Ski pants for Petites are part of a two-piece ski suit. They are made up of Gore-Tex or similar materials. It is worn over a base layer of clothes especially designed for skiing to keep you warm while skiing in the middle of the snow. People often confuse them with snowboarding pants. Mostly they are confused because similar material of clothes is used in both of them.
For Petites, it’s crucial to know the differences between them because it revolves around the fitting. Snowboarding and Skiing are two different activities. While snowboarding requires greater freedom of movement for jumps, skiing has no such requirements. Due to the nature of the sport snowboarding pants are designed to be looser and baggier. At the same time, Ski pants are designed keeping the fitting in mind. So if you are looking for the best fitting ski pants for Petites, never opt for snow pants. Ski pants sometimes also come in form of a bib or dungaree.
Petite Ski pants buyer’s guide
Choosing Ski pants is tricky. It becomes trickier if you are petite. The main concern is the size and comfort which you can’t ignore while skiing. The question now comes to our mind is
What are the common types of petite ski pants?
There are different types of fabric materials used to make ski pants. Apart from design, the fabric also affects the look, feel fitting, and warmth of the ski pants. Weather conditions, dry or wet climate, type of skiing, and your desired looks are key components that decide which of the following types of ski pants are most suitable for you.
Insulated Ski pants
Insulated ski pants come with an insulated layer usually made of synthetic. The ideal unit of measuring insulation weight is in grams. Higher the weight, warmer and more insulated is your pant. For Petite’s proper insulation decreases the need for multiple underneath layers which adds additional weight to your lower body part. These pants are a bit higher in price in comparison to uninsulated ones but are worthy.
Hardshell Ski pants
If you are going skiing in extreme weather, where there are chances of cold wind or rain, hardshell ski pants are the best choices. They offer you maximum protection from wind and rain. They also offer breathability to some extent. But if your body gets hot easily or if you work hard, they turn to get clammy from sweat.
Softshell ski pants
Softshell ski pants are designed for comfort. They do protect from cold wind and rain but are not as good as hard shell pants. If you are planning for backcountry skiing, where there are high chances of sweating, softshell ski pants will provide you way more comfortable than others. These pants are made up of soft stretchy fabric. That makes them breathable for a warmer climate.
Stretchy Ski pants
Stretchy ski pants are emerging in the trend of petite skiers. The real problem with them is they offer the least insulation from all the above ski pants. The best part of it is the comfort and style. They also offer to waterproof to some extent. If you are going to buy one never forget to buy additional insulation together.
Pants best suited for different petite body types
Now since you know about different Ski pants a petite has to choose from. It’s time to know about different body types and which types of the pant are best suited for your’s body type.
Petite Ski Pants for the curvy figure
Curvy figures have many types. The most common of them are peach-shaped and an hourglass in Petites. Go with anything which is a high-belted waist. This will highlight your famine curves. Avoid flared and Wide-leg designs as they will make you look shorter. Stretchy fabric is also a nice option as it follows and shows your petite curves. You can also use the same color boots to make you even longer. If you want to flatten your curves you can go with loose-fit ski pants or ski bibs.
Petite Ski Pants for Plus Size
The key to choosing the right petite ski pants for plus size is the inseam. Plus size ski pants are widely available in almost every brand store. The only problem a Petite face is fitting. If you are a plus-size petite first thing you need to do is check your inseam. Based on it rest assured your choices will be perfect.
Petite Ski pants for big thigh and small waist
While choosing petite ski pants for big thighs and small waist only problem you face is the waistline size of commonly available pants. You can opt for bit baggy pants for comfortable fitting in the crotch area. You can also opt for Ski pants with an adjustable waist. Adding a belt to your dress will also fix your waistline problem.
Petite ski pants for athletic thighs
Ski pants for athletic things are commonly available in stores and online. These sizes are not rare at all. If you want more fitting, you can look for velcro adjustments in your pant. These adjustments will take care of your fitting issues.
Petite Ski pants for thick thighs
For normal thick thighs, you can get baggy petite ski pants. They fit perfectly on the majority of members. If you have extra thick thighs you may opt for alteration of any size which you think will fit.
