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Guide
Insulation Trousers
For most ski tours, insulated shorts with 40 to 60 g/m² of synthetic fill and full-length zips down both sides are all you need: pull them on over your touring trousers at the summit and ski down in them.
Key points
- Insulated shorts with 40 to 60 g/m² are usually enough.
- Synthetic is less sensitive to moisture; keep down dry.
- Take insulation trousers off before you start climbing.
Which insulated trousers for which use?
| Use | Choice | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ski and piste touring: summit stops, descent | ChoiceInsulated shorts | LimitKnees and calves stay exposed |
| Freeride and cold lift days, under shell trousers | Choice3/4 insulation trousers | LimitWorn under the shell: soon too warm on the climb |
| High-alpine tours, long stops in wind and snowfall | ChoiceFull-length synthetic | LimitHeavier and bulkier in the pack than shorts |
| Dry cold: high-alpine tours, bivouacs | ChoiceFull-length down | LimitCopes with moisture less well than synthetic |
Types compared
Insulated shorts
For summit stops and the descent, quick to pull on.
- Advantage: Light and small in the pack
- Drawback: Knees and calves stay exposed
3/4 insulation trousers
Warm past the knee, worn under shell trousers.
- Advantage: Warm past the knee
- Drawback: Under the shell: soon too warm on the climb
Full-length synthetic
Warms the whole leg and copes with damp.
- Advantage: Warms the whole leg
- Drawback: Heavier and bulkier in the pack than shorts
What to check before you buy
| Question | In short | Why |
|---|---|---|
| How much fill do insulation trousers need? | In short40 to 80 g/m² | WhyInsulated shorts mostly carry 40 to 80 g/m² of synthetic fill. 40 g/m² covers the descent and a short stop. Go for 80 g/m² if you feel the cold or wait in the wind a lot. |
| Synthetic or down? | In shortDamp cold: synthetic | WhySynthetic fill works at around 80 to 95% of its dry performance when wet, according to Rab. Down gives the most warmth per gram and packs smaller, but belongs in dry cold. |
| Short, 3/4 or full-length? | In shortSki touring: short | WhyShorts warm your seat and thighs and leave the knees free. 3/4 trousers cover the knee and stop above the ski boot. |
| Why full-length side zips? | In shortOn with boots on | WhyFull side zips let you put the trousers on without removing ski boots. Check both sides and the full leg length; partial zips do not do the same. |
Frequently asked questions
Do insulated shorts go over or under ski trousers?
Over your touring trousers if you only need them for stops and the descent: they go on and off without undoing anything.
Can I keep insulation trousers on for the climb?
Rarely. You generate plenty of heat going uphill, the fill traps it and your base layer gets soaked. Take them off before you set off.
Are insulation trousers waterproof?
Usually not. Most outer fabrics are windproof with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish, so dry snow and light drizzle bead off.
How do I wash synthetic insulation trousers?
On a gentle cycle at 30 °C with liquid technical cleaner and no fabric conditioner, as Rab advises.
Last updated: October 2026
What for?
Piste touring
For piste touring, insulated shorts with 40 g/m² of synthetic fill are enough: pull them on at the top for the run down. At around 200 g you will hardly notice them in your pack.
- 40 g/m² fill
- around 200 g
- packs small
Ski touring
For ski touring, take insulated shorts with around 60 g/m² and full-length zips on both sides. At the summit you pull them on over touring trousers and ski boots without taking anything off.
- around 60 g/m²
- full-length side zips
- 200 to 270 g
- stows in own pocket
Freeride tour
For freeride touring, wear 3/4 insulation trousers under your shell trousers: they warm past the knee and stop above the ski boot. At −10 °C with a 30 km/h wind, a chairlift ride feels like −20 °C.
- 3/4 under the shell
- stops above the boot
- synthetic fill
High-alpine
For high-alpine ski tours, take long insulation trousers with full-length side zips that go on over your ski boots. The air cools by 6.5 °C on average for every 1,000 m you climb.
- long
- side zips to the hem
- down for dry cold
- synthetic when damp
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