Best ski trousers or snowboard trousers
What are the best ski or snowboard trousers for you?
Here’s the breakdown of what you need to know when you’re looking for a new pair of ski or snowboard trousers! Your trousers are an essential part of your gear, keeping your lower body warm and dry. Breathability and water resistance are key factors so make sure the trousers have at least 10K water resistance. Check that the fit suits your chosen sport; a looser fit for snowboarding can be helpful and is good for layering. Go for softshell trousers if you want ultimate flexibility.
Remember that what you wear on the slopes should be an extension of your body, allowing for every kind of movement. Consider extra features like ventilation zippers and shaped legs for even more comfort. Just keep on reading to learn what all this means.
Table of contents
What’s the difference between ski and snowboard trousers?
The difference between ski and snowboard trousers, in a nutshell, is fit and length. You just have look at the kind of actions involved in each sport to understand the need for a different shape.
Snowboarders tend to move their body more and this makes a looser fit more comfortable. The extra fabric allows for unrestricted movement and more room for layers. A skier wants to be more aerodynamic, making a slim fit with a more tailored shape a better choice. This doesn’t mean tight fit, there should be room for layers too.
Both ski and snowboard trousers are interchangeable and provide excellent protection in both sports. So you can wear ski pants for snowboarding and vice versa.
What’s the difference between insulated and softshell ski trousers?
Insulated ski trousers
Insulated ski trousers consist of a waterproof outer layer with an insulated inner layer. Most of our ski and snowboard trousers fall into this category.
Softshell ski trousers
Softshell ski trousers are made with a three-layer material. The outer layer is water-repellent and stretchy. The middle layer is both breathable and water- and wind-resistant. The inner layer is closest to the body and has a brushed finish to provide you with soft, comfortable insulation. Softshell ski trousers offer you extra freedom of movement and are highly breathable, perfect if you want to throw yourself into the slopes with abandon and energy. They are also more suitable for wearing in relatively dry conditions. For men, we have the Prthollows softshell trousers. For women, check out the Prtrelole, Prtelm and Prtlullaby. And for girls, we have the Prtproud JR and Relole JR softshell trousers.
What’s the difference between ski trousers and salopettes?
First, let's make sure everyone knows what we're talking about, because you may not have any idea what salopettes are. They are basically a type of dungarees, but for skiing or snowboarding. Salopettes and ski trousers have basically the same functions: they keep your lower body warm, comfortable and dry.
The difference? Salopettes have a chest piece at the front and braces over the shoulders, while ski trousers do not. So you could say that salopettes are trousers with extra features. The chest piece provides extra warmth and protection from the elements, and the braces keep the salopette up.
Take a look at our beautiful Prtadan denim salopette for women, for example, a real eye-catcher this season. We also have the beautiful Prtaditi ski suit this season, with a high neck and a beautiful colour for extra coverage and extra style. For toddlers, you can choose from different styles, such as the unisex Prtneutral TD salopette in beautiful colours.
What to wear under ski or snowboard trousers?
In order to stay warm when you’re out there on the slopes, you will need to layer your clothing. This can be done by wearing thermal leggings under your trousers. Some people heat up quickly when in action and need little insulation at their legs while other people stay cold. If you are the latter, add warmth by wearing our thermal leggings, look at our PVRE Green Prtzion for men and our Prtnoris and Prtclaire for women. All of these thermal items are insulating, highly breathable and feature 360degree stretch so that they will never limit your movement.
Why waterproof and breathable ski trousers?
This is super important – your trousers need to be breathable as well as waterproof. The heat and moisture generated by your body as you ski or snowboard should be able to escape. At the same time, the moisture on the outside of your trousers needs to be kept out.
How waterproof and breathable your trousers are, is expressed in two numbers. The first is in millimeters (mm) and is a measure of how waterproof a fabric is. So think of this number as the waterproof rating of the trousers.
In the case of 10K or 10 000 mm fabric this means you can place a square tube with inner dimensions of 30cm x 30cm over the trousers’ outer fabric and you could fill it with water to a height of 10 000 mm before water would begin to seep through. The higher this number, the more waterproof the fabric. 5000mm is low waterproofing, 10 000mm is average and 20 000mm is high.
The second number corresponds to the breathability of the fabric. It is measured in grams (g) of water vapour that can pass through one square metre of fabric in 24 hours, from the inside to the outside. In the case of a 20K (20,000) fabric, this would correspond to 20,000 grams.
The higher the number, the more breathable the fabric. This means that a 5,000 g fabric has low air permeability and a 20,000 g fabric is very breathable. To manually increase the breathability of your trousers, you can use the ventilation zips explained later in this guide.
Looking for trousers with a waterproof rating of 20,000 mm? Check out our Prtmikado and Prthollows models for men or our Prtcarmackos for women. These trousers have a waterproof rating of 20,000 mm and a breathability rating of 20,000 g. 20K trousers are ideal for wearing in extreme weather conditions or if you are often in contact with deep snow.
For 10,000 mm waterproofing, we have a number of fantastic trousers to choose from. For men, for example, we have the Prtchester and the Prtrowens. For women, there is the Prttuuli, and for children, there is the Prtspikety JR for boys and the fantastic Prtclassys JR for girls. All these trousers have a water resistance of 10,000 mm, which means that the material is water-repellent on the outside and breathable on the inside. In general, you can be sure that any ski or snowboard trousers with a waterproof rating of 10K or higher will keep you dry and comfortable as you throw yourself into the mountains. If you expect to be skiing or snowboarding off-piste all day, then 20K is more suitable.