Petite ski pants for wide or big hips
If you are looking for petite ski pants for wide or big hips, you must pay attention to the fabric. We have found that for such body types stretchable ski pants are the best choices. The stretchable fabric covers your hips perfectly. At the same time, they don’t appear baggy on the thighs. If worn properly such pants will not make you look overweight or short.
How to wear Petite Ski pants?
The basic requirement of Ski pants is to protect your lower body from snow, water, wind and keep it warm and comfortable. Petite dressing achieves it by layering system dressing. There are three layers
- 1. Breathable or Baselayer
- 2. Mid Layer
- 3. Outer Layer or Ski pant
Whenever you are confused about
What to wear under Petite Ski pants?
Always remember this as the thumb rule. Each layer has its function. The base layer’s function is to control sweating. At low temperatures, sweating is going to make you uncomfortable. The mid-layer keeps you warm and the outer layer protects you from wind, snow, and rain.
For Petites, this part is most important to understand. Wearing too many layers with thick fabric under your ski pants will ultimately make your lower body look bulky. That leads to making you look short. As a petite, while choosing your ski pants you must keep this in mind. Avoid looking bulky by opting for a ski pant which gives your protection from the cold wind, rain as well as keeps you warm.
I have seen petite wondering
Can you wear leggings or Yoga pants for skiing?
Yes, you can wear leggings or yoga pants under your petite ski pants. The main function of multiple layers is to absorb sweat and keep you warm. So unless you are in an intense cold place you don’t need an extra thermal layer to keep you warm. Legging or Yoga pants as a base layer add minimal/nominal bulk, sometimes you wouldn’t even notice.
Do Petite Ski pants go over boot?
People sometimes try to tuck their ski pants in their boots. That’s not very smart. Ski pants are always supposed to go over the boots. That’s the only way to stop snow from going inside your boots. If you tuck your ski pants in your boots, high chances are you will get snow in your boot and the end a wet boot.
Are petite ski pants necessary for skiing?
Are petite ski pants that necessary that you can’t go skiing without them? The short answer is no. A petite can ski without ski pants. But you will have to face the snow, cold temperature, and wind on your own. The ski pant will offer protection from all these elements. If you are good enough at skiing and the weather is warm, you can improvise. Add leggings or yoga pants as a base layer and wear petite size jeans and you are ready to go.
How to Choose your best petite Ski pants
As a petite choosing, the right ski pant not only keeps you warm, dry and comfortable while skiing but also improves your style and personality. Below are some points which will help you in choosing the best ski pants for petite size.
1. Fitting:
Skiing is a sport that requires freedom of movement. That makes fitting your ski pants utter important. Fitting is even more important when you have a short height. Too much loose fit or baggy ski pants will eventually add weight and shorten the height of your personality. While shopping for your best-fitting petite ski pant always choose the pants according to your body type.
2. Warmth:
The warmth of your Ski pants is a factor that varies from person to person. Some Petites have bodies that warm-up easily after some physical work, while others may need extra insulation to stay warm. The need for such ski pants also depends on the places where you are skiing. If the temperature is really low, you will eventually need ski pants with extra insulation for warmth. You can also add extra insulation while dressing by adding multiple layers. The base layer is generally for moisture control while the mid-layer provides you warmth or temperature control.
3. Waterproofing:
When you are playing on snow, you better be waterproof. Millimeters (mm) are used to measure waterproof ratings. Anything below 5000 mm is considered water repellant. This means the waterproofing level starts from 5000 mm and goes up to 20,000 mm. This test is generally done by placing the pants in water. Anything around 20,000 mm is high-end and can sustain heavy rain and wet snow, the worst weather to ski.
| Waterproof rating (mm) | Water Proofing Level | Rain | Snow |
| 5000 mm-10,000 mm | Mild | Light Rain | Dry Snow |
| 10,000 mm – 15,000 mm | Moderate | Moderate Rain | Normal Snow |
| 15,000 mm – 20,000 mm | High | Heavy Rain | Wet Snow |
4. Breathability:
Breathability is transferring out water vapor or body sweat from your ski pant. The same fabric of your ski pants stops water penetration, allows small water molecules to escape, and keeps you dry. The breathability ratings are measured in grams (g). It is calculated based on how many grams of water molecules escape per square meter in a time frame of 24 hours.
