Confused about skiwear brands for DS- quality v cost?

[Slapntickleothewenches]

DS is going to Andorra over Easter 2015 with the school. I have a vague kit list of what will be required already and am keen to start assembling stuff now as the trip is quite pricey and I don't want to have to spend a big wedge just before he goes. He will be nearly 11 when he travels.
Which brands should I be looking for for salopettes, jacket and gloves? We are an outdoorsy family and DS has a selection of warm base layers anyway so should be OK in that respect. After bitter experience freezing my butt off while shooting I am overly aware of the quality/ cost compromise and will always buy the best we can afford. As far as DS is concerned I also like stuff that will have a decent resale value when he has outgrown it.
So what to choose? He likes Animal but I'm unsure whether I am simply paying for the name rather than exceptional quality? If so which other brands should I be looking at?

mimi The jacket and salopettes will be fine!!! Treat yourself to a pair of silk glove liners, high %wool socks, a balaclava and an extra thin fleece.

Thanks Misty. they're not mine though - they're for my 12 yo dd. I wouldn't worry the same about myself. I guess the advice will be the same though. We've everything bar the glove liners, so better get shopping (again).

I tend to buy my kids ski wear in the TK Maxx yellow label sale or on eBay. I'd wait until after half term and then there won't be so many bidders on eBay. The TK maxx sale is on now. I got DD an Oneill all in one for £13 original price £130, and black salopettes for DS for £3 and a surfanic jacket for DD fit next year for £6.

I also rate the H&M skiwear and Dare 2B.

I know this is an old thread, but I'll add my comments for posterity. In my view there is no difference in effectiveness between cheap and expensive jackets and salopettes. Decathlon is fine. (I suppose their stuff counts as branded anyway. They are a specialist shop, they have a reputation to protect.)

With regard to gloves, I've worn £10 ones and I've worn ones that were £60 (in 1990) and in my opinion you are better off buying cheap ones and replacing them frequently than buying expensive ones and replacing them less often. Both work equally well when new, both lose effectiveness with age. I don't know if cheap ones age faster, but you can afford to replace them several times as often without spending more overall, so you will come out ahead.

One thing I'm happy to go to Snow and Rock for is boots. My current boots required the foam to be custom-molded to my feet and legs, which is done by heating the foam then standing in the boots in the shop. When I first bought boots, I also eventually had custom molded footpads made in the shop that lift the inner edges of my feet half an inch higher than the outer edges, to correct severe pronation that was forcing my leg against the edge of the boot to the extent circulation was cut-off. When those boots were replaced, I suggested getting new footpads made, but Snow and Rock expert told me to just transfer the old ones.