Girls mid layer

[vinoandbrie]

DD (13) is off on a school ski trip over winter. None of us ski, but she’s really excited to go.

I’ve found her some discounted salopettes, base layers and ski jacket online over the summer, and she’s now having lessons, but I don’t know what to get her by way of a mid layer, which is on the kit list.

Any recommendations gratefully received!

A fleece is ideal and lots of teens even wear hoodies (eg their ski trip hoodie if one is being provided). Decathlon or mountain warehouse or even Amazon have good options if you are looking for something in a technical fabric.

Anything really. Could be a fleece or one of those technical sporty ones but a jumper or hoody is also fine.

Personally I never bother with mid-layers (and I really feel the cold). A decent base layer and a buff to protect my neck and face on the lifts is usually enough for me.

If you're dead set on getting one, it can be anything really (fleece, jumper etc) as long as it's not something that will retain sweat and make her colder.

High neck fleece and/or long sleeved/high neck cotton top.

Thank you, I appreciate all the responses.

I hadn’t thought of the ski trip hoodie, other than ‘oh that’s nice that they’re doing a hoodie for them all’. She can use that!

Any normal hoodie or crew neck sweatshirt is fine. I’d say a crew neck sweater is ideal with a neck buff/gaiter. I get so warm skiing now and i don’t have a mid layer juts my base, buff and coat with a hat and sunnies in my pockets for when we stop. Also have a mars bar or something like that in her pocket for a mid morning snack. Skiing is hungry work!!

Oh yes definitely snacks are required! My ski jacket is usually filled with fun size snickers - getting hangry halfway up a mountain is no fun at all!

Personally I'd go for a fleece with a half-zip - something like this from Decathlon - cheap: for the simple reason that if it gets a bit wet - snow can get everywhere if you fall over- fleece dries easily. If a hoodie gets wet it takes ages to dry and then you're at risk of getting cold.

I'm with posters above though, in that I seldom wear a mid layer, just a good base layer and then my jacket. But as your dd is a beginner there will likely be more standing around to start with, with possibility of getting cold, so mid layer is a good idea to try at first, and then she can leave it behind if not needed later in the week.

Our 2 dc always wear a merino wool base layer and add a fleece if it’s really cold. Mountain warehouse and trespass usually have both at good prices.

where are they going?

The Italian Alps, lucky girl!

And thank you for all the top advice, including about snacks! She has a buff and goggles, and has enjoyed her ski lessons that she’s had over the summer hols.

Dd11 wears a thermal base layer, a light half zip fleece and her jacket. Bottom half just thermals and salopettes. Socks pull up to knees over thermals.

Leg, sock, boot. that’s it! If you put your thermals under your socks you could end up with shin blisters and they are not pleasant! But that’s a whole other thread…

as for hoodies, they are definitely technically inferior to fleeces but I’ve seen too many school ski trip photos — teens will wear them anyway 😂 her jacket should keep her dry especially if it’s fairly new!

Another tip: buy decent sun cream designed for mountain use (Piz Buin or similar this sort of thing ). And pocket sized packs of tissues to keep in her jacket - I'm always blowing my nose when I'm in the mountains!

Hoodies are not ideal as the hood makes a lump under the ski jacket, or hangs outside and gets wet if it’s snowing or they fall over.

Any normal warmish jumper will do but ideally without a hood.

Yes to mini pocket size cream and lip salve. And yes to bag of fun size choc bars.

on legs, I wear black opaque tights (not thick but warmer than nothing) then ski socks and salopettes. School tights would work well. Depends how cold it is tho.

Mine wear half-zip fleeces. Not as bulky as a sweatshirt.

Word to the wise, send her with 2-3 pairs of gloves. It means she won’t have to sell a kidney to buy a new pair on the mountain if she loses one, and nothing will make a kid hate skiing more than cold and wet hands if the gloves haven’t dried out fully from the day before. We ski with an extra pair of gloves for everyone in our party in the backpack (along with the usual snacks, sunscreen and coffee thermos) because inevitably someone loses one or gets a bit wet from a wipeout. Better to have extras!

Ooh thank you, I will definitely be buying her an extra pair now!