I'm off skiing for a long weekend in a few weeks and have everything bar a decent jacket. Now I know a bike jacket such as a Stealth isn't insulated and is quite a snug fit so is more limited in what can be put under it. So insulation aside (I have loads of merino/thin fleece), assuming it's not -10C, are they suitable as an outer layer? The Stealth is pretty water resistant in my experience.
Or is it a trip to TKMaxx?
Heavy soft shell could work...some ski wear is just this.
where are you going? 'Cause it's very likely than the temp will be lower than -10
Would you want to ride regularly in a ski Jacket ?
If the answer is yes, then go for it, you'll be fine 😉
I have been skiing in a buffalo but in march.
-10c in a few weeks is highly likely.
The thought of bad weather and a bike jacket is scary.
How good are you at skiing? If you're going to be learning and falling over than something waterproof is a good idea. Don't underestimate how cold it is sitting on chairlifts...
Where and when exactly? Are you a beginner? Taking lessons?
Was -29 in Chamonix last winter in Feb, I had everything I own on. Wasn't too bad when I was skiing but the long slow lifts were bitter!
Don't forget when riding in your Stealth you will be moving most of the time. When you stop you will cool down very quickly.
Would you want to ride regularly in a ski Jacket ?
Nah - cos you can't pull the stuffing out of a ski jacket. But good points so far. Off to Cham at the end of Jan and I know it was flippin Baltic there last year. Which means it'll probably +10 this year 🙁
Don't plan on falling as I have buckets of experience. Just haven't been for a while. My old jacket doesn't seem to exist anymore and for a long weekend (3/4 days skiing) I'm planned on not buying anything new.
Plan B is some fleece and a retro Mountain Equipment Goretex shell.
I did this a long time ago when I started. My advice if you we're to do it nw would be to get a thin down gillet and wear that underneath. The small but essential loft may just be what you need
It was -30 degrees on the lifts when I went skiing last year.
Bear in mind that you don't generate as much heat when you ski as when you ride a bike.
You'll need more layers than you are suggesting.
Who knows what the temps will be like. By all reports it was -22C in Mayrhofen today.
Not being a great skier I tend to use brute force and end up getting hot, the OH is different and always feels cold (she is a lot more graceful and uses less energy). One of the worst days for me last season wasn't when it was cold temps wise, it was when it was windy and the lift kept stopping - wind chill was nasty and we barely moved for about 30 mins and froze.
Personally I wouldn't ski in a bike jacket. A snow skirt is always useful so you don't get snow up your back if you tumble. But also the number of pockets in ski jackets are useful - one for your lift pass on, big pockets for bulky gloves, inside one for piste map, camera, lip balm, pocket for goggles or sunglasses etc.... I'd struggle to carry all them in a bike jacket, keeping them in a rucksack isn't always practical.
Windchill?
I ski in scotland in a buffalo
Would i ski here in a stealth . Would i hell . Even less so if i was going abroad . Being cold makes for a misrable holiday.
Was cold enough on the lifts in july.
Was cold enough on the lifts in july
😆
That's very true! I remember arriving in Tignes in July at 10 in the morning and freezing my breasticles off (I was wearing 2 long sleeve jerseys!) - going up the lifts was super painful!
OK - cack idea. TK Maxx or retro ME it is.
That said I've had a great couple of days skiing in a t-shirt and my pass on a lanyard (April - 9C at 3,500m - 20C down at 1800). Coat was in my bag just in case.
The other reason to go to TK Maxx.... if you get a day in and decide to buy a coat in resort chances are you'll be right royally fleeced!
Surfanic seems reasonably priced if you can find a shop nearby.
Get something from TKMaxx in a "normal" colour and at least you can wear it at home too.
Retro me ftw
Its always the guys in retro kit that hand me my arse ...
look like the stepped out an aldi catalogue - except they owned it since it was fashionable and skied in it every year since.
I sometimes wear a Long sleeve base, poly fleece and a soft shell. If the soft shell is not too tight it can be ok.
Depends what you wear underneath but I wouldn't wear anything other than a proper ski jacket until at least the end of Feb.
