Ski suit
Features and Benefits
For many, winter is associated with active sports. Alpine skiing is a very popular sport that brings a lot of positive impressions and helps to keep fit. However, to practice this sport, you need to choose the right clothes, so today we will look at how to choose and buy ski suits. This is a special clothing or equipment designed for such an active sport. It should be borne in mind that ordinary winter jackets and trousers will not work when skiing, as they are simply not designed for this. When skiing, you will sweat very quickly and, as a result, freeze.
The material for a high-quality ski suit is created in laboratories, where it is tested many times and only after successful tests is sent to production. Special technologies constantly improve the quality of the fabric, it becomes more and more comfortable, and also, thanks to innovative technologies, the volume of products has decreased significantly, while not losing their main functions, but only acquiring new ones.
Purpose
For skiing, you need special clothes that warm you, do not let moisture through, and at the same time have excellent breathable properties, and are also comfortable and do not hinder your movements. It is all these qualities that a ski suit has.
Racing
Ski racing overalls are designed primarily for competition and training in this sport. These suits are made of very durable materials, which, due to their elasticity, ensure full contact with the body. The main difference between racing overalls is that they do not use windproof fabric in their manufacture, because the main criteria for this suit are fast moisture removal and effective thermoregulation.
Trigger
Trigger overalls are designed for participation in various competitions. The jumpsuit has a tight-fitting special cut that allows you to increase the speed of the route. Beginning athletes also use such suits, since the coach sees in them how the arms and legs are located, this allows you to set the correct technique. Downhill suits have additional reinforced protection for the back, forearms and shins, which is necessary in this sport.
Running
Running overalls are designed for amateur athletes. Such clothes have a loose fit, are slightly insulated, and are reinforced in front with a special windproof fabric. Running overalls have similar qualities to training overalls.
walking
The main purpose of walking overalls is outdoor recreation, for example, outside the city.These are loose suits, have excellent wear resistance, and are also insulated, because during walks you move much more slowly than on the ski slope, so additional protection from the cold is required.
Training
Training suits are used by athletes in warm-ups or are often chosen by amateur athletes. This garment is a jacket that is longer at the back for extra protection and has an elasticated bottom. The sleeves of the jacket are wide, which do not hinder movement. Skinny trousers (can be with straps, like semi-overalls), as a rule, special additional wind protection in the front, and the material stretches well in the back for free movements and good ventilation.
Fashionable styles and models
Recently, designers have paid a lot of attention to the ski suit, as this thing is gaining popularity every year. New designs appear, models become more form-fitting, as in addition to classic men's styles and unisex, women's options appear.
fused
One-piece ski suits are mainly used by professional athletes. They have all the qualities that allow you to move perfectly, keep warm, and also have a special cut, thanks to which the athlete can increase speed, which is very important in competitions. The one-piece jumpsuit does not let water through, perfectly protects from the wind, it is comfortable to engage in active sports in it.
Separated
Separate overalls are mainly used by amateur athletes. Such suits consist of semi-overalls or trousers with straps and a jacket.Since this is also ski clothing, it has all the necessary technologies, creating convenience and comfort. For everyday life, a separate set is more convenient than a one-piece set; it can be worn not only in the mountains, but also in the city.
Child and teen models
Children's ski clothing has the same properties and characteristics as an adult. But it should be borne in mind that for children it is better to choose a set of jackets and trousers, since he will grow faster from overalls, it is difficult for a child to go to the toilet in it, and this is an important factor on a mountain slope. Of course, we are not talking about children - professional athletes. For them, overalls are begging in the same way as for adults. If you opt for a jacket and trousers, there are some points to consider.
It is better to choose trousers with straps, with a high waist, this will protect the lower back from snow. The jacket should be longer than the waist of the pants in order to cover the back as much as possible and prevent the snow from getting inside.
colors
There are a huge number of colors for ski suits on the market. Bright monophonic, with geometric and fantasy patterns, classic black, blue colors. Men often choose darker, more practical tones, women love bright colors that will make them stand out from the crowd. Everything is designed to ensure that you do not go unnoticed when skiing. But still, the choice of color is not a priority when buying a ski suit, and this should be remembered.
Materials and technologies
New technologies have made it possible to create membrane tissues. Be sure to have a membrane layer in a ski suit.This fabric has a porous structure that allows moisture to escape without allowing water to penetrate. In severe frosts, a jumpsuit with such a fabric will warm you perfectly. Currently, there are three types of membranes: hydrophilic, steam, combined. In hydrophilic membranes, before the moisture evaporates, condensation must form on the surface, so it is often humid in overalls with such a fabric. The essence of steam membranes is that they perfectly pass steam and repel water. Steam membranes work perfectly in very severe frost. Combined membranes combine the qualities of two membranes, as a rule, they are the best to cope with the tasks of vapor removal and water repulsion.
