What to Wear Skiing and Snowboarding

The Basics: An Explanation of Baselayers, Midlayers & Shells

So, what is layering? We’re sure you’ve heard the term, but it has nothing to do with snowpacks or digging pits. It’s combining different layers of clothing into a system that works together to wick sweat, keep you warm and block precipitation, no matter how gnarly conditions get.

Baselayers

Baselayers are the foundation of your layering system. They are your sweat-wicking, soft-against-skin layer that quickly moves moisture away from your body, and are usually made from fabrics like merino wool or synthetic fibers (we like to use recycled polyester whenever possible).

The best baselayers are the ones you don’t notice, and choosing the right option starts with understanding how and where you’ll use it.

• If temps are warmer or you’ll be working hard on the skintrack, look for a thinner, faster-drying option like Capilene®️ Midweight shirts and tights.
• If temps are cold or you’ll be riding chairlifts, choose a thicker, lofted fabric like Capilene®️ Thermal Weight, which provides a step up in warmth while still offering excellent breathability and odor control.
• If you tend to be smelly or run especially warm, consider a wool-blend top like Capilene®️ Cool Merino.
• It’s important to remember you’ll also be wearing a midlayer and shell, so factor in the added warmth of those layers when picking the right baselayer.

Midlayers

Midlayers help you stay warm. They trap your body’s heat as you move, but they’re also designed to allow breathability. A midlayer is usually a jacket or vest worn between your baselayer and your shell, but it can also be used as your outermost layer if there’s no precip in the forecast.

There are two main types of midlayers: technical fleece and insulated. In general, technical fleece tends to be more breathable and stretchy while insulated midlayers tend to be warmer and more protective.

Technical fleece midlayers are made from versatile, highly breathable knit fabric that keep you warm during high-exertion activities. They’re stretchy, they’re comfortable and they’re designed to move sweat quickly while still providing warmth, and include many of our most iconic Regulator® products. They also tend to be less protective against wind and precip and bulkier than insulated midlayers.

Insulated midlayers are constructed with additional heat-trapping material to provide the most warmth in colder or stormier conditions. They tend to be less breathable than technical fleece, but block wind and hold heat much more efficiently. They break down into three categories:

• Down insulation has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and is both highly compressible and lightweight. Down jackets are a great choice for cold, dry conditions when weight and space are at a premium, but lose much of their insulation properties if they get wet.
• Synthetic insulation is the best midlayer for damper conditions. It’s also lightweight and relatively packable but stays warm even when wet. It also tends to be more durable than down.
• Active insulation has some stretch, exceptional breathability and excels at moderating body temperature as you move. These pieces are great for high-output activities in cold weather.

It’s also important to consider how your midlayer interacts with your shell. Pairing a slim-fitting shell with a high-loft midlayer, for example, will restrict your movement and compress the insulation, which reduces its ability to trap warmth. Instead, choose a midlayer with thinner insulation or even a vest.

Shells

A shell is what keeps the weather out and warmth in. Shell jackets and pants are made with durable abrasion-resistant materials and worn over your midlayers and baselayers to keep you dry and protected—your armor against the elements. When choosing a shell, it’s important to remember that it’s the final barrier to getting any sweat and moisture out, so breathability is a major factor depending on whether you’ll be on the skintrack or chairlift.

There are three different types of shells: waterproof shells, soft shells and wind shells. All three help keep you warm and dry, and all Patagonia shells are treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish made without intentionally added PFAS to help moisture bead off the exterior fabric. But each type of shell excels in slightly different conditions for different activities.

• Waterproof shells block snow and wind to keep you dry. Two-layer waterproof shells tend to use beefier fabrics for maximum durability, often with a separate mesh or taffeta liner for added warmth and easy layering. These are the most common type of insulated shell. Three-layer shells are lighter, more breathable and have a soft-knit bonded interior liner, allowing them to quickly vent heat and moisture.
• Soft shells are the most comfortable. The soft fabric has built-in stretch and breathability for ease of movement and is water-resistant to shed light precipitation, which makes them great for touring in fair weather.
• Wind shells are jackets that block wind, shed light precipitation and are highly packable. While they tend to be used for warmer activities like trail running or biking, they can also work well as an easy on/off backup layer for chilly ridgelines or sweaty snack breaks in clear, warmer weather.