I did my first trip in bike gear, base, fleece and gore tex.
best not to dick about in proper mountains:
[url= http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Chamonix/6day/top ]Cham 6 day forecast[/url]
Tuesday afternoon: -28, -45 with windchill, good luck with a thin softshell!
Plan B or TK Maxx IMHO. I remember some guys on my season got stuck on a chair lift for about 4 hours before being winched off.
best not to dick about in proper mountains:
This. !
Ski resorts can seem quite "safe" but people do get lost, stranded, injured, etc and proper gear can really be a life saver in those situations. Or at the very least, make life a lot more comfortable if something unforeseen happens.
Don't see why not - I think it's a rip off to buy a whole outfit for a weeks skiing, just to find the colour/fashion has changed the next year, and go thu it all again. It's just warm and waterproof clothes FFS!
Mind you, one year I wore my best Henri-Lloyd yachtie jacket on a ski holiday, didn't feel at all out of place on the pistes, until one day I fell on a 45 degree slope and took off down the mountain like I was on a sledge! Seems 'real' ski gear has a matt surface to slow you down in such circumstances whereas yachting oilies and presumably cycling waterproofs don't!
I did my first trip in a sweaty Timberland coat. It made a crappy snowboarding coat but what a holiday 🙂
Like riding its hot when your working hard and cold when your on the lift (stood chatting/waiting), especially at that time of year. TK Maxx.
Funny you should choose a stealth as an example. It's not even that warm as a cycling jacket!
Sweaty on mtb maybe, but on road with windchill it's not that great. So in snow with windchill? Hmmm. Not for me!
Depends when and where you're going. I was on the board in a base layer top and ski trousers last year. And shorts and t-shirt for mooching around the village. 20C in the afternoons.
Not sure what's silliest. The thought of bike (outer) clothing as ski clothing, or the use of a bike helmet as a ski helmet (yes this has come up before, might have been on snowHeads, might have been elsewhere). Same base layers for both is fine.
My last 2 trips have had temperatures that have not even exceeded -10C.
Last year was -29C ambient on arrival. Last week was -16 but also very windy and dumping all week. My Schoeffel padded ski jacket was starting to struggle tbh, and on the chair lifts without lids, there was much snuggling up going on to keep warm. And the vents on my ski helmet were frozen in the open position.
Plan B is [s][b]lots [/b]of fleece and a retro Mountain Equipment Goretex shell[/s] [b]ideal[/b].
oh and one of the lifts got stuck for 10 minutes, with me on it, attempting to fit in a quick 10 minute warmup 10 minutes before a moguls skills clinic 👿 This was a 10minute cooldown, and a 30sec schuss to the meeting point.
Retro is good.
Absolutely nothing wrong with fleece and shell.
oh and one of the lifts got stuck for 10 minutes, with me on it, attempting to fit in a quick 10 minute warmup 10 minutes before a moguls skills clinic This was a 10minute cooldown, and a 30sec schuss to the meeting point.
what's the phrase? 'first world problems' 😉
I fell on a 45 degree slope and took off down the mountain like I was on a sledge!
No you didn't, 45 degrees is steeper than any piste anywhere in the world [citation needed] and is seriously steep off piste teritory.
I can also confirm that real Ski gear is also seriously slippery when sliding down a hill on your arse!
Don't see why not - I think it's a rip off to buy a whole outfit for a weeks skiing, just to find the colour/fashion has changed the next year, and go thu it all again.
nobody is suggesting he should do that ?
It's just [b]warm [/b]and waterproof clothes FFS!
Which the Stealth certainly isn't !
Mind you, one year I wore my best Henri-Lloyd yachtie jacket on a ski holiday, didn't feel at all out of place on the pistes, until one day I fell on a 45 degree slope and took off down the mountain like I was on a sledge! Seems 'real' ski gear has a matt surface to slow you down in such circumstances whereas yachting oilies and presumably cycling waterproofs don't!
I've got metal pins in my left shoulder due to being cleaned up by someone doing exactly that.
Also does that not completely contradict your earlier statement ?
It's just warm and waterproof clothes FFS!
