Outerwear Reviews | Best Snowboard & Ski Pants 2025

Ski pants, trousers or salopettes, whatever you want to call them, are a crucial part of your ski gear for the season—along with a decent ski or snowboard jacket, of course. You'll need pants that will keep you warm and dry, but what works best depends on the kind of skiing you're going to be doing. Do you want insulated pants for gentle piste cruising? Or are you planning on going ski touring, in which case you'd be better off with a pair of shell pants that maximise breathability? 

"We've aimed to cover a wide variety of types and budgets"

Here, our gear experts have picked out a range of different kinds of trousers from the best ski and snowboard brands. We've aimed to cover a wide variety of types, and budgets. Of course, we weren't able to ride every single pair of ski pants on the market this year (there are probably tens of thousands of individual models, that would be ridiculous!) But having recently joined forces with our sister site Whitelines to test gear, we've certainly tried a lot of the options. 

As well as testing men's jackets and women's jackets, helmets, goggles, gloves, skis and snowboards, our combined test team of 20 skiers and snowboarders tried dozens of pairs of the latest ski trousers last winter. We rode them in all kinds of conditions, from freezing Finnish snowparks, to backcountry powder in BC, to the open slopes of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. So we can safely say these are 10 of the best pairs of ski pants you can buy in 2025.

Skip to the bottom for our extensive ski pants buyers' guide, which explains all the jargon used here, and more. 

Peak Performance Vislight Gore-Tex Ski Pants

RRP £500

Made of Gore-Tex C-Knit, a lightweight three-layer version of the classic waterproof and breathable fabric, these high end ski pants from Swedish brand Peak Performance weigh just 720g—not bad given they have a whole load of pockets and features. They're shell pants, with a regular fit that'll suit most skiers or snowboarders. They're more than capable of handling everything you'd encounter on a day's skiing—whether that's cruising the pistes or throwing up rooster tails of spray in powder.

Our tester particularly liked the full leg zip ventilation, which allows you to get a good flow of air around your nether regions if you're working up a sweat while touring. As you'd expect with trousers at this price point, the seams are fully taped and the zippers are waterproof. 

Picture Clothing Welcome 3l Xpore Pants

RRP £390

The Welcome 3L Xpore Pants are part of Picture’s new touring-specific range. They're made using the brand's own waterproof and breathable Xpore membrane, with a recycled face fabric made through Picture’s Circular Program which collects used clothing and fabric scraps from manufacturing and makes them into something new. 

The Xpore pants are fully seam sealed with waterproof zips, and pockets located in convenient places. The mid-height bib is super-handy when it comes to stopping snow getting in your waist band in the backcountry, and comfortable to wear. Our tester took these and the matching Picture Xpore jacket out touring on a storm day, lapping trees near his home in the Dolomites. His verdict? "Xpore is a worthy equivalent of Gore-Tex or other, better-known membranes. I was dry, despite the heavy snowflakes and the sweat I'd worked up."

Patagonia Untracked Bib Pants

RRP £580

Patagonia's high-end, shell-style Untracked outerwear was some of the first to be made from Gore-Tex's ePE, a waterproof, breathable material that's free from PFC "forever chemicals" and produces fewer emissions in the manufacturing process than conventional Gore-Tex. Patagonia's boffins worked closely with the material brand to develop the fabric, and it's now being used by several other brands. It's highly effective and set to spread far and wide. 

While these pants isn't cheap, the performance justifies the price tag. Our tester spent much of last winter splitboarding in these pants and the accompanying jacket—perhaps the ultimate test of waterproofing and breathability. "I had in out in everything from heavy snow to blazing spring sunshine, and it handled everything with aplomb," was their verdict. 

He also rated the bib version particularly, with the mid-height chest striking a nice compromise between breathability on the way up, and protection from stray snowflakes whenever he ate shit the way down (which was more often than he would have liked!)

Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants

RRP £180

We always appreciate Helly Hansen for offering excellent value, high-performance, long-lasting ski clothing. The Legendary Pants—so called because they've long been part of Helly's line, and a best-seller—are frill free. But what they do, they do well. They're made wof Helly's own HellyTech Performance material, with a 15k waterproof and breathability rating, and have Primaloft insulation to keep your legs warm on particularly cold days. The hand pockets are zipped to keep your kit safe and there's an additional back pocket should you need it.

The fit and specs make these ideal ski resort pants, with a tidy rather than baggy silhouette that will appeal to more traditional skiers. They are very well put together, with articulation in all the right places so you feel free when you ski. The waistband is soft and Velcro adjustable with a popper closure and belt loops giving you the option to accessorise. 

Overall, our tester praised these as "a simple, fuss-free yet high performance pair of ski pants."

