How to choose children's clothes for cross-country skiing

The right clothing is the key to your child enjoying cross-country skiing in all weathers. When cross-country skiing, your child alternately sweats and gets cold, so it's important to choose the right layers of clothing to ensure optimal thermal comfort.

Children's cross-country ski clothing is based on the onion principle of functional layering. Functional underwear is the base layer, followed by an insulating layer and then an outer layer that protects against the outside elements. Clothing may differ for the smallest cross-country skiers, who are not yet warm enough to move on their own and therefore need to be insulated as much as possible.

If you still don't know what to do after reading this article, remember that we are not just an e-shop. We will be happy to welcome you directly in our Skibi Kids stores, where we will be happy to help you choose the right clothing for cross-country skiing. Our Radotín branch of Skibi Kids specialises in this product range.

The principle of layering clothes

1. Base layer (functional underwear / thermal underwear)

Task - Moves sweat away from the body
Material - Synthetic fibres or merino wool
Features - Quick-drying, close to the body, warm even when wet

For cross-country skiing, it is ideal to use long thermal pants and a long-sleeved thermal shirt.

Tip

Avoid cotton underwear, which stays wet and cold after sweating!

2. Middle layer (insulation)

Task - Keeps the heat in
Material - Fleece or lighter softshell
Features - Breathable, lightweight, allows movement

3. Top layer (protective)

Task - Protects against wind and snow
Material - Softshell or lightweight jacket/pants with adequate snow and water resistance
Features - Windproof, partially waterproof, must allow free movement

The outer layer consists of a cross-country jacket and pants to protect the child against external influences such as rain, snow and wind. Ideally, this layer is also breathable to allow sweat coming from the lower layers to evaporate.

The jacket should also be combined with a vest to provide additional insulation and protect your child even better from draughts. In warmer weather, the vest can be used instead of the jacket.

What to wear in different temperatures

Temperatures around zero (0°C to -5°C)

  • Thin functional underwear
  • Lightweight fleece or sweatshirt
  • Softshell jacket
  • Cross-country ski pants

Cooler weather (-5°C to -15°C)

  • Thicker functional underwear with long sleeves
  • Warmer fleece or warm sweatshirt
  • Insulated jacket for cross-country skiing
  • Insulated cross-country ski pants

Warm weather (above 0°C)

  • Thin functional long-sleeved shirt
  • Lightweight jacket
  • Cross-country ski pants

Cross-country clothing for youngest children

For the youngest children who are just starting out in cross-country skiing and will not be doing more intense physical activity for a longer period of time to keep themselves warm enough, more emphasis should be placed on insulation in clothing.

For the youngest children, functional underwear will also be essential, although fleece overalls will be the second layer of insulation. A overall is made up of just one piece of clothing, it has nowhere to lose heat and therefore provides excellent insulation. the top layer will ideally be snowsuits with a membrane. You can read more about the right choice of overalls for children in the article - How to choose children's snowsuit.

We must not forget about gloves, which for the smallest children should be extended to prevent snow from falling in and into the sleeves.
An alternative to the classic hat can be a knitted balaclava, or a thin one that covers the face, combined with a hat.

Accessories

Gloves for cross-country skiing

- Thinner cross-country skiing gloves
- Waterproof
- Good grip on sticks

Cap / Headband / Scarf

- Lightweight and breathable
- Covers ears
- Ideally made of a functional material, or fitted with a blowout preventer.

Tip

If possible, bring two hats for your child. Preferably one thin hat for moments of higher motor intensity and a warmer cap for breaks or a more relaxed ride.

Socks

- Functional material
- Reinforced stressed parts
- Seamless design

Common selection errors

  1. Too warm clothes - The child gets warm when running, more thin layers are better than one thick one.
  2. Unbreathable materials - Cause sweating and lead to chilling of the body
  3. Cotton clothing - Keeps moisture and makes you cold when sweaty