Ski Season is (almost) here!

Part 3 - What to wear at the ski trip/mountain/resort

Now it is time to go into more detail. In Part 3, we will go into detail about your mid layer (i.e. fleece in this context) and how to choose it carefully.

This blog series should help you make informed decisions in buying, packing and using your gear.

Let's quickly remember our top layers from previous post:

1) A trustworthy, thermal thickness/knit wool or synthetic base layer, like our Lightning series thermal tops

2) A mid layer, usually a moisture wicking fleece hoodie (skip this in end-season or spring ski days, 50F+, or if you already run too hot)

3) An outer layer, a waterproof ski jacket or a waterproof ski shell

We will focus on #2 and #3 here.

How to choose the best mid layer in the ski day?

Remember the picture above, again? That's our founder, at a ski resort in US Northeast, taking a break.

But it also shows perfectly the layers you should be bringing along.

Skiing is a very active adventure, so it is crucial to dress right to avoid both getting cold and overheating issues.

The Objective

Objective with mid layers is to continue the moisture-wicking initiated by your base layer and provide additional warmth.

The goal is to manage that sweat (moisture) effectively so that you can focus on your skiing and fun.

Mid layers not only provide extra layer of warmth for your ski adventure but also help you continue to wick moisture, ideally provide a hood to protect your ears and head.

They also provide extra pockets so you can carry more small stuff, if you need.

This will be packed with information, as promised.

Buckle up and let's dive right in.

Ski Clothing 101

Mid Layers

Quick but detailed information to digest:

- Never choose a cotton or a cotton blend mid layer.

- You got two fabric options: wool or synthetics (polyester and nylon, aka plastics). Because, these two wick moisture (i.e. take your sweat from the skin and moves outward, which is a must for moisture management)

- Both options comes with various benefits when it comes to a mid layer.

- Plastics will dry faster, be more durable (wool is durable too) and sadly, stink quicker.

- Wool will be overall softer, more comfortable and odor resistant.

What is the best fabric then?

- We actually recommend the best of both worlds here, buying a blend. Ideally the fleece should have more than 50% wool to be effectively thermoregulating and odor resistant and have slightly some polyester added for added durability and faster drying.

- It is completely fine to go 100% wool here, it won't disappoint. But considering a quality garment that will serve you well, and the utility, an ideal piece would have some sort of polyester in it for benefits we listed above. Agree to disagree here.

- We never recommend going 100% polyester "wicking layers" for here. As a company stance, we aren't against plastics when used right and for a purpose, but we are completely against using plastics to cut costs. 100% polyester mid layer will stink very quickly, usually won't be as warm as wool (or will be bulkier) and won't be as soft.

- It is totally okay to use it if you already have it, but the difference between the two is big. So if you are shopping around, we don't recommend going for it. Wool is worth the investment.

- You want a mid layer that is layerable, i.e. wearable upon a base layer comfortably and also leave room for a ski jacket on top, without being bulky.

Our upcoming fleece hoodie is a great example for this. It features very high percentage of wool and also added polyester for added durability and fast dry times. Elastane makes it even more stretchy and comfortable, working together with our best-in-class flatlock seams.

This makes it perfect for skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking or pretty much any adventure you take in chilly weather.

As Simsek Clothing Co., we don't currently have this product for sale.

We, however, are in the process of perfecting this real go-to mid layerfor all adventures,making sure it is up to Simsek's standards.

If you'd like to hear when it is dropping, stay subscribed to our list, we will let you know as soon as it is here. You can also drop us a line if you have any questions or features you wished this hoodie would have.

What thickness to wear?

Zip up fleeces are recommended to be the same thickness or slightly thicker than your base layer. 280 gsm is the sweet spot in our opinion, but anything up to 360 gsm is great, depending on how hot you run.

Hood or no hood?

This is a very important part of mid layers, especially for cold weather adventures like skiing and snowboarding.

We are totally pro-hood in this case. But not any random hood, in fact, the best zip-up mid layers feature close-fitting hoods that will protect your neck and ears without having to carry additional equipment.

