What to wear freeride skiing | ULLR

I have to be able to move readily in my gear. Durability is super important, but mobility is crucial. There is that happy balance between baggy and snug, that is just perfect for performance. Design details allowing for a little more movement in the legs with a slight boot cut widening to access boot buckles make the difference between a good pant and a great pant.

Historically like on the Powderqueen and Aurora jackets, this is such a helpful design for big mountain skiing when you may need to be taking your gloves on and off regularly to access a pack, a GoPro, water, etc. Repositioning my glove inside a tight cuff (or however I like it) is such a time waster.

I like a relaxed fit as long as there is still a silhouette and more importantly, plenty of room to layer and move. I think Helly Hansen has done a great job with this—taking cues from current fashion while keeping mobility and performance paramount. For instance, there is room throughout the pant leg to move freely, but still a slight taper at the knee and boot cut at the cuff to give shape. I also love whenever the pants have a wider waist/ waistband area—it is flattering and more comfortable. With jackets a relaxed fit is definitely the way to go. A little cinch as the waist is okay, but it is not something I look for, plus if the cinch doesn’t hit my hips at the right place it can end up just making me look boxy. No woman, 5’10” or otherwise, wants to look boxy!

Big pockets are awesome, as are lots of pockets. On the days that I don’t wear a pack I love having different pockets for all my needs on different parts of my jacket and pants so that I am not all lumpy in just one spot. Staying organized with more pockets also allows me to keep track of my personal items. Storing a phone, wallet, handkerchief, chapstick, sunscreen, energy bar, small water bladder, and RFID pass in its own pocket is a lot, but with Helly Hansen’s generous pocket size and distribution, it is stowed all across my body. 

Big mountain skiing often means big, long days in the mountains. Being comfortable allows me to focus my energy on my skiing. Dealing with being too hot or too cold or a base layer that is itchy, soggy or weak at the seams are all discomforts that distract me from the task at hand and don’t allow me to fully enjoy the present. I like every layer to be comfortable: 

1. A super soft LIFA® MERINO base layer that expels moisture while keeping me cozy. 
   
2. A midlayer that is low-volume, but effective in adding warmth. 
   
3. And an outwear setup that keeps the elements (wind, snow, sleet, rain) out, while allowing my excess body heat to escape when I need it to.

Read more: What to Wear Skiing

That is tough. When I am guiding resort skiers, 98% of the time, heck yes! The super low volume, super warm insulators that Helly Hansen has created in the last two years are game changers. My Lifaloft Air Hooded Insulator is virtually light as a feather, yet performs like a down jacket. In the past layering can sometimes make me feel stodgy or tight, but now each piece is minimal fabric volume with maximum fabric technology - from the LIFA® MERINO base layer, to the LIFALOFT Air Insulator, to my Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket. On really cold days I can even double up on insulators, and add a vest, and STILL feel light and agile.

But when I venture into big mountain skiing I anticipate a lot of movement and athleticism, which will make me lean into a midlayer/shell setup. However, on really cold, storm skiing days, a smartly insulated ULLR Freeride jacket (the Powderqueen) has allowed me to perform and stay out far longer than a shell. I also notice an insulated jacket directly affects the warmth of my toes!?

Being tall, I love a little extra length. There is that happy medium between too short for a backpack, and too long so that it falls in a weird place when you sit down. I err on a little too long than too short—I do NOT want it riding up so that my base layer is exposed when buckling boots. On the flipside, I am not wild about the jibber-style of jacket that falls mid-thigh because I feel I wouldn’t have the mobility I desire.

I love a wide collar, with a little bit of flexibility that I can zip all the way up on cold days. The key is a soft inner fabric that won’t chafe my nose or chin. Nestling into a cozy collar on a day of storm skiing is such a luxury! 

ULLR collars are designed to block powder, so they’re super tall. Sometimes, it’s a little too much and I don’t like having my entire face covered, but I’ve learned how to make it work for its purpose, and I appreciate blocking the blowing snow from my face.

This goes hand and hand with comfort. I measure this mostly by the breathability of my gear. A waterproof shell that is ALSO breathable, is a rare gem when it comes to big mountain skiing. I have had countless days in the mountains that started out sunny, but then turned to stormy, and back to sunny. My Elevation 2.0 Shell adapted perfectly, regardless of my effort. When it gets really hot I can also open up the vents and really cool off. It was amazing how I didn’t overheat, which helped me stay warm (aka dry because no sweat!) when the weather changed over and over again.

