Your baselayer is saturated as you reach the summit ridge.
A stiff alpine wind yanks on your jacket around as you wrestle to get into it. You zip up and don a beanie. Then you realize you’re still cold. Sweat has turned your once-cozy coat into a refrigerator.
Yeah—dressing for backcountry skiing is different than dressing for the resort. And no, there are no fireside Adirondack chairs at the bottom of the mountain if you get cold. So let’s get this thing right.
Here are Pow7’s Top Picks for 2019 backcountry ski clothes.
What to Wear Ski Touring: Men’s Jackets
It’s no secret that good layering is paramount to alpine touring success. Your outside layer is your body armor. To stay invincible, don’t cut corners.
Arc’teryx Alpha SV. Why we love it: If you think of Arc’teryx as a gold-standard brand, the Alpha SV is their flag bearer. “SV” denotes severe weather protection with three-layer, bomb-proof Gore-Tex Pro, watertight zippers, and so on and so forth. For the (considerable) money, you get best-in-class construction and Arc’teryx’s lifetime guarantee.
Mammut Stoney HS. Why we love it: One jacket legitimately designed with the backcountry and the resort in mind. We dig the three-layer protection, ventilation, and ALL. THE. POCKETS.
Arc’teryx Procline Hybrid Hoody. Why we love it: Minimalist and functional, the Procline practically becomes one with your body on high-output alpine adventures.
Strafe Nomad. Why we love it: Aspen-based Strafe makes outerwear by and for Coloradans. The Nomad is one of the most stylish jackets we’ve ever carried, and its sleek appearance comes with well-built functionality.
Patagonia Descensionist. Why we love it: It’s Patagonia’s most breathable option for skiing, and it’s the most packable jacket on our list.
What to Wear Ski Touring: Men’s Pants
Know how lift rides can get chilly, even wet, in certain conditions? Well, in the backcountry, your uphill travel is all human-powered, meaning exertion will warm your legs. So stay away from thick, insulated snow pants. For ski touring, shells—hard or soft—allow you to regulate your temperature with baselayers. Stretch maximizes range of motion as you ascend. Water repellent keeps you warm when you’re digging snow pits.
There’s a lot to consider. These pants get it right.
Patagonia Descensionist. Why we love it: With the Descensionist, Patagonia set out to strike harmony between backcountry and resort performance. As such, the Descensionist isn’t necessarily the best piece for one or the other. But it’s one of the only products that actually does both.
Strafe Nomad Bib. Why we love it: Technical bibs that hold up to abuse! Also, what’s not to love about a stretchy, removable bib?
Mammut Stoney HS Bib. Why we love it: The Stoney bibs are some of the most motion-friendly bibs on the market. That stretch gives you the freedom to execute an entire sun salutation in the parking lot before your tour.
What to Wear Ski Touring: Midlayers
On a lot of ski tours, especially when it’s not storming, you’ll end up skinning in your midlayer. Breathability and a little water resistance go a long way with moderate insulation to getting you to the top of your line dry, warm, and stoked.
Patagonia Nano Air Light Hybrid Jacket. Why we love it: The Nano Air, in all its iterations, is one of our all-time favorite layers. Period.
Ortovox Fleece Melange. Why we love it: Our customized Powder7 Melange fleeces have become the de facto office uniform. And we tend to keep them on for all our adventures in the mountains.
Houdini Power Hoody. Why we love it: Houdini thinks Polartec Power Stretch Pro is the best fleece ever. We don’t disagree, and their version is timeless.
Ortovox Tofana Jacket. Why we love it: Merino wool against your skin as you tour.
What to Wear Ski Touring: Baselayers
Warmth starts at the core.
Le Bent Le Base Definitive Ultralight 150 Crew. Why we love it: It’s soft and light, and it keeps your armpits from smelling like your ski boots. All your friends and neighbors are thankful.
Spyder Bandit FZ Stryke. Why we love it: On days when even Frosty would consider staying home, the Bandit FZ Stryke offers extra next-to-skin warmth.
2XU Compression Three Quarter Tights Baselayer. Why we love it: Compression technology supports your muscles and cuts down post-tour soreness. The three-quarter design gives your calves a chance to breathe.
And you don’t want to miss…
There’s more to crushing the backcountry than basic outerwear. Have you thought of these items?
Dynafit Mercury Dynastretch Gloves. Why we love it: The Mercury Dynastretch gloves are just heavy enough to resist wind and keep your fingers from getting cold as you skin. They come with an overmitt in case conditions turn extreme.
Darn Tough RFL Over the Calf Ultra Light Socks. Why we love it: Darn Tough’s ultralight-est sock keeps your feet venting and free from blisters.
Phunkshun Single Tube Buff. Why we love it: Buffs are musts for touring. This one’s made from recycled bottles and branded Powder7. Anyone surprised that we’re obsessed?
Finish building your backcountry ski kit with the perfect skis, bindings, and boots.
