You’ve been pushing a hard pace uphill for an hour, sweating, shedding layers as you go. But then you stop at the top, the freezing wind hits you, and within five minutes, you're shivering. This is exactly what makes ski touring so specific – and why your classic downhill skiing gear simply won't cut it. Let’s look at how to layer up so you stay comfortable both on the grinding ascent and the rewarding descent.
Why the One "Perfect" Jacket Doesn't Exist
The rule in the mountains is simple: what is extremely breathable provides little warmth. And what keeps you warm logically doesn't breathe well. The solution isn't searching for a single "miracle" jacket, but rather combining two layers that let you precisely dial in your temperature based on what lies ahead.
Mid-layer: Your First Call on Warmth
On a ski tour, your mid-layer is what provides your insulation. You'll find three different levels of warmth in our lineup, but remember – you don't need to buy all three. You just pick the one that matches your pace:
- The lightest hybrid (Grado MJ1714 / Sillaro WJ2728): Minimal insulation (Primaloft 40 g) for those of you who set a punishing pace and sweat heavily.
- The golden mean (Dirilo MJ1310 / Divera WJ2734): A hybrid mid-layer with a hood. Our long-time bestsellers for active tourers.
- Maximum warmth (Anterselvo MJ2605 / Anterselva WJ2606): Interestingly, the warmest mid-layer in our collection is a classic fleece (220 g/m²). It provides excellent warmth, but doesn't block the wind on its own.
Outer Jacket: Protection You Don't Stack
You choose your outer jacket based on the conditions you're heading into. You never stack these jackets on top of each other – you always wear just one:
- For the ascent (Volpiano MJ2710 / Volpiana WJ2714): Our new arrival and the absolute most breathable jacket in our range. You wear it on the way up and it breathes with you.
- Reliable winter protection (Rutor MJ1142 / Cesi WJ1143): The synthetic Primaloft fill has the massive advantage of keeping you warm even when you sweat through your back under a backpack or the jacket gets wet from snow. Ideal for breaks and the descent.
- For deep freezing weather (Piuro MJ2709 / Piura WJ2712): A down jacket offering the highest possible insulation in the entire collection.
Pants: Two Different Philosophies
When it comes to your legs, it all depends on how much you feel the cold.
- The first philosophy, membrane and ventilation (Soracte MP1144/MP1145): These bestsellers protect you from wind and snow and let you perfectly vent sweat during the ascent, but the warmth comes from your base layer.
- The second philosophy, full insulation (Tiniso MP2657 / Tinisa WP2658): These have insulation built right inside the legs for those of you who generally run cold.
- Tip for the ladies: The insulated Cucca WS744 skirt is a great addition to women's setups. You can zip it on and off right over your ski boots, and it's worn as an extra insulation layer over uninsulated pants.
3 Ready-to-Go Setups Based on Your Riding Style
To save you from overthinking, we’ve put together the gear for you. Find your pace:
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The Hobby Tourer (The Warmest Setup): You take it slower, you're in no rush, you enjoy the views, and you often get cold.
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The Core: Anterselvo fleece mid-layer + Piuro down jacket + Tiniso insulated pants. You get maximum insulation that you'll also appreciate on classic winter hikes.
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The Active Ski Tourer (The Most Balanced Setup): You tour regularly, hold a steady pace, and reliably sweat through your back on the hill.
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The Core: Dirilo hybrid mid-layer + Rutor synthetic jacket + Soracte membrane pants.
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The Advanced / Race Tourer (The Lightest Setup): You push hard on the verticals, count every gram, and ventilation is absolutely crucial for you.
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The Core: Grado light mid-layer + Volpiano breathable jacket + Soracte pants. (And you throw a backup jacket in your backpack for the ridge).
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Practical Tip From the Mountain: Details That Make the Difference You'll recognize the true ski touring differences in the details. You can open the ventilation zips on the thighs and underarms right on the move without stopping. The zip in the bottom hem of the pants ensures you can put them on and take them off in the parking lot without having to take off your boots. And the best part? Our insulated jackets easily pack down into their own pockets, so they won't take up unnecessary space in your backpack.
Want to dive deeper and find out exactly what the individual jacket parameters mean? Read our article on How to Choose a Ski Touring Jacket. If, on the other hand, you're hesitating about how to protect your legs from the frost, head over to our guide on How to Choose Ski Touring Pants.