Sweating is the greatest culprit to serious cold and discomfort when skiing. Staying dry is key, and ventilation is a critical part of that. The harder I work, the more I appreciate the H2Flow™️/ ventilation of jackets. I remember my very first piece with H2Flow™️ — I think it was the first iteration of the Powderqueen Infinity Jacket, and it was a game changer. Using my own body heat as insulation is genius. It weighs nothing and allows me to regulate so quickly. When I am hot I open up my vents/zippers and it’s like instant AC. And when I need to warm up, I just zip up and allow my body heat to do the work. It is so efficient and simple. I never used to like to ski hard in insulated jackets (even lightly insulated) because I would sweat, but now with H2Flow™️ I can enjoy the benefits of insulation, especially on those bitter Jan/Feb days without worrying I might overheat and sweat. 

I love bib pants—for different reasons on different ski days. On big mountain days where there is hopefully powder, I feel like they give me a little more protection and warmth than pants without being a onesie. When it comes to big mountain days that require a little hiking or backcountry action, bibs are awesome for touring—a little added warmth through my core without a midlayer, which allows me to easily shed my shell/jacket for a quick hike. 

I am all about the drop seat because Helly Hansen does a phenomenal job aligning it with the design aesthetic. I think few people even realize it’s a drop seat because of the fun/poppy zipper detailing and/or seam design. I loved my W Elevation Infinity Shell Bib from a few years ago. The drop seat came from the side-zippers effortlessly and gave a lot of access if/when I needed to utilize it. 

It is fun to look cool and have popping colors, but there is a utility to the hi vis accents on big mountain gear. On stormy days it gives me confidence that my partners can spot me, and that I can easily keep a gauge on them as well if we separate a bit to grab different lines. Visibility is a safety issue, but who doesn’t want to wear something that gets them noticed when they’re ripping? It is so cool to see flashes of neon between the trees when I’m skiing down behind a buddy. 

Also, huge kudos to Helly Hansen for cornering the market on the neon high-vis detailing on virtually all of their jackets—people recognize Helly Hansen from afar due to this without ever spying an “HH” logo. And people also recognize me! Countless times people say hello in the chairlift line, once they realize it’s me because of two things:

1. Hi vis details cue them into an Helly Hansen wearing skier (me). 
   
2. My long, blond ponytail.

Yes, yes, yes! For any elite skier with aspirations to conquer big mountains, the internal goggle pocket is a must. Not to necessarily stow extra goggles, but to defog/warm up your goggles. My internal goggle pocket has saved the day countless times when the inner lens of my goggles has frozen or fogged up. I just pop them in the inner pocket and let my body heat do the work.

People have opinions about cargo pockets on pants, I for one, love them—whether I am on the chairlift, in between lines, or wearing a backpack, they are always the easiest pocket to access. When big mountain skiing leans into backcountry touring, having an insulated cargo pocket designed for a beacon on my pants has been such a welcome addition. Beacons are made to be in the bitter cold, but knowing it has a little extra protection is comforting. Plus, the added zipper security is appreciated.

The LIFE POCKET™️ is a game changer! Knowing that my phone is retaining a longer charge gives me more confidence as I attempt big mountain objectives that are farther out. My phone could be a lifeline and I need to protect that battery power the best I can. Plus, of course it is nice to relax, knowing I have more battery for chronicling the adventure with pics and videos!

When I am in avalanche terrain I will always have my beacon on me, so RECCO® isn’t much of a priority, though it’s a cool feature. I’ve had recreational friends that have bought their kids jackets precisely because they have RECCO®, because it eased their mind.

I don’t believe I’ve ever used my powder skirt, not once. This is likely because I don’t fall too often (famous last words).  I think other skiers might like it, but I always felt it was just extra bulk around my middle that I didn’t want. I would zip it off if I could or even cut it out sometimes. Even when it interfaced with pants to create a really great system of protection, it never quite worked for me, or was worth the time to snap them together. That is totally just me though!

As RFID has taken over, I really like this feature and I think it is worth integrating a slim, single-purpose pocket into the end of the sleeve of most jackets. Just makes it easy, especially because RFID cards are so sensitive to credit card/cell phone interference- I can put my ticket in once and not have to touch it again- maybe the entire season!

A loose wrist gaiter is really nice, to keep the cold and snow out, especially with the large cuff/ sleeve opening I like. I don’t really use the thumb hole at all, but it doesn’t bother me. I guess if it is a multi-season shell the thumb hole might be an appreciated addition for hiking and/or trail running during the other seasons?

A big hood is great, and I think all jackets should have them, but I rarely ski with a hood on.  For me, it’s mostly there for me to bundle up in while waiting for weather to break. I always wear a gaiter/ neckie so the hood was never a super important element for warmth while actively skiing. If the hood was bigger to fit over the helmet I might ski with it up more, but probably not.

There is also a tradeoff—I don’t want a super big hood trailing or flapping behind me. In the past there have been cinches, but I wouldn’t add a lot of hardware or complicated design to the hood since, although I think it is an important element and design aesthetic, I don’t think it’s used by most skiers all that often.