When going ski touring or splitboarding, it’s important to dress smartly. You don’t want to be too cold or too warm during the journey, but how do you get it right? We’ll tell you more about different types of clothing, materials, and applications. A key feature of clothing designed for ski touring and splitboarding is that the material has a high breathability because it’s a physically demanding sport.
Leave your insulated winter sports jacket and pants at home
Beginner ski tourers and splitboarders often wear their regular insulated winter sports gear for their first tour. Understandable, because you don’t want to get cold. However, what you might not realize is that you can easily overheat. The uphill hiking involved in touring is physically intensive, which can make you too warm quickly. Wearing an insulated jacket or pants will often make you overheat. You might take your jacket off, but then you’re no longer protected from wind, rain, or snow.
Insulated clothing is therefore not recommended, but what should you wear? Depending on the conditions, we recommend choosing from:
- 3L light shell (active shell)
- 3L shell
- Softshell
Light shell clothing
Looking for clothing for tour skiing or splitboarding? Preferably in spring with nice sunshine and temperatures around freezing? Then light shell clothing is perfect. The material is lightweight, flexible and has very high breathability, which makes it perfect for uphill touring. Furthermore, a light shell is waterproof, protecting you from rain and snow. You combine the light shell with a baselayer and midlayer depending on the temperature. By applying the three-layer system, you easily adapt the clothing to the conditions.
Are you looking for light shell clothing? To help you recognize, below is a list of light shell materials and terms you often see in clothing names.
- Gore-Tex Active
- Gore-Tex C-Knit
- Dermizax NX
- LT (light)
3L shell clothing for all conditions
Do you want to tour whenever you can, regardless of the conditions? Or do you want clothing that you can use not only for touring but also for skiing, snowboarding, or other outdoor activities? Then choose a 3L hardshell. Wind and waterproof clothing made from more robust material. You usually combine a 3L hardshell with a base layer and midlayer so you can easily adjust your clothing to the conditions. The material of a 3L hardshell is thicker and less lightweight than the light variant.
There are also 3L Pro hardshells. The material of these shells is even more robust, designed primarily for freeriders. But of course, you can still use this clothing for ski touring. The downside is that the material is thicker, heavier, and less flexible. You can recognize this material by terms like 'most rugged', 'pro', or 'Dermizax EV'.
All 3L hardshell jackets for women All 3L hardshell jackets for men
Midlayer under your shell
A 3L shell has no insulation, so you combine the shell with a midlayer to add warmth. The type of midlayer you use depends on the conditions and your personal preference. A midlayer could be a jacket that adds an extra insulating layer or a vest that warms your torso without restricting arm movement.
Softshell clothing
Softshell clothing is suitable for ski tourers and splitboarders who head out in the spring when the weather is warmer. Conditions where you expect sunshine and no rain. A softshell is water-repellent, offers great comfort, and allows easy movement. Under the softshell, you might only wear a shirt—no base layer or midlayer is needed because the material feels comfortable on the skin, and you're dealing with relatively warm conditions. The fit is usually slim, and softshell clothing is easy to recognize because the word 'softshell' is often in the name of the clothing.
Useful features of touring clothing
Touring clothing often includes useful features that are handy on the go, like ventilation options. For touring, it's nice to have pants with full-length ventilation zippers that run from the hip to the bottom of the pant leg. Other useful features include a RECCO reflector, bibs, and an avalanche beacon pocket.
Gloves for touring
When ski touring, you’ll want gloves with breathability that keep your hands comfortably warm. It's also helpful to have extra grip on the palms for holding your poles.
All touring gloves for women All touring gloves for men
Hat or headband
When hiking uphill, you won’t be wearing a warm helmet. So, don’t forget to bring a hat, headband, or cap. Make sure to choose one with breathable material. Especially in warmer conditions, you want sweat to be wicked away easily so your head doesn’t become sticky and clammy.
Sunglasses
In clear weather or when the sun breaks through in a white snowy landscape, you'll want a good pair of sunglasses. A quality pair of sunglasses protects your eyes from UV light and ensures comfortable vision. Want to be fully prepared? Opt for sunglasses with photochromatic lenses, which adapt to both cloudy and sunny conditions.
All sunglasses
Tips for ski touring or splitboarding
- Bring a backpack or avalanche airbag with a helmet net and enough space for your gear, such as a midlayer, gloves, and skins.
- No or little experience? Bring a guide.
- Never go alone and make sure everyone has an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe!
