Lift-assisted ski layering

Depending on how hard you ski, it can be difficult to regulate heat while skiing.  I find that I am cold by the time I get off the lift and hot and often sweaty by the time I hit the bottom of the hill.  If I layer for the lift ride I am too hot while skiing and if I layer for the skiing I am too cold for ride back up.  My ski jacket has large zipped vents which work great and I will unzip halfway down and zip up at the bottom.

When I was younger I skied non stop and it was a bigger issue.  Now I stop along the way and tend to not overheat as much.  The bigger problem for me is cold feet regardless of how cool or hot the rest of me feels, but I haven’t broken down yet for heated socks.

I would get pit zips for sure but would question skiing in a down jacket at all. I would wet it out over the course of a day regardless of temps between sweating, spindrift, and falling.  I much prefer fleece and synthetic insulation for lift skiing as it gets heavily sweated in and washed regularly.

I usually do a thin baselayer, synthetic jacket + shell. No real appeal to down for resort skiing when you’re not skinning up.

Most ski areas have quick enough lifts that if you finish the run warm you’re not going to be too cold 5-10 min later when you’re back up top. So you dress so that you’re warm but not overheating at the end of the run. If you’re riding really slow lifts that are exposed (e.g. some chairs at Alta, UT) then you might want another layer in your backpack on cold days.

Ventilate on the lift and zip up vents on the piste.

You’ll soon get to know that lifts can be d@mn cold and windy too.

Did another day out on the slopes. It was colder and I ended up riding half a day in the down jacket except for when the sun came out near noon. When I accidentally turned to a steeper slope and began falling, getting up and walking in my boots, I immediately got overheated. So I guess, sometimes it is appropriate riding in a down jacket, sometimes not. It really depends. I guess I will be asking to add pit zips to mine for extra versatility.

Another interesting fact – I haven’t needed WPB pants or jacket yet. Been riding in my casual Prana Brion nylon pants with long johns underneath and did not have a slightest problem. The lifts were padded though, so no moisture from the seats.

I sweat – then freeze… sweat — freeze – repeat.

I stuffed a cut-up piece of closed cell foam in my pants to keep my ass warm on the chair lift.   Gloves…are important.   I get my hands wet and it is nice to be able to warm them on the way up the lift.    I also wear a full baklava to cover my face and that is adjustable.    Neck gaiter too…

This is what I wore last time I was at Solitude resort here in Utah. Conditions were about 25 degrees, sorta windy with snow falling.

1. Unknown brand wicking t-shirt
2. Marmot Caldus (Lightweight fleece)
3. Black Diamond Access Hybrid LT (Synthetic puffy)
4. Rap Raptor (Soft shell)

In my pack I keep a Rab Xenon X as backup just in case I start to feel cold. I don’t currently own an active outwear down jacket. The above represents my typical layering system for just about everything. Works for resort skiing just as easily as it works for hikes or snowshoeing.

Notice the trend as well. Everything being worn is breathable from base to outer layer. Keeps me from over overheating and getting sweaty which keeps me warmer and not needing to strip off as much to regulate at the resort.

I like insulated hardshells for skiing.  Wear a single minimal baselayer. Pit zips and front zipper then completely defeat all insulation for instant cool-down. With a thick insulated midlayer, pit zips and front zip do very little to cool you down. The midlayer approach just doesn’t work that well for me with such a high amount of stop and go.