Women's ski suit - which one to choose?
The ski suit disappeared from ski shops for many seasons, but in recent years it has made a spectacular comeback. It's not only a combination that allows you to swap ski pants and a jacket for a single outfit, but also a solution that improves thermal comfort and protection against cold and moisture.
Women's ski suit - a great comeback
For many years, the outer layer of a ski outfit meant a jacket and pants sold separately, sometimes as a set, but still as two separate garments. This happened after the introduction of waterproof materials, significantly improving user comfort. Ski suits, long known but prone to soaking and quickly losing their insulating properties, disappeared from the market. However, in recent years, the ski suit has made a comeback in a new form, made of waterproof materials with good breathability, ensuring comfort and convenience in all conditions. Today, many skiers are ditching jackets and pants for the freedom of movement provided by a ski suit.
Ski outfit - key criteria
The criteria this garment must meet are not much different from what we expect from a ski jacket or pants. Like a jacket, a suit must be, above all, waterproof. Moisture permeability is out of the question. The desired waterproof rating for ski clothing is 20,000 mm. Modern fabrics, properly utilized membranes, and special impregnations, also used by ski clothing manufacturers, protect against moisture. High water resistance is essential on the slopes. This means protection from both snow and rain. A hot body combined with soaked clothing is the worst-case scenario on the slopes, so you need clothing that will help you avoid it. Every reputable brand offering ski suits prioritizes waterproofness, as is the case with the Orlow m Kap o P women's ski suit .
Waterproofing isn't everything. Breathability should also be a key selection criterion. Of course, vapor permeability won't be as good as, say, thermal underwear, but it's crucial that the suit doesn't absorb moisture that previous layers wick away, but wicks it away. A membrane always reduces this parameter somewhat, but it's possible to find a balance between waterproofness and vapor permeability. Optimal results are at least 5,000 g/m²/24 h, and in the case of truly high-quality suits, even 20,000 g/m². This parameter is worth paying close attention to, as it will largely influence how comfortable you feel in the suit.
Ski clothing should already be windproof. This is where a membrane comes in handy, not only improving waterproofing but also guaranteeing high protection against unpleasant, cold winds.
Design may not be the most important factor, but it's not necessarily irrelevant. You can choose from classic outfits like the W Softshell Overall women's ski suit , or much more expressive options like the Mykono M Kap P fur-trimmed ski suit .
How to check thermal comfort?
Thermal comfort largely depends on the parameters mentioned above, although it's worth remembering that the fit of the suit to the body is also crucial. This is crucial because the better the fit, the more effectively the entire garment's structure works with the body. It's worth carefully reading not only the information regarding specific parameters, but also the dimensions. The same size from different manufacturers doesn't always mean the same level of fit. When it comes to suits, it's important to avoid both models that are too small and models that are too large.
The adjustable drawstrings at the waist, cuffs, and hems will also come in handy, helping you adjust the suit to your figure and ensuring it doesn't shift while riding. An additional advantage is the detachable hood, which you can wear in cooler temperatures but easily remove in warmer weather. All such features, which help you better adjust the suit to your figure and the prevailing conditions, are highly desirable.
Your thermal comfort will also depend on how you combine the suit with other layers of clothing. It's worth remembering to wear appropriate thermal underwear under the suit.