This will also come in handy in windy cities where windchill significantly reduces the real-feel temperature, like where we are from, Boston.

A close-fitting hood will also fit under your snow helmet, providing extra warmth, making a balaclava redundant.

A versatile piece like this one will be your best friend in any situation whether in the mountains or in the city, hence deserving the name go-to fleece.

Take a look at our founder wearing our upcoming piece with different scenarios.

Quick notes on additional features you might want to look for:

- Double front zipper for adaptability (it is beyond us how big corporations miss this)

- Pullers on zippers (like black pullers above) is your best friend when wearing gloves.

- You'd ideally want an offset shoulder seam structure for backpacks for best bang for your buck.

- If you are purchasing a close-fitting hooded hoodie, make sure to check the chin guard to see if the manufacturer brushed the inside or not. Otherwise, it will be uncomfortable on your face. High wool compositions will usually be comfortable and may not need brushing.

How to choose the ski jacket for the ski day?

Undoubtedly, ski jackets are an important part of the ski day.

Thoughtful features could make your day better at the slopes. We will list some features you should be aware of. Rest is left your budget and taste.

Think of your ski jacket is your fleece with added features like waterproofness, windproofness and no wool.

Features you should look for in a ski jacket

- Make sure that it is waterproof. Not every brand will list their ratings sadly, but look for the ones that has at least 10,000 mm waterproof rating. To be called waterproof, a jacket has to have at least 5,000 mm rating, so 10,000 is a good starting point. The more the better.

- Make sure the DWR and the membrane the jacket uses is PFAS-free.

- There is also breathability ratings. 10,000 g/m^2/24h is a good starting point. The higher the better.

- A powder skirt could help keep out snow.

- Choose nylon blends ideally, not polyester.

- You'll still want features like pockets, zipper pullers, brushed chin guard, helmet compatible hood. Most jackets in the market have them. Make sure to test before buying.

- You'll ideally want 3L jackets for the maximum performance, but a 2L or 2.5L jacket from a prominent brand will work especially for beginners. What does this mean? Out of scope of this post. Shoot us an email  if you'd like more information.

- Pit zips are nice in case you want to dump heat. We don't see it as an essential feature but definitely nice to have in case of overheating.

Insulated ski jackets or ski shells?

- This is a bit personal. We love insulated ski jackets and with our layering system, we were able to ski as low as 15F weather with high wind. We didn't sweat on a 25F day either.

- However, if you run hot and think insulated jackets on top of the two layers you are already wearing are too much, a ski shell will be enough for you. Usually ski shells have the same snow-specific features, so you should be good to go.

Can you use your rain jacket for skiing?

- Technically yes you can. But should you? Probably no. There are a couple reasons for this.

1) Biggest reason: Durability. Rain jackets aren't made to endure the mountain conditions. (think scraping against pine needles)

2) Ski jackets come with ski/lift pass holder pockets, making it convenient to pass through lift gates.

3) Ski jackets feature big pockets inside to stash your gloves when not in use. This could be a great added feature.

4) Rain jackets don't feature powder skirts. This may be useful to keep out the snow and away from your back, especially when you fall.

5) Rain jackets lack helmet compatible hood. To be fair, some do have but they mostly don't. You'd want to check this before you go. If it isn't a windy day, it may not be a problem but you'll ideally want this.

We still think that if you aren't ready for an investment yet and already have a great-performing rain jacket, you can give it a go to see if it works for you.

Things to absolutely avoid

- If you have a thick jacket, make sure to test it with other layers at home. Make sure it moves with you and not too bulky to make sure you can move freely and can focus on the adventure, not clothing on the mountains.

- Avoid all down jackets at all costs, unless manufacturer specifically says it is made for skiing.

Why? What is wrong with down? Because down is a natural material that is super good in holding heat that, in active adventures, a down jacket (especially if well made) will make you overheat for sure, no matter what you wear as other layers. Once you want to unzip to dump heat, you will get cold and it will be an unpleasant experience overall. We totally support natural materials over man-made but this is a scenario-based discouragement.

Simsek currently does not make any ski jackets so your current jacket is the best until we make one. Stay tuned.