After showing you how to properly choose your ski jacket, it’s time to explain how to choose the perfect ski trousers to go with it! The criteria for selecting trousers are the same as for a jacket. This includes factors like waterproofness, breathability, and thermal insulation. It’s also crucial to pick trousers with the features you need. Manufacturers offer a range of options to make your life easier, such as built-in gaiters, reinforced cuffs, various pockets, fabrics that allow for great freedom of movement, Recco reflectors, ventilation zips, and more. Read this guide before browsing our site to find the women’s, men’s, or kids’ ski trousers of your dreams.
Waterproofness and breathability are crucial features in any technical garment, and ski trousers are no exception. These properties protect you from moisture and, consequently, from the cold. Waterproofness shields you from external moisture like rain and snow, while breathability helps expel excess heat to prevent sweat from cooling and making you feel cold.
To ensure your ski trousers protect you from moisture, manufacturers have developed membranes that offer both waterproofness and breathability. Among the most well-known is, of course, the renowned Gore-Tex membrane, as well as other highly effective alternatives, such as Dryplay by Picture, Dermizax and DRYOsphere by Scott, and more.
To determine the waterproof rating of a membrane, a column of water is placed on it, and the height of the water in millimetres required for it to penetrate the membrane is measured. This unit of measurement is called Schmerber. It provides waterproof levels such as 6,000 mm, 8,000 mm, 10,000 mm, 15,000 mm, or even 20,000 mm. The higher the number, the more efficient the membrane. Currently, the most waterproof membranes reach up to 30,000 mm.
The breathability of a membrane is indicated in grams per square meter over 24 hours. You'll see values like 6,000 g/m²/24 h, 10,000 g/m²/24 h, or 20,000 g/m²/24 h. Again, the higher the number, the more efficient the membrane.
Breathability can also be measured using the Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) coefficient. A high RET indicates low breathability, while a highly breathable garment has a low RET.
Waterproof and breathability levels are often grouped and abbreviated as follows: 10K/10K for trousers with 10,000 mm waterproofness and 10,000 g/m²/24 h breathability, 20K/20K for trousers with 20,000 mm waterproofness and 20,000 g/m²/24 h breathability, and so on. Waterproofness is always listed first.
Durable Water-Repellent Treatment or Finish
To enhance the waterproofness of ski trousers, manufacturers often apply a Durable Water-Repellent (DWR) finish. This is a protective coating that repels water while allowing heat to escape. However, this treatment has two drawbacks: it degrades over time and is often made with chemicals harmful to the environment.
To address these issues, you can, on the one hand, renew the treatment with a dedicated product (see our tutorial “how to wash your ski jacket?”), and on the other hand, choose a brand that uses PFC-free durable water-repellent treatments, such as the French brand Picture Organic Clothing.
Having no organs, the legs are one of the least cold parts of our body. However, when skiing at altitude in negative temperatures, and with speed increasing the feeling of cold because of wind chill, it is a good idea to have an insulating lining in your pants. Manufacturers offer both natural and synthetic insulations, and apart from the origin of the material, these insulations differ in their thermal efficiency. The more warmth an insulation provides for the same fill weight, the less space it takes up, the more freedom of movement it gives you, and the more breathable it is.
To help your selection process, we include an indication of the warmth level and the weight of the insulation on the product pages of our ski pants.
Primaloft: It stands out for its ability to perform even in wet conditions, thanks to its water-repellent fibres. A perfect solution for braving the elements while staying warm. Learn more about Primaloft.
Polartec: Renowned for its exceptional breathability, Polartec ensures optimal moisture management while providing consistent warmth. Ideal for high-intensity activity in cold conditions. Learn more about Polartec.
3M Thinsulate Insulation: This ultra-thin material provides outstanding thermal insulation while maintaining excellent freedom of movement. Perfect for those looking to combine performance with lightness.
Dupont Sorona: Made from bio-based materials, Dupont Sorona stands out for its environmental friendliness and excellent wear resistance, while providing warmth and comfort.
