What to wear ski touring: from the climb to the descent
Ski touring poses a unique clothing problem. On the way up, the effort is hard and steady: you sweat as much as when running. At the top, wind and stopping make the perceived temperature drop within seconds. On the way down, you are back in downhill skiing conditions, sometimes in powder. That is what makes deciding what to wear ski touring so tricky: one outfit has to handle these three states, several times a day.
The answer is not a miracle garment but a strategy: set off light, manage moisture on the climb and keep the right layers within reach at the top.
The basic rule: start out a little cold
Every guide repeats it. At the car park, you should feel slightly cold. After ten minutes of skinning, your body will be producing heat at full capacity. If you set off in a warm jacket, you sweat, moisture builds up in your layers and you will pay for it at the top.
So take off your down jacket before putting your skis on, open the zips and stow your jacket in your pack. A comfortable descent starts with a dry climb.
On the way up: get rid of heat and moisture
When skinning, your outfit often comes down to a base layer, sometimes with a light shell if the wind picks up.
- Top: a zip-neck merino wool base layer, opened wide on steep slopes. 140 g/m² in mild weather, 210 g/m² in deep cold or midwinter. The Finn Zip 210 and the Bjork Zip 210 are designed for this back-and-forth. The sleeves push up easily for ventilation.
- Bottom: merino leggings under breathable ski touring trousers with thigh vents.
- Head and hands: a headband or a thin beanie such as the Säntis beanie, and light gloves. Mittens and the warm beanie stay in your pack.
The advantage of merino wool on the climb comes down to two points: it absorbs water vapour without feeling wet, and it keeps insulating when damp. The moment you stop, the difference from a soaked synthetic is immediate.
At the top: the five-minute transition
The transition is the coldest moment of the tour, and the one where you lose the most heat through poor organisation. Order matters:
- Put on the warm layer first, before you even remove your skins: a down jacket or a 300 g/m² merino jacket such as the Ultra 300 jacket, straight over your damp base layer. It will keep moving moisture outwards while you get ready.
- Swap gloves: put the damp thin gloves in an inside pocket, then put on warm gloves or mittens.
- Remove your skins, store them out of the wind, and switch boots and bindings to downhill mode.
- Close your shell, turn up the collar, and adjust your helmet or beanie and goggles.
On the descent: insulate and protect
On the way down, your setup is close to downhill skiing: base layer, mid layer and a closed jacket. The 300 g/m² merino jacket is particularly appreciated here, because it insulates without trapping the moisture built up on the climb. In very cold weather or during a long wait, a merino-lined down jacket such as the Nordend adds extra warmth for little space in your pack.
If you are doing several climbs, take off the warm layer before setting off again, even if you feel cold for the first few minutes.
Your pack: what to bring
In addition to your safety equipment, here is the clothing to pack for a day tour:
- a warm insulating layer, down jacket or 300 g/m² merino jacket;
- a windproof, waterproof jacket;
- a pair of warm gloves or mittens in addition to your thin gloves;
- a warm beanie and a neck warmer;
- if needed, a spare base layer for long tours or the trip home.
Hut-to-hut and multi-day tours
On a multi-day tour with nights in a SAC hut, every gram counts and clothes do not always dry. This is where merino wool really comes into its own: it resists odours several days in a row and only needs airing overnight. A common strategy is to bring two base layers: one for the day, and a dry one kept for the evening and night.
Never forget safety
No clothing replaces preparation. When ski touring, safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe) is essential, as is checking the SLF avalanche bulletin before every outing. If you are new to it, go with a qualified mountain guide or take a course.
What to wear ski touring: key takeaways
- Start out a little cold: the heat comes quickly on the way up.
- On the way up, a zip-neck merino base layer, 140 or 210 g/m² depending on the temperature.
- At the top, put on the warm layer first, before removing your skins.
- On the descent, three closed layers, with a 300 g/m² merino jacket or a down jacket.
Find base layers and jackets suited to ski touring in our ski collection. To choose the right weight, also read our merino wool weight guide: 140, 210 or 300 g/m².
Frequently asked questions
Which base layer is best for ski touring?
A zip-neck merino wool base layer, so you can vent. 140 g/m² if you run warm or in mild weather, 210 g/m² in midwinter. Merino keeps its insulating ability even when damp, a real advantage at the transition.
Should you bring a spare base layer?
For a short tour, it is not necessary with merino. For a long day, a multi-day tour or if you sweat a lot, a dry base layer to put on at the top or on the way back makes a real difference to your comfort.
Down jacket or wool jacket for the descent?
A down jacket offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio, ideal in deep cold or for long breaks. The 300 g/m² merino jacket is more breathable and tougher: it handles the moisture built up on the climb better and copes with rubbing from your pack. Many ski tourers combine the two depending on the weather.
