Warmth, breathability, waterproofing... It's not just a question of style and colour when choosing ski clothing, and therefore your pants, in addition to the sport practised.
While it’s possible to vary your different layers to regulate the temperature of your upper body, this is less the case when it comes to your ski or snowboard pants. You need to choose the right ones to take on the different weather conditions in winter. Follow our guide to find the pants that work best for you this winter!
Downhill skiing, freeride, hiking, snowboarding, sledding, cross-country skiing... While they have winter sports in common, they all require different amounts of effort and the products will differ in certain ways. They need to keep you warm and dry, on the slopes as well as in powder, but that’s not all.
Downhill ski pants.
If you spend all your time on the slopes, you’ll need a pair of warm, waterproof stretch or non-stretch ski pants. Some moments will be "quieter" during the day, for example on chairlifts or in queues: warm, well-fitting pants are therefore recommended to avoid getting cold, even if it means playing around with the vents during more intense effort.
Freeride ski trousers.
When you spend your days in knee-deep powder, you need to be able to count on the waterproof aspect of your pants to keep you dry, but also on their breathability to avoid retaining too much heat during more intense use. The fabric will be reinforced at the bottom of the legs to withstand external features (branches, etc.). Freeride ski products (pants and jackets) generally have a looser fit, which allows greater freedom of movement.
Ski touring pants.
Do you get up into the mountains without using the ski lifts? It takes a lot of effort on the uphills, but not much on the descents. So you need a slim-fitting, lightweight pair of trousers with zips for ventilation to evacuate perspiration on climbs. A wind-proof component will protect you from the wind and other bad weather, especially when going downhill.
Snowboard pants.
Beginner snowboarders know this: you spend a lot of time on your backside and on your knees. So you need a pair of trousers with reinforcements in these strategic areas to stay dry, even during breaks, as well as being waterproof. For powder snow enthusiasts, there are salopettes called "bib trousers". They prevent snow from getting inside in the event of a fall or during breaks, so you stay nice and dry throughout your session.
The weather conditions can change very quickly in the mountains. When the snow, wind and cold get up, your ski pants become a great way to stay well protected, without hindering your freedom of movement!
Waterproofing and wind resistance are achieved through 2 types of components: coating or membrane.
- The coating is a layer of polyurethane (PU) resin applied directly to the fabric.
- A laminated fabric is a fabric to which a membrane has been applied to make it waterproof. Membranes are generally more effective, more flexible and more durable than coatings.
Next we look at the waterproof index, which is obtained after the jackets have been tested to the Schmerber standard : the higher the index, the better protected you are. The component is subjected to constant water pressure measured in mm. In skiing, the index is considered good from 10,000 mm Schmerbers. Finally, the components undergo a water-repellent treatment: this is the ability of a fabric to let water slide off its surface. Be careful, waterproof pants are water-repellent, but the reverse is not necessarily true.
Skiing or snowboarding are synonymous with sport, effort and perspiration. The breathability of a fabric is its ability to evacuate the moisture generated during exercise, which is measured in RET: coefficient of Thermal Evaporative Resistance.
RET is measured between 1 and 20: The lower the number, the more breathable the material. You can also play around with the ventilation zips to regulate your temperature.
Note that breathability changes depending on the type of use: in ski touring or splitboarding, effort is significant on the way up - just like in freeride skiing, where skiers often put in more effort than in downhill skiing. Mind you, this doesn't mean that the effort required on the slopes is any less! It all depends on the level of practice and requirements of each person.
We don't need to tell you: in the mountains, in winter, it can be cold. Depending on the type of use and your level of commitment, be sure to choose a model of ski pants with greater or lesser insulating capacity.
Without going into detail about the components, skiers who put in a lot of effort will look for lighter pants, while others simply won't. Play around (and this is important) with The first layer, putting on suitable leggings. You’ll also find advice on choosing them here.
In addition to the technologies mentioned above and tastes and colours in terms of style, some very pragmatic considerations help you choose your ski pants.
Waterproof pockets and zips.
If you don't take a bag with you on your ski trip, you’ll be grateful that your pants have several pockets to store your belongings in. And to prevent water getting in through the zips, whether via the pockets or air vents, they need to be waterproofed. Either a "flap" is placed in front of the zip to protect it, or a membrane inside is placed behind the zip teeth, to prevent snow and water from entering.
The RECCO® system, for extra security.
Recognised worldwide and very present in resorts, RECCO® technology makes a person buried under an avalanche detectable thanks to a beacon sewn into ski and snowboard clothing and a transponder signal. Here at Decathlon, all our freeride ski and snowboard pants and ski touring items are fitted with this system. This beacon does not replace the precautions to take when going off-piste, nor the safety trio (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) that you should always have with you.
The adjustments to play around with on the air inlets.
The vents will be your best friend when you get hot after intense exercise. Not all models of pants are accessorised in the same way, so take account of this when choosing your ski pants: being too hot can be quite frustrating.
If possible, try before you buy. However, if you buy online, you’ll find a size chart in our product sheets. Measure your hips and compare that to the chart to find the right size for your ski pants; while this is less the case than for a ski jacket, keep in mind that you may need space to accommodate an additional layer, admittedly a thin one, under your ski pants.
Like all technical sports clothing, ski pants require special care. Washing and drying are not the same as for your everyday outfits. Also, after several years, its waterproofness can decrease: the good news is that you can waterproof it again! You’ll find all our advice on how to clean your pants and reactivate their waterproofness here.
There you have it, you now have everything you need to choose your ski pants! Of course, we haven’t discussed colours or style. Here, we’ll happily leave it up to you. Now check out our selection of women's and men's ski pants, at all prices.