Your Plan B is usually my Plan A. ME Goretex shell, Endura Baa-Baa base, and whichever combination of 100, 200 and 300 weight fleeces is appropriate for the weather.
what's the phrase?
at the time, the phrase was more "it's frigging cold, get me off of here, ffs"
couple of girls in race skin suits at the other end of the 6-man must have been frozen
Stealth = too waterproof, not breathable enough and too cold.
Unless you're planning on falling over A LOT I'd go with good base layers and fleece.
No you didn't, 45 degrees is steeper than any piste anywhere in the world [citation needed] and is seriously steep off piste teritory.
jfletch - it was a black, but sorry I didn't have my clinometer with me - its a funny little story, thats all...
and...
nealglover - MemberDon't see why not - I think it's a rip off to buy a whole outfit for a weeks skiing, just to find the colour/fashion has changed the next year, and go thu it all again.
nobody is suggesting he should do that ?
It's just warm and waterproof clothes FFS!
Which the Stealth certainly isn't !
Mind you, one year I wore my best Henri-Lloyd yachtie jacket on a ski holiday, didn't feel at all out of place on the pistes, until one day I fell on a 45 degree slope and took off down the mountain like I was on a sledge! Seems 'real' ski gear has a matt surface to slow you down in such circumstances whereas yachting oilies and presumably cycling waterproofs don't!
I've got metal pins in my left shoulder due to being cleaned up by someone doing exactly that.
Also does that not completely contradict your earlier statement ?
nealglover - what posessed you to waste your time dissecting my post phrase by phrase I just don't know, I'm really not worth it - honestly!
You guys need to lighten up a little - no really... its Chriiiiiistmaaaaaas! 😀
I have always worn shells and stuff underneath. If the bike jacket in question keeps the water out and the wind out, and has enough room underneath for a few layers of merino and fleecy gillet, why not?
I have a ME GoreTex hardshell, a Rab vapour-rise softshell type thing, and a Norrona Softshell. I've worn all of them skiing and all of them on the bike. They are all nice.
jfletch - it was a black, but sorry I didn't have my clinometer with me - its a funny little story, thats all
Saying something like blah blah blah 45 degreee blah blah blah comes across as you going mwah, look at me, billy big balls, bow to my awesomeness.
If you don't know how steep it is, just say "steep" rather than pull some ridculously large figure out of your arse.
I ski in a Paramo Velez and Cascada trousers. I'm not sure I could fit enough insulation underneath a more closely cut cycling specific jacket (I certainly couldn't under my tiny flimsy Pocket Rocket!) but I don't see a problem with baggier cycling stuff if it has decent pockets, venting, storm baffles, cuffs, collar etc and isn't going to be easily ripped open when you crash at the top of a piste in bad weather.
jfletch - it was a black, but sorry I didn't have my clinometer with me - its a funny little story, thats allSaying something like blah blah blah 45 degreee blah blah blah comes across as you going mwah, look at me, billy big balls, bow to my awesomeness.
If you don't know how steep it is, just say "steep" rather than pull some ridculously large figure out of your arse.
Well if you'd seen me ski, you'd realise I've got absolutely nothing to brag about 😀
I really think you should take your pills and calm down a bit - your tone is getting rather offensive...
I didn't see him as bragging, I thought it was a funny story. Had me in stitches early this morning. Been there - ended up on a black as a beginner with no escape route so my friend took my skis and I went down on my bum - split me in two, I can tell you!
I've worn an Endura jacket several times skiing on warm days, where it was very welcome compared to some of my ski jackets, which were way to hot.
I don't see why it would be a problem as long as you can fit enough layers underneath to keep you warm and lets face it, if the weather is that bad you will be able to borrow or hire something suitable if necessary.
I really think you should take your pills and calm down a bit
You've got to admit your story had a whiff of Apres bar bragging about it rather than self depreciating "I slid further on my arse that I did on my skis" humour.
I'd liken it it to cake shop bragging about 6 ft drop offs and such like.
This is more humble
Been there - ended up on a black as a beginner with no escape route so my friend took my skis and I went down on my bum - split me in two, I can tell you!
