Are you ready to hit the slopes?

Planning an action packed trip to the snowfields?

We got our Outsiders to sit still long enough to tell us all about their ioMerino must-haves for the snow. Keep in mind, we’ve had a champion snowboarder and a couple of Winter Olympian skiers go with io over the years, so it’s fair to say their advice is probably worth listening to.

Whether you're a pro or slightly less so, our lightweight merino thermal base layers are the perfect choice for all your mountain and backcountry adventures. Easily layer up or down to keep comfortable and warm in any type of mountain weather.

Not sure if something as lightweight as io will do the job? Winter Olympian Emily Bamford was also surprised when she first tried our gear.

“When I discovered io I’d wear the same amount of layers as before and be too warm, so I started to realise layers can be thin and still be very warm.”

Exactly.

Thin. Lightweight. Comfortable. And warm.

What to Wear Under Ski Clothes

Here’s some gear you may want to add to your cold weather packing list before you hit the slopes.

Merino Socks

If you’re heading for the slopes, it all starts with sock and undies. Our Merino Socks are going to keep your feet nice and warm underneath your boots, without making them all hot and sweaty when you’re on the go. You can thank the beautiful, soft, superfine Merino for that. These socks are super comfortable straight out of the pack, with no wearing in required, and they’re seam-free, chafe-free and padded in all the right places. (And they're all merino-rich - not just a token amount of merino like some companies make and try and pass off as the real thing!) 

 

Merino Underwear

We love keeping you warm here at io and there’s not many things worse in the world than being cold ‘downstairs’ if you know what we mean. Sadly, it’s the one thing people so often forget to put a little bit of extra effort into, and they end up compromising their entire layering system in an area that matters most! Our MicroMerino® underwear is the foundation of your cold weather wardrobe. There’s no need to let ordinary undies compromise your comfort when our super comfy underwear will do the job perfectly. (Be sure to choose the red ones if you want to go faster.)

Thermal Base Layer: Leggings and Tights

Your legs are going to be doing a lot of hard work, so you may as well be nice to them. Our merino wool ski base layer leggings and tights, like the Altitude tights will keep you warm without overheating or getting stinky and sweaty like synthetics will. With the natural breathability of our unique MicroMerino® fabrics, the Altitude Tights will keep your legs and your rear-end nice and warm, even when you’re sitting on a freezing cold chairlift. Or if you happen to end up a little damp after taking a tumble. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there.  

If you’re looking for opaque leggings that can be worn on their own, give our new revolutionary Merino-Compression Leggings a try. After extensive research and development, we’ve created a world first and totally unique fabric that combines all the benefits you expect from our high-performance merino fabrics, with the high performance of compression garments. Now you don’t have to choose between the breathability, thermo-regulation, moisture wicking and the odour resistant qualities of Merino or the fit, feel and performance of a compression garment - you can have both.

Featured: Women's Ultra Zip, Ribbed Beanie, Chaser Gloves, Mens Altitude Zip, Women's Merino-Compression Leggings

Altitude Long Sleeve Tops

Our merino tops are the ultimate thermal base layer for skiing. The Altitude Long Sleeve can be worn on its own as a next to skin layer in slightly milder conditions (down to around 10c/50f). We’ve added 4% Elastane to these to give them an awesome, and very comfortable, four-way stretch. No matter which way you zig, zag or fall, you’ll have a great range of movement. No restrictions. No limits.

The Altitude range features a drop back hem, designed to tuck into your outer layers or to sit over bottom layers so you don't have exposed cold spots when you're on the go. 

The thumb loops keep your hands warm and make layering easy. Flatlock stitching, raglan sleeves and tag free labels help eliminate chafe and maximize comfort! 

Choose the crew neck for a classic thermal fit, or go the Zip for even more versatility. Zip up for a warm neck and zip down to let some air in when you need to cool down.

The Altitude thermals are the first choice for all your on-mountain adventures; keeping you warm and comfortable on the slopes all day long, no overheating and no freezing, no matter what Mother Nature or Ullr the snow god can throw at you! 

Featured: Mens Altitude Zip, Women's Altitude Crew, Ribbed Beanie, Chaser Gloves

Essential Accessories for Skiing

No ski outfit is complete without the right accessories to enhance your layers of clothing for skiing:

Altitude Neck Tube

This little piece of fabric is actually a whole lot more multi-talented and useful than you might think. The versatile Neck Tube can be worn as a face mask, beanie (great for under helmets!), bandana or as its name suggests - a neck tube/neck warmer... whatever you like to call it. The Altitude Neck Tube is super handy, incredibly soft and will keep your neck/face/head warm and will NOT freeze like some other fabrics do when the temperature really drops. 

Featured: Altitude Neck Tube, Mens Altitude Crew

Skull Cap

This Merino Skull Cap is the perfect accessory if you're looking for lightweight head warmth. Made with 96% superfine Australian Merino wool, it's completely breathable and also packed with performance including temperature regulation, moisture wicking properties and odour-resistance! The streamlined design means you can wear it as an extra layer of warmth under a helmet without bulk or gathering.

100% Merino Beanies

These Amazing Beanies are made from 100% superfine Australian Merino and are the beanie you’ll absolutely want to be wearing when it’s cold outside. Super warm, lightweight and soft beyond belief, our beanies are your new ‘must-have’ accessory. The superfine Merino is soft-touch/itch-free, so once you’ve worn it, you won’t want to take it off.

Merino Gloves 

Cold fingers can be a real problem and they can totally ruin your day on the slopes. Your legs and body usually warm up nicely enough, but your hands don’t have the same level of circulation and can stay cold, so a good pair of gloves is essential. Ours are lightweight, natural, breathable, soft, warm and comfortable gloves make the perfect inner. And you can even use your touchscreen devices without taking them off, thanks to the touchscreen-friendly pads on the thumb and forefinger. 

Outer Layers for Extra Warmth

If the temperature really drops and your fingers and toes feel a little numb, the quickest way to warm up is by adding an extra layer to your core. Our Summit Hoodies provide unrivalled core warmth without adding bulk.

Made with 100% Australian Merino Wool, the Summit layers offer comfort and performance, won't create bulk or restrict your movement in any way, and will see you through a wide range of temperatures

 Featured: Men's and Women's Summit Easy Fit Hoodies

Why Choose Merino Wool Ski Base Layers?

Not all ski layers are created equal. Here’s why our merino thermals are the best thermals for skiing:
Breathable and Moisture-Wicking: Stay dry and comfortable even during intense runs.
Temperature-Regulating: Prevent overheating on sunny days or freezing on cold ones.
Odour-Resistant: Wear them multiple times without worrying about odour.
Whether you’re wondering what to wear under shell ski pants or searching for the best ski base layer, ioMerino has you covered.

Any questions?

As always, our team and Outsiders are pretty helpful when it comes to answering questions, so if you have any that aren’t too difficult, send us an email anytime and we’ll get straight back to you. (Unless we’re out hitting the slopes ourselves in which case you may need to be a teeny bit more patient!).

Some of the pictures featured were taken by Hilary Matheson featuring ioMerino Outsider Hailey Van Dyk.