A Note on Bottoms: Skiing and Snowboarding Pants & Baselayers

Layering for your bottom half usually stops with a baselayer and shell, meaning that on most ski days you’ll likely only be wearing baselayer bottoms under your shell pants. This is true for multiple reasons:

• It’s harder to swap bottoms than tops: You have to remove your boots and shell pants if you’re too hot, which can be awkward in the lodge, uncomfortable in a storm or straight-up treacherous in an icy parking lot.
• Your torso generates much more heat than your legs—it’s where all your vital organs are—so adjusting your upper layers is the most effective way to retain or dump heat.
• Your torso has more sweat glands than your extremities, and a sweaty torso isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous when you’re standing still in sub-freezing temps.

That said, if you get cold easily or will be spending a lot of time on chairlifts in frigid weather, insulated midlayer bottoms or insulated shell pants are a good way to stay extra warm. When it comes to choosing the right shell pants, consider this:

• 2-layer waterproof shell pants tend to be warmer due to more robust fabrics and interior liners, which add more warmth and protection on the chairlift but can also limit your stride and the pants’ ability to vent heat and moisture on the skintrack.
• 3-layer waterproof shell pants tend to be lighter, thinner and more breathable due to their construction, meaning better venting of heat and moisture and less fabric to hinder movement. However, the lighter fabric adds minimal warmth in cold weather, something to consider when choosing the weight of your baselayer bottoms.
• Soft shell pants use stretchy, membrane-less fabric with a soft interior that won’t restrict movement and can be worn against bare skin, but provides only light protection against snow or cold temps.

Pro Tip: Keep Your Shells Clean

To maintain the waterproofness of any shell, wash it regularly with a shell-specific cleaner like Storm Clothing Wash. Oil and dirt build up over time, which inhibits both the DWR’s ability to shed water and the fabric and membrane’s ability to vent sweat—which can lead to moisture building up inside. For detailed instructions, learn how to wash your shell.

How You Ride: All-Mountain or Backcountry

When you’re riding a chairlift to the top, you can focus more on staying warm and protected on the downhill or in stormy conditions with all-mountain layers. That said, temps still change throughout the day, and going from working hard on the descent to sitting still on a chairlift (or bootpacking for some extra vert) can require adjusting your layers on the fly. The difference here mostly comes down to shells and midlayers.

Layering gets more complicated when you’re earning your turns, as you’re balancing high exertion with cold temperatures. Backcountry touring layers prioritize freedom of movement, high breathability and moisture management, and are lightweight and more packable. Because you have a backpack, you will also have room to swap layers more frequently to adapt to the conditions and different parts of the day’s journey.

All-Mountain Midlayers

All-mountain shells tend to be warmer, so an active insulation midlayer like Nano-Air® may keep you from overheating. If you’re wearing a backpack, a full-zip synthetic midlayer like Nano Puff® can be easily added for warmth on the chair or tucked away on the downhill or bootpack.

All-Mountain Shells

When choosing an all-mountain shell, prioritize durability, warmth and comfort, and possibly a more relaxed fit for easier layering. If you’re in warmer, damper conditions, we suggest something like a highly breathable 3-layer shell and a light midlayer (or even just a heavier baselayer). If you’re someplace especially frigid or you tend to run colder, you can go with a 2-layer shell with a liner for added warmth or even an insulated shell.

Backcountry Baselayers

Prioritize moisture management over warmth when choosing your baselayers. A thinner, more breathable baselayer will wick sweat better when you’re working hard on the skintrack and dry quicker (and keep you warmer) when you stop for a changeover or dig a snow pit.

Backcountry Midlayers

Either technical fleece or active insulation tend to be better midlayers than down; unlike down, you can wear them in light flurries or toss them over a sweaty baselayer without worrying about them getting wet and losing warmth.

