Friday 28 August 2009

Information On Skiing : What Clothing Do You Need?

By Margaret Thatcher

Ski clothing is the topic for this part of our learn to ski guide.

To ski safely and properly, you need to wear clothing that protects you against cold temperatures, external humidity and internal dampness, and, for a week of skiing, it's recommended that you take with you: fleece top x 3; sweater x 3; goggles x 1; hat x 1; headband x 1; thermal underwear x 2 sets; ski gloves x 1 pair; ski jacket x 1; ski pants x 1; ski socks x 3 pairs; sunglasses x 1.

Three layers of clothing are recommended, including a base layer, an insulating layer, and a protective layer, in order to trap more air and keep you warmer than one single layer. The outer layer should be waterproof and windproof and should be made of a 'breathable' material that allows perspiration to escape.

Go for a jacket that is insulated with either eider-down or goose-down (the same goes for ski pants), as they provide the best protection, then under that wear a fleece, as they're warm, light and dry quickly, and then under that wear a sweater made of wool or acrylic.

Gloves must be flexible enough to promote good handling of your ski poles, but must also be warm enough to protect your fingers and hands; and wearing a warm fleece hat that covers your ears will keep your body heat from escaping through the top of your head.

Only wear one pair of socks at a time (wearing more reduces the blood circulation to your feet and makes them colder) and avoid blisters by wearing thick ones made of stretchable material. When it comes to underwear, choose wool thermals, which will provide more protection and warmth than cotton underwear.

Sunglasses need be shatterproof and need to wrap securely around your head and ears, and should provide 100% protection from UV, or ultra-violet, rays. When you ski in rain or snow, you may wish to consider wearing goggles in addition to sunglasses.

Purchasing brand name ski clothing can save you in the long run, as the brand name manufacturers have a reputation for better quality.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment