Women's Ski Clothing

Women's Ski Clothing and Accessories

In this department you'll be able to find clothing specifically designed for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports.

In this department you'll be able to find clothing specifically designed for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports.

Layered Clothing System

The traditional layering system consists of combining separate layers: a close-fitting baselayer, an insulating mid layer and a waterproof and breathable outer layer, depending on the weather conditions and activity. Ski and snowboarding jackets and pants, however, join the mid and outer layers together so that a single garment is waterproof, breathable and insulated.

The traditional three-layer system is highly versatile, as you can wear the mid, insulating layer alone in mild weather, the waterproof and breathable shell on its own in warm, wet weather, or both together in extreme weather. This system adapts perfectly to constantly changing conditions during mountaineering activities. Changing layers to prevent overheating during uphill activity or freezing on the summit is fundamental for activities such as ski touring and alpine climbing.

However, unlike mountaineers, alpine skiers and snowboarders don't need to climb up the mountain, but they do have to sit in the cold, waiting for the chairlift to re-start, or stand in queues for ski lifts. They also need to stay warm on those long, fast ski runs.

Ski and snowboard jackets and pants respond perfectly to these needs: they keep you warm on the chairlift or when you stop to wait for your ski team and protect against air flow as you speed down the slopes. The construction is usually less bulky than wearing separate layers, for improved freedom of movement, and the padding offers protection and helps absorb impact in the event of a fall. This is why these jackets offer the highest level of comfort and performance on the slopes.

Ski-Specific Clothing

Snow jackets and pants are designed for the specific needs of skiers and snowboarders:

• Tough Outer Fabric
  The outer fabric of ski clothing is tough and durable with a non-slip finish. This rougher finish is essential, as it helps slow down sliding on hard or icy snow in the event of a fall and it is also much more resistant to tearing. As falling occurs more frequently in snow sports, this resistance and impact absorption provides the user with a layer of protection against abrasions and bruises.
• Ski-Specific Features
  Most alpine ski jackets include a pocket for your ski pass, a powder-skirt to keep out the snow, lined pockets to prevent your goggles from scratching and the RECCO avalanche rescue system.
• Extra-long Cut
  Ski jackets have a longer cut to provide greater protection in the event of a fall. Snowboarding jackets have an even longer cut for greater coverage and freedom of movement, but also to respond to the particular style generated by this activity.

Complements and Accessories

Ski complements (hats, gloves, socks) also have their own features. Hats, in particular, reflect the latest fashion trends (ever-present on the ski slopes), while manufacturers also try out new technologies and materiales to improve comfort and performance.

• Alpine ski socks are specifically designed to pad out critical areas in your feet and legs, to prevent suffering from boot pressure. These are highly recommended for anyone who has never tried them out, as they are much more comfortable and make multi-day skiing much more enjoyable.
• Ski-specific gloves are also a worthwhile investment – ergonomic, warm and durable, they have reinforcements in areas prone to abrasion and a grippy palm for your ski poles. Some also have a soft nose- or goggle-wipe feature.

As any skier or snowboarder knows, painful boots or frozen fingers can ruin a day's skiing, so these ski-specific complements can really help to overcome these situations.

Cross-Country Skiing

In cross-country skiiing, the style of activity is radically different from alpine skiing or snowboarding, and requires clothing with a different set of features. This sport requires garments designed for highly aerobic activity, such as tights with no padding and fast-drying fabrics. In fact, this kind of clothing is more similar to cycling and trail running than for alpine skiing.

Cross-Country Ski clothing has to be highly breathable, to wick perspiration away from your skin to prevent you from getting cold when you stop. This is usually achieved by using different fabrics and technology according to the body zone. Layering is also important and these should be fairly close-fitting and not bulky, to allow freedom of movement.

Having the right gloves is key for this sport. The hand-pole technique is essential for cross-country skiing; if you try this with stiff padded alpine ski gloves your technique won't be the same as with a thinner glove. However, the thickness varies from user to user as this depends on the climate and also on how fast you ski – racing conditions are not the same as day to day use.

The Right Clothes for Every Activity

The right clothing certainly plays an important part as far as comfort and performance are concerned, so always make sure you choose the right clothes and accessories for each activity. Barrabes offers a wide selection of clothing and accessories for all kinds of ski sports. Whether its alpine, freeride, snowboarding ski touring or cross-country, Barrabes has all you need: from helmets, eyewear, gloves and socks to jackets and pants.