Buy Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pants: £180 at Helly Hansen

The North Face Chakal Insulated Pants

RRP £215

These are some of the most popular The North Face ski pants because they tick a lot of boxes for the demanding resort skier. The Chakal pants offer The North Face quality at a reasonable price, not budget, but less expensive than the exotic Futurelight range. Featuring The North Face 2L Dryvent material the Chakal pants perform impeccably on the slopes, remaining highly waterproof and breathable no matter the conditions. If you're going to get insulated ski pants, make sure it's a thin layer so you don't overheat.

The Chakal pants have the perfect amount, at 40g of Heatseeker Eco insulation which takes the edge off chilly mornings without getting clammy. Inner leg vents allow you to dump excess heat and there are two hand, and two thigh pockets to stash your kit in. The comfortable waistband features double popper fasteners and adjustability via elasticated Velcro. The cut allows for freedom of movement and these are on the baggier side of resort pants making them a good buy if you like a looser cut without resorting to freeride or park stylings. 

Verdict: Looser fit ski pants with good insulation and extra pockets.

Buy The North Face Chakal Legendary Insulated Pants: £215 at The North Face

Men's Burton Ballast Gore-Tex 2L Snowboard Pants 

RRP £295

With over 40 years in the industry you know Burton will have all your bases covered when it comes to making high-end snowboard pants. While they're not quite as all-singing, all-dancing as the Gore-Tex Pro models at the top of Burton's AK range, these 2L Gore-Tex trousers have everything you need for most kinds of riding—from slushy park laps to long days in the backcountry. They're also full of clever details, like microfleece-lined handwarmer pockets and a lining that reacts to your body temperature. 

Yes, these pants are a shell so you may need to layer up on those extra cold days, but with these being a regular fit, there’s plenty of room and with inner thigh vents, you can cool yourself down when it's warm too. A huge bonus is that these pants also come in Tall and Short ranges to fit all heights as well as a lifetime warranty.

As our tester said, "you really can’t go wrong with these if you’re looking for a really good pair of snowboard pants. 

Buy Men's Burton Ballast GORE-TEX 2L Pants: £295 at Burton.com

Planks Clothing Good Times Insulated Ski Pants

RRP: £240

These pants are made for comfort, warmth and of course making sure you look good too. The 15k/15k recycled fabric made from plastic bottles will not only get you kudos on the slopes, alongside the durable water repellent coating and taped seams, it’ll also keep you dry. The two-way stretch fabric also increases and allows for lots of movement.

They're baggy, which might not suit everyone, but you can adjust the waist to make it fit you perfectly. Our tester loved the large dump pockets—capacious enough to fit almost anything, and handy so that you’re no longer fiddling in tiny pockets for your keys. They also have nice touches like protection panels at the inside bottom of the legs, so your pants are also protected from any scuffs from your skis.

Black Diamond Recon Women's Pants

RRP: £300

For those looking for a tried and tested, durable ski pant for those long epic days chasing powder or touring, look no further. These have fully sealed seams, adjustable waist and inner gaiters to keep the snow out and plenty of pockets, with YKK Aquaguard waterproof zips. They also have long outer leg vents when you need to cool down quickly as well as lower leg zips for easy access to any ski boot adjustments you need to make whilst out and about. 

The fabric is Black Diamond's own waterproof material, known as BD.Dry 3L, which has a 20k/20k waterproof and breathability rating. As our tester put it, these are perfect all-rounders—capable of handling almost anything the mountain can throw at them. 

Buy Black Diamond Recon Women's Pants: £299 at Ellis Brigham <<BEST DEAL>>

Buy Black Diamond Recon Women's Pants: £300 at Snow + Rock

Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Insulated Women's Pants

RRP £335

Noronna garms are often on the pricey side, but the build quality justifies the spend. These mid-range pants are actually very reasonably priced when you look at what they offer. If you’re looking for all-round insulated ski pants that will have you covered from the ski days in-resort to off-piste and finally to après-ski, they should be on your list.

They’ve got Primaloft Silver Eco insulation to keep you warm without feeling bulky, and lower leg reinforcement to protect against any cuts from your skis and lots of pockets to store your valuables too. Your phone gets its own dedicated pocket where it’ll be extra safe and there are hip-to-knee leg mesh vents for staying cool on spring skiing days. 

Salomon Brilliant Insulated Pants

RRP: £270

These insulated bib pants have long been Salomon's best-selling ski pants, and the brand just keeps tweaking them to make them even better. They're now made with 86 percent recycled fabric, and have a PFC free DWR coating, lowering their environmental impact compared to previous models. 

The insulation is PrimaLoft Black, and while that'll keep you plenty warm on cold days, they also have vents to dump heat if it's getting warm. Despite the salopette style straps, they're not really bib pants—the waist is down at regular height—but the shoulder straps will help keep snow out of your underwear. They have plenty of pockets, are available in a range of colours, and don't cost a ton. No wonder they've proved so popular!

