HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SKI TROUSERS?

For dry, warm days on the slopes, choosing the right ski trousers for your needs is essential. Here's everything you need to know to make the right choice of trousers.

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Choosing waterproof and breathable ski pants

To choose a pair of ski pants, it is important to find a model that is both waterproof and breathable. To do this, it should have an outer membrane with micropores that are small enough to keep moisture out, but large enough to let the steam created by the body escape. The Gore Tex is among the best-known membranes, but there are others. Most brands nowadays develop their own membrane. These two technical characteristics are the best insurance for a dry and warm ride down the slopes.

To judge the waterproofness of your trousers, check their Schmerber rating. Expressed in mm, this value will give you the water resistance level of your garment. To choose waterproof ski pants that will withstand a day on the slopes, they should have an index greater than 10,000 mm. If you want to venture off-piste, aim for higher protection such as 20,000 mm.

The ability to wick away perspiration, is estimated in g/m2/24hrs. To ensure your ski trousers offer good ventilation, don't go below an 8,000 rating. To help you choose a pair of ski pants suited to your needs, manufacturers often combine the two measurements and show them together on the label. For example, a pair of trousers with a 20,000/8,000 rating will give you excellent waterproofing and good moisture wicking.

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Finding your ski pant size

Ski trousers need to fit perfectly to give you good insulation and limit the wind grip. That's why it's important to choose the right size of ski pants. For more comfort, prefer ski trousers with an elastic waist.

To make sure you find the right ski pant size, simply take your waist and hip measurements, and refer to the manufacturer's size guide. Finally, to choose a pair of ski pants, you should also take into account the gender. Indeed, men's and women's cuts differ in a few strategic points, which allows everyone to find a garment perfectly adapted to their morphology.

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Choosing ski trousers that offer the right insulation

Ski trousers are obviously there to offer you good insulation from the cold and wind. As such, you will have a choice of three types of insulation:

The Hardshell ski trousers

This is the best you'll find when it comes to waterproofing. It is advisable to choose a pair of Hardshell ski pants if you want to glide in extreme conditions. On the other hand, these trousers are not very insulating, so think about this when choosing your size of ski trousers and aim for a little wider so you can wear technical underwear and still be comfortable. If you only want to ski on the slopes, you won't need to invest in such a model. However, for ski touring, a pair of Hardshell ski trousers is a good choice. This will allow you to work hard in the powder without getting too hot. Also think about a technical windproof fabric for your ski touring trousers.

Softshell ski trousers

Comfortable and breathable, the Softshell ski pants are waterproof and have good wind insulation. You can choose Softshell ski trousers to hit the slopes and indulge in a few powdery excursions while staying dry. If the temperatures drop, and the fleece lining isn't enough, a technical underwear will provide a nice insulation layer.

The lined ski trousers

Your ski trousers will have good insulation against the cold, but less breathability. You'll find linings in wool, synthetic fibres or down, the latter being the material that provides the most warmth. However, if you are skiing in the resort, this will be fine. Indeed, the static phases being more numerous, you will then need a good heat input.

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The little extras for choosing your ski pants

• The ventilation zips

To adjust the airflow according to your efforts, you'll need to choose ski pants with ventilation zips. Located on the side of the thighs, they will allow you to be at the right temperature at all times.

• The pockets

Aside from the side pockets, one or two other pockets can be very useful as long as they all have a zip.

• The reinforcements

For beginners, freestylers and freeriders, a few strategically placed reinforcements can be a game changer in the event of a fall. Buttocks, knees and shins can all benefit from extra protection.

• Safety tags

Off-piste enthusiasts can get a little extra safety by choosing ski trousers equipped with a RECCO-type tracking beacon, which certainly adds to the bill, but can save your life.

If you're not the type to choose fluorescent ski trousers, make sure they have a few touches of colour that are easier to spot when visibility is limited, which is still a good way to avoid collisions. The must-have is the retro-reflective elements.