Depending on your activity and the conditions, your needs for protection against moisture and cold will vary. If you’re ski touring, you’ll alternate between intense effort and more relaxed phases. In this case, you should opt for ski trousers without insulation and with excellent breathability to wick away sweat as water vapor. If sweat isn’t expelled, it can cool you down significantly. If you’re focused on downhill skiing, you’ll need trousers with insulation to stay warm, whether on the chairlift or while skiing. Finally, waterproofness is always a plus, keeping you dry even in bad weather. It’s a key criterion for freeride skiing, ensuring you stay dry even if you fall into deep powder.
- RECCO Reflector: This is a highly valuable feature in ski trousers. RECCO reflectors bounce back signals sent by RECCO detectors used by rescuers to locate avalanche victims. For off-piste enthusiasts, having a built-in reflector in your ski trousers adds an extra layer of safety.
- Pockets: Front, back, cargo, zippered, buttoned, or Velcro—ensure your ski pants have the pockets you need to avoid disappointment! Zipped pockets are the most secure for your belongings, ensuring your phone stays safe when stored in a properly zipped pocket.
- Ventilation Zips, Waterproof Zippers, and Sealed Seams: Zippers and seams are weak points in trousers, as they can allow moisture to seep in. High-performance trousers feature waterproof zippers and sealed seams. Additionally, many ski and snowboard trousers have ventilation zips that can be opened or closed based on your activity level. This feature lets you adjust your trousers to the situation for optimal comfort during your session.
- Pant-to-Jacket Connection: There’s nothing more uncomfortable than snow getting into your trousers after a fall. To prevent this, you can either wear bibs or choose trousers with a jacket connection system that blocks snow entry. These interface systems, usually zippers or snap buttons, may only be compatible with jackets from the same set as the trousers.
- Reinforcements and Snow Gaiters: Found on most ski trousers, these features are highly practical. The bottoms of ski trousers are subjected to significant wear and tear (from crampons, ski edges, or poles) and must be reinforced. Additionally, snow gaiters are worn over snowboarding boots or ski boots to prevent snow from seeping in, particularly in deep powder.
- Adjustable Length for Kids: As with jackets, some brands offer children’s ski trousers with adjustable length. This means if your child grows between seasons (which is likely), you can extend the length of the trousers without needing to buy a new pair. This is often achieved with a removable stitching system.
Between the bib enthusiasts and the trouser advocates, everyone has their reasons. From a style perspective, some consider bibs outdated, while others passionately defend their trendy look. Others find them inconvenient, taking longer to put on and requiring extra effort for bathroom breaks. However, bibs have the distinct advantage of blocking all snow entry, making them a top choice for riding in powder. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference, and the more diplomatic (or indecisive) skiers might opt for ski trousers with suspenders.
A true relic of the past, you can still spot a few ski suits on the slopes. Indeed, some die-hard skiers continue to resist the natural evolution of ski attire, holding onto their full-body neon suits from yesteryear.
What size should you choose for your men's or women's ski trousers?
In addition to all the technical criteria discussed in this guide, size is an important factor when choosing trousers. A model that is too small will not be comfortable, while a model that is too large will not keep you warm and will let air in at the waist. To make things easier, each of our product pages includes a size chart. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact us for personalised advice.
Budget considerations are entirely valid and can often be the deciding factor between two models. Glisshop offers ski clothing for all budgets, ensuring that everyone can enjoy winter sports. High-end models feature the most advanced materials and practical details that can make all the difference. However, more affordable models still provide excellent performance. Today’s fabrics are all designed to protect you effectively from the cold and harsh weather conditions.
With the wide selection of ski clothing for women, men, and children that we offer, it can be challenging to choose. Each season, our experts handpick the best models from renowned brands. All the ski trousers we carry are made with high-performance materials and fabrics designed to protect you from the cold and snow. Deciding on a brand ultimately comes down to your personal preference. You might be drawn to Rossignol ski trousers or a Volcom model. Rest assured, all the brands available at Glisshop design high-performance clothing.