| Breathability Ratings (g) | Level | Best for | Activity for periods |
| 5000 g – 10,000 g | Mild | Resort Skiing | Longer low to moderate activity & short period of high activity |
| 10,000 g – 15,000 g | Moderate | Backcountry skiing | Longer moderate activity and sustained period of high activity |
| 15,000 g – 20,000 g | High | High adventure skiing | A long period of high activities |
5. Seams:
Seam taping is an advanced method of waterproofing. The fabric used in Ski pants is waterproof but when you cut them and join or stitch them their efficiency decreases. The main reason behind it is small holes of stitches made by sewing machines. To overcome this problem seam taping or seam sealing is used. There are two methods of seam taping used widely.
(I) Critical Seam Taping:
In this method backside of the seams are proofed with waterproof tapes. That provides you satisfactory protection from water or snow. So unless you spend extended time in wet weather or lying in the snow you are safe.
(II) Full Seam Taping:
In this method, both sides of the stitched seam are taped for high-quality waterproofing. If you are planning to ski in heavy snowfall or wet weather, Ski pants treated with this method are the best choice.
Apart from these two methods, some manufacturers also glue seams first before stitching them. The glue fills up the holes after stitching while solidifying. Then the seams are taped. This method provides the most superior waterproofing.
6. Waist Style:
The waist is an important part of any petite dress. Through the waist, Petites can control their height, fashion, and style. Petite ski pants come with a wide range of waist styles. There are adjustable waist pants to fit perfectly no matter what body type and waist you have. Then there are pants with belt loops in which you control your waist with external belts. In some cases, belts are built into pants. There are also elastic waist pants that fit naturally to your waist due to it’s elastic and stretchable nature. Some ski pants also come with removable and non-removable suspenders.
7. Zips:
Zips are heavily used in petite ski pants. They are used for venting, covering pockets, adjusting gaiters, and more. Some designs like full-zip pants use it to easily remove pants without taking off ski boots. Normal zips are not waterproof. So while choosing your petite ski pants make sure they are waterproof, to ski with a free mind in heavy rain or snow.
8. Snow Gaiters:
Snow gaiters are a unique feature of ski and snow pants. It’s a waterproof seal designed to protect ski boots from water and snow. They may have extra features like hooks for laces or boots. As long as they are worn properly they pretty much keep water and snow out of boots.
9. Cuff Reinforcements:
For a more durable life of Ski pants and to protect them from Ski edges, the ski pants cuffs are reinforced with extra durable fabric. They are generally present on the inside part of the pant, especially where your ski pants and ski edges meet.
10. Vents:
While skiing body generates heat. Vents in ski pants dump that heat out and provide air circulation. This helps in controlling body temperature while skiing. Mostly these vents are designed on thighs and are zipped. You can open and close them based on your requirements. While choosing your ski pants make sure that zips on the vents are waterproof if you plan to wear them in hot wet weather to prevent snow or water from entering your pants.
11. Pockets:
Pockets are another important thing in petite ski pants. When you ski with a backpack you may not need extra pockets. But when you go skiing for a longer period, the need for extra pockets for essentials is felt deeply. While choosing your petite ski pant with pockets make sure they are waterproof.
12. RECCO:
High-end ski pants 3especially bibs have RECCO units sewn into them. RECCO rescue system is a two-part advanced rescue technology. It helps in pinpointing skiers in case of any unfortunate incident. Its main function is to reflect the high-frequency signal of RECCO detectors.
13. Material:
Waterproofing capabilities, breathability, and comfort totally depend on the materials from which the ski pants are made. So it is very important to know what material is best for your petite ski pants.
14. Style:
Style is an important factor that depends on personal preferences. For Petites, Ski pants style is all about height and comfort. For choosing your style you will have to find the balance between these two.
