How To Pick The Perfect Ski And Snowboard Pants

Question

Accepted Answer

There are a few important factors to consider before your purchase and they are:

Pick the right type
Warmth, waterproof and breathability rating
Fit

There are a few different types of pants and they are:

3 in 1 pants: This type of product features an outside shell that protects against the elements and an inner layer that provides warmth; they can be zipped or snapped apart on warmer days.
Insulated pants: These have both the outershell that protects against winter weather and warm insulation but they can’t be zipped apart. These are the most popular ski and snowboard pants and are the most featured products on this list.
Shell pants: These are extremely breathable and lightweight. However, they have no insulation so they aren’t very useful in cold weather without a base layer underneath. They can be worn on warmer, spring days alone.
Stretch: These pants are made from stretchable fabric and are form fitting. They have thin insulation and provide moderate warmth.

After you find the right type, take a look at the warmth, breathability and waterproof rating. Warmth is based on the type of insulation, breathability describes the pants ability to dump out excess heat and waterproofing is dependent on the fabric of the outershell and it’s ability to keep moisture and wetness out.

Lastly, shift your attention to the different fits. There are four and they are:

Slim: These are snug and shapely
Slim/regular: These keep up with the trends without being too snug; some call it a happy medium
Regular: Shapely but non-constricting; these provide a classical and traditional fit
Loose: These are more baggy and leave plenty of room around the calves and thighs

All the pants on this list keep these points in mind. There are a ton of different options for everyone. Let’s take a look at my top picks now:

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
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4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30