The Best Cross Country Ski Pants, Trail Tested

Discovering the best gear for winter sports activities is usually a sufficiently big battle by itself. Cross nation snowboarding requires boots, skis, and poles, however frigid temperatures additionally necessitate hat, gloves, coat, and loads of layers. What to put on for pants is usually a explicit problem; stripping or including backside layers shouldn’t be fairly as seamless on a path as shedding a jacket. 

Thankfully, materials and expertise have improved considerably for the reason that days of itchy, and sometimes smelly wool bibs. However the selections can be overwhelming, so 4 XC skiers examined near a dozen choices. These choices will provide help to hit the paths with the very best cross nation ski pants for the best day, spending much less time questioning what to put on and extra time snowboarding. 

How We Examined the Greatest Cross Nation Ski Pants

4 skiers examined quite a lot of pants from skinny and thick lengthy underwear to technical tights to Gore-Tex snow pants for whenever you really feel like shuffling by deep snow. We skied on heat days within the 40s and loads of days when the windchill dropped properly under zero. 

Testers, each female and male with quite a lot of physique varieties, spent miles on trails within the Intermountain West doing intervals and time trials. We additionally skied by powder and blizzards on an area city golf course and within the excessive mountain backcountry.

Greatest Cross-Nation Ski Pants: Critiques & Suggestions

Greatest General: Craft ADV Subz Running Wind Tights 2

Shop Women’s

Key Options

• Large waistband
• Wind and waterproof cloth on entrance
• Recycled polyester brushed jersey again and decrease leg
• Flatlock seams

The Craft ADV Subz Operating Wind Tights could also be branded for operating, however they’re additionally the very best resolution I’ve discovered for a seize and go ski pant. They’re heavy sufficient for days within the 20s and even teenagers however mild and breathable sufficient to maintain you from overheating on these uncommon ski days that climb into the 40s.

The sleek cuffs tuck comfortable round your ankles and no zipper means no chafing or scorching spots the place a zipper would rub between your ankle and skate or traditional boot. The waist comes excessive sufficient to not slouch however low sufficient it doesn’t reduce into your stomach on a double pole.

Wind and waterproof Ventair Wind cloth on the knees retains the entrance of your legs heat on chilly downhills. The again is brushed jersey polyester which makes them breathable and helps them shed warmth.

One pocket is sufficiently big to tuck in automobile keys or a canine bag and might also be sufficiently big to carry your sensible cellphone relying on the mannequin (I’ve an iPhone 15, and it slid in snugly although wouldn’t zip closed excessive). They’re additionally inexpensive amongst most efficiency tight choices.

Our testers additionally tried the Rossignol Poursuite Pants that include 37.5 technology, which is designed to maintain a wearer’s physique at a steady 37.5 levels Celsius (99.5 levels Fahrenheit) and in addition dry quicker than most different supplies. Three folks skied and ran in these pants. Two famous the pants had been saggy within the higher and tight within the decrease half, however the pants match one tester completely. The one who wore them probably the most mentioned the Poursuite Pants by no means felt moist even when snowboarding exhausting or when she fell in snow. Additionally they stored her surprisingly heat for the burden. The pants don’t, nevertheless, have pockets and include a excessive waist. 

Greatest Unfastened-Becoming: Craft Pro Trail Subz Pants

Shop Women’s

Key Options

• Athletic match
• 92 % recycled polyester and eight % elastane
• Pocket on thigh
• Three small mesh pockets on again
• Adjustable drawcord
• Zippered legs

Go searching at most Nordic ski trails or definitely at race begin strains and it’s simple to suppose that every one Nordic ski gear must be skintight. And for good cause. Lycra and spandex are comfy and quick. However generally you’re in search of a technical backside that gives consolation and breathability with out strangling your legs.

If that’s the case, the Craft Professional Path Subz Pants are the very best cross-country ski pants with a relaxed match. 

They’re technical sufficient to put on alone on a chilly, quick ski, however utilitarian sufficient to throw over leggings or lengthy underwear and head out. The waist band is comfy, and the drawstring means the pants will keep in place with out cinching too tight.

The place the pants actually shine are its pockets. A deep and free facet pocket matches cell telephones or canine e-controllers however doesn’t zip shut. Two pockets on every hip are additionally loads deep for snacks or different requirements and do include zippers. Three, comparatively small, pockets on the again are good for vitality gels, snacks, kick wax, or a cork. 

If you happen to’re headed out for a protracted ski and don’t need to put on a vest or waist belt, these may very well be an important choice. They’re my go-to outer layer on chilly winter mornings after I nonetheless plan to ski exhausting. 

