Technical products guide
Find all the answers to your questions and the support you need for an optimal experience.
Main properties
The main properties of the garment allow us to evaluate its performance level according to six essential criteria.
The warmth of the garment
Ski clothing incorporates advanced thermal technologies to ensure optimum warmth in extreme winter conditions. Synthetic or down insulation is often used to create an effective thermal barrier, maintaining body heat and protecting the skier from the intense cold at altitude.
Garment waterproofness
Waterproofing is essential to protect skiers from the elements. Ski clothing features special coatings or waterproof membranes that prevent water penetration while allowing perspiration to escape, ensuring optimum comfort even in wet weather.
Garment breathability
Breathability is crucial to evacuate excess heat and moisture generated during the physical exertion of skiing. Breathable materials and ventilation technologies are integrated to promote optimal air circulation, preventing condensation while keeping the skier dry.
Garment stretch
The elasticity of fabrics is paramount to guarantee total freedom of movement on the slopes. Stretch materials and ergonomic designs allow the garment to adapt to the skier's movements, ensuring optimum flexibility and enhanced performance.
Garment technicity
Technicality encompasses a set of specific features designed to enhance the performance of ski clothing. These may include waterproof zippers, pockets specifically designed for ski accessories, ventilation systems (etc.), all designed to meet the specific needs of activity on the slopes.
Garment eco-design
Eco-design in skiwear focuses on sustainable practices, from material selection to manufacturing. This can include the use of recycled fabrics, energy-efficient production processes, and initiatives to reduce the garment's overall environmental impact. Brands are increasingly committed to integrating eco-friendly practices to address growing sustainability concerns.
Technical design
Skiwear is a technically complex garment.
They use highly advanced manufacturing processes and innovative, high-performance materials, with the aim of providing an experience tailored to their use.
Membrane waterproofing
A garment's waterproofness is a measure of its ability to protect against surrounding moisture.
Read more
Waterproofness, measured in the laboratory by hydrostatic pressure tests, is expressed in Schmerber (the height in millimeters of a column of water placed on the fabric before the water penetrates it, in 1 hour). The higher the number, the more waterproof the fabric.
During sporting activities, varying degrees of pressure are exerted on the garment (rubbing, wearing a backpack, falls, etc.), so it's commonly considered that an 8000mm (or 8K) fabric is sufficient to stay dry in the rain during a medium-intensity sporting activity.
Our garments offer waterproofness ranging from 10,000 mm to 20,000 mm, which is more than sufficient.
Membrane breathability
A garment's breathability represents its ability to wick away moisture produced by the body in action.
Read more
Breathability is probably the most important factor in a technical fabric. It allows perspiration to escape to the outside of the garment, keeping you dry and therefore warm.
As with waterproofing, various laboratory measurements are available. The most common measures water vapor transfer, and is expressed in grams of water vapor that a square meter of fabric lets through in 24 hours (g/m2/24h). Below 5,000 g/m2/24h (or 5k), the fabric breathes very little; from 10k upwards, it becomes highly breathable, with 20k being very high.
Our garments offer breathability ranging from 10,000 g to 20,000 g, which is very high performance.
Stretch of material
Comfort is essential for skiing. The cut of the garment and the material used in its design will promote ease of movement.
Read more
A “stretch” fabric has elastic properties, offering ultimate comfort during outdoor activities. That's why our products are designed using different stretch fabric technologies.
It's also worth noting that all our jackets feature stretch linings, guaranteeing consistency in the construction of each product, and therefore absolute comfort.
2-Way Stretch
A special weave gives the fabric mechanical elasticity across its width.
Hybrid Stretch
The combination of 4-Way Stretch inserts and 2-Way Stretch materials provides maximum elasticity in the most strategic places.
4-Way Stretch
Thanks to the use of elastane in the weaving process, maximum elasticity is achieved in both width and height.
Seam sealing
Sealed seams guarantee high-performance construction that respects the waterproof properties of the materials used in garment design.
Read more
These seams are usually sealed with special adhesive tapes or waterproof membranes that prevent water from penetrating through the stitching.
This technique reinforces the garment's waterproofing in vulnerable areas, while preserving its breathability. So even when the skier is exposed to harsh weather conditions such as slush or rain, the taped seams provide a waterproof barrier, keeping the body dry and comfortable.
This feature is essential for an enjoyable skiing experience, offering effective protection against the elements while preserving the skier's freedom of movement.
Main seams taped
Seams are sealed at strategic points (hood, shoulders for jackets, buttocks, knees for pants).
All seams taped
All seams are taped, guaranteeing perfect waterproofing.
Features & technologies
In practice, depending on their intended use, ski garments have to meet both technical requirements, guaranteeing maximum protection from the elements, and comfort of use, in line with the sport.
Main materials
To ski in ideal conditions, there's nothing like feeling warm in your skiwear.
Read more
The most important warmth-carrying ally is the midlayer worn under a protective jacket, such as a ski jacket. Also known as a midlayer, this garment is designed to provide a sufficient source of heat to keep the body at an ideal temperature during outdoor activities.
