Nothing ruins a ski trip faster than being unprepared to deal with the freezing cold. Dressing properly for skiing temperatures helps you remain safe and comfortable and ensures that you are able to ski for as long as you want without stopping to warm up. When dressing for extreme cold, layer your clothing to wick moisture away from your skin and to trap your body heat to keep your warmer. Wearing layers also enables you to remove clothing when going inside, to prevent overheating.
Step 1
Wear thermal underwear or another undergarment made of a synthetic fiber next to your skin to wick moisture away from your body. Being in cold temperatures does not mean you will not sweat when skiing.
Step 2
Put on a sweatshirt, sweater or pullover and a pair of sweatpants on top of your thermal underwear. This middle layer of clothing provides insulation by trapping heat against your skin and preventing cold from reaching your body. Fleece and wool are good insulators.
Step 3
Protect yourself from winter weather during skiing by wearing a third layer of material designed to repel snow, rain and wind. One-piece suits with attached hoods and cuffs provide additional warmth.
Step 4
Cover your head to prevent heat loss from your scalp. A hat, helmet or headband is important, and a face mask can protect your delicate chin, cheeks and nose from frostbite.
Step 5
Protect your eyes with goggles or sunglasses. Snow is reflective, which means your eyes are exposed to damaging UV rays even when you are looking down at the ground.
Step 6
Wear gloves to keep your hands warm while skiing. Covering the skin on your hands will help prevent frostbite and helps ensures you retain full feeling in your fingers to ski safely.
Step 7
Choose socks made of a wicking material, and double up on socks if you have trouble keeping your feet warm inside your ski boots.
Step 8
Watch out for bulky jackets, dangling cords and other hazards that may interfere with your ability to ski safely. These items increase the risk of accidents.
Things You'll Need
- Thermal underwear
- Sweatshirt and pants
- Water-resistant ski suit
- Hat
- Face mask
- Ski goggles
- Ski gloves
- Socks
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