While style and the aesthetic you\u2019re going for on the slopes depends on the length of ski jacket you should go for, there are some other factors that come into play. We\u2019ll look at jacket features, style of skiing, and other things that might play a role in whether you choose a longer ski jacket or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t
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<\/picture>Pros And Cons Of A Longer Ski Jacket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Longer jackets have more traditionally been worn by snowboarders and not by skiers. Skiers have typically had a more fitted and streamlined silhouette with cleaner block colors, where snowboarders have had a brighter, more urban style and loosely fitted clothing. This is changing, with some skiers preferring a longer and more loose-fitting style of jacket, and is particularly favored by those who ski in a park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros of a Longer Ski Jacket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- More coverage<\/li>
- Freedom of arm movement<\/li>
- Powder skirt<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
Cons of a Longer Ski Jacket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- Restrictive leg movement<\/li>
- Feels bulkier<\/li>
- Extra weight<\/li>
- Not necessarily warmer<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
How Long Should A Ski Coat Be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A ski jacket should at the very least be long enough that it covers the top of your ski pants<\/strong>, so as not to leave any skin exposed<\/strong> to the cold and wind often experienced high up in the mountains. This is especially important given that the stance of skiers is usually forward-leaning with bent legs, meaning that even leaning forward, the ski jacket should be long enough to keep you covered \u2013 an important position for trying on your jacket before you buy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurthermore, it’s worth thinking about the inevitable crash (especially if you’re a beginner skier\/snowboarder)–if your coat parts ways with your pants revealing your lower back or tummy when you raise your arms, then you’re going to get snow in all of those places when you fall down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember The Skiing Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Skiers need to constantly be leaning forward in order to center their balance over the middle of the skis. With changing mountain terrain, skiers need to have the flexibility to adjust and maintain their balance. With legs fixed in a bent position, mostly moving up and down, much of the movement is in the upper body \u2013 meaning that it is important that the jacket allows for flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Long ski jackets provide extra coverage in case you fall (one of the reasons they are typically worn by snowboarders, who spend more time sitting in the snow than skiers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A longer cut of snow coat provides another layer between your body and the snow, protecting from the cold and possibly hard surface underneath you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long jackets, given their typically looser fit, usually provide more freedom of movement in the arms, which could be more comfortable for the skier. This is very much a personal preference and depends on what feels most comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long jackets, like some shorter ones, are fitted with a powder skirt. Powder skirts are built in protectors, fastening around the waist to prevent snow from getting under the jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the downside, there are also a couple of cons to skiing in a longer jacket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having a longer jacket can potentially limit the movement of the legs while skiing<\/strong>, particularly if it is not a loose enough cut. This could cause a fall or accident on the slopes \u2013 think of it as wearing a skirt and losing the flexibility that having pants on affords you. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn a similar way, your range of motion in your lower body could be limited by a coat or jacket that is too long<\/strong>, for example, past knee-length. This is also a more limiting and impractical choice for those backcountry skiing, where there is a lot of walking involved too. Your stride length makes a huge difference and if your coat is hindering you that’s going to get annoying. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOne might expect that more coverage equals more warmth. This is not necessarily the case! Depending on the fit of the longer jacket, and the layers you have on underneath, a looser fitting longer jacket allows more cold air underneath it, and actually will keep you less warm than a shorter, more fitted jacket.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn fact, in really hot weather, loose clothing works well to cool you down for this very reason. Cold weather and loose clothing are not a good combo. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition to the warmth factor, longer jackets may simply feel bulkier to wear.<\/strong> On the mountain, when you\u2019re usually already wearing multiple layers to keep you warm and protect you from the winter mountain climate, having a closer fitting jacket can help you to feel more compact and less like the yeti you may feel like.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich Type Of Jacket Is Best For Skiing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It depends on what you’re doing and the weather conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons of a Longer Ski Jacket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- Restrictive leg movement<\/li>
- Feels bulkier<\/li>
- Extra weight<\/li>
- Not necessarily warmer<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
How Long Should A Ski Coat Be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A ski jacket should at the very least be long enough that it covers the top of your ski pants<\/strong>, so as not to leave any skin exposed<\/strong> to the cold and wind often experienced high up in the mountains. This is especially important given that the stance of skiers is usually forward-leaning with bent legs, meaning that even leaning forward, the ski jacket should be long enough to keep you covered \u2013 an important position for trying on your jacket before you buy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurthermore, it’s worth thinking about the inevitable crash (especially if you’re a beginner skier\/snowboarder)–if your coat parts ways with your pants revealing your lower back or tummy when you raise your arms, then you’re going to get snow in all of those places when you fall down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember The Skiing Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Skiers need to constantly be leaning forward in order to center their balance over the middle of the skis. With changing mountain terrain, skiers need to have the flexibility to adjust and maintain their balance. With legs fixed in a bent position, mostly moving up and down, much of the movement is in the upper body \u2013 meaning that it is important that the jacket allows for flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Long