What to Wear Skiing: Layering and Renting Ski Clothing

Being cold and being sweaty end a ski day equally fast. The secret of the right clothing isn't thickness but layers: three separate layers that move moisture away from your body, hold in warmth and keep wind and snow out. This guide covers what to wear, what you can rent and what you should always bring yourself.

The three-layer rule

1. Base layer: keeps your skin dry

The layer against your skin is there to move sweat away from your body. Merino wool or synthetic thermal tops and leggings are ideal.

Avoid cotton. Cotton soaks up sweat, stays wet, and wet fabric draws heat from your body very fast. A cotton T-shirt is the number-one reason people get cold skiing.

2. Mid layer: holds warmth

A fleece, a thin wool jumper or a light insulated vest forms this layer. It's the one you add or remove depending on the cold. At very cold resorts such as Palandöken and Sarıkamış, you'll need a thick mid layer; on a mild day, a thin fleece is enough.

3. Outer layer: blocks wind and water

Your ski jacket and ski trousers should be waterproof and windproof. Sit on the snow or fall over in jeans and they're soaked in minutes. On mild days with wet snow, such as at Kartepe, waterproofing matters even more.

Small but crucial items

• Socks: a single, ski-specific pair. Thick cotton socks or two pairs wrinkle inside the boot and make your feet cold. More in our ski boot guide.
• Gloves: waterproof ski gloves. If you feel the cold, mittens are warmer.
• Neck warmer: protects your neck and lower face from the wind.
• Beanie or helmet liner: a thick beanie ruins a helmet's fit; a thin helmet liner is enough.
• Sunscreen and lip balm: snow reflects sunlight; your face can burn even on overcast days.

What to rent and what to bring

Many rental shops rent ski jackets and trousers. That's very practical if you ski once a year or are travelling by plane. But some items are better brought than rented, for hygiene and comfort:

• Can be rented: jacket, trousers, one-piece snowsuit (especially for kids), helmet, goggles.
• Bring your own: base layers, socks, gloves, neck warmer, mid layer.

If you plan to rent clothing, ask the shop in advance; not every shop offers it. You can see which shops rent clothing under "Services" in our list of rental shops.

Adjusting through the day

• You get cold waiting on the chairlift and warm on the way down. Use your jacket's vent zips.
• Dry wet gloves and socks at lunch; bring a spare pair of socks if you can.
• If you feel sweaty, take a layer off. A sweaty base layer makes you colder in the afternoon wind.
• When checking the forecast, go by the temperature and wind at the summit, not at the base; it gets noticeably colder as you go up, and wind lowers the felt temperature even further.

A note for kids

Children get cold and wet much faster than adults. A waterproof snowsuit, mittens and spare socks are essentials in a child's bag. See our guide to renting kids' gear for more, and our helmet and goggles guide for head and eye protection.