What to wear on a ski holiday?

 

 

Finish with a waterproof, breathable jacket and pants

Almost every smart piece of ski gear comes with waterproof and breathable ski pants and jackets. In terms of fabric, Gore Tex is still the gold standard, but you only really need true performance gear like this if you're an advanced skier working hard in deep snow and variable weather conditions.

Some technical features worth paying extra for.

 

►A high collar that you can pull up to your chin is a boon on cold and windy days.

►Ventilation zippers under the armpits and on the legs will keep you cool when it's warm and sunny.

►Lycra inner sleeves, hooked over your thumbs, will stop snow from creeping up your arms.

►Tougher fabric on the inside of the calf will keep your pants from being torn by ski boots.

►High quality zippers are always welcome (zippers are usually the first thing to break) - with a secure flap at the top to protect against the wind.

► Jackets or pants without taped seams are "performance".

Oh yes - the fur-trimmed hood is just window dressing. In fact, now that everyone is wearing a ski helmet, all the hoods are starting to look redundant.

 

Goggles, gloves and helmets are essential additions

The best goggles have interchangeable lenses that can be swapped out if the sun comes out or the clouds drop. But these are expensive: a cheaper option is to wear a pair of goggles on low light and bad weather days and a pair of wrap-around sunglasses when the sun is out. Always choose lenses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection.

When it comes to gloves, most holidaymakers only need a £20 pair of ski gloves.

Finally: don't forget your ski helmet! A study published in the Canadian Medical Journal showed that your risk of head and neck injury is reduced by 35% if you wear a ski helmet - confirming the strong anecdotal evidence we often hear on our trips.

 

Click here to see our best ski clothing.