Ski Cellar Snowboard encourages you to take time to enjoy the great outdoors.  Our goal is to get you on the right products so that you enjoy your time on the hill to the fullest.  The information in this guide is designed to give you some basic knowledge to assist you in choosing the products best suited to your needs.  We invite you to visit one of our four stores to speak with our expert staff.

Clothing

When you are outside, your comfort is controlled by the environment, your body and your clothing.  You can't control the environment, but you can control the effect it has on you.  Your outerwear must form a protective barrier between you and the forces of nature.   It must manage moisture and control heat transfer.  Finding the correct combination of moisture management, waterproofing, breathability and insulation is critical to keeping you warm, dry and comfortable.

Moisture management is a simple concept of dry = warm.  When perspiration stays on your skin it will eventually get cold and so will you.  Breathable fabrics keep you dry from the inside out by allowing moisture to evaporate away from your body.

Waterproofing is achieved by applying a thin membrane (Gore-Tex, Dermizax, etc) to the backside of the fabric.  The microscopic pores of the laminate are too small to allow the external moisture to penetrate but are large enough to allow perspiration to evaporate.

Breathability.  There is no standard test to measure the movement of water vapor.  Use both the waterproof and breathability ratings on your garment as a general guide to narrow down the playing field.  Then consider the inter-related factors of breathability, ventilation, weight, durability and price.  Finally, think about the activities you plan to use your garment for and choose accordingly.

Insulation is the material that prevents or reduces the passage of heat.  Insulation works by creating pockets of air around your body.  Insulation can be down or man made, or it can be layers of fleece, wool or other materials.

Heat balance = comfort.  The amount of heat your body produces must equal the heat you lose.  Wearing the right layers, and choosing the correct level of insulation for your activity, are key to your comfort.  The appropriate garments will ensure that you are protected from the forces of nature so that you can have fun outdoors.

Layering

Layering traps the protective mass of warm air around you.  The layers of your clothing work together to manage moisture, control heat transfer, and protect you from the weather.  Proper laying keeps you warm and dry even as the weather conditions fluctuate.

Base Layer.   Your base layer is worn directly against your skin.  Its role is to transfer or wick moisture away from your skin.  Your base layer doesn't need to be tight, it just needs to touch your body.  And don’t forget about your feet!  They perspire roughly one cup of moisture per day during activity.  Soggy socks equals cold feet and the potential for blisters.  Choose activity-specific socks that wick moisture. We recommend that you even change your socks at lunch.

Insulating Layer.  This layer is worn over your base layer.  Its role is to trap warm air and prevent heat loss.  Whether you choose an insulated jacket or shell, you still require at least one other layer over your base layer.  It is important that this layer has the same technical features as your base layer.  Your insulating layers should fit reasonably close to the body.

Weather Protection Layer.   Your weather protection layer protects you from the elements while keeping the insulating layers dry.  It must also provide breathability and venting options to prevent the elements from coming in and to allow perspiration to escape. 

Make sure that you try all your layers on with what you will be wearing under or over them.  Also try a variety of movements once you're dressed to be sure you are comfortable doing a wide range of motions.

Clothing for Children

Children are no different than adults when it comes to clothing.  Clothing for children needs to have technical capabilities to keep your child dry and warm.  Children are very active, tend to perspire a lot, and like to stay outside for extended periods of time.  What you want to look for is base layers that wick the moisture to the next layer (dry = warm) and outer fabrics that are not only durable but are waterproof.  Kids jackets and pants should have grow-cuffs that accommodate in-season growth spurts and should be machine wash and dryable.

Clothing Care

To maximize the performance and extend the life of your weather protection layer, we recommend that you wash them with Nikwax Tech Wash.   Wash your base layer in Nikwax Base Wash to prevent odour buildup.   

During manufacturing, a water repellent (DWR) is applied to the outermost surface of waterproof breathable clothing.  If water fails to bead-up on the surface of your washed and dried garments it means the DWR treatment has worn off.  You can restore this by applying a topical water repellent restorative such as Nikwax TX Direct spray.