Packability is also important; you want something that fits easily into a backpack without taking up too much space. If you’re out for a full day, multiple days or in especially cold or stormy conditions, consider adding a second, warmer insulated layer for longer stops or around camp.

Backcountry Shells

Backcountry shells tend to have a slimmer cut and stretchier materials for better mobility on the skintrack. They’re usually built with a lot of venting to dump heat, and can be fully waterproof or just water-resistant.

For midwinter touring, damp or stormy conditions, waterproof 3-layer shells are the go-to option because they tend to be lighter, more breathable and compress smaller to fit in a backpack.

For touring in sunnier weather, water-resistant shells can provide enough protection from the occasional quick storm or flurries while also providing maximum mobility. Soft shells or wind shells are also an option for warmer, sunnier spring days where you may need protection on windy ridgelines or alpine scrambles.

What Else to Bring Skiing: A Note on Gloves and Hats

Unless you are a human furnace—or have a thing for frostbite—you’ll want some form of gloves and a hat. These are the accoutrements to your layering system, but they carry an outsize weight on whether you have an incredible or dismal day.

Waterproof mittens are the warmest option, making them great for colder conditions and for those who tend to get cold hands. Waterproof gloves are less warm but provide far more dexterity, allowing you to fiddle with buckles or zippers. In the backcountry, an extra pair of thinner gloves can keep your hands warm on the skintrack and during changeovers. Avoid fleece, though, as it can stick to the glue side of climbing skins.

We always recommend wearing a helmet, so a thin balaclava or liner hat can provide low-profile comfort, warmth and moisture wicking on stormy days. On the skintrack, a packable billed hat is a great way to keep snow off your head and preserve visibility. And it’s always a good idea to throw in a beanie for a dose of warmth when you’re changing over, digging a snow safety pit or just chilling in the parking lot at the end of the day.

Where You Ride: Different Systems for Different Places

Whether you’re visiting a new place or a local looking for a comfier kit, these location-dependent layering tips are a great place to start.

Cold and Dry: The Rockies or East Coast

Colder, drier conditions mean it takes longer to sweat and outside moisture is less likely to soak into your gear. However, it also means that sweat gets colder more quickly when you stop. Consider:

• A thicker baselayer for warmth and breathability, like Capilene® Thermal Weight.
• A loftier insulated midlayer, like a Nano Puff® jacket.
• If you’re on the chairlift, a 2-layer shell like our Powder Town or Storm Shift will provide versatile warmth.
• If you’re on the skintrack, a lightweight, stretchy and highly breathable 3-layer shell like our Stormstride is a great option.

Deep and Damp: The Pacific Northwest or Sierra

Warmer temps, more snow and damper conditions mean blocking outside precip is crucial. That comes with a caveat: It means you will not only sweat more quickly but your layers will dry more slowly. Consider:

• A thinner baselayer, like Capilene® Midweight or even Capilene® Cool, if you tend to run really warm.
• A lightweight technical fleece midlayer like our R1® Air Fleece Full-Zip Hoody provides just enough warmth and more breathability than standard synthetic insulation.
• A 3-layer GORE-TEX shell, like our Untracked or PowSlayer outerwear, for the most tenaciously waterproof and breathable storm protection.

Spring Slush: Alpine Traverses or End-of-Season Hot Laps

Clear skies, warm temps and friendly forecasts mean breathability, mobility and sun protection are key. That said, conditions can change quickly so it’s crucial to be able to adapt to light showers or wind. Consider:

• A thinner baselayer like Capilene® Cool.
• A stretchy, highly breathable technical fleece or active insulation midlayer like our R1® Air or Nano-Puff® Ultralight lines.
• A packable, weather-resistant shell.

Last Chair

So, there it is: what to wear skiing and snowboarding to stay warm, dry and comfortable on any sort of snow day, no matter the weather. And now that you know the mechanics of layering, you can apply them to any other outdoor activity, be it trail running in the desert or winter mountain bike rides in the Pacific Northwest.

Go forth and layer on.