CLOTHING SERIES - SKI JACKETS

The sales are on and so now is a good time to be looking for next season’s ski kit.

If you’re buying a jacket, here’s my guide - the essentials that I always look for when kitting myself out (as a ski instructor)...

1). COLOUR - I always go for a dark colour, usually black, to minimise staining!

2). WATERPROOF RATING - you want your jacket to be fit for purpose and weather the weather in the mountains. I would look for a minimum waterproof rating of 15k.

3). POCKETS - so many pockets, I always look for as many as I can find both inside and outside. And 100% a lift pass pocket on the left arm.

4). VENTS - underarm vents that can be opened/closed to adjust for the rapidly changing weather/temperatures in the mountains.

5). THUMB LOOPS - an absolute essential for me, although I know lots of people don’t like them. I have to have thumb loops to keep everything tucked in and draught free.

6). HOOD - a hood that can be pulled up and fits over my helmet, to protect from the elements on especially gusty days.

7). ADVICE ON FURRY BITS! If you like a bit of fur, great. However, I would make sure that any furry bits are removeable because on snowy days the snow will stick like mad to fur and it’s best to be able to prevent that and reduce how wet & cold your jacket gets.