Modern ski clothing consists of at least three layers of different fabrics, in high-quality clothing the number of layers reaches six. Naturally, this is the outer layer, then the membrane, insulation, antiseptic, lining, impregnation. Thanks to such a number of layers, the clothes retain thermal functions, water-repellent, improve vapor permeability.
How to choose
When choosing a ski suit, you need to clearly understand what requirements it must meet. Therefore, leave the choice of colors to the very last moment. You also need to understand that not always very expensive overalls are of good quality. Carefully read the description from the manufacturer, as a rule, they always indicate all the information on the labels or in special booklets for each type of product.
When choosing the right ski suit, you need to know the level of water resistance, these are millimeters of water column (mm w.st.). If this indicator is from 10000 mm w.c. and more, the jumpsuit has excellent waterproof properties.Next, you should determine how well the suit passes steam. This is a very important factor that allows you to feel comfortable while riding and not sweat. The level of vapor permeability determines how much steam can pass per square meter per day. Here the rule also applies, the higher this coefficient, the better. For a beginner and with minimal loads, the coefficient should be about 5000 g / m2 / day; at an average load of about 10,000 g/m2/day; at strong and maximum loads 20000 gr/m2/day.
The right and high-quality ski overalls are not only overalls or trousers and a jacket, but also the right thermal underwear. Without it, the purchase of one overalls comes to naught. The right thermal underwear should not be loose on you, it should fit you well. A prerequisite for high-quality thermal underwear is its hypoallergenicity and it should not be seamless. The purpose of thermal underwear is to keep you warm and wick away sweat. As a rule, most thermal underwear is made of polyester, but you can also find sheep wool, which is a more practical option.
You can not neglect the insulation, separate from the ski overalls. It allows you not to sweat, regardless of the circumstances. Choose insulation from fleece, polartec or thinsulate. These materials perfectly retain heat, remove moisture and do not hinder your movements. Syntepon and down insulation should be discarded because of their impracticality, bulkiness, and they do not pass moisture very well; with such insulation, your body will always be wet.
Brand news
Of course, when choosing a ski suit, you can start from branded brands that have firmly established their reputation in this sport, which is an important factor. Excellent quality and style allow you to choose comfortable and comfortable clothes for sports.
Adidas
Ski suits from Adidas (Adidas) perfectly repel water, retain heat and remove moisture through the use of several layers of materials in the product. The manufacturer uses various fabric enhancers where it is especially needed - in front of the trousers, at the back at the waist. Adidas materials have excellent wear resistance.
Salomon
Ski suits from the Salomon company (Salomon) have a special three-layer insulation that protects well from snow and moisture, and also provides you with excellent ventilation. The clothes are comfortable, comfortable, do not constrain movements.
Fisher
Ski clothing of the Austrian company Fischer (Fischer) is distinguished by the production of clothing for professional athletes. These clothes are perfectly thermally insulated, fit the figure well, a special anatomical cut does not hinder movement. The company constantly develops and uses advanced technologies not in the manufacture of sportswear, but also in mountain skiing and accessories.
Swix
The Swix company (Sviks) develops clothes for active sports, using advanced technologies. Here clothes are presented not only for professionals, but also for amateurs. Ski suits have excellent thermal properties, are water repellent and allow the skin to breathe. For professionals, the company develops seamless suits specially used for competitions.
Wedze
The Wedze brand is relatively young, appeared about ten years ago, but has already managed to win and strengthen a strong position in high-quality ski clothing. Wedze uses innovative methods in the production of clothing for active sports. Fabrics have excellent water-repellent and breathable properties, products retain heat well, in addition, they have excellent wear resistance.
Odlo
Odlo overalls (Odlo) are characterized by excellent water resistance, thanks to the breathable membrane, they perfectly pass steam. The sleeves are cut according to a certain technology, which allows not to hinder movement. It is possible to adjust the cuffs, collar, hood, bottom of the jacket, trousers in the knee area.
Stylish images
Of course, designers develop ski suits, or rather, fabrics for them and color schemes to give style and exclusivity to the image. So, one of the popular trends is the Slavic Gzhel style, and even more often in new collections you can find patterns in the Baroque style. In addition, jackets and trousers are decorated with interesting embroidery and animal prints. This season in ski fashion, white is recognized as the standard of style. And jackets trimmed with hoods made of natural fox and silver fox fur are a bright individuality.
But remember that when choosing a ski suit, following fashion is not the main criterion. You should feel comfortable and cozy in the chosen model, and only then beautiful and stylish.