Men's ski suit guide: one-piece or two-piece, and what the numbers mean

A men's ski suit has to handle windy lift queues, hard morning pistes and the last run in flat light. Choosing well is less about colour and more about reading a few numbers and details on the product page. This guide covers one-piece vs two-piece, waterproof and breathability ratings, insulation, seams and sizing. You will find our full range of men's ski suits here, along with the jackets and pants to build your own.

One-piece or two-piece: which men's ski suit suits you?

"Ski suit" means two things. A one-piece ski suit is a single garment, zipped from collar to hip. A two-piece ski suit is a jacket and matching ski pants sold together as one outfit.

The one-piece ski suit

With no gap at the waist, snow stays out when you fall and warm air stays around your lower back. The downsides: slower toilet stops without a waist or hip zip, no lighter top for spring afternoons, and one fit for torso and legs. In our men's range, the one-piece options are cut for snowboarding: the Fusion 2L Insulated Jumpsuit (10,000 mm, POWERFILL insulation, fully taped seams, loose fit) and the Fusion Expert 3L Jumpsuit (PHYLEX stretch shell, fully taped seams, dual side vents and an oversized hood).

The two-piece ski suit

Most Alpine skiers choose two pieces: you can take the jacket off for lunch, wear the pants with another jacket and size top and bottom separately. The weak point, the waist, is closed by a powder skirt. Our two-piece suits are designed and sold as a set:

• Tendency Sunset 2L Ski Suit — a gradient "sunrise" jacket and pant in a four-way stretch shell rated 20,000 mm and 20,000 g/m²/24h (JIS), with POWERFILL insulation, underarm and thigh vents, a removable hood with three-way adjustable depth and a thickened back waist for lumbar support.
• Tendency Stroke 2L Ski Suit — a brushstroke print over a PHYLEX 2.0 shell (20,000 mm, 20,000 g/m²/24h) with 3M Thinsulate insulation, side vents on the jacket, inside-leg zip vents and CORDURA at the hems.
• A-way1.0 2L Ski Suit and A-way3.0 2L Ski Suit — unisex two-piece sets with a PHYLEX four-way stretch shell (20,000 mm, 20,000 g/m²/24h) and 3M Thinsulate, built for ski schools, teams and long days on the piste.

If you prefer to choose each piece yourself, see the section on building your own suit below. And if you are hesitating between pants and bibs for the bottom half, read ski bibs vs ski pants.

Waterproofing: what the millimetres mean

The waterproof rating ("WR 20,000 mm" or "20K") is how high a column of water can rise on the fabric, in millimetres, before it passes through. Higher means more resistance to pressure, such as sitting on a wet chairlift.

• 5,000 mm: fine for cold, dry resort days and light snow.
• 10,000 mm: a solid all-round level for most holiday skiing and riding.
• 20,000 mm: the level for wet snow, long days outside and changeable weather in the Alps.

"JIS" means the maker states the Japanese test standard; figures from different methods are not always comparable. For a deeper look at membranes and ratings, read what is GORE-TEX, and how waterproof ratings work.

Breathability: what the grams mean

Breathability, written as "MVP 20,000 g/m²/24h", measures how many grams of water vapour can pass through one square metre of fabric in 24 hours. In plain terms: how quickly the sweat you produce on a hard run can escape before it condenses inside and chills you on the next lift.

Freeriders and hard-charging skiers should look for 15,000 to 20,000 g; relaxed piste skiers need less. Vents dump heat faster than any fabric. The Tendency Sunset suit, for example, has both underarm and thigh zips with anti-snag webbing.

Insulation: how warm is warm enough?

Down is very warm for its weight but loses loft when wet; synthetic fibres keep insulating when damp, which is why ski suits use them. Our men's range uses three:

• PRIMALOFT — in the Apex, Orbit and Vista jackets and pants. Light, soft and designed to stay warm in wet conditions.
• 3M Thinsulate — in the Tendency Stroke and the A-way suits. Thin fibres that give warmth without bulk, useful when you want freedom to move.
• POWERFILL — in the Tendency Sunset suit and several snowboard pieces. Soft polyester insulation that keeps the body warm and dry.

