Best ski pants 2023/2024 Season
If you're looking for a new pair of ski pants then you're in the right place. Our experts have done their homework, put in the time, and have selected the best ski pants around right now. Check them out.
Are you on the hunt for a pair of ski pants but you’re not prepared to settle? Well, us neither. Our standards are high. Like, really high. Like, we know how good ski pants can be, and we know what we want. Something comfy, cosy, warm, with plenty of storage space. But not too heavy. And with a good fit. And of course with plenty of waterproofing and good durability for when we stack it. Not much then.
Humph, you’d think that’s a tall order? Well, maybe it is for those who don’t spent six weeks straight every October sinking their tech-loving teeth into the new offerings from the big snow brands. But we do. We relish it! And the result is a list like this — a roundup and run-down of all the best ski pants and salopettes out there. And the reason that they blow everything else out of the water.
Are you in a rush? Don't worry, you can go straight ahead and check out all the latest styles at Ridestore right here:
Top 5 ski pants for men
Montec Fawk
Dope Notorious BIB
Montec Kirin
Dope Blizzard
Montec Arch
Top 5 ski pants for women
Dope Notorious BIB W
Montec Kirin W
Dope Tigress
Montec Fawk W
Dope Iconic W
How to choose the best ski trousers
It’s time to dig deeper into what makes a pair of great skiing pants, and what you should look for if you go out on your own comparing pants for skiing. Ready to become your own skiing pants expert? Let’s go!
Types of ski pants
First off, let’s get our teeth into what different kinds of skiing pants there is out there, so you know exactly what kind of skiing pants to look for and why.
Insulated
Just like the name says, insulated skiing pants are… Insulated! Which means that they have added insulation to provide warmth. This is the most common type of pant for resort skiers. And a good pick if you quickly get cold, ski in cold conditions, or just like it warm and cozy.
Just like most kind of skiing pants, they have an outer layer which is made to resist water and snow. Then there is padding to make you warm.
It is necessary to look for proper waterproofing and breathability when looking at insulated skiing pants. (Or any kind of skiing pant for that matter) More about waterproofing and breathability later.
Shell
There are a few different types of shell pants, but to make it a bit simpler, we will discuss shell pants as one category. But there are two, and three layers shell pants, soft and hard shell pants, they work in more or less the same way.
A shell pant is a pant without any kind of padding, which means that it does not add any warmth. Or not much at least. They do block the wind and keep water out while being breathable. So why would you want a pair of skiing pants that do not add any warmth? Easy!
Versatility, it is easy to add warmth yourself with base layers and second layers. If you ski in warmer conditions or break a sweat easily or thinking about doing some ski touring, the shell pant is excellent. Because you control how much warmth you wish to add. That way, you can use the same pant on warm spring shred day or in the blistering cold, just adjust your layers underneath.
Shell pants are my personal favorite type of pant, I do a lot of different styles of skiing and in many different climates. The shell pant allows me to have just one pair of pants, instead of many different for every type of environment.
Bibs vs pants
Technically, not different types of skiing pants like shell vs. insulated. However, let’s quickly cover Bib vs. Pant as well!
Both Bib and regular pants can come in all variations mentioned above, three-layer shell, insulated and etc. A regular skiing pant would be a pant that fits like a regular pair of pants and tightens around your waist. The Bib pant usually goes all the way up to the chest and secures over your shoulders with suspenders.
So what’s differentiates them?
Well, to start with, the style is entirely different. Mostly you are going to have your jacket covering the Bib, which makes it hard to tell if you are wearing bibs or not. Useful to think about is that the bibs will add more warmth to your upper body than a pair of regular pants would. They will also protect you better against snow, especially if you are skiing in deep snow. Although, they can also feel a bit bulkier compared to regular pants.
In the end, there is no better pick, just personal preference.
Insulation and warmth
We covered a bit about this above, how warm you are while skiing relies on more factors than just insulation. In fact, heavy pants might end up making you cold. If you are skiing in mostly cold weather, and in a resort, most likely insulated pants are the best pick for you. The main thing you want to do if you’re going to stay warm is to keep dry.
Actually, the most common reason why people get wet while skiing is not from the snow. It’s from getting sweaty and not having clothing that breathes well. It is hard to avoid to get warm when skiing, but if you have clothing that breathes well and is not to warm, you will stay dry. Because what happens when you start to sweat, is that as soon as you stop moving, that sweat will get cold. And you will now be wet and cold, even if you have the warmest pair of pants on the mountain. That’s why most skiing gear isn’t super warm.
