Using general outdoor clothing rather than ski specific?

[Brugmansia]

I've decided this year that I need to replace my ski kit, as it is quite old and doesn't fit particularly well any more. I will get new ski trousers or salopettes but am wondering whether I can get away with using other jackets I already have instead of a new specific ski jacket.

This year I have also invested in some good quality general outdoor jackets. I have a lovely lightweight down jacket and also got a new lightweight breathable hard shell. I am wondering whether the combination of those would work instead of also forking out for a new ski jacket. They would provide sufficient warmth and general wind and weather resistance. They are also nice and light and packable so will take up less space in our luggage. The downsides I can see are no snow skirt and fewer pockets. The down jacket has a chest pocket though that I can put my ski pass in.

Any thoughts? Would this work or are there other downsides of this set up I haven't thought of?

I also need to get new ski boots this year and would really like to get some properly fitted. If I can save the money by not buying a new jacket then it can go towards boots instead.

My BIL just uses his normal NorthFace jacket. You can wear what you want. As long as it won’t catch on stuff - can’t see why it would - then I think wind rain and cold are all it needs to deal with.

My DH and DS both wear normal down North Face jackets. DS’s has a matching waterproof outer that he wears when it’s colder. DH’s has a higher rating so hasn’t needed another layer (we don’t ski anywhere that cold).

DH doesn’t fall over though.... I need my ski skirt!

Dh always uses a goretex jacket/shell for skiing; his current one is a walking jacket, so designed to withstand bad weather, and he just adds layers underneath it according to how cold it will be. It doesn't have the same features as a ski jacket (snow skirt/wrist cuffs), so potential for snow to get everywhere in event of spectacular fall, but it suits him fine. The only thing he has commented on is that there is no sleeve/wrist pocket in which to put his lift pass, but he keeps it in an inside zip pocket instead.

I've done this a few times, especially later in the season when it's warmer. Pros are as you say. The cons I've come across: if it's cold the layers get a right pain and reduce mobility. You can't always fit enough under a jacket. You sometimes end up carrying more clothes because you need more individual layers. Snow down your arse! No loops for your gloves and sleeves aren't always wide enough. The material is thinner so more likely to get sliced open by skis and trees and it won't survive a sledge crash. Down jackets are useless if they get wet and take a long time to dry. Hiking waterproofs get a bit sweaty after a whole day because they're only really meant to go over soft shell when the weather gets bad. They're normally more waterproof the ski jackets, hence less breathable. I also always worry about leaving expensive kit over chairs in restaurants etc.

I reckon you'd be fine if you're a gentle skier, not getting too sweaty, and going when it's warmer. If you're bombing down off-piste in -25, no way. For me, I keep my megabucks hardshell for hiking and wear a cheap Decathlon jacket for skiing. Plus then no heartbreak when I miss my mouth with the gluhwein

I’ve always done this. Apart from cycling shorts, most of my outdoor kit is general purpose. For skiing I wear:

Merino base layer, top and bottom
Thin fleece jumper; Fleece powerstretch leggings
Thicker fleece, goretex-type shell jacket; goretex type sallopette overstrouserd, with long side zips and braces
I sometimes wear DWR finished mountaineering trousers on warmer days, as they have wider ankles to go over ski/mountaineering boots.
Hat, buff, mitts, Camelbak

Thanks for the responses.

The down jacket is hydrophobic down so should be a bit better with slight damp and may be ok by itself if the weather is mainly dry. The shell is light and has pit-zips to manage overheating and is compact enough to put in a small back pack if I don't want it on all the time. They are both loose enough for additional layers underneath without reducing mobility, at least base layer and a microfleece.

I will probably just go with this set up anyway and if it really doesn't work I should be able to get a new jacket in the resort.

Won’t a dorm jacket be really hot for skiing?

Not if it’s -25

True

I didn’t realise ordinary people had jackets they only wear for skiing!
We ski quite a lot (at least once a year.
I have skiing specific:
Goggles
Gloves
Salopettes
Boots
Buff

Everything else I wear when I’m not skiing:
North face jacket (shell) and north face quilted jacket (which clips into the shell at the sleeves). Base layers/socks I wear when I’m walking the dog too (I have 3 sets).

So I don’t think you need a separate ski jacket!

The only thing I found about not wearing my walking coat, rather than a 'proper' ski jacket is you miss having that cute little pocket in your sleeve for your ski pass. So I end up waving my left tit at the sensor as that is the only sensibly placed pocket and I don't like getting my pass out all the time.