Our product pages state the type of insulation, not the fill weight in grams, so compare by insulation type and by where it sits (some jackets put it only in the body and sleeves). Then adjust warmth with layers: a thin base layer, a mid layer on cold days, and the insulated suit on top.

Seams, zips and the details that keep snow out

Water gets in through needle holes and zips long before the membrane. Look for:

• Sealed or taped seams. A thin waterproof tape is bonded over the stitching on the inside. "Fully taped" means every seam; "critically taped" means only the most exposed ones. Where a TITTALLON garment has fully taped seams, the product page says so, as on the Fusion jumpsuits.
• Waterproof zips. YKK or IDEAL waterproof zips have a coated tape that sheds water without a storm flap. You will find them on all the suits in this guide.
• Powder skirt and snow gaiters. An elasticated skirt inside the jacket and stretch gaiters inside the pant legs close the two main entry points for snow.
• Reinforced hems. Ski edges cut pant hems. CORDURA at the bottom of the legs, as on the Tendency Stroke, the Orbit pant and the Vista pant, makes them last longer.
• Hood and cuffs. An adjustable hood that does not block your vision, and cuffs that close over or under your gloves.

Build your own: matching jacket and ski pants

Pairing a jacket and pants from the same line gives identical ratings top and bottom, sized separately. Three pairs from our men's ski jackets and men's ski pants that match in shell and insulation:

Prefer a bib? The Orbit 2L Bib pairs with the Orbit jacket and uses the same PHYLEX 3.0 shell and PRIMALOFT insulation.

How to choose the size of a men's ski suit

• Measure, then read the chart. Chest for the jacket, waist and inside leg for the pants. Compare with the size guide on each product page rather than your everyday clothing size.
• Try it with your layers. Wear the base and mid layer you will ski in. A suit that fits over a T-shirt will feel tight over a fleece.
• Reach forward. With your arms stretched out as if holding poles, the sleeves should still cover your wrists, and the back of the jacket should not ride up above the waist.
• Squat. Bend your knees deeply, as in a turn. The pants should not pull at the knees or the seat, and the waistband should stay in place.
• Between two sizes? Take the larger one if you layer heavily or prefer a relaxed cut; take the smaller one if the fit is described as standard and you ski fast. If in doubt, ask us before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Is a one-piece or a two-piece ski suit better for men?

It depends on how you ski. A one-piece has no gap at the waist, so it is warmer and keeps snow out after a fall. A two-piece is more versatile: you can open or remove the jacket, size the top and bottom separately and wear the pants with another jacket. Most piste skiers in the Alps choose two pieces.

What waterproof rating should a men's ski suit have?

For holiday skiing in mostly dry snow, 10,000 mm is a solid level. For wet snow, long days outside and changeable Alpine weather, look for 20,000 mm, together with taped seams or waterproof zips. All the two-piece suits in this guide are rated 20,000 mm.

What does 20,000 g/m²/24h breathability mean?

It means 20,000 grams of water vapour can pass through one square metre of the fabric in 24 hours. The higher the figure, the faster sweat escapes, which matters for skiers who work hard. Underarm and thigh vents add a lot of extra venting.

Should I size up in a ski suit?

Only if you need room for layers. Try the suit with the base and mid layer you will ski in, reach forward and squat. If it pulls at the shoulders, knees or seat, take the next size. Always compare your measurements with the size guide on the product page.

Can I wear ski pants and a jacket from different lines as a ski suit?

Yes. Pairing a jacket and pants from the same line, such as the Vista or Orbit jacket and pant, gives you the same waterproofing, breathability and insulation top and bottom, and lets you choose the size of each piece.