15. Price:
Last but not the least factor is the price. It all depends in the end on your budget. What kind of money you are willing to spend on your petite ski pants.
Best Petite Ski Pants
To make your shopping experience easy we have compiled a list of top petite ski pants with a detailed review.
1. Arctix Women’s essential Insulated bib
If you are looking for a ski pant under budget with average performance this ski pant is your best option.
It has 3000 mm waterproofing ratings which is not much but still protects you from mild snow and rain. The 85-gram Thermatech Insulation keeps the pants lightweight.
It has enough pockets with waterproof zips and it comes with a 29” inseam best for petite height.
2. Arc’teryx Sentinal AR Pant
Arc’teryx Sentinal A R Pants are hardshell pants that come with a GORE-TEX membrane. The GORE-TEX membrane provides high-quality waterproofing and breathability to your pants.
Seams are fully sealed and zippers are waterproof as well. It also has vents with zippers to exhale excess heat when you are skiing. All these features make it perfect for all-mountain and backcountry skiing.
3. Bugaboo Omni-Heat Pants
The best part of this pant is Omni-Heat reflective technology which provides breathable material with little silver dots that reflects body heat. The 60 gm insulation is a bonus. It is critically seam-sealed with internal leg gaiters to keep snow and water out of the pants.
All the pockets are zipped and waterproof. It also has a reinforced leg hem for more durability. All these features make it perfect for resort skiing.
4. Patagonia Insulated Snowbelle Pants
Patagonia Ski pants come equipped with H2No waterproofing technology which provides you high-quality waterproofing and breathability. It has very lightweight insulation with extra warm capability.
The adjustable waist helps you in creating the perfect fit, no matter what body type you have. Reinforced gaiters improve the durability of the pants. Overall it’s the perfect petite ski pants for all-mountain skiing.
5. Mackage Gia Overall pants
Mackage Gia is a high-end overall petite ski pant. It has lightweight high-quality synthetic insulation to keep you warm. The pant has a waterproof rating up to 10,000 mm and a breathability rating of 5,000 g/m2.
It has a slim fit which is perfect for Petites. There is only one zipped pocket which is situated on the left front. It does have snow gaiters and a RECCO Rescue system. The ski pant is perfect for all-mountain skiing in all weather.
6. Obermeyer the Bond Pants
Obermeyer’s bond pants have a classic look with 4-way stretch. The ski pant comes with HydroBlock Excel shells. These shells are laminated and fully coated with waterproof DWR treatment.
The DWR coating helps in drying the fabric fast if it gets wet. It has 8,000 mm of waterproofing and a 10,000 g/m2 of breathability rating. The elastic gaiters fit perfectly on your boot and keep the snow out.
7. Spyder Orb Softshell Pants
The Spyder Orb softshell pant is an all-time winter classic. It comes in 360-degree stretch nylon with a DWR coating. There are belt loops at the waist for better fitting if needed.
The inner snow gaiters with gripper elastic and cuff anchors keep the powder snow out. The zippered hand pockets are fully waterproof. This pant is perfect for long-term skiing in all-mountain as well as resorts.
8. The north face freedom Insulated pants
The north face freedom Insulated pants are equipped with Dryvent 2L shells. These shells are waterproof and have breathable technology. It consists of a tri-component, multi-layer formula for waterproofing, moisture control, and durability.
The pants are also equipped with Heatseeker insulation which is lightweight and provides sufficient warmth without extra bulk. These pants are perfect for all-day skiing.
9. Helly-Hansen Women’s Switch Cargo 2.0 pant
Women’s switch cargo 2.0 pants have 2-Ply fabric construction and mechanical stretch fabric. It comes in a sleek fit and a raised back rise which gives you good protection and comfort.
The pants have fully sealed seams and are DWR treated for the high quality of waterproofing. It also has Velcro waist adjustments for better fitting. It is also equipped with many more features like water-resistant zippers, multiple pockets, attached snow gaiters, and a RECCO rescue system.
Conclusion
Petite ski pants are tricky to find, especially those that are the perfect fit for your body. The first thing you need to do is find your body type and then according to it find the Ski pants which fit your body perfectly.
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