| When I was a teenager, I skied in blue jeans. Not | | | | need to take some volume out of your boot if it is |
| just any blue jeans, mind you. I took the time to | | | | too big. A good set of breathable and lightweight |
| spray them down with Scotch-guard in the morning | | | | thermal underwear will set you back between |
| to make them slightly waterproof and so snow | | | | $40-80, but again the cost is well worth it as a good |
| wouldn't stick. It didn't work very well, but I thought | | | | brand should last you several seasons of hard skiing. |
| I was cool. Of course, I wasn't cool - I was cold. | | | | The Second Layer...and Beyond |
| Very cold. | | | | Once you've nailed down a comfortable base, it's |
| Naturally, clothing styles and technology have | | | | time to start adding layers. The key here is thin, |
| changed immensely since those Levis days. Fabrics | | | | multiple layers as compared to one thick layer. From |
| and the art of dressing have evolved to the point | | | | the start through the heart of the season, you can |
| where less is more, and racks are filled with high-tech | | | | expect to be skiing in temperatures hovering |
| materials that your grandmother never heard of. | | | | anywhere from freezing to well below zero. And |
| Every skier will agree that to a have a great day out, | | | | frigid mountain winds can make everything feel a |
| you have to stay warm and dry. Once your fingers | | | | whole lot colder. In these conditions, you'll want to |
| or feet start freezing, hot chocolate sounds a whole | | | | wear a second layer shirt made out of some sort of |
| lot more tempting than another lap. So read on for | | | | synthetic material. On top of this, you'll want a third |
| some hard-earned tips on staying toasty on the | | | | layer, usually a fleece or a thin, non-cotton sweater. |
| slopes instead of bailing out to the closest lodge | | | | While any fleece will work, consider a micro fleece |
| fireplace. | | | | that is thinner and less bulky. All of these materials will |
| Rotten Cotton | | | | pull the moisture away from your skin and release it |
| First let's talk about cotton. It's a great fabric, but | | | | to the outside world, while maintaining warm air |
| not for skiing. Like a towel, cotton is designed to hold | | | | pockets between the layers to keep you toasty. |
| moisture. You may not always feel it, but everyone | | | | To top it all off, you'll need a jacket or shell. Jackets |
| sweats when they ski. Blasting through moguls, | | | | have insulation as a lining with a nylon outer shell, |
| rocking in the park or even just getting up from | | | | while shells have just the nylon outer layer. While |
| another fall are all work-outs. If you're wearing | | | | jackets tend to be warmer, they are also more |
| cotton that moisture gets trapped in the fabric as | | | | bulky. The key with both is to get one made from a |
| you sweat, and this trapped moisture then pulls the | | | | waterproof and breathable fabric. How can a fabric |
| warmth from your skin. It's just like when you get | | | | be both waterproof and breathable? It's because air |
| out of the shower and you are cold until you get the | | | | molecules are smaller than water molecules, and |
| water off your body. | | | | fabrics such as Gortex are made and treated so that |
| So the first step in organizing your gear is a cotton | | | | there is enough room between the fibers for air to |
| check, making sure that nothing touching your skin is | | | | get in but not water. That's a lot more high tech than |
| cotton based. You can get away with a cotton | | | | my Scotch-guarded blue jeans! |
| sweatshirt if you must, but you won't get much | | | | Lastly, you'll need strong ski pants. The same rules |
| warmth out of all that bulk - and you'll need to be | | | | apply as above, and often your ski pants will be |
| prepared for it to freeze up into a hard sheet if you | | | | made from the identical material as your jacket or |
| fall. | | | | shell. Most people need just one layer of thermal long |
| The First Layer | | | | underwear unless it's extremely cold. When shopping |
| The first layer, also known as the base layer, is a | | | | around, consider pants with zippered vents as well, |
| key step in staying warm and dry. You want a fabric | | | | which allow you to let air in before you get |
| that "wicks" moisture away from your skin, ensuring | | | | overheated. |
| that moisture doesn't get trapped to keep you cold | | | | Accessorize |
| and wet. These days, ski shops stock an array of | | | | You're almost ready to go. As important as making |
| socks and thermal (long) underwear boasting a wide | | | | sure your toes stay warm is keeping your fingers |
| range of styles and fabrics, from wool-blends to | | | | happy with a good pair of gloves of mittens. Many |
| space-age polymers with moisture-wicking properties. | | | | gloves nowadays take advantage of the layering |
| The cost for setting up a solid first layer may seem | | | | principle by coming with a thinner fleece or microfiber |
| overblown at first glance, but in the end it's a small | | | | under-glove that slips into the main glove. As for your |
| price to pay for warmth. First, buy a pair of good | | | | head, I recommend a helmet - not only can a helmet |
| quality ski socks. A decent pair will cost about $20, | | | | be warmer than a regular ski hat, it's obviously much |
| and it's best to use only one pair of light or medium | | | | safer. Toss in a pair of goggles along with a neck |
| weight ski socks. Thicker socks won't actually keep | | | | warmer for windy days and you're ready to ride. |
| you feet warmer, but can be a good choice if you | | | | |