What do you use for mid-layer bottoms for resort skiing?

[johnnyvw]

I started wearing these last year, I wish I hadn't waited so long LOL. In cold weather I wear them under insulated pants, in warmer weather under shells.

Endurance Generator Insulator Joint & Muscle Support 3/4 Compression Tight: Black

Keep warm and gear up for your best performance with Men's Black Endurance Generator Insulator 3/4 Compression Tights. Free shipping & returns.

cw-x.com

Caveat: IMO they run a tad small around the waist. So unless you like a LOT of compression, size up

 

[Crank]

MTB pants. Pearl Izumi's AmFIB are actually better than the North Face from 10+ years ago. And the fly's right there.

Explore High-Performance Men's Cycling Pants | PEARL iZUMi

Discover PEARL iZUMi's Men's Cycling Pants, engineered for comfort, durability, and performance. Perfect for road, gravel, or mountain biking adventures.

www.pearlizumi.com

I used to have a pair of Pearl Izumi pants that were basically the same. I also wore them for winter mtb (which I used to do) and xc skiing (which I still do) as well as under my ski pants. Wore those suckers out. They were free swag from work so I can't bring myself to spend north of $100 to replace them. lol

I usually wear a merino base layer and keep a nice pair of Columbia fleece pants to throw on over them après ski. If it's really cold out the fleece pants double as a mid layer. And I have a thicker pair of fleece pants for wen it's really cold!

 

[Scruffy]

I don't use a mid-layer bottom. Just a thin base layer Helly Hanson poly-pro type thing, and a pant shell. On a super cold day -0f and lower, I have a slightly heavier base layer, but still no mid-layer. But I run hot, as my wife says: I'm her furnace. I do use a mid-layer top however.

 

[Noodler]

I started wearing these last year, I wish I hadn't waited so long LOL. In cold weather I wear them under insulated pants, in warmer weather under shells.

Endurance Generator Insulator Joint & Muscle Support 3/4 Compression Tight: Black

Keep warm and gear up for your best performance with Men's Black Endurance Generator Insulator 3/4 Compression Tights. Free shipping & returns.

cw-x.com

Caveat: IMO they run a tad small around the waist. So unless you like a LOT of compression, size up

Seconded. I've skied in them for years, but they're not a mid-layer.

 

[jt10000]

It's weird someone asking for advice on what midlayer to get after using a midlayer for decades and getting responses saying "I don't use a midlayer - just a baselayer under a shell."

OK. Good for you. Congrats.

 

[johnnyvw]

Sharing is caring...

 

[Wade]

I use these insulated 3/4 length pants over a base layer and under shell when it’s really cold.

Backcountry Wolverine Cirque 3/4 Insulated Pant - Men's - Clothing

Buy the Backcountry Wolverine Cirque 3/4 Insulated Pant - Men's online or shop all Clothing from Backcountry.com.

www.backcountry.com

I’ve been really happy with them. Good warmth, relatively low bulk, and comfortable. I especially like that I’m not rolling something up to sit on top of my boots and pushing a bunch of fabric into the area between my knee and boot top.

They’re sold out right now but Stio and Norønna are two companies that make similar pieces and I’m sure there are a bunch of others.

 

[salvatore]

Sharing is caring...

Indeed. For me, Brynje mesh is a game-changer. I try to share my experience with everyone, even if many ridicule my fashion sense!

 

[cantunamunch]

It's weird someone asking for advice on what midlayer to get after using a midlayer for decades and getting responses saying "I don't use a midlayer - just a baselayer under a shell."

OK. Good for you. Congrats.

The question left the door open, thus: What midlayer do you use? I did, however try to keep on OP's intent.

Indeed. For me, Brynje mesh is a game-changer. I try to share my experience with everyone, even if many ridicule my fashion sense!

Yeh, Polartec basically took the Brynje idea and reinvented it into a fleece with Alpha. If you look at Alpha fabric in a macro pic, you can just about see the openwork mesh. This is one of the reasons I like the Pearl Izumi AmFIB pants I posted above better than the North Face/Patagucci fleeces I used to wear on the bike.

The Pactimo baselayer basically looks like this:

Unfortunately, the material doesn't have elastic stretch comparable to other fleeces and absolutely needs windblocking facers. But then so does Brynje.

