Sail And Ski Ltd Guide to Ski/Board Clothing

Buying Guide - Outerwear

Your jacket and pants form the third and final layer of your clothing system. A good jacket and pants will offer you protection against the outside elements while keeping you warm and dry within and with the increased influence that fashion has had on ski and snowboarding outerwear it is now possible to combine both function and style. However, there are so many brands and styles of outerwear in today's market that buying the right jacket and pants can be daunting. At Sail and Ski we have developed this easy to use buying guide to help you through the confusing technical features of outerwear and to make choosing the right jacket and pants a bit easier. The information we provide is exactly the same as the advice we would give you if you came into one of our stores, however, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Where and when are you going?

Whereabouts in the world and at what time of year will have an important bearing on the outerwear you buy. Europe in March will require a different jacket than Canada in January where the temperatures regularly fall below -20°C. For the first example a shell jacket that does not have insulation will protect you from the wind and snow enabling you to maintain a warm body temperature from your base and mid layers. For January in Canada a down jacket or one that offers you high insulation would be the way to go. Many people will purchase two jackets, a fully insulated one for the extreme cold and a lighter or shell jacket for when it's not so cold. However, if this is not possible and you are likely to be travelling to different places at different times of the year it is better to go for a jacket that you can add insulation to by adding more mid layers rather than a fully insulated jacket that will be too warm for those Springtime holidays.

What level of outerwear will you need?

Often considered more important than the insulation that your outerwear has are its waterproofing and breathability properties as these are what protect you against the wind and snow, help you to maintain a regular body temperature on the mountain thus enabling you to fully enjoy your winter sports experience.

The level of waterproofing that your garment has will be shown in mm. Manufacturers work this level out by placing a tube 1 cm in diameter over the stretched material and filling it with water. The point at which the water first begins to show signs of seeping through the fabric is how waterproof it is, for example, a jacket that is 10,000mm waterproof has withstood 10 meters of water pressure before leaking. The higher the figure in mm, the more waterproof it is. There is an ISO norm that stipulates a garment can be called waterproof if it withstands at least 1,200mm of water pressure. Generally, ski or snowboarding outerwear starts at about 2,000mm. At Sail and Ski we sell a whole range of outerwear with waterproofing ranging from 2,000mm up to 30,000mm as shown in the product descriptions in our on-line store. The addition of taped (sealed) seams increases a garments level of waterproofing by preventing water from seeping through the stitching. Many jackets and pants now coming with fully sealed seams, which are the best option and usually come on higher price point jackets. However, there is also a wide range of both jackets and pants that come with critically sealed seams (i.e. those seams across the chest, hood and shoulders) which means that the seams that need to withstand the greatest pressure are taped, thus improving the waterproofing of that garment.

The third property that any ski or snowboard outerwear requires is a level of breathability. The moisture that your body produces when taking part in any activity increases and so it is important that a jacket or pants allow this moisture to be transported away from the body in order to keep you warm and dry. This is measured in much the same way as the waterproofing with most items of ski and snowboard wear being between 2000 gm/M/24hr and 30,000 gm/M/24hr breathable.

The type of skiing or boarding you do will affect the level of outerwear you buy, with a Backcountry skier/boarder needing a jacket that is well insulated, with very high levels of both waterproofing and breathability whereas a Freestyler will usually opt for something that is lighter weight for ease of use when riding in the park or pipe.

What other features will you require from your outerwear?

Here is a quick reference to other features you may need to look out for when choosing you clothing.

Vents - Underarm and chest venting is becoming almost common place and consists normally of mesh backed openings in the garment controlled by zips.

Pockets - At least three good pockets is about the norm but increasingly you can find jackets with extra, more specific pockets for eyewear, hydration systems and Audio devices such as iPods.

Snowskirt - Again, this is common place in most jackets now and provides good protection from snow entering from the underside of the jacket in deep snow or during a fall.

Hood - A good hood is essential if the weather really closes in. What you need to decide is whether you want a jacket with a fixed hood or one that is removable.