Second-hand ski and snow wear: what to buy and what to check

What is worth buying second-hand

• Ski jackets, shell or insulated.
• Salopettes and ski trousers. Salopettes keep snow out of your back when you fall.
• Mid layers: fleeces, light padded jackets and wool jumpers.
• Base layer tops in merino or synthetic fabrics.
• Gloves and mittens, hats and neck warmers.
• Children's snowsuits, jackets and salopettes, which are often outgrown after one or two trips.

Rewear is for clothing, footwear and accessories, so equipment such as skis, boards and poles is not something you will find here.

What to check on jackets and trousers

Waterproofing

• Ask about the label. Many ski jackets show a waterproof rating or the name of the membrane on a tag or the inside label.
• Look at the seams on the inside. Taped seams, with a strip sealing each one, keep water out.
• Ask whether water still beads on the surface. If it soaks in, the outer finish may need reproofing, which you can do at home with the right product.
• Look for delamination: bubbling, peeling or flaking on the inside of the fabric. It cannot be fixed and the piece will no longer be fully waterproof.

Zips and fastenings

• Check every zip: the main zip, pockets, underarm vents and leg zips.
• Check poppers, Velcro cuffs and the drawcords at the hem and hood.
• Ask whether the snow skirt inside the jacket is still there and fastens.

Insulation

• Padded and down jackets should feel evenly filled, not flat in places or lumpy in others.
• Ask about any smell, as damp storage can leave insulation musty.

Our guide on how to wash a down jacket explains how to clean and dry one without flattening it.

Wear

• The seat and knees of trousers, from chairlifts and kneeling in snow.
• The inside of the lower legs, where ski boots and edges rub.
• Cuffs, which wear from gloves and poles.

Getting the fit right

Ski wear has to fit over layers and let you move.

• Jackets should have room for a base layer and a fleece, and sleeves long enough to stay covering your wrists when you reach forward.
• Trousers and salopettes should be long enough to sit over ski boots, with room to bend your knees fully.
• Compare measurements in cm with outdoor clothes you own that fit with layers. Our guide on how to measure clothes shows which ones to take.

For children, a little growing room is fine, but too big lets snow in at the cuffs and neck. Our guide to second-hand kids' winter coats covers what to look for on children's outerwear.

Base layers and gloves

• Base layers should fit close to the skin. Merino resists smells, which helps on a week away. Buy base layer tops second-hand, and underwear new.
• Gloves should be checked at the fingertips and between the fingers, where they wear first. Ask whether the lining has come away inside.

Caring for ski wear

• Check the care label first.
• Wash it with a cleaner made for technical outerwear, not ordinary detergent, which can leave residue that affects waterproofing.
• Skip fabric softener on waterproofs and fleeces.
• Close all zips and Velcro before washing.
• Dry it as the label says. Some waterproofs recommend a short, low tumble to refresh the outer finish; others should be line dried.
• Reproof with a wash-in or spray-on product if water no longer beads, following the product's instructions.
• Store it clean and dry, hung or loosely folded, not compressed.

When to buy and sell

Autumn and early winter are the busiest times, when people plan trips and clear out last season's gear. Late spring can bring bargains from sellers clearing space after the season. If you are selling, list it in autumn, washed, with photos of the labels, zips and inside seams, and the measurements in cm. Our guide to what sells best second-hand in winter has more on timing.

The short version

Buy jackets, salopettes, mid layers, gloves and kids' snowsuits second-hand. Check taped seams, beading, delamination, every zip and even insulation. Make sure there is room for layers and boots, wash it with a technical cleaner and reproof it if water soaks in.