Buy Salomon Brilliant Insulated Pant: £270 at Salomon.com

Ski pants buyer's guide: What to look for in ski pants

There are lots of different things to look out for, but here at SNOW, we believe there are four main things you should consider when choosing a pair of ski pants. Each of these four factors will also effect their price.

1) Waterproof & Breathability Ratings:

Ski pants need to be waterproof, for obvious reasons. But they also need to be breathable—i.e. they need to let your body breathe by allowing sweat to pass out through the fabric. If they don't, as soon as you start moving, moisture will accumulate inside, leaving you feeling cold and clammy. 

Try skiing in one of those free plastic ponchos they hand out at music festivals and you'll see what we mean. Sure, the plastic might be waterproof, but you won't stay dry inside for long!

Every decent pair of ski pants should have a waterproof and breathability rating on the label, usually written as something like 10,000/10,000, or even just 10k/10k.

Waterproof & breathability ratings explained:

The first number is the waterproof rating. It's calculated by placing an open ended plastic pipe on the exterior fabric, and filling it up with water until droplets start to appear on the inside. The more millimetres of water the column holds, the more water pressure the fabric can handle, and so the more effective it is at keeping out snow, rain, or spilt beer. 

Breathability is measured in grams/metre square/24hrs — i.e. the weight of moisture that will pass through a metre square patch of fabric over a 24 hour period. The higher the rating, the more effective a jacket's fabric will be at "wicking", or allowing sweat to escape away from your body, so the more breathable it is.

What waterproof or breathability rating do you need?

Ski pants built primarily for pistes are often made of fabrics that will resist a water column of 5,000mm - 10,000mm, and they'll usually have a similar breathability rating. This helps keep the price down, and you don't really need much more if you're never far from a café or a lift station in which to warm up or dry out. 

Where you'll find higher waterproof and breathability ratings is on pants (and ski jackets) built for the backcountry, and especially for ski touring, where you'd expect to work up a sweat. These tend to be more expensive. 

It's worth noting that some of the most waterproof and breathable fabrics, like Gore-Tex, Patagonia's H2NO material, or the Futurelight fabric patented by The North Face, don't always come with waterproof and breathability ratings listed. All three however, are usually well above 30,000 (depending on what kind of Gore-Tex or Futurelight that's used).

2) Insulated or Shell:

Insulation obviously helps keep you warm, but you'll find that many higher-end, backcountry focussed ski trousers, like pants actually don't contain insulation. This is because skiers and snowboarders heading into the backcountry often prefer the added control of being able to layer up with baselayers underneath their outerwear, rather than having the insulation built in. 

Pants without insulation are known as shell pants. Those with, are called insulated pants.

3) Features:

A decent pair of ski pants will have a whole range of different features, many of which you won't find on regular waterproof trousers. Things to look out for include:

Taped Seams:

Taped seams are important to stop the gradual creep of moisture past small holes created when the various panels of the pants are sewn together. It's rare to find ski pants without fully taped seams i.e. every seam has a layer of waterproof tape bonded over the top of it, but some more freestyle orientated options or those on the very edge of the budget end of the scale might only have critically taped seams.

Waterproof Zips: 

Any zips will need to either have storm flaps - a flap of material over the top of the zip - or preferably be watertight. If they don't have either eventually moisture will creep through. You can tell if a zip is watertight by looking at the area on either side of the teeth, if it has a rubbery-looking coating then you're good to go. Also, ensure that all zips run smoothly and have chunky pullers so you can easily use them with gloves or simply with cold hands.

Pockets & Vents:

It's useful to have at least a couple of hand pockets—one for your phone and another for a wallet. If you're going to be doing a lot of high-intensity skiing or ski touring then thigh zips are a must for ventilation through the legs. You may also want extra pockets to keep things like snack bars easily at hand. 

Boot gaiters & snow skirt loops: 

Make sure your ski pants have boot gaiters. These sit below the outer material and are elasticated to hug your boots, stopping snow from getting in and keeping your pants in place. If you're worried about abrasion from boots, bindings, and ski touring kit then look for reinforced insteps - patches of sturdier material on the lower legs. Many ski pants have loops that can be attached to the snow skirt of a matching jacket, to help stop snow getting in your waist band. 

4) Fit - Regular or Bib Pants:

Perhaps the most important factor of all is whether your ski pants fit you properly. Most brands now publish size guides on their websites, and it's worth making sure that you check these out before you make a purchase. 

As for the question of whether to go with bib pants or regular pants? It's partly a question of style and what you feel comfortable in. But there are some practical considerations too.

Bib pants offer extra protection with a raised bib at the front and back held up by suspenders. This stops cold wet snow sneaking in between your jacket and pants so is a definite bonus, especially for freeriders sending powder snow up, behind, and around them. If your skiing is much more sedate and mainly on the piste then a bib is probably overkill.