What To Wear Spring Skiing: The Ultimate Layering Guide

Outerwear

I’m a die-hard hardshell outerwear fan, but come springtime and warmer weather, I’ll admit that a soft shell usually tends to be a better option, especially when ski touring. However, I do still like to ski with hardshell pants most days in the resort–they’re just more durable, and I can always open the vents for extra airflow.

Additionally, newer materials like Gore-Tex C-Knit are still a great choice for spring tours if there’s a storm in the forecast. The added breathability is a huge plus, and won’t make you feel like you’re walking uphill wearing a trash bag.

For most days, however, I’m all-in on the softshells. The extra stretch, massive increase in breathability, and additional comfort are what I’m looking for. If it’s sunny and warm, I’m not worried as much about waterproofing. I’ll look for lightweight softshells, like Raide Research’s TourTech Bib pants, for that perfect balance.

Midlayers

Midlayers might be the most challenging thing to get right when spring skiing. Here’s my take on the matter: I’ll usually wear a lightweight synthetic insulated midlayer on colder mornings and take it off entirely when the day starts to heat up. That leaves me with just my baselayers and a protective shell layer. At the resort, I’ll often stash that layer somewhere in the base lodge at lunch. If I’m ski touring, that layer spends the second half of the day in my pack and can come back during breaks, if the weather changes, or at the trailhead when I’m enjoying a nice, cold après beverage.

I generally don’t wear a puffy jacket in the spring (though I do always carry an emergency one in my pack in the backcountry). Instead, that mid layer is a lightweight synthetic micro-grid fleece, or Pertex, Polartec, or Primaloft jacket.

Baselayers

The thinner, the better. On really hot days, I’ll even skip the baselayers entirely and just wear shorts underneath my ski pants. If you really want to wear full-length baselayers, I’d suggest the lightest-weight merino wool ones you can find. A sun hoodie is a great option for a top, especially if you are ski touring–the large hood does wonders when it comes to protecting you from the sun and keeping you cool on strenuous ascents.

Accessories

Ditch those heavyweight insulated gloves and grab a pair of thin, lightweight ones. Lightly insulated liner gloves even work great, though they are generally not waterproof, so I reserve those only for the hottest days. Lots of backcountry skiers swear by using lightweight ice-climbing gloves for spring skiing–those have the perfect balance of waterproofing and insulation to keep you dry but not sweaty.

On really sunny days, I’ll generally swap goggles for a pair of large sunglasses. The extra airflow keeps my face cool, and I find that most goggles aren’t actually dark enough for full-sun spring skiing.

Finally, I’ll swap out my balaclava or heavyweight buff for an ultra-thin, sun-protective and windproof one.

Extras

Sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen. Costumes. Party shirts.