We're barely into autumn and already thoughts are turning to the winter season, with hopes of hitting the slopes soon. If you've chosen cross-country skiing as your sport this winter, you've made a great choice: the ultimate healthy sport, cross-country skiing guarantees an escape every time and delivers a huge breath of fresh air. To help you prepare for the season, here are our tips for choosing the perfect outfit for cross-country skiing, with maximum comfort.
Cross-country skiing: the right clothing for your legs
First and foremost, it's essential to choose suitable clothing for your lower body. Your legs are the key components of your movement in cross-country skiing and you absolutely must protect their comfort. To do this, the go-to choice is a specific pair of cross-country skiing tights that are both lightweight and stretchy. Choose something warm, stretchy and highly breathable to guarantee optimised performance. You might also opt for ski salopettes or even Nordic walking trousers. Cross-country skiing demands considerable effort and inevitably generates a lot of perspiration, causing your body temperature to rise significantly. That's why you absolutely must prioritise breathable fabrics that wick moisture away quickly while retaining warmth inside. To achieve this, you must avoid basic, non-purpose-made clothing — otherwise you won't stay dry for long and will experience significant discomfort that will affect your enjoyment. Avoid, for example, going cross-country skiing in jeans and a thick jumper: the negative result is guaranteed!
Cross-country skiing: what to wear on top?
For the upper body, you can choose between fleece jackets, thermal sweatshirts or warm jackets fitted with a zip (so you can ventilate at the most intense moments of exertion). The main characteristics to prioritise here are thermal insulation of course, but also the lightness and thinness of the product. Don't overlook the stretch quality of the materials either, to allow a great freedom of movement without hindering the arm swing. Cross-country skiing is a dynamic sport built on important synchronised movements: any thick, restrictive clothing must be avoided to maintain good fluidity of movement, which is the key to a good glide.
Don't forget to include a warm technical base layer close to your body — your first line of defence against the cold: this first layer is essential for retaining the heat your body naturally generates during exertion. A good technical base layer should be thin and tailored to your build. It should feel almost like a second skin.
Finally, don't forget to complete your outfit with a beanie, sunglasses and gloves. Here too, choose quality and invest in products that will last a long time and offer you optimal protection.
Cross-country skiing, practised in good conditions, is a wonderful sport, offering beautiful moments of communion with nature as well as with your own body. The choice of clothing should therefore be made to leave those feelings of harmony intact. Ultimately, the right clothing is the kind that gives you everything you need while making itself forgotten. Follow our advice and you'll be very close to that perfect situation! See you on the trails soon!
