Help - newbie with some winter trouser questions!

[Amelion]

Hoping someone can help me out.

I’m off to the Canadian rockies in January/Feb - fingers crossed (otherwise will rebook for next winter).

I’m not a skier but want to try a day or two of private lessons while I’m there. We’ll also be doing some snowshoeing, ice skating and some gentle hiking (nothing serious just short flattish trails from our hotel and surrounds).

Can I get away with one pair of trousers for all those things? I’ll need to buy something as I don’t have any proper winter trousers - could I ski in winter hiking trousers? Or hike in skiing trousers? What about skating and snowshoeing? Or should I get some hiking trousers and rent ski gear there?

Help! And thanks!

I'd go for both. You can get winter walking trousers/leggings but to learn to ski or for activities like sledding or tubing you need waterproof and padded. Decathlon, Trespass, dare2be are worth considering but Canada will be very chilly so upgrading might be better.

Agree you absolutely need proper padded waterproof ski trousers for the ski lessons at least. Especially in Canada temps. Look for second hand or renting.

The ski trousers might be ok for hiking or might be a bit warm depending on how fast you move and how cold it is out.

Thank you both that’s really helpful. There’s a lot to understand to a new skier in terms of gear and clothing but we’re keen to get the right stuff (don’t want to be cold and uncomfortable and ruin our holiday!) I’ll look into hiring/buying a couple of different pairs of trousers for different activities then.

It’s worth looking at 2nd hand salopettes for skiing although Decathlon do some very reasonably priced ones. I don’t wear base layers under salopettes but lots of people do - for Canada temperatures it’d be worth getting breathable warm base leggings. They don’t need to be marketed as ‘base layers’ but warm (not cotton) regular leggings.

Thanks all :) I’m going to hire ski gear there to make sure I get the right stuff for the skiing, and take warm base-layers and winter hiking stuff - which I already have - for the other things I want to do there.