We had a thread on the material here: https://www.skitalk.com/threads/polartec-alpha-base-layers-and-next-2-skin-insulators.28538/

 

[jt10000]

Indeed. For me, Brynje mesh is a game-changer. I try to share my experience with everyone, even if many ridicule my fashion sense!

You were describing another approach for someone who needs a little extra to stay warm. That's helpful. Even talking about insulated pants would be.

Whereas "Don't need it; I run warm" is not.

 

[pais alto]

These seem to have a fly.

Patagonia Men's R2® TechFace Cold Weather Fishing Pants

The perfect cold-weather crosslayer, our Patagonia® Men’s R2® TechFace Pants deliver breathable, water-shedding warmth and angler-focused details.

www.patagonia.com

 

[givethepigeye]

Whatever the Smartwool knickers are over a pair of wool boxers under shell pant. Anymore and it gets a bit swampy.

 

[SBrown]

I just picked up a pair of these, and I can't stop wearing them. The bottoms aren't too bulky and fold up easily over ski boots.

 

[peterm]

I'm thinking some Merino shorts over a baselayer might be a good way for a little extra warmth but not too much.

Merino Shifter Shorts

Classic sweat shorts with a modern twist thanks to soft, 100% merino wool terry fabric, the Shifter Shorts are styled and dialed for everyday comfort.

www.icebreaker.com

 

[cantunamunch]

I'm thinking some Merino shorts over a baselayer might be a good way for a little extra warmth but not too much.

Merino Shifter Shorts

Classic sweat shorts with a modern twist thanks to soft, 100% merino wool terry fabric, the Shifter Shorts are styled and dialed for everyday comfort.

www.icebreaker.com

Partly to you and partly in response to @Tom K. , there's a whole shopping category of $cheap fleece jogger shorts - I like mine in fun colours or with appropriate logos - thus:

but caveat emptor: pocket stitching on the cheap stuff is usually complete sh*t. Expect to redo it, or to redo any thermal adhesive bonding.

 

[johnnyvw]

You were describing another approach for someone who needs a little extra to stay warm. That's helpful. Even talking about insulated pants would be.

Whereas "Don't need it; I run warm" is not.

Dude, why so critical? Maybe something that someone posts will for someone be "hey, that's a great idea, maybe I'll try that".

I USED to wear three layers...base, mid, shell. What I do now simplfies things for me. And gives my legs better support. Different strokes for different folks...

 

[Eric@ict]

Brynje Super Thermo 3/4 Longs Base Layer + Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis 3/4 Thermal Leggings + shell bibs.

That combo takes me down to the coldest of days. On warmer days, I can ditch the merino knickers and just wear the mesh. That stuff is life-changing.

When I first read this I thought "fishnets". I hit the link for the Brynje and they look like fishnets to me. I cant see those being warm at all.

 

[cantunamunch]

When I first read this I thought "fishnets". I hit the link for the Brynje and they look like fishnets to me. I cant see those being warm at all.

For heavy perspirers and with a wind blocker above, they're excellent, even when done in cotton-based yarns.

Fit is paramount - don't expect much multidirectional stretch. I just passed a full packing box of the stuff that doesn't fit anymore to my nephew.
Nowadays I'm in SIXS, Craft and ...Polartec Alpha as per above. Two of those can be looked at as updates of the mesh idea.

 

[jt10000]

Dude, why so critical? Maybe something that someone posts will for someone be "hey, that's a great idea, maybe I'll try that". Different strokes for different folks...

Why the need for some people to jump up and say how they're different than the OP? Someone "runs hot." So what? We can't learn from that.

I USED to wear three layers...base, mid, shell. What I do now simplfies things for me. And gives my legs better support. Different strokes for different folks...

That's more helpful than "I don't wear midlayers. I run hot." What you wrote provides some info people might build upon or consider.

Imagine someone saying "I wore out my park skis - any recommendations for what I should be looking for as a replacement" and another person answers with "I don't ski park." Cool bro. You don't ski park. You run hot. Good for you.

 

[Wade]

Imagine someone saying "I wore out my park skis - any recommendations for what I should be looking for as a replacement" and someone answers with "I don't ski park."

We'd have a dozen replies recommending FIS SLs within an hour.