Getting ready to hit the slopes? Here are the clothing brands you need to know!
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Ski clothing just needs to be built differently. It has to hold up to some serious activity, which means you canโt exactly head down to your local big box store and find suitable clothing.
Good ski clothing needs to be engineered from the ground up specifically for skiing. Of course, that doesnโt make it cheap, but when you take a tumble down a slope, youโll be glad you invested in some high-quality ski gear.
Wondering what the best ski clothing brands are? Read on to find out!
The Best Overall Ski Clothing Brands
Hereโs a rundown of the ski clothing brands that provide the best balance of quality, value, and performance.
Patagonia
This shouldnโt come as a surprise, but Patagonia is one of the best all-around choices for ski apparel. Simply put, Patagoniaโs ski clothing is durable, technical, and surprisingly affordable.
Patagonia has several lines of ski and snowboard clothing that provide tons of performance. Whether you go with the lightweight SnowDrifter line or the ultra-technical PowSlayer line, youโll be sure to get long-lasting gear that will prepare you for the pistes.
Arcโteryx
This is another obvious one. Itโs no secret that Arcโteryx is a giant presence in the world of outdoor clothing, but the brand also makes some of the best ski clothing, too.
Browse Arcโteryxโs ski catalog, and youโll find insulated Gore-Tex jackets with powder skirts, pants, and bibs that are ready to tackle the backcountry. If you stick to alpine tourism and telemark skiing, youโll appreciate the sturdiness of Arcโteryx ski clothing.
The North Face
Although The North Face is a widely known outdoor brand, its ski clothing isnโt as popular as some of its other offerings. Still, The North Face is an excellent source of ski gear, from ski pants to gloves.
The North Face is a particularly good brand to shop if you tend to stick to ski resorts with more predictable terrain. While the clothing is technical, itโs not the highest-performance stuff you can get, so itโs ideal for resorts.
Outdoor Research
As its name implies, Outdoor Research is no slacker when it comes to the outdoors. The brand has plenty of warming base layers, thick beanies, and snowboard jackets to keep the cold out.
Overall, Outdoor Research is a more affordable option for ski clothing, but that also means the clothing isnโt as technical as some of the more premium brands. Itโs a solid choice if you donโt need to go super budget but also donโt want to drain your savings account.
REI Co-op
REI has been in the outdoor game for decades, but it only recently got into ski clothing. While REI carries other brands that make everything from boots to ski goggles, REI itself only offers a limited number of ski clothing options. However, what it does have is well-made (especially for the price point).
REIโs Powerbound line aims to offer a higher degree of performance at a lower price point, and the more expensive First Chair line has some specs you donโt normally see at the price point. While REI might not be a one-stop ski shop, itโs an appealing option for feature-packed outerwear.
Best Cross Country Ski Clothing Brands
Even though cross-country skiing (also called Nordic skiing) involves flatter terrain than downhill skiing, itโs still quite the workout. And you still need technical apparel that can hold up to constant motion, so here are a few brands to check out.
Swix
Swix started out as a maker of ski wax, but over the decades, itโs evolved into a full-fledged skiing brand. Today, youโll find everything from hardy mid-layer options to grippy mitts in the companyโs catalog.
Itโs a Scandinavian brand, so thereโs a healthy dose of minimalist design that youโll appreciate if you prefer to stay away from big logos and loud patterns. (And you might as well grab some of that famous ski wax while youโre at it).
Icebreaker
When putting together an outfit for skiing, youโll want to have a good base and mid layers, and it doesnโt get much better than an icebreaker. The brand focuses on high-quality base layers that provide welcome amounts of warmth and comfort.
Unlike other brands, Icebreaker is 95% plastic-free. Instead, it uses fabrics like Merino wool, lyocell, linen, and cotton to not only achieve similar performance to synthetics but also help the planet a little bit.
Helly Hansen
Founded in 1877, Helly Hansen is one of the most recognizable Norwegian outdoor brands. Much like the rest of its expansive outdoor catalog, its ski gear is minimal and durable.
While most of its products are resort-focused, Helly Hansen has some of the best ski apparel in its price range.
Itโs an excellent midrange brand that you should look at if youโre interested in upgrading from more basic ski gear. (Also, when you buy a ski jacket or pants, you get a free day of skiing from a participating resort โ pretty cool!)
Best Budget Ski Clothing Brands
By its very nature, ski clothing is expensive. After all, it needs to protect you as youโre whizzing through cold, snowy landscapes.