ski jackets provide extra coverage in case you fall (one of the reasons they are typically worn by snowboarders, who spend more time sitting in the snow than skiers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A longer cut of snow coat provides another layer between your body and the snow, protecting from the cold and possibly hard surface underneath you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long jackets, given their typically looser fit, usually provide more freedom of movement in the arms, which could be more comfortable for the skier. This is very much a personal preference and depends on what feels most comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long jackets, like some shorter ones, are fitted with a powder skirt. Powder skirts are built in protectors, fastening around the waist to prevent snow from getting under the jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the downside, there are also a couple of cons to skiing in a longer jacket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having a longer jacket can potentially limit the movement of the legs while skiing<\/strong>, particularly if it is not a loose enough cut. This could cause a fall or accident on the slopes \u2013 think of it as wearing a skirt and losing the flexibility that having pants on affords you. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn a similar way, your range of motion in your lower body could be limited by a coat or jacket that is too long<\/strong>, for example, past knee-length. This is also a more limiting and impractical choice for those backcountry skiing, where there is a lot of walking involved too. Your stride length makes a huge difference and if your coat is hindering you that’s going to get annoying. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOne might expect that more coverage equals more warmth. This is not necessarily the case! Depending on the fit of the longer jacket, and the layers you have on underneath, a looser fitting longer jacket allows more cold air underneath it, and actually will keep you less warm than a shorter, more fitted jacket.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn fact, in really hot weather, loose clothing works well to cool you down for this very reason. Cold weather and loose clothing are not a good combo. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition to the warmth factor, longer jackets may simply feel bulkier to wear.<\/strong> On the mountain, when you\u2019re usually already wearing multiple layers to keep you warm and protect you from the winter mountain climate, having a closer fitting jacket can help you to feel more compact and less like the yeti you may feel like.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich Type Of Jacket Is Best For Skiing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It depends on what you’re doing and the weather conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Long Should A Ski Coat Be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A ski jacket should at the very least be long enough that it covers the top of your ski pants<\/strong>, so as not to leave any skin exposed<\/strong> to the cold and wind often experienced high up in the mountains. This is especially important given that the stance of skiers is usually forward-leaning with bent legs, meaning that even leaning forward, the ski jacket should be long enough to keep you covered \u2013 an important position for trying on your jacket before you buy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, it’s worth thinking about the inevitable crash (especially if you’re a beginner skier\/snowboarder)–if your coat parts ways with your pants revealing your lower back or tummy when you raise your arms, then you’re going to get snow in all of those places when you fall down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Skiers need to constantly be leaning forward in order to center their balance over the middle of the skis. With changing mountain terrain, skiers need to have the flexibility to adjust and maintain their balance. With legs fixed in a bent position, mostly moving up and down, much of the movement is in the upper body \u2013 meaning that it is important that the jacket allows for flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long ski jackets provide extra coverage in case you fall (one of the reasons they are typically worn by snowboarders, who spend more time sitting in the snow than skiers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A longer cut of snow coat provides another layer between your body and the snow, protecting from the cold and possibly hard surface underneath you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long jackets, given their typically looser fit, usually provide more freedom of movement in the arms, which could be more comfortable for the skier. This is very much a personal preference and depends on what feels most comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Long jackets, like some shorter ones, are fitted with a powder skirt. Powder skirts are built in protectors, fastening around the waist to prevent snow from getting under the jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the downside, there are also a couple of cons to skiing in a longer jacket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a longer jacket can potentially limit the movement of the legs while skiing<\/strong>, particularly if it is not a loose enough cut. This could cause a fall or accident on the slopes \u2013 think of it as wearing a skirt and losing the flexibility that having pants on affords you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a similar way, your range of motion in your lower body could be limited by a coat or jacket that is too long<\/strong>, for example, past knee-length. This is also a more limiting and impractical choice for those backcountry skiing, where there is a lot of walking involved too. Your stride length makes a huge difference and if your coat is hindering you that’s going to get annoying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One might expect that more coverage equals more warmth. This is not necessarily the case! Depending on the fit of the longer jacket, and the layers you have on underneath, a looser fitting longer jacket allows more cold air underneath it, and actually will keep you less warm than a shorter, more fitted jacket.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, in really hot weather, loose clothing works well to cool you down for this very reason. Cold weather and loose clothing are not a good combo. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the warmth factor, longer jackets may simply feel bulkier to wear.<\/strong> On the mountain, when you\u2019re usually already wearing multiple layers to keep you warm and protect you from the winter mountain climate, having a closer fitting jacket can help you to feel more compact and less like the yeti you may feel like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It depends on what you’re doing and the weather conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\nRemember The Skiing Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Advantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages of a Long Snow Coat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which Type Of Jacket Is Best For Skiing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n