Dress for success. To fully enjoy your day on the mountain, you need to dress properly for the conditions. We talked to the experts at Helly Hansen about the importance of layering to help keep you warm.
Here are a few tips:
1. A strong foundation: your base layer. Make a smart first choice with a high quality performance base layer. The role of your base layer is to wick moisture away from your body, before it starts stealing your precious body heat. If you want to stay warm, you’ll need to stay dry.
The type of baselayer you choose will depend on your activity level and how cold it is on the mountain. For example, if you primarily "earn your turns" by hiking, skinning up the mountain or cross-country skiing, you will most likely produce a lot heat and sweat. Your optimal baselayer should be light and focus primarily on moisture transfer. A great choice is Helly Hansen’s HH Dry Stripe Crew.
If you primarily ski or ride at a resort and use chairlifts to get to the top of the mountain, you’ll need a baselayer that can keep you dry and wick moisture away from your skin while you’re working hard on the way down the mountain, but also keep you warm for the chairlift ride back up to the top. A fantastic choice for you is Helly Hansen’s HH Warm Ice Crew .
2. Your midlayer. This is the second crucial component in your layering system. It has two functions: to provide insulation while simultaneously moving moisture from your baselayer even further away from your body. There are many different types of midlayers, from fleece to synthetic insulators. The choice really depends on how much warmth you need. A great option if you’re looking for fleece is the Helly Hansen Velocity Fleece . If you’re looking for the best insulator money can buy, then go with our favorite – the Odin Isolator.
3. Outerwear: fashion and function. To complete your 3-layer system, choose a jacket and pants based on looks and, almost more important, performance. You want your jacket and pants to serve as a barrier against the elements to keep snow, wind and rain out while still allowing your body to breathe. Look for outerwear that has fully taped seams - this will ensure a much happier and drier day.
If you ski or ride through closing day and tend to enjoy spring skiing and riding, a shell jacket with pants is a good choice. You will need to layer underneath on colder winter days but can shed a layer or two during the spring to offer more versatility. The Helly Hansen Verglas Jacket is a great choice for performance shells.
If you ski and ride all winter long and are looking for maximum warmth, look for an insulated outerwear setup, such as the Helly Hansen Alpha Jacket.
If you're smart and savvy about layering, you'll be warm, dry and comfortable, which will set the stage for a happier, more epic day on the mountain no matter what the conditions.