Ski Wear : White Stone - The Luxury Ski and Sports Store

Searching for the right ski wear can be a difficult task if you do not know where to begin. Our ski wear guide is designed to help you to recognise the key elements you should be looking out for when considering purchasing new ski wear.

One of the first questions you should consider is what level of waterproofing you will require? Purchasing a ski jacket or ski pants which are not suitable for the conditions you will encounter could lead to disastrous, possibly dangerous consequences once you hit the slopes.

The industry standard for measuring a fabric’s water permeability is known as “Hydrostatic Head”. This process involves placing a column of water on the fabric, then consistently adding water to it to build up the pressure. When the water finally starts to permeate the fabric, the column is then measured and a rating is derived between 0mm - 45,000mm depending on how high the water has initially risen. The higher the measurement, the more waterproof the garment is. Some down ski jackets are not waterproofed and we would only describe them as water resistance. These jackets are only suitable for mostly cold snowy conditions. Also waterproof ski jackets that are proofed to a very high degree are not essential to most holiday skiers.

Another important factor when purchasing a ski garment is its breathability. A piece of ski wear must be breathable to allow you to stay dry on the inside. Skiing is a sport and even on the coldest of days you will perspire, creating a moisture build up. The moisture may collect as condensation and may cool you down when you stop, providing your ski jacket or ski pants have the right level of breathability to suit the conditions. So, the key is to find ski clothing that offers the highest level of breathability. Down ski jackets are fabulous as the feathers breath extremely well.

To benefit the most from your ski clothing, you must wear it in conjunction with ski thermals. A good thermal base layer and thermal mid layer will help to keep you dry and warm for as long as necessary. Layering up your ski wear is a great way to stay warm, and it allows you to strip down more easily if you get too hot. There is an extensive range of luxury thermal base layer ski wear and thermal mid-layer fleeces to choose from in store, or you can purchase from our large selection of thermal ski wear online.

The permeability of ski wear is dependent on the fabric technology used. For example, our Bogner Marte Micro fleeces is an ideal mid layer for skiing in cold weather or warmer temperatures at the end of the season for spring skiing, brands such as Falke produce great high wicking base layers with both Merino wool for warmth and polypropylene for quick drying to allow you to regulate your heat in all conditions.

Thermal insulation can either be built into a ski garment or contained within an additional liner which can be attached to the outer ski jacket. The two main types of ski insulation are made from down and synthetic. Down thermal insulation has a high warmth to weight ratio and it is highly compressible and lightweight. The way to measure the quality of the down in a ski garment is to look at its fill power rating, the higher the fill power rating the higher the quality of the down. The fill power rating is determined by the amount of down needed to fill a garment, so the less down required, the better its quality. Luxury Goose down is one of the best.

Synthetic thermal insulation is waterproof and can even provide insulation whilst wet. It also has the capability to dry quickly and it is more affordable. You can machine wash and dry most synthetic ski clothes and they are completely hypoallergenic as they are made from man-made fibres. Synthetic ski wear works well as part of a layering system and it contains a very high warmth to weight ratio.

A good quality base layer is essential as it is the layer which sits next to your skin. It is important that the base layer is created from a high quality durable fabric to provide the best level of insulation. If you compromise on the quality of your base layer, you are likely to damage the performance of your other ski layers. The base layer must be close fitting to allow for the perspiration to be transported away from the skin and out through the other ski layers. Some of the base layers we recommend include the Bogner Berto Base Layer , and theFalke AW Long Sleeved Shirt.

Mid layer thermal ski wear provides you with the versatility you need whilst on and off the ski slopes. It is important that your mid layer is highly breathable to allow moisture transportation from the base layer out. The mid-layer acts as an additional layer for extra warmth so you can remove it or add to it depending on how hot your body feels. A gilet is a great addition to your ski layers as it keeps your back and chest warm without restricting your movement. Some of the mid layers we recommend are the MensBogner Tuxeck micro fleecemid layer andthe WomensFalke Ida SL Warm Top.

A ski jacket and ski pants form the outer layer of your ski wear and they are designed to protect you against the wet snow and wind. Both ski garments may contain vents so that you can release any excess body heat when required. It is important that you choose outer ski wear which is durable and has the ability to protect against snow, ice and equipment whilst still remaining light weight when skiing.

Here at White Stone we always stock a selection of the ‘Race Style’ ladies tight ski pants. These ski pants do offer some insulation but if you are skiing in very cold conditions we would advise a thermal legging also. Tight fitting ski trousers do of course let you show off your great shape! This year’s designer ski pants are the Bogner Jetta Womens Ski Pant In Black, Bogner Emilia Womens Ski Pant In White and Poivre Blanc Plasma Stretch Black Ski Pant with some colour choices available in some styles.

Shell jackets are lightweight, packable and offer protection from the elements outside, but they will not have any insulating property, instead relying on an insulation layer worn underneath. A versatile and great value for money form of outerwear is the 3-in-1 jacket, which consists of an outer jacket and a zip-in/zip-out insulation layer, and allows you to adapt your clothing as the weather changes.

Soft Shell garments are ideal if your activity requires a high level of aerobic output, as they not only offer exceptional water resistance and wind proofing, but also deliver maximum breathability and allow perspiration and vapour to evaporate. Hugely versatile, they are lightweight and use supple fabrics for enhanced freedom of movement.

Greater mobility is another area where outer layers have been changing. The construction of fabrics with 2-way or 4-way stretch properties has led to enhanced levels of performance and greater comfort, as well as garments that have a more fitted style but don’t restrict freedom of movement. In addition, advances in technology now allow manufacturers to create stretch fabrics that maintain their waterproof properties as they stretch, so you can now have it all.

It is important to maintain the waterproof and breathable qualities of your ski wear. This means that your ski jacket and ski pants should be kept free from dirt and grease. If any of the pores of the fabric are blocked, it will allow for water to seep through so it is essential to look after your ski clothing well. At White Stone, we sell a wide range of ski garment care products which are specifically developed to clean and restore the waterproof capabilities of your ski clothing. You can find out which products are best suited to your ski wear by speaking to one of our sales staff at our Harrogate based store which is situated near the cities of Leeds and York in North Yorkshire.

At White Stone we stock a wide range of different brands of designer ski wear, many of which are available in extra large or petite sizes. If you are looking for a smaller fit of ski wear, then opting for French and Italian brands such as Armani, Napapijri and Poivre Blanc is a good choice. German ski team sponsor Bogner sizes more normally along with Descente from Japan.

You can select the right ski wear size for you by visiting our individual product pages and then clicking on the sizing icon. The icon will produce a drop down box listing the sizes available to you in that particular brand.

Ski Wear Buying Guide