Waterproofing
This one is pretty straight forward, how waterproof are the skiing pants. This does not mean waterproof as you could go for a swim in the pants and except to be dry. But how much water it can resist before it starts to leak through. You have maybe seen the 10/10K or 15/15K symbol when looking at skiing pants, that’s the measurement of how water resistant the pant is. You do not need to know what the number stands for, but if you want to see, you will find the answer in the bottom part of this segment. But in short, the higher, the better.
A pair of good skiing pants should have 15K of waterproofing, that will keep you dry in most weather you can end up in on a ski resort. Proper waterproofing will also ensure that you have a good day, even if the weather is terrible. Eventually, if you are out for a full day of heavy rain, you will get wet. Because we do not actually want totally waterproof pants. More about that soon.
First, how is waterproofing measured? Take 15K for example, K stands for thousand, so 15K = 15.000. And the measurement is in millimeters. So 15.000 MM is what 15K stands for. It means that the pants can take the pressure of 15.000 millimeters water before it starts to sip through.
Breathability
So why do you not want fully waterproof skiing pants? That would mean that no water can come in, great, right? That also means that nothing can escape…
So all steam that’s generated by your body heat will remain inside. It will become liquid, and you will get wet, soaked even if you would ski actively. As soon as you stop, all of that wet will make you cold, and just like that, you are soaking wet and cold. We avoid that by having breathable pants, which lead the steam away from your body before it makes you sweat.
Good skiing pants have techniques to keep the water out while allowing steam to pass through. Make sure your pants have both proper waterproofing and breathability. The breathability works like waterproofing, 10K, 15K and etc. Usually, they go hand in hand, 15/15K is first waterproofing and then breathability. So 15/15K means that the pants have 15K in both waterproofing and breathability.
You should look for pants with 15K or higher. 15K will do the job for almost every type of skier, so if you do not know why you would need more, you probably do not need it.
Features
There are many features to be on the lookout for when looking for your best ski trousers and salopettes. We are going to cover the most important ones and why they are must-have features for a great skiing experience.
Pockets
If you are not skiing with a backpack, you depend on your ski jacket and ski pants pockets, make sure that the pants you are looking at have pockets enough to bring what you need. And also, make sure that the pockets secure with either zips or some other technique that keeps your stuff safe.
Ski pants ventilation
Ventilation is a significant feature of ski pants. Usually, it’s vent zips located in the crotch or on the side of the pants. Use the ventilation actively on the slopes to avoid getting too sweaty. Just make sure that you close the ventilation if you are risking to get snow inside. But make use of it in the lift or so, if you are a bit to warm.
DWR coating
DWR coating is a further treatment that is made to the outer fabric of the ski pants. It makes water pearl and fall off, instead of staying on the pant to slowly soak in.
Basically, providing much better water protection. An important note about DWR coating. Some brands do still not use ECO-Friendly DWR coating, but a coating containing perfluorinated compounds, which do not break down by nature. And are poisonous for humans, animals, and the environment. So make sure that your pants have an ECO-Friendly and PFC free DWR coating.
Fit
How should your ski pants fit? Honestly, for most skiers, you can choose your fit, depending on the style you like. Slim, regular, or a baggy fit. Keep in mind that they should not be so slim that your movement gets restricted in any way. Also, you need to be able to add extra layering under if its a freezing day.
The same goes for bigger sizes, if they are too big in the waist, you will need a belt or something to keep your pants up. You don’t want to have pants so baggy that they won’t stay up. That’s an excellent way to get snow inside. Apart from those notes, choose a style of fitting you like.
FAQs
Let’s answer some of the most common things that are asked on Google about ski pants.
What are ski pants?
Ski pants are a pair of snow pants, specially made for being active in snowy conditions. Skiing pants have an outer layer that acts as a shield against the elements, in other words, keeping you dry.
Do I really need ski pants?
Short answer: If you are going skiing, yes! At least if you want to have a good time. Ski pants will keep you dry and warm while skiing. Two things that are quite satisfying if I can say so myself.
What do I need to wear under the snow pants?
Depending on the temperature outdoors, this will vary a bit. But you should always wear a base layer, this adds warmth to your legs, but also leads steam away from your body. If it’s freezing, you can add a fleece layer between your pants and base layer.
What is the difference between ski and snowboard pants?
In many cases, none at all. In some instances, snowboard pants can be a bit baggier. But every skiing pant is excellent for snowboarding and vice versa. In fact, many brands sell the exact same pant, just names snowboarding pants, or skiing pants.
Are ski pants supposed to be long?
They should be longer than a pair of regular pants should. About 10-15 centimeters longer. This is to leave space for ski boots and also so you can wear them high up in the waist if you want to.