Bit of an embarassing question really but I'm going skiing in january (on-piste) and really i'm not sure what kind of clothing is required. 

I've got thermals, some decent gloves and a columbia ski jacket plus various technical t-shirts etc. which I use for winter mountain stuff.

It's just the legs that confuse me! I had my eye on this pant from Columbia which is fairly cheap at 50 quid? (see link) Just not sure what I should wear underneath! 

 Thanks for any help!

example pant from snow+rock

When I go skiing, in February, I wear merino wool long johns and a pair of gore tex waterproof salopettes, ones I use for walking, just waterproof no insulation. I find thats warm enough for me.

But most ski designed salopettes are slightly insulated, helps keep you warm on the ski lifts. This is what most people buy.

Definatly get something with braces, they keep you wamer, stops snow going down your trousers and stops them falling down.

You can pick up some pretty decent ski stuff at TKmaxx or decathlon.

The snow and rock ones look ideal.

Have a great time skiing.

Yes, for downhilling those look fine, and may well be all you need. If it's really cold while you're there you could be ready to wear baselayer longjohns underneath, but you may not need them. Either merino or polypropelene ones will do fine, or (as I prefer) longish socks and cycling-shorts-length trunks.

If you're not too proud then a cheap and effective alternative is to buy a pair of women's woolly tights and cut the feet off!!  

if they're just a shell then you'll probably need some leggings underneath - ladies tights are cheap and effective (but not the fishnets). if they have insulation then you probably won't need anything beneath.

are you going to learn neil? skiiing, even what looks like just standing around for learning is a heat producing exercise and you'll find you'll warm up very quickly.

..unless you are in a class of 12 and you spend most of day 1, 2 and 3 watching the other 11 learn to walk up a hill and do a wee snowplough....then repeat.

From lesson experience, my tip is:

Private lesson, private lesson, private lesson.

Learn in two hours what it would take a week in a big class. Seems dear for two hours but works out cheaper in the long run and then you're free all week instead of being tied to lessons. 

Where you're going makes a difference.  Canadian Rockies in January you're looking at daily ambients of -20C, where you really want pretty serious face protection, but the Alps is much more temperate and a hat is usally enough.

One thing that IMHO is well worth extra inverstment is a pair of dedicated ski socks with a padded shin area.  Downhill piste boots are not the last word in comfort, and spending a tenner or thereabouts on some quality ski socks (I have and like Smartwool and Bridgedale examples) can help considerably, which in turn means more chance of fun and less chance of "but I'm in agony from these boots!".

Pete. 

What to wear for skiing?

Thanks everyone,

I'm going to the Alps with snoworks. Not private lessons but 3-4hrs/day tuition with I hope < 6 people/instructor. They promise video analysis which should be fun with some wine in the evening!

I'll get onto the socks then, Peter. NJP, I don't really get cold legs so I'll probably just wear my thermal leggings + salopettes. Just need to choose my goggles with a week to go now.

Might have time for a bit of skiing at that new Manchester indoor slope also before I go.

Neil.

Here you go, this is deffinatley in for the 2008 season.

Sorry mate just taking the Piste

Venting is more useful in ski gear than anything else as it can be harder to use layers - few people want to carry a daysack (though schools like Warren Smith insist on it - food, water, emergency stuff so you can also stow a layer) and it can be a bit cold to strip off and remove a mid layer apart from over a glass of gluwein.

I found that insulated trousers were perfect in warmer ski conditions, you would want base layer pants on under non-insulated troos wherever you are - personally ladies tights would no way be enoug for me.  I agree about the socks but also be careful that they fit you well for boots in the hire shop.  I had SUCH pain in my calves last time - I was only there 3 days and couldn't be ar*ed to go back and change them - they had felt okay in the shop but plainly were too tight or not the right shape.

I just finished getting my ski gear today; salomon ski socks (1x pair of so-called adventure skiing (thinner) and 2x pair of recreational (thicker)) both with calf support and bought at TKMAXX, a couple more mid-level micro-fleeces, 1x base layer merino 'long johns/tights', a nice north face hat which feels a bit thin but looks good (can fit it over one of my olympus sports running hats), insulated 'groovestar nz' ski pants  from TKMAXX (50 quid reduced from supposedly 100 quid) and some cebe goggles from Blacks (20 quid). 

Anyway 200 quid in total on gear today. I'm avoiding adding all that to make a total cost with my ski pass, ski rental etc. but I think 1500 quid is a likely total for 5 days skiing.

Cheers,

Neil.