Katarína Lajčáková, freelancer for NORTHFINDER and co-founder of the blog and project Outdoormamas.
What was behind the creation of sports skirts?
We women are generally cold-hearted. We use every possibility to increase thermal comfort. So, there is no need to add anything to the slogan "butt in warmth" when we talk about the primary function of the insulated skirt.
During my outdoor life, I register several milestones in my functional wardrobe and equipment. The first one happened in 2012, when I got my hands on a down jacket for the first time. Suddenly my horizons of comfort expanded and winter was no longer a freezing misery. Last winter, PrimaLoft® Down Blend insulation was added to the down, which I tested on the BYSTRA jacket. I see this thermal insulation as another step forward in my functional layering for (not only) winter sports.
Another important milestone is the "discovery" of the insulating skirt. They are also called insulated, outdoor or winter skirts. You know it. You read about it, you see it around you, you even browse e-shops here and there. But only when you buy it and wear it on yourself, you wonder how you could have survived all the past winters without this skirt.
Maybe it's just me who sees it that way. So let's take a look and compare the use of a women's sports skirt and pants.
"The sports skirt for winter brought more femininity to the outdoors"
Pants vs. skirt
Pants are proven classics for outdoor and winter sports. Softshell, hardshell, stretch, insulated... there are many types and their combinations. Pants with a refined cut do not restrict your movement and when you choose the right material, they also protect you from weather conditions.
However, they have one drawback. You put them on at home before the hike and during the day (mostly) you already wear them whether you want to or not. Of course, there are fully unzipped pants that you can put on at will without taking off your shoes. However, they serve rather as added protection against rain and snow. Personally, I always keep such pants in my backpack as a safety precaution, but I only really take them out when the weather dictates otherwise.
Pants in winter represent (at least for us ladies) but one problem. They don't always meet the requirement of "warm butt". Well, ski warmers do, for example, but have you tried pedaling uphill in them for several hours?
Breathable softshell or hybrid pants are ideal for winter hiking, cross-country skiing or ski mountaineering. In a freezing wind, a long descent, or just because of our feminine coldness, we can stay cold in them during the hike. What about then? I used to wear full-zip hardshell pants over them, but that was too warm and I felt like a snowman.
Well, then came the skirt...
I was hesitant about it for a while, because as one of my outdoor friends once mentioned "I don't want to look like a pippin in the mountains"... But I changed my mind and that friend too. We can no longer imagine any trip in colder conditions without a sporty insulated skirt. We are not pipins in the mountains. We are women in the mountains.
However, a sports skirt alone would not be usable for winter sports without the right pants. Therefore, I would rather change the subtitle "Pants vs. skirt" to "Pants with a skirt". They complement each other. Whether you wear leggings, thermal leggings, softshell or hybrid pants under an insulated skirt. With the right combination, you can achieve functional outfits for different types of weather and purposeful layering.
How and with what do I combine it?
For example, in temperatures around zero, I only wear thermal leggings under my skirt. They're enough for me when I'm on the move, and I always have spare Northkit pants in my backpack just in case, which I can easily put on without taking off my shoes. When it's colder, windier or I'm going skiing, I prefer a combination of thin thermal underwear, thin softshell pants and a skirt. When climbing, the skirt usually ends up in a backpack, but then when going down, I can't praise it enough.
Come see with me, why the skirt has become an irreplaceable companion for me on all winter adventures. Maybe you will complement me or contradict me. And that's good. Because there is no single "truth", we are all exceptional with individual requirements and perception of our comfort.
Advantages of an insulated skirt
Since I have already passed through several skirts, I wrote down their general advantages, for which the insulating skirt is already a permanent part of my winter wardrobe equipment.
Advantage #1
Your buttocks and thighs are always warm. Probably every woman agrees that covering the lower back and buttocks significantly increases thermal comfort. Thanks to the skirt, you can go winter hiking and cross-country skiing only in thermo leggings and even lower temperatures won't surprise you. In addition to insulation, it also protects you from wind and light rain. If you want to take the skirt just as insurance, with its light weight and small volume after packing, you won't even know you have it in your backpack.
"I can wear leggings all year round and my ass won't freeze."
Advantage #2
You can wear it anytime, anywhere. Insulated the skirt can be put on and taken off quickly if needed thanks to the full-length zipper . Whether for leggings or pants. This is how you can layer effectively and quickly adapt to the situation.
I'm getting ready for a quick exit. I know I'll get warm, so I'll just put on thermal leggings and put the skirt in my backpack. However, I want to take pictures and have tea at the finish line. In addition, the wind is blowing and my comfort is decreasing. I put the skirt on skillfully, I immediately feel an increase in thermal comfort, and it remains even during the descent.
Tip: If you wear the skirt in strong wind, with brittle fingers, use the snaps at the waist. If it has them, turn them on first. The skirt will stop falling and you can concentrate on fastening the zipper.
Advantage #3
It does not restrict movement. The zipper or zippers on the side are not only for quickly putting on and taking off the skirt. Since it is two-way, you can unbutton it at the bottom to any length and increase the range of motion of the skirt. You'll appreciate it when climbing a hill or cross-country skiing.
"Finally, I don't feel like a snowman in shapeless pants in winter. I have much more freedom of movement."
