What Not To Wear.

[ski diva]

Anyone have any comments on things that are truly bad to wear on the ski slope, based on experience or observation? Could be a type of clothing or a specific brand of clothing.

For example, I don't think it's a good idea to wear things made of cotton. Cotton gets wet and stays wet, and doesn't wick moisture away from the body. So you stay cold.

Anyone else?

 

[Jilly]

I'd say wool too for the same reasons.

 

[geargrrl]

Wool insulates when wet, it's the original technical fabric ( that, and waxed cotton). It's just itchy and heavy.

 

[ski diva]

I love the SmartWool products. They're light and warm, and never itchy.

 

[altagirl]

I'd agree that wool is absolutely the BEST thing you can wear skiing (or for any sport where it's cold and you're likely to sweat.) Other technical wicking fabrics are good as well, but I haven't really found anything to be quite as good as wool.

Cotton is a bad idea for winter sports though. Interestingly enough, someone recently told me that they were cotton mountian biking in summer because all the high tech wicking fabrics dry out so fast they don't retain any moisture to keep you cool. I'd never thought about it that way, but it's true. I tend to dump water on myself while riding in the summer and dry out in a few minutes. I'm thinking I might try biking in cotton to see if it actually feels better then because it stays wet.

 

[Jilly]

OK, I was thinking the heavy wool sweater grandma knit or mittens. Not the long johns.

 

[numb3rs]

I don't really know what material these are made of, but the coats that kind of make you look like a marshmallow (https://fashiontribes.typepad.com/main/images/heatherettejacketweb.jpg) seem to get wet really easily. If it's spring skiing and the snow is kind of watery they're just bad to wear. If you fall once you look like a wet dog and the coat doesn't keep you as warm anymore.

and just to say something that I think is great to wear:
Under Armour seems to be absolutely perfect for me. I get the ones with the very short turtleneck and if it's cold outside I wear a light fleece and my jacket over. Keeps the heat in really well. If it's getting up into the high 20's/30's then I just wear the under armour and my jacket. It can actually kind of absorb the wind and cool me down. I can see why some people might not like it because it could "absorb the cold" when you don't want it to, but I think it's great!

 

[ski diva]

Interestingly enough, someone recently told me that they were cotton mountian biking in summer because all the high tech wicking fabrics dry out so fast they don't retain any moisture to keep you cool. I'd never thought about it that way, but it's true. I tend to dump water on myself while riding in the summer and dry out in a few minutes. I'm thinking I might try biking in cotton to see if it actually feels better then because it stays wet.

We hiked down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon a few years ago, and of course wore all this wicking gear. When we got to the bottom the Park Ranger said the same thing: it's actually better to wear cotton because it keeps you damper, and that keeps you cooler. Might be a good idea for that, but you definitely don't want to be wet skiing!

 

[SkiNurse]

Jeans!!! Especially if you don't wear a waterproof pant over them.

 

[Kiragirl]

Jeans!!! Especially if you don't wear a waterproof pant over them.

ditto! and they leave a blue streak if you wipe out!

 

[SnowHot]

Eye liner or mascara!

 

[itri]

Um, how about a cowboy hat?

Yes, I've seen more than one of those on the Colorado slopes...

 

[SkiNurse]

Um, how about a cowboy hat?

Yes, I've seen more than one of those on the Colorado slopes...

Ooo, but it is SUCH a good look on Billy Kidd from Steamboat!

 

[itri]

HE can pull it off!

Joe Schmo Cowboy from certain very large states down south, um, not so much...

 

[bklyn]

- Don't wear two pairs of socks.
- Don't wear head to toe white ski suits when it's snowing.

 

[geargrrl]

I don't get the fashion commentary. I mean, so what if someone wants to wear a stupid looking hat, or a funny color ski suit, or makeup? It's not contagious, you know.

gg

 

[altagirl]

I don't get the fashion commentary. I mean, so what if someone wants to wear a stupid looking hat, or a funny color ski suit, or makeup? It's not contagious, you know.

gg

I was kindof thinking the same thing. Wearing clothes that get wet and stay wet can be dangerous in the cold. Wearing head to toe white in a blizzard can be dangerous as people can't see you if you're injured or lost - or could just plain run into you in low visibility. Wearing thick or multiple layers of socks is like asking for your feet to hurt - get your boots fitted correctly instead.

But - oddball hats, makeup (I'm certainly not wasting time making an extra stop at home to clean any makeup I might be wearing off before I go skiing if I was at work first...), goofy or unfashionable clothes... to each their own.

 

[altagirl]

ditto! and they leave a blue streak if you wipe out!

Now that's never occurred to me among the reasons not to wear jeans skiing! All I can think of is that WOW the snow surface has got to be brutal if it scrapes the color off of jeans....

 

[ski diva]

Another thing not to wear: a thick hat underneath your helmet. A properly fitting helmet should be snug against the head (not tight, just snug). Plus helmets are warm enough without a hat. A thin liner is one thing, but a thick hat means your helmet is just too big!

 

[Shellski]

Exposed midriffs.. or bare skin, even if it the sun is out, it's still not summer!!