Jfletch, you need to chill, I liked the wee story and it had me chuckling this morning, I certainly did it raise my eyebrows when 45 degree slope was mentioned because simply I could not care less, its all in the context of the story. Do things like that really matter to you?
You've got to admit your story had a whiff of Apres bar bragging about it
I must have missed the 'bragging' bit. It was just a little anecdote FFS 🙄
You may be ok. Two criteria - do you have something that is warm; do you have someing that is waterproof. FWIW I use trad ski jacket and lighter but more waterproof alpine jacket. Then adjust depending on conditions and use different layers. I am rarely cold in th body but it's extremities that get me eg fingers etc.
I do not know stealth but if waterproof and with suitable layering it may be ok.
Ski stuff makes MTB look a bargain!
You are not kidding.Ski stuff makes MTB look a bargain!
I came across [url= http://www.snowandrock.com/kjus-women%27s-onyx-platinum-down-jacket/ski-jackets/ski-snowboard-outdoor-sports/fcp-product/30422 ]This little bargain[/url] when searching for a Christmas present for the GF. I somehow managed to not press the 'buy' button 😉
ps. does anyone else have trouble with Snow and Rock's site?
I certainly did it raise my eyebrows when 45 degree slope was mentioned because simply I could not care less, its all in the context of the story. Do things like that really matter to you?
I simply pointed out that 45 degrees was at the least improbable. Calling someone on a something that appears to be a massive humblebrag is hardly the stuff of epic insults. But everyone else seems to have gotten their knickers in a twist about it.
I'd be the other way round if someone was claiming to have ridden it on a bike.
This thread is worth it purely on the basis of [b][i]massive humblebrag[/i][/b] 😆
Hey jfletch, lets nip this in the bud before it becomes one of those STW epics, and just put it down to the usual mis-interpretation of the typed word shall we?
I'm sure if we'd actually met in a bar apres ski we'd just have a good chuckle about it and a gluhwein... 😀
Cheers!
[i]everyone else seems to have gotten their knickers in a twist about it[/i]
I didn't! I just thought: eurrgh, Henri Lloyd 😉
Henri Lloyd - not OK on jumpers, but OK on sailing gear - that's right, isn't it?
Yeah, I'm just not posh enough.
I really think you should take your pills and calm down a bit
I do take my pills very regularly, pain medication for my "Robo-Shoulder" (see earlier post)
which often hurts like hell in winter, even after 15 years.
I still have trouble seeing it as all that funny to be honest, but its obvious why.
Not sure if the "calm down" was aimed at me, but I'm perfectly relaxed. I'm not sure if I've posted anything that suggested I wasn't, but I don't think I have.
I've spent quite a lot of time on snow and in my opinion being warm and dry is the key to having fun. There is nothing worse than being cold and wet and having snow where there isnt meant to be snow - i.e. inside your jacket or down you trou becuase your jacket hasn't kept it out. Ski/Board jackets are cut differently and are designed to keep snow out - a powder skirt makes a hell of a difference.
If you're new to ski then you are going to be spending a certain amount of time in the snow, either sliding or sitting putting on skis or board.
I've boarded in a t-shirt before, in April, in Mayrhofen, but in dec or Jan in the Northern Hemisphere than I'd plan for it gettign to -20C maybe more with wind chill. In canada in Jan my beard froze to the collar of my jacket.
Seriously, good socks, good gloves will make a lot of difference but I would at the very least go to TK Maxx and buy a proper 15000/15000 min waterproof/breathable snowjacket with a powder skirt - I bought a TENSON a couple of years ago for about 40GBP, the Tenson I had before that from a skishop cost me 200+gbp and last 4 or 5 years.
Not worth ruining a holiday by ending up cold and damp or being fleeced in resort.
Where are you headed anyway?
EDIT: Re: Helmets - I haven't worn one up until now but when I go next I'll definitely be getting a proper boarding lid, seen a couple of mates have bad injuries and some that haven't recovered from them. Even a cheapo one would be better than a MTB helemet as they offer more protection to the rear of the head usually.