Why taped / sealed seams in your ski trousers?
Instead of just being sewn together, the seams can also be taped on the inside. With taped seams, tape is applied to a seam and sealed using heat. If you are looking for ski or snowboard trousers that are highly waterproof, they should have seams that have been treated in this way. This ensures that no water can penetrate through the stitching.
If the seams are not sealed, there is a greater chance that water will eventually seep through these vulnerable areas and you will still get wet. Critically taped seams are sealed seams located in the most important areas, usually around the waist and knees, to provide protection against snow and water penetration.
Why are ski trouser zippers important?
All of our zippers are high quality. A zipper is a small element in your trousers but a very important part. If it malfunctions, you’re either not getting in or not getting out of your trousers! That’s why we use YKK zippers, which stand for quality and reliability. Most of our zippers come with a pull, which makes it easier to unzip pockets and others zippers with your gloves on.
Some of our ski and snowboard trousers, like the Prtmikado for men, have water-repellent zippers. This means that the zipper’s design is tailored to be water resistant. It is also coated with a vinyl material that makes it water-repellent. Some of our trousers have short zippers at the ankles to make it easier to get your boots off – handy.
Why vents on your ski trousers?
Most of our trousers have zippers at the legs; these are called vents. Perfect for allowing extra airflow, inner leg ventilation zips can let more air in through a mesh lining to prevent overheating.
Why suspenders on your ski trousers?
Why suspenders? Your trousers will stay exactly where you want them, no moving around or falling down. You can even use them to adjust the height of your trousers and you don’t have to wear a belt that is tight and uncomfortable. The suspenders have a cross back that keeps them from falling off your shoulders. Most of our trousers come with suspenders and these are detachable. Check out our ski suspenders for men and ski suspenders for women.
How to find the perfect ski trouser fit?
Okay now we’re going to talk fit. The fit you need depends on what you’re going to be doing out there on the slopes.
Regular
Regular fit is suitable for pretty much anything. You can easily add thermal layers under a regular fit pair of trousers. Typically regular fit trousers have an inseam that runs straight down the leg. Check out our Prtowens trousers for men and our Prtcarmackos for women.
Slim
Slim fit is sometimes also called technical fit. Slim fit trousers are more tailored to the legs’ shape and are therefore more aerodynamic and offer greater freedom of movement. These trousers are perfect for carving down the mountain. See our Prtchester for men and our Prtelm softshell trousers for women.
How to find the right trouser size?
What size ski trousers do you need? To figure out which size ski and snowboard trousers you should order, take a look at our size guide Trousers should fit comfortably around the waist. Remember to leave some room for layers underneath. When trying on trousers it is best to have leggings or thermal underneath so you can get an idea of fit. Our trousers come with an adjustable waist so you can perfect the fit.
When are your ski trousers too long?
Your ski and snowboard trousers should be slightly longer than your regular trousers but not so long that they get caught in your bindings! A rule of thumb is that they reach to just below your ankle bone. This extra length is so that the trouser leg partially covers your boots. This helps prevent snow entering your boots and keeps you warm and protected. If possible, It is best to try the trousers on with your boots to see if your trouser leg fits over your boot easily and doesn’t restrict your movement. For the women who haven’t got the world’s longest legs or if you just prefer a short trouser leg, check out our Prtvoleta snow trousers.
Should you wear your trousers in your snow boots?
The short answer is no. An important function of the trouser leg is to help keep the snow out of your boots – nobody wants wet feet. Inside the trousers, at the ankle, there is usually also an elasticated boot gaiter that you bring down around your boot to stop snow getting in. So you have two layers of protection. If possible, it’s best to try your trousers on with your boots to see if your trouser leg fits nicely over the boot.
Why do colour and print on trousers matter?
Colour adds an extra dimension to everything. A dull pair of trousers suddenly becomes incredibly cool with a dose of colour. So what are you looking for? A bright colour will make you stand out on the slopes and looks great against a snow-white background. Another advantage of a striking colour is that your friends will always be able to recognise you on the slopes. On the other hand, a more subtle colour is more timeless and easier to combine with items from your wardrobe.
Another great way to brighten up your winter wardrobe is to use prints. Protest is known for its street looks on the slopes, so you'll find fantastic trendy prints on our trousers. For women, we have the Prttuuli with a beautiful leopard print.
What else to look for?
Here are other extras which you can look for in your new snow trousers:
Pre-shaped legs
This is when the legs of the snow trousers are pre-shaped in order to match the natural bend and flex of your knees. This adds flexibility, allowing for all sorts of moves.
Boot gaiters
Boot gaiters are elasticated cuffs which are attached to the inside of the snow trousers. The elastic band will make sure that the boot cuff fits securely over your boot to keep out any snow when you’re shredding on the hill.
Scuff guards
The bottom of your snow trousers can see some wear and tear. A scuff guard is an extra durable piece of fabric that is positioned on the inside of the ankle of the snow trousers. This helps prevents the end of the snow trousers from fraying.
Conclusion
Well done! You’ve just completed your crash course on everything you need to know when choosing the best ski and snowboard trousers. You’ve learnt about types of trousers, water resistance, breathability, fit, length, vents, seams, layering, zippers and more. This is a great foundation to start your search. Good luck finding your perfect trousers and if we can help out, let us know by contacting customerservice@protest.eu. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.