The ideal outfits for ski touring in the Pyrenees

Ski touring is gaining ground every winter in the Pyrenees, and for good reason: it gives access to untouched slopes far from the ski lifts, in complete silence. But it calls for well-thought-out gear that can handle both the effort of the climb and the cold of the descent.

The three-layer principle, essential when skinning

On the way up

On the ascent, your body produces a lot of heat, and sweating too much quickly becomes a problem once you stop. A close-fitting, breathable base layer is essential to wick away moisture. Many ski tourers take off their jacket within the first few metres of climbing and simply go up in a light sweatshirt or technical T-shirt.

On the way down

At the summit, the wind and cold hit all at once. That's the time to get your jacket back out, put on your hat and gloves, and possibly a headband under your helmet. A mid-layer fleece tucked into your bag lets you adjust your outfit quickly without unpacking everything.

The essentials not to forget

• A thin beanie for the climb, a thicker one for the break at the top.
• Light gloves for climbing, a warmer pair for the descent.
• A sherpa fleece or thick sweatshirt to pull on as soon as you stop, so your body never cools down too fast.
• A headband, handy for protecting your ears without making you sweat like a full hat.

Adapting your outfit to the massif

Between the Tourmalet, often swept by the wind, and more sheltered valleys such as the Campan valley, conditions vary enormously from one area to another. It's always worth bringing one more layer than the valley forecast suggests: at altitude, differences in temperature and wind are often more pronounced than expected.

The right habit: layer up rather than bulk up

Rather than a single very warm jacket, it's better to combine several thin, breathable layers. This lets you adjust your outfit to the effort, take off a layer mid-climb without stopping for long, and stay dry from start to finish. It's this same principle that guides the choice of our outdoor pieces: materials that insulate without stifling, designed to move with you, from the first track in the morning to the last kick turn before the valley.