Greatest Shell: Patagonia’s Stormstride Pants

Shop Women’s

Key Options

• Three-layer H2No waterproof and breathable shell
• Sturdy water repellent end
• Outer-thigh vents
• Two zippered entrance cargo pockets
• Inside elastic cuff with Velcro and snap
• Outer cuff with snap and zipper
• Slim match

Hottest Nordic ski pants are nice for gliding throughout trails and never as properly suited to taking skis into the backcountry. Little or no will maintain as much as shuffling by deep snow and turn into significantly moist and chilly after a couple of falls. 

However that doesn’t imply you might want to put on your cumbersome snowmobile bibs or sledding gear. Patagonia’s Stormstride pants are the expensive but good resolution for a cross-country ski shell. 

The Stormstride has simply sufficient room to suit over a heat base layer, but is fitted and glossy sufficient to provide the freedom to ski for hours. The waistband features a Velcro elastic strap to customise a fair higher match.

I spent hours snowboarding in these over the course of winter in deep powder and stayed heat and dry. They aren’t meant for snowboarding quick on groomed trails, however are an ideal resolution to a tough ski within the backcountry or on trails with contemporary snow. They’d be significantly properly suited to somebody residing and snowboarding in an space with moist snow just like the coastal PNW, Midwest, or East. 

Anybody in search of a barely cheaper choice that gives water resistance however aren’t waterproof, strive Patagonia’s Upstride pants. The breathable cloth has a sturdy water repellent end however isn’t absolutely waterproof. They’re extra much like a delicate shell pant than a snow pant, and include massive zippered facet vents and loads of pockets. They may moist out in a backcountry bind, however they’ll hold you heat on a leisure ski anyplace from the city golf course to trails on a sunny day within the mountains.  

Learn Subsequent: Best Snow Pants

Greatest Base Layer: Patagonia Peak Mission Tights

Shop Women’s

Key Options

• Two hip, drop-in pockets
• Brushed terry again cloth
• Gusseted building
• Recycled nylon, polyester, and spandex

These tights match snuggly and have a large waistband for added consolation. They’re heat sufficient to put on alone on a sunny ski on a heat day — particularly for one thing like intervals or a time trial — however match properly beneath a light-weight outer layer or snowpants. A drawstring helps them keep put. If you happen to like layering however don’t need a lot bulk, these are an important selection. 

The Smartwool Intraknit Active Base Layer Bottom can also be a very good choice for a fair thicker lengthy underwear layer. The wool and Tencel cloth feels delicate and heat on chilly days. Paired with a water-resistant shell, you’ll keep toasty on most days particularly in the event you’re lively. They’re additionally thick and enticing sufficient to put on on their very own, although received’t present any wind or water resistance. 

Learn Subsequent: Best Thermal Underwear for Women

Most Versatile: Mammut Eiger Speed SO Hybrid Pants

Shop Women’s

Key Options

• Two thigh pockets with no zipper
• One deep again pocket with zipper
• ¾ size zippers 
• Gusset crotch
• Venting on the again

The SO Hybrid Pants are surprisingly heat for his or her weight. They’re marketed as a delicate shell however are a lot lighter than the Patagonia delicate shell pants. These could be worn on their very own for a tough ski on trails, however actually shine as a wind-resistant outer layer over a ski swimsuit or lengthy underwear. 

One tester famous their comfort as a shell that may be simply unzipped and eliminated over ski boots earlier than a race or after a warmup. The thigh pockets are giant sufficient for a sensible cellphone, and whereas they don’t zip, they do have flaps excessive that hold snow out and kit in. The zippers additionally unzip from the highest and backside to permit venting. 

Learn how to Select the Greatest Cross Nation Ski Pants

Put on too many layers, you’re sure to overheat and get sweaty and chilly. Not sufficient layers leaves you chilly from the start, which might generally be salvageable by mid-ski, however different instances leads to a shiver down deep, cured solely by cranking the warmth in your car and a scorching bathe again dwelling. Before you purchase the primary pair of ski pants you discover, first contemplate the place you’ll be sporting them and in what sorts of situations. 

Will you be snowboarding comparatively slowly in parks, on golf programs or off trails with household and mates? Will you be within the backcountry in inclement climate? Or will you largely ski at a quick tempo on groomed trails? When you reply these questions, then additionally contemplate in the event you’re curious about layering or need one pair of pants. 

FAQs

Remaining Ideas On the Greatest Cross Nation Ski Pants

Discovering the very best cross nation ski pants shouldn’t be the toughest half about gearing as much as go snowboarding, however a area of choices could make it difficult. Before you purchase one thing, take into consideration the temperatures you most frequently ski in, and the way exhausting you intend on pushing it whenever you go. Are you snowboarding primarily for health the place you retain your coronary heart charge excessive or are you snowboarding with family and friends the place you’ll be going slower. Will you be staying on groomed trails or veering off into the backcountry? Lastly, contemplate in the event you thoughts having layers or in the event you would like the simplicity of a single pant.