A good ski jacket is a necessity for any winter activity. It protects you from the elements, provides warmth and keeps you dry.
But it’s not enough to just look at a jacket and assume that it will fit right.
You need to know how to choose a jacket that will provide the best possible protection in your specific conditions and then learn how to check whether it fits properly once you get home.
Shoulders
Shoulder fit is the most important aspect of your ski jacket. The shoulders should be broad enough to fit over your ski jacket, and they should allow for freedom of movement.
If you’re in doubt about shoulder size, make sure that the coat is a little big on you so that it will have room to move freely while skiing (or whatever activity you’ll be doing).
This can be difficult with women’s jackets because many are designed to be more fitted than men’s jackets. If you need help finding a good fit for your arms and shoulders, try these tips:
- Try different styles and brands if necessary
- Go into the dressing room at least twenty minutes before closing time so there won’t be any pressure from store employees urging you to hurry up and make a decision
Length
If you’re like most people, you probably think that your ski jacket should be long enough to cover your bum and thighs.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the length of the jacket should actually be long enough to cover your lower back, knees and shins as well.
This ensures that there’s no chance of snow getting on these sensitive areas when you’re skiing downhill at high speeds.
Sleeves
Sleeves should be long enough to cover your wrists and fit snugly so that the jacket doesn’t allow cold air or snow into the sleeve.
If you have the option of zipping up your jacket, this will ensure that no snow gets in through the bottom part of your sleeves.
The upper arm area should be tight enough so that wind can’t blow around or through it, but not too tight that it is uncomfortable when you are wearing a shell over your ski pants.
Hood Coverage
A good ski jacket will have a hood that is big enough to fit over your helmet. It should also be adjustable, so you can tighten it up if you need to. If you don’t have a helmet, then the hood should still be warm and waterproof.
A nice ski jacket will have a drawstring on its hood so that it can be tightened around your face when necessary.
Wrist Cuffs
- The wrist cuffs should be snug, but not tight. If you have to struggle to get the jacket on over your hands, it’s too small.
- They should be long enough to cover your wrists when gloved and fastened.
- If the material isn’t designed for this purpose (like fleece), check that there is a soft inner surface that will touch your skin and keep it warm when you’re wearing gloves.
Ski jackets should fit you well in shoulders, length and sleeves
- Shoulders: Ski jackets should fit well in the shoulders. Too tight and it will restrict your movement, making it difficult to lift your arms above your head or grab onto things. Too loose, and you won’t be able to stay warm while skiing because your body heat will escape out of the gap between the jacket and sweater.
- Length: The length of a ski jacket should be long enough so that it covers your hips and bottom when falling forward or sitting down on the snow. You want as little exposed skin as possible since this is where you lose heat most quickly when skiing in cold weather.
- Sleeves: Cuffs should be tight enough so that snow doesn’t enter through them but not too tight that they are uncomfortable or constrict blood flow in your wrist (which could cause frostbite).
Conclusion
If you want to look good and be comfortable on the slopes, it’s important that your ski jacket fits properly. You don’t want it to be too loose or too tight, so keep these tips in mind when shopping for a new jacket.
