meaning insulated pants).

        1. Dave Riggs

          This article is great and all, but doesn’t Jed have one of them GRWM TikTok videos?

          1. Jediah Porter

            Haha. I just learned a new abbreviation… you kids and your slang. I need my google just to keep up.

  3. Travis

    Great article. Love the 3 levels of ski obsession format. As a spring PNW volcano and winter (primarily fitness) tourer here’s some things that have worked for me.

    1. Polartec Alpha Direct in all its formats, but the Norrona Lyngen Alpha 90 fleece is my favorite weighs only 6oz!
    2. Insulated mitts with a hand pass through for transitions (Dynafit Borax is a winner for me) and gloves with a windbreaker element folded up into the cuff.
    3. Windbreaker full-side-zip shorts (random find at a La Sportiva Sample sale).
    4. Vests with fleece or mesh in back and insulation or windbreaker in the front.
    5. Nose shields for sunglasses. Also, don’t forget to put sunscreen inside the rims of your nostrils and at peak sun put a buff above your mouth so you don’t sunburn the roof of your mouth.
    6. Windbreakers made for runners with more breathable fabric under the arms.
    7. Showa Temres with the cuff synch. The lining never gets grabby when your hands are wet. Oh, and it’s usually for sale for around $30!
    8. Trail running and cross country clothing companies make some gear that crosses over to skiing well.

  4. Peter H

    Would love to see a deep dive on outer layer jacket/shell. I’m curious what you guys have found in the “6 to 10” ounce full weather protection? I have the rush shell, I see you use the insulated version, but even the shell is kind of bulky in the pack so I try not to bring it if I don’t have to. Love to see what options you are using. Thanks for the great site! So happy you have picked up the torch.

    1. Jason Albert

      Thanks for subscribing Peter. My lighter weight option is an older iteration (2019 or so) of the Norrøna Lyngen Gore-Tex Jkt. I think the latest version has slightly different fabric. Not as weatherproof as older G-Tex Pro but def. worthy and meets my needs for heat dumping (big pit zips) and a clever dual front zipper system that adds some more heat dumping capacity, and ample chest pockets for skins too. Size medium weighing ~320g (11+ounces) and not IMHO bulky.

      1. Jediah Porter

        I look to hiking/running/climbing targeted clothing for a shell jacket. Arc Norvan or Alpha SL. Patagonia Alpine Houdini. OR Helium. Etc. Most anything in the shell jacket category marketed for “skiing” -yes, even “backcountry skiing”- is gonna be burlier than needed. Seems like skiers get accustomed to wearing really sturdy jackets, to our own detriment.

      2. Jason Albert

        Asked a few other folks about Peter’s question (eying both alpine oriented and touring jkts), and I think the PNW qualifier in Sam’s comment is good to remember. Sam Hennessey says this: ” I use the Arc Beta LT Hadron. Not great for PNW rain but for drier/colder it’s awesome.” (Sam is an Arc’teryx athlete.) Kelly Cordes is keen on the Patagonia M10 (he works for those folks), a jacket they haven’t made in several years, but can be found off and on (using their Worn Wear site. And RAB hardshells were also mentioned: this item, the Latok GORE-TEX PACLITE® Plus Jacket looks promising and is a claimed 257g in men’s M. Please chime in if you have experience with this jacket.

        Back to the PNW and the move away from PFAS. PFAS free jackets will be less robust in terms of serious weatherproofness compared to the old hardshells made with C8 PFAS and then C6 PFAS. And the PNW, at least in my experience, sometimes means dealing with high moisture content snow…and rain…the hardshell makes it into the pack.

  5. Patrick Nygren

    Whatcha got going for light shell pants? I haven’t found any great options that are full zip without being very heavy.

    1. Jediah Porter

      Merry Christmas! Here’s another good catch. I easily coulda elaborated on the shell pant options I choose from. Here it is, better late than never? All full side zip. 1. CAMP Magic Pants: wind proof, water resistant. Ca 100g. No longer made. But Dynafit and Crazy Idea have picked up the torch. These go on almost every tour. 2. CAMP Full Protection pants. Coated nylon. Ca 150g. Waterproof, non breathable. Also no longer made. I dunno what yer options are now. 3. Arc Teryx Alpha LT. Waterproof, breathable. Much heavier. This is the sort of pants you probably picture. I don’t carry these very often. In recent years? I think just on the Pickets Traverse (heed those warnings above about “PNW” considerations… But in doing so, mull on this: waterproof is waterproof, and lightweight is lightweight. That said, sturdier fabrics certainly feel more protective. Feeling “more protected” isn’t wrong, but know it might cost you a lotta weight). Good selection of your primary pants makes additional shell pant choice less important. But, as noted above, I’m a pants dork.

  6. Slim

    Hi Jed and Jason,

    Great article, thanks!

    I do think there really needs to be a follow up to this article. This was a great list of ‘what’s” . I actually appreciate that Jed kept it general, and only named examples, since the gear changes so often, and everyone’s fit and needs are different.
    But the bigger questions are “how” and “why”.
    I realize this is a big ask, on the writing and editing front, as it would need to be quite long to be even remotely useful.

    1. Jason Albert

      Great suggestion and something I think we can pull off.

  7. Slim

    The one addition I would have for this article, is for the first category:
    “Your very first human-powered skiing “

    When I look at my and my families own wardrobe, and friends gear, I would tell them, to look in the XC ski, biking, hiking and climbing “closets” as well, or even BEFORE they look in the “alpine closet”.

    Those items will align far closer with the items found in the next groups of apparel that Jed lists.

    For example: my kids (and most around here), only have insulated resort ski/normal winter jackets. But they have wind breakers and lightweight waterproof breathable rain jackets for hiking. Or, even their XC ski warm up jacket , with a heavy softshell front, and stretchy fleece back, would be a better layer than the resort jackets.

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