Finally holidays ! Have you planned everything? Not so sure ! Ski resort holidays take a lot of planning, so with the help of our friends at Sgambato-Ski-Shop , we'll give you a hand to pack your bags well and don't forget anything before relaxing on the slopes and eating a good raclette or a delicious Savoyard fondue!
We start with the essential technical underwear, indeed like everyone else you are afraid of being cold and pack a whole bunch of chunky sweaters to put under your awesome ski jacket and that's a common mistake. It is believed that putting on as many clothes as possible, to the point of often looking like Michelin bibendum, is better when it is without any thermal efficiency
The most effective is the so-called "3-layer" system. It consists of a first breathable skin to wick away perspiration and stay dry. We continue with the second layer which must be warm and also breathable, fleece is a very effective second layer. Then, you put on your ski jacket, the third layer, and that's it!
On the same principle, you can put on long underwear under your ski pants.
Things to remember: cotton, although very comfortable, is not your friend for skiing! Retaining moisture because of its very low breathability, it is to be banned permanently! The 3-layer system is the most effective solution to not get cold , for you and your little ones!
How to choose the right pants and ski jacket? You have found a very nice set that looks great but you don't know if it will keep you dry and warm! It's very simple, in all outfits you find two sizes:10,000/10,000, 20,000/20,000, etc...
These two measurements represent the breathability and waterproofness of your product, we recommend at least 10,000/10,000. Below, you may find yourself quickly soaked!
Especially, if you are a beginner and you fall frequently, in this case, don't hesitate to take a 20,000/20,000 outfit that will keep you dry no matter what!
After waterproofing and breathability, you will find a few additional criteria to make your choice :
It's good, we have our outfit, but we're still missing a few essentials!
A good pair of gloves or mittens is essential . Do not hesitate to put the price in this accessory, because otherwise, all that we have been able to tell you above would be useless.
Indeed, the first area of heat loss on skis is the hands , so don't hesitate to take the top to keep them warm and dry!
The famous "No, but I don't fall!" » is not acceptable!
Indeed, although it is not mandatory, the helmet is very strongly recommended , all ski professionals will tell you.
There are a multitude of types of helmet, we help you to choose it well! First of all 2 types of structures :“ABS” or “in mold » !
ABS has the advantage of being less expensive than in mold , but heavier, less well ventilated and less effective shock absorption. In short and without going too much into the manufacturing details of these helmets we recommend a helmet in mold and especially well at your size !
Then we move on to ergonomics and comfort, there are two shapes:round or oval , the oval shape is much more comfortable, it is generally found on helmets in mold .
There are then different adjustment systems with a wheel, air or no adjustment possible , there it is really felt by putting on the helmet, but small preference all the same for the air systems which are really very comfortable.
Of course, don't forget your hat , always appreciated when you are not on the slopes!
It's true that it's all starting to make a pretty suitcase; but we are not done!
Glasses , it's ideal when the sun is shining, you perfect your tan, you feel light, it's the holidays, everything is fine. But still make sure you have at least category 3 glasses , below we find ourselves quickly dazzled and it is not very good for our sight, moreover you can use polarized glasses to see the relief well by eliminating the reverberation.
But hey, when the weather gets bad, it's more pleasant to wear a mask , in case of fog, choose categories 1 and 2 which will improve your visibility, there are also so-called "photochromic" goggles which adapt to all weather conditions.
Because it is essential to protect your skin well when skiing, we finish the accessories with sunscreen and lipstick. Don't forget if you don't want to end up like a crayfish with chapped lips!
For sunscreen, do not hesitate to take an index 50 because snow has the highest reverberation index, far ahead of water or sand!
The stick , to always take with you and like sunscreen, to be renewed frequently !
Now that we know what to put in our suitcase, we continue with the equipment!
“You always have foot pain in ski pumps anyway! »
That's wrong! If you listen to our advice, you won't take them off again.
We start with the shoe size , don't take a size above your city size, a classic mistake with dramatic consequences:shoes that are too big will hurt you everywhere.
You will tell me "Yes but my toes touch the end, it hurts" ! Of course, you are right, but that is only when you put them on. Once attached and in ski position (bending the knees), the foot is replaced, the toes touch the end of the liner and everything is fine . If your toes hurt afterwards, it's because you're skiing too far back, but we'll let you see an instructor for that!
Now that we have a shoe in our size, we get a good pair of socks; no cotton, no wool, no two or three pairs stacked on top of each other, just a pair of technical socks in synthetic material!
And we end with soles , ideally molded to his feet with a professional.
You do not know what to pick ? Follow the guide!
Choose a pair that matches your level, your practice and the right size. And choose a major ski brand instead, such as Rossignol , or Dynastar or even Solomon .
For level , above all do not underestimate yourself, skis below your abilities will not allow you to take full advantage. While a pair corresponding to your abilities and a little more will allow you to progress.
As for practice , some pairs of so-called "versatile" skis allow you to ski on all snow, slopes and off-piste, it's a very good compromise to have fun in all circumstances. On the other hand, if your thing is the track, have fun and take suitable skis. If, on the other hand, what you like is large fields of powder snow on which no one has ventured, set your sights on a good pair of "fat" shoes that will give you maximum lift!
To finish the size , it is important to take into account your level and the practice to which you indulge the most, as a general rule, we take skis:
You can adjust according to the following criteria:a short ski will be more manageable but less grippy and stable than a long ski. When you start, you will tend to take a rather short ski and increase the length as you progress .
The most important thing for poles is to choose the right size .
To do this, it's very simple, you take 55 cm off your waist and you round below . For example for a skier measuring 1m77:177 – 55 =122 so poles in 120 cm.
Then, the difference will be in the ergonomics of the handle and the comfort of the wrist strap , do not hesitate to take several types of sticks in hand to see which one suits you best.