You also donโt want to go too cheap. Paper-thin jackets and base layers that get wet easily arenโt fun for anyone. That said, there are some brands that offer a surprising level of quality at a lower price point, and theyโre worth checking out if youโre looking for more affordable ski gear.
Columbia
Columbia has long been a go-to for affordable outdoor clothing. The companyโs selection of ski clothing gives you a lot of bang for your buck, and itโs also a good brand to shop if youโre new to skiing.
Columbiaโs entry-level essentials give you the necessary protection youโll need on the slopes. These pieces are probably best suited to downhill skiing, though some of the items are good for cross-country as well.
Craft
For cross-country and backcountry ski apparel that wonโt cost an arm and a leg, check out Craft. Craftโs wide range of affordable ski clothing is ideal for the more relaxed nature of cross-country skiing.
As of this writing, there isnโt a single item in Craftโs skiing lineup that costs more than $200. Thatโs great if youโre pinching pennies โ just keep in mind that this gear isnโt as rugged as some of the other brands on this list. If youโre new to cross-country skiing and want an easy entry point, Craft is an excellent option.
Other Great Ski Clothing Brands
Hereโs the best of the rest!
Descente
Descente is unique in the way it toes the line between skiwear and fashion pieces. Its pieces are more stylish than ski gear has any right to be, but they also perform well and are painstakingly made.
Leave it to a Japanese brand to breathe new life into an old style by infusing ski clothing with an almost designer look. Descente stuff is still somewhat hard to find in the US, but keep an eye out if this aesthetic gear is up your street.
Trew Gear
Portland-based Trew Gear makes higher-end gear for resort and backcountry skiing, so if you have a bit of a budget and want something thatโll last for years, this brand is absolutely worth a look.
While Trewโs clothing is definitely performance-focused, it looks a lot less technical than comparable ski gear. Despite that, itโs no less well-built, providing the kind of durability youโd expect from resilient ski clothing.
Aztech Mountain
If youโre looking for some of the most technical ski gear money can buy, check out Aztech Mountain. This is truly premium ski gear that means business and is built to withstand anything that gets thrown at it.
The brand has only been around since 2013, but itโs already shaken up the ski industry with its cutting-edge designs and upscale quality. If youโre serious about skiing and want clothing that does the same, Aztech might be for you.
Black Diamond
Black Diamond has historically focused on climbing gear and only recently got into the ski game. Despite its relative newness, Black Diamondโs ski gear offers some competitive features.
If youโre familiar with Black Diamond already, then youโll recognize the companyโs sleek, technical approach to design. Itโs another good brand to watch for anyone interested in midrange ski clothing.
Duluth Trading Co.
Technically speaking, Duluth Trading Co. doesnโt make ski clothing. However, if youโre accompanying a friend to a ski resort and arenโt planning on doing any skiing yourself, Duluthโs wares could be exactly what you need to handle the cold.
Duluth is known for making cheap outerwear that represents a step up in quality from big box and mall stores. While itโs not technical enough to take on the pistes, Duluth outerwear is a solid choice for spectating.
Best Ski Clothing Brands FAQ
Here are a couple of answers to common questions about ski clothing:
Is Boulder Gear a Good Brand?
Yes, Boulder Gear is a trustworthy brand with some competitive products.
Is Montecwear a Good Brand?
MONTEC (aka Montecwear) is a solid brand for more stylish skiwear.
What To Consider When Buying Ski Clothing
When shopping for ski clothing, itโs imperative to consider the type of skiing youโll be doing. Downhill skiing at a resort and ski mountaineering in the backcountry require wildly different things, so make sure to choose clothing thatโs suitable for your needs.
If you do more than one type of skiing, you might be able to find versatile skiwear that can pull double (or triple) duty, but itโs usually best to buy specialized gear for each type of skiing you plan to do.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
This article says absolutely nothing about _fit_. Which is _why_ I come to Modest Man. I can say from experience that Patagonia, while a great brand, does NOT fit short men well. How disappointing.
Colin, it’d be great to hear more about your experiences. Have certain ski pieces been iffier with sizing?
Ian, we come here for you guys to tell us what works, not the other way around.
Scott, I hear you! I asked because it’s the first time I’d heard anything about Patagonia not fitting short men well.
I completely agree with you Colin. The Modest Man blog seems to have completely lost its way. None of the new content provides any helpful information on how these clothes actually fit short guys. The brands may be great but the fit is not for us short guys.