Hi guys,

Not a regular contributor but everyone here was more than helpful in recommending a light waterproof jacket earlier in the year - Montane Atomic DT which I still think is fantastic. So I thought I'd return for some help on purchasing a skiing jacket.

I'm off to Finland for a skiing trip over new year, this will be a first for me to a country with such low temps (could be as low as -40C with windchill apparently). I'm an infrequent skier, 1-2 a year over the last 6 years or so but this has been to Canada and Europe only, neither destinations have got particulary cold tbh.

So back to topic after some background. I'm after a Jacket for skiing in and don't want to spend an absolute fortune. Want something that is going to be warm enough for Finland or a recommended outshell with some layering advice, if poss I'd like to be able to use the jacket on return but not essential as my atomic covers most of the wet weather. Haven't really got much of a clue where to start, although i stumbled accross a review of thr Furtech Claw on this site which looked a possibilty with some underlayering - thoughts / recommendation guys?

Many thanks.

Most people here would be OK recommending a Paramo Aspira Smock/Jacket for skiing, the Furtech is apparently warmer.

I have Paramo gear but only  Cascada/Velez, they do me in cold weather but (shudder) if I were to contemplate skiing (way to energetic & dangerous) I'd use my Furtech Claw as it's of a more body hugging design.

At the price it's a giveaway and the material is a delight to wear.     

I use my Velez for skiing as the massive front pocket swallows up my huge skiing gloves, hat, goggles etc. I often ski with a small backpack on but for quick gloves on/off etc you don't always have time to take it off and on all the time.   I have an (old) dedicated skiing jacket and the pockets are smaller and so less useful so I keep it for days when I need to be more 'armoured' as it is bombproof.

I have Paramo gear but only  Cascada/Velez, they do me in cold weather but (shudder) if I were to contemplate skiing (way to energetic & dangerous) I'd use my Furtech Claw as it's of a more body hugging design.

'Body-hugging' design and voluminous pockets aren't always in the same garment. 

Montane Extreme when working is VERY warm...but I find insulation value when static  isnt the best. IMHO of course !

I have a Paramo Aspira,which I think Id plumb for before the Extreme...

Montane Extreme when working is VERY warm

Yeah, skiing is a warm business! You need good insulation for cold waits on chairs but a garment which has lots of vent options for when you're working. TBH when I've been at minus 22 (never been at minus 40!!!) it's the hands, face and head which suffer most.

Edit for your last post: I can't really say for you as i don't know how cold/hot you run, but I know that Matt C has been using Aspira troos and Smock in Norway for many years.

Further edit:

How cold have you gone using the Velez and what sort of undergarments do you use with it. Cheers.

I use something like a Patagonia Exped weight base and carry a fleece gilet. When it's effing cold i.e. on a glacier at over 3000m, I'll wear the gilet but as I said, I notice the difference most in my extremities. I'll ditch the thinner gloves and sunnies and wear my Marmot Mountain Gloves (fleece inners and massive over-gauntlets), polar buff, goggles, hat and hood.

I'll stop re-editing that post and carry on here.

I feel the cold more than most (arthritis-type thing) and it is very rare indeed that my torso / legs area isn't warm enough. 

I use the Extreme now primarily for open boating,when I aint working THAT hard and gives decent protection if ( and when! ) I take a swim!

Its down to the usual how hot you run thing I think...

I was out in Norway last February, and went off on a long multiday cross-country skiing trip. The temperatures dropped to -30, but that didn't take into account the considerable windchill. For most of the time, I got away with a mid-weight Merino wool baselayer, a Rab VR smock, finished off with a full-on Goretex XCR jacket. When XC skiiing, you can work up a bit of heat, but when it started to get really cold I added my Primaloft belay jacket underneath my shell. Legs were just about ok with Powerstetch tights underneath hard shell trousers. If temperatures are as cold as you mention, take spare hats and gloves, and invest in a full face balaclava.

PS go for some thin baselayer gloves, and wear mittens (such as Buffalo) over the top- your hands will be much warmer!

ATZ

Ive read somewhere on the site,possibly in the bargain alert thread that someone is selling Aspira Jackets ( and smocks ? ) at good prices ??

Matt C, you aint got mousey coloured hair have you ? I now got an Aspira,Cascada troos and a Gregory Juxt...twins ??

Aye, two-layer gloves when it's that cold is the way to go. You can take off the over-gloves/mitts for manipulating something without losing your fingertips, though you may still end up with hotaches if it's cold enough.

Paramo Premier Retailers award-holders here should all have a lot of Aspiras with the exception of   Castleberg Sports at Settle who don't carry the range.

Full list of retailers by area here.

If you buy a discound card from Go Outdoors (about £2-3 pa) you get 20% off all Paramo ATM.

These guys have odd offers on samples.

the aspira is a baggy fit. the furtech is a close fit which won't have that much room underneath for many extra layers.

i use aspira salopettes. as the salopettes cover your upper lower back and chest you don't need so much in the way of other layers. on top a velez. i use a roll neck power dry top and a powerstretch fleece. because the fleece body hugs (it looks like you're wearing a wet suit) it traps a good layer of air so a nice deep chest zip is essential for venting. i also wear a buff thing about my neck which doubles up as a face mask on a windy chairlift. the velez hood is great for extra protection in those hanging around moments. the front pocket swallows the spare gloves/hat etc. the side zips give superb extra ventilation is needed. a pair of silk long johns under the salopettes. i've been fine in -20C like this. (i'm a crap skier and it takes me ages to get to the bottom of the hill)

Whats the difference between the standard Velez smock and the "Adventure" Velez Smock - both have a hood the only difference i can see is price! How much warmer is the aspira to the velez?

Anyone have any non Paramo recommendations just to play devils advocate?

Sorry for all the questions, everyone has been very helpful so far though, keep it coming people.

I assume this is downhill skiing, rather than proper skiing

For downhill in serious cold I'd suggest that insulation is probably going to be more useful to you than waterproofing, once the windproofing is sorted.  I imagine you could find a perfectly adequate skiing jacket with a padded lining for not very much, and certainly much less than specialist waterproof kit being mentioned here.  Have a look in Primark and TK Maxx, for example.  The hard work is being done by the ski lifts, it won't rain in those sorts of temperatures, so there's not really much need to pay over the odds for stuff assuming you're making your way up under your own steam in the rain.

Some sort of face cover (balaclava/scarf/mask) is worth having along, and have goggles as well as sunglasses (sunglasses are nicer when they work, but in falling snow or really low temperatures they're pretty hopeless compared to goggles).  Goggles with an amber or pink tint tend to work best in flat light.

You'll also want some serious gloves or mittens at those temperatures.  As usual, layering is your friend, but make sure there's enough space for layering (too tight and layers are actually colder). 

And don't forget some serious windproof trousers.  Again, primark or TK Maxx will probably provide stuff at much lower cost than specialist mountaineering suppliers that will be perfectly adequate for what's needed.

Pete.