[Closed] Ski wear advice for first timer

On a nice day in March it will be fine. On a foul day in December with falling sleet low down and a blizzard high up you'll need lots of layers under it and still wind up with a wet bum and shoulders.

Edit: what do you already own? If you have a jacket suitable for a British Winter it's probably better than that. I bet you have a few fleeces. You can pick up good, properly waterproof ski trousers in resorts for about 80e.

I would say you can probably get decent kit a bit cheaper than that especially if this is your first time and you're not sure if you'll go again. just like cycling, layering is the key and usually unless you're in a blizzard, you'll get hot quickly and stay hot.

but if you're happy buying that then it looks fine. Make sure you buy excellent gloves, take a nice warm hat and you do of course have sun glasses?

I've bought all my current kit off ebay. People go once, decide it's not as sexy as everyone said it was, i.e. you have to do exercise, and then sell their clothes on ebay.

Apart from that coat I bought which the bloke said fit him and he was a 40 inch chest. Well it might fit you mate but you haven't got a 40 inch chest. 50 inch maybe.

Check out TK Maxx, you;ll probably pick up equivalent gear for the same or less, and be able to try for size. If you have mates who can loan you stuff, consider that first as you may not get on with skiing

As above, if you have decent outdoor gear anyway, there's probably very little ski-specific stuff that you need. Decent waterproof shell and pants, fleeces, wicking tops etc. If you've got bibtights for cycling they'll work a treat under waterproof trousers.

One area I would concentrate on is gloves. If you're a learner you'll be falling on your bum a fair bit and pushing yourself up off the snow, so your gloves need to be waterproof and warm.

Cheers for the responses, had a quick look in TK Maxx earlier but there wasn't much in my size, will try again another time. I should be alright for layers underneath as I have multiple base layers and fleece layers from cycling. Going in early Feb BTW.

The dare2be clothing seems to size up funny, there was a bunch of people on the forum who all got cycling jackets on the cheap from dare2be direct and the sizing seemed a bit all over the shop. There was pages and pages of swap Medium for Large etc.

I just use my walking kit. Water proof trousers over some long johns and a jackets over a thermal/t-shirt combo. Never had a problem and super cheap. It’s an expensive hobby and any money saved is a bonus.

Good ideas about GLOVES, layering etc above.

Remember LP is a big resort with large altitude difference from the glacier down and with big variations in temperature esp in February. Be prepared!

I would add more, but find it scary that I am bombarded with a skiing advert on the RHS as soon as I hit this thread.

Enjoy the holiday.

(p.s, do you live near any outlet centres. I passed thru Bicester the other day and there were some good offers in North Face)

Oh, and if it's your first time, consider boarding instead.

Forgot to mention that flexibility is important for a beginner. At times, you will have to climb/sidestep up the nursery slope and that can be hot and knackering (especially as you watch others on the lifts!), but equally you will also have some standing around and falls in the snow which will be cold and wet. Getting it right as a first timer is probably the hardest time.

One area I would concentrate on is gloves. If you're a learner you'll be falling on your bum a fair bit and pushing yourself up off the snow, so your gloves need to be waterproof and warm.

Agreed. Idiot-strings as well. I have wrist loops on all of my ski gloves. You can guarantee you'll drop one off a lift otherwise!

Have a look in Decathlon (especially for cheap fleeces, socks, thermals etc)& those "Designer" outlook places too. There might not be much selection yet as its still a bit early in the year.

Have a look in Decathlon (especially for cheap fleeces, socks, thermals etc)& those "Designer" outlook places too. There might not be much selection yet as its still a bit early in the year.

Used to live near Cheshire Oaks but not any more, thanks for all the tips, I was planning on snowboarding, however as the rest of the group I am gong with are skiing didn't want to be antisocial, might try boarding another time if I enjoy skiing.

Any idea what an average person will be able to achieve within a week, we will be having lessons in the mornings, then on our own in the afternoons, will it be nursy slopes all week or will I be able to work up to blue slopes over the week.

[i]will I be able to work up to blue slopes over the week.[/i]

Unless you're a complete cretin, yes, easily. Especially in La Plagne, it's covered in big sweeping beginner-friendly blues.

That (blue slopes) should be easily achievable with good instruction but dont get fixated on the colour of the slope. I am sure you will have fun whatever the slope and grade of the run. There are lots of long, steady runs in LP that you may well get to during the week and some nice bars in the trees! (oops X post)

Decathlon. I got a load of ski stuff from there in Feb. Spent about the same amount and got pants, gloves, glove liners (which I never used), socks, helmet, goggles and a fleece for a ton. Bargain.

Also, get yerself in here;

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-stw-ski-snowboard-thread-the-2012-2013-season/page/5#post-4099052

🙂

Try and get a couple of intro lessons at one of the snow domes before you go to grasp the basics. You should be on blues quite quickly. It all depends on how you take to it & how good the instructor is!

Small tip - ski pants should be slightly short when you try then on for the first time - to compensate for the ski boot. The French love to point out/mock the typical Brits with baggy trousers crumpled all around the knees. Go for 1-3" less than normal inside leg IMO.

Also get some ski socks - they don't have seams like most socks.

Try and borrow some ski goggles as well.

What he said, IHN + lots ^^^^^

I ski using most of my bike stuff for base layer, it's perfect for me.

Alternatively, you could do as the dudes from Saskatchewan, where they came over to BC and skiing around in plaid shirts and jeans and brimmed hats in - 20 C, saying it felt like t-shirt weather cos they've just left home where it was - 40 C ... Brrrr

First time? Borrow don't buy. Someone you know will lend you something. Let's you find out what you actually want.

I don't feel the cold too badly and sometimes end up on the board in a tee-shirt while others are still in full jackets.

[*]Any chance smoke lenses in my DH goggles will do the job or will I burn my retinas to a crisp?