S-warm is our new standard for insulating layers under protective clothing. With an excellent thermal insulation/breathability ratio, it's soft and ultra-comfortable, easy-care and quick-drying. S-warm is recycled.
We've developed a new technology called TechWool that combines bamboo viscose, merino wool and elastane. Based on the natural technical properties of wool, this technology offers unrivalled comfort combined with first-rate thermal properties, while guaranteeing excellent wicking of perspiration, all odorless thanks to the natural properties of bamboo fiber and wool.
Waterproof-breathable membrane
Waterproofing and breathability are key factors in skiwear performance. They are ensured by the lamination of a waterproof-breathable membrane on the inner side of the garment fabric.
Read more
There are several types of membrane, all designed to prevent water from passing through the fabric, while allowing perspiration to escape...
- Microporous membranes (the most common) are made up of tiny holes that are far too small to let a drop of water through (ensuring watertightness), but which allow water molecules to pass through in the form of vapor (and therefore perspiration).
- Fabric manufacturer Toray's Dermizax membrane has a flexible structure and molecules that “move” to let the garment breathe. The molecular structure also reacts to body temperature (the warmer it is, the more mobile the molecules, and therefore the more breathable the membrane).
The DERMIZAX™ membrane from Japanese fabric manufacturer TORAY® offers a waterproof, breathable membrane with the distinctive feature of being non-microporous. This guarantees excellent waterproofing, exceptional breathability by capillary action, and allows the material to retain all its stretch. a benchmark in the world of mountains and outdoor sports.
Garment insulation
Insulation's ability to retain heat makes it a real asset for maintaining body heat.
Read more
The principle is quite simple: a more or less thick layer of wadding is inserted (between the outer fabric, which provides a barrier to the elements, and the lining, which ensures comfort), which has the particularity of being “swellable”, i.e. it traps a lot of air. As air is a highly effective natural insulator, this allows the body's natural heat to remain “trapped” inside the garment.
Primaloft® synthetic wadding is the benchmark insulating material for outdoor clothing. It retains body heat, and its hydrophobic properties make it waterproof yet extremely breathable.
Water-repellent
Often associated with waterproofing, DWR (Durable Water Repellency) plays a much more subtle role.
Read more
Wet material (even if waterproof thanks to the waterproof membrane) feels cold and uncomfortable. Wet fibers will also tighten, preventing perspiration from escaping.
This excess moisture inside the garment is prevented by a water-repellent treatment of the textile fibers, whose function is to cause water to run off the surface of the fabric. This prevents the fibers (which make up the fabric) from becoming waterlogged, thus preventing a sensation of cold.
It's important to remember, however, that since water repellency is ensured by a finish applied to the fabric fibers, the fabric's performance will be altered over time, due to abrasion of the fibers after washing.
And even if our water-repellent treatments maintain a performance of 80% (minimum) after 5 washes, it will be necessary to reactivate the garment's water-repellent power to guarantee good technical performance over time.
Water-repellent treatments are a major source of pollution; both during product design and use. Teflon® EcoElite™ water-repellent treatment is guaranteed free of fluorinated agents. It's made from bio-sourced materials, and ensures first-rate performance, even after more than 30 washes! It's currently the best-performing ecological water-repellent solution.
Concepts & innovations
Whether exploring new technologies or rethinking traditional functionalities, we are constantly on the lookout for innovations to offer products that combine style and functionality, to meet the needs of our customers and thus ensure an optimal experience for every user.
The multilayer system
To get the most out of outdoor activities, it's essential to understand and adopt the multi-layer system.
This concept, based on the layering of distinct garments, optimizes heat and moisture management during outdoor activities such as skiing. Each layer plays a specific role, with the ultimate aim of keeping you warm, dry and comfortable.
The base layer
The first layer is the one in direct contact with your skin. Its main purpose is to wick moisture away from your body. For this purpose, synthetic materials or merino wool are ideal, as they are known for their ability to wick away perspiration. This layer must fit snugly to maximize its effectiveness. It creates a barrier between your skin and sweat, keeping your body temperature constant and comfortable.
Thermal insulation
The second layer, also known as the mid-layer, is primarily designed to retain body heat. It acts as thermal insulation, trapping warm air close to your body. The key here is to choose an appropriate thickness according to weather conditions. In very cold weather, opt for a thicker layer, while in mild weather, a thinner layer will suffice. This layer can also be easily removed or added to regulate your body temperature during the day.
Outdoor protection
The third layer is the first line of defense against the elements, such as rain, snow, wind and cold. It must be waterproof and windproof, while allowing moisture to escape. Ski jackets and pants with waterproof, breathable membranes are the ideal option. This layer not only protects against the elements, but also acts as a barrier against the cold. Ventilation zips can also be used to vary the desired level of warmth, depending on weather conditions.
Hybrid Concept
This innovative concept, based on the three-layer system, gives rise to a unique technology based on the optimal combination of a shell jacket and controlled warmth.
Hybrid technology ingeniously combines the breathable, protective properties of a shell jacket with Primaloft® insulation targeted where it's needed most. Thanks to this two-in-one system, it's now possible to combine the technical properties of a Midlayer and an Outlayer in a single garment.
If you need help or more specific information, our customer service team is here to help.
