Fresh powder snow on the slopes beckons to you to trade your work boots for ski boots -- but it's so cold outside! For skiing to be an enjoyable sport instead of a frigid test of endurance, you need appropriate clothing, including a base layer that will keep your body warm and dry. This layer is the lowest of three layers designed to protect your body from frostbite and hypothermia and is usually made of one of four fabric group with superior insulating and water shedding properties.
Types of Fabric
Silk, wool, polyester, synthetic blends and blends of natural and synthetic fibers are among the best fabrics for a skier's base layer. These materials wick moisture away from your skin, which helps keep you from get chilled. You should avoid fabrics such as fleece and cotton, which absorb and retain moisture, in favor of silk, wool and synthetic materials, which absorb less than 1 percent of their weight in water and are more effective for keeping your body dry.
Weights of Fabric
Insulation is a secondary function of the base layer. To help skiers keep warm without overheating, many manufacturers sell lightweight, midweight and heavyweight varieties of fabric. This weight is a function of the garment's construction, not necessarily its material. For example, there are lightweight, midweight and heavyweight wools, just as there are polyesters. Lightweight fabrics are suitable for mild weather and strenuous activity, while midweight fabrics are suitable for average conditions. Heavyweight fabrics are necessary if you will be skiing in extremely cold conditions.
Choosing the Correct Fabric
Base your fabric selection upon the type of skiing you plan to do and your average body temperature. If you are naturally a cold person, purchase a warmer fabric, such as a heavyweight wool or synthetic blend. However, if you are always warm, a midweight polyester or lightweight silk fabric will keep from sweating, which lowers your body temperature. Before you purchase your clothing, you should also determine where you will ski most frequently and how active you will be. For example, cross-country skiers move more than most downhill skiers and usually require a lighter base layer. However, a cross-country skier who skis at high latitudes may need the same midweight clothing as a downhill skier at a lower latitude.
Comfort
The fabric you choose should not only keep you dry and insulated, it should also be comfortable. This is a personal preference and will vary widely with an individual's skin sensitivity. Wool may make some people itch, especially if it has not been designed for athletic use. People who are allergic to synthetic materials may want to consider silk as a natural alternative. Whenever possible, purchase garments that have been constructed specifically for skiers. These are more likely to have softer, smaller fibers that have been specially selected to provide maximum comfort.
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