dress for the tracks

Craft has more than 30 years' experience in developing functional  apparel for endurance athletes. Our expertise in designing garments for optimal function comes largely from a long and fruitful cooperation with elite sportsmen and women from all over the globe.

Their stringent demands on function and comfort drive the continued development of our design, technology and quality. Based on their feedback, we design garments for runners, bike ridersFunction, shape and layer upon layer. That is the expert’s clothing advice for success in the Vasaloppet race. But even keep-fit skiers gain from investing in functional clothing that keeps the body dry, warm and comfortable. Let Jonas Peterson, ex-elite cross-country skier and Craft’s product manager for cross-country skiing wear, guide you to your optimal outfit for the tracks.

Functional boxers and panties

“First of all, get a pair of boxers or panties and a sports-bra made of 100% polyester,” says Jonas Peterson. “Polyester transports moisture through the garment instead of binding it. As a result, you stay dry and warm.”

He explains that many skiers make the mistake of using ordinary boxers or panties made of cotton. Then it doesn’t matter if you wear polyester underwear on the outside – the cotton will bind the moisture and cool you down. It is better, then, to skip boxers or panties and only wear functional underwear.

And don’t forget, the socks should be made of polyester as well. “It is better to buy two thinner pair of socks than one thick pair,” Peterson advices. “Two thin socks provide a warming layer-upon-layer effect and a flexible solution that can be adjusted according to the temperature.”

Polyester underwear

A set of functional underwear – a tight-fitting jersey and a pair of long johns made of polyester – is a must in every cross-country skier’s wardrobe. “For optimal effect, the underwear should have a really tight fit, including in the armpit area,” says Peterson. “If the underwear doesn’t have a tight fit, the moisture will stay in place and act as a cold lid cooling the skin.”

If you freeze easily or if it is windy outside, you could choose underwear with wind protection. “Sometimes a jersey and a pair of boxers or panties with wind protection for the genitals is all you need,” he says.

Wind-protective outerwear

A mid layer outside the underwear provides isolation and extra warmth when it is really cold. A micro fleece garment made of 100% polyester that transports the moisture to the next layer or into the surrounding air is a good option for this purpose. “If you plan to ski the Vasaloppet race in four hours you will probably only need a thin racing suit outside the underwear,” says Peterson. If you plan on skiing for 10 hours, however, you will need more clothes. “It is always better to buy thin garments and wear several layers than wearing just a single thick garment,” he says. “Warm air channels are created in between the layers providing a superior isolation. Besides, if it gets to hot, you can easily shed a layer.”

Regardless of how many layers you wear, it is important that they have a tight fit. “A tight fit keeps you warmer and provides a higher level of freedom of movement,” says Peterson. “In addition, tight-fitting clothes eliminate the risk of the poles getting stuck in flapping pants.”

If you ski in windy conditions, the jacket and the pants should provide wind protection in the front. “We have several jackets and pants with wind protection in the front and elastic fabric with lesser wind protection in the back. The front piece, then, will protect against the cold wind whereas the back piece will provide ventilation and moisture transport.”

Warming hat and gloves

The blood vessels in the crown, in contrast to the ones in the rest of the body, cannot retain heat – a fact that makes it important to keep the head warm when skiing, even if wearing a hat may cause you to sweat. Since these blood vessels are not able to retain heat, the brain will prioritize the head in cold conditions, leaving the rest of the body freezing. Therefore, the hat and the gloves should contain a great portion of polyester in order to optimally regulate body temperature and moisture transport. “When it’s really cold, you could wear two sets of hats and gloves,” Peterson says. “One layer made of polyester closest to the body and one thicker layer outside.”

Sun glasses or not?

To wear or not to wear sun glasses when skiing is a matter of taste. Some skiers experience that sweat and heat tend to dim the glasses, whereas others maintain that glasses are a must. “Sunlight in combination with snow can dazzle the eyes and then it’s good to wear sun glasses. In addition, sun glasses protect against the wind and, if it’s crowded in the tracks, against sharp poles,” says Peterson. “Try and see what’s best for you, which is an advice that goes for all your ski wear and gear.”

Jonas’s favorites in the tracks

Craft Pro Zero Windstopper®: Underwear that provides wind protection and moisture transport.

Craft Flow jacket: A cross-country ski jacket that follows your body and provides total freedom of movement. Designed for advanced cross-country skiers.

Craft Power glove: A supple cross-country ski glove that provides a great grip as well as protection against wet snow.

PERSONAL FACTS

Name: Jonas Peterson
Age: 32
Profession: Product manager for the cross-country skiing and bike collections at Craft.
Best result in the Vasaloppet race: 39th place (2000).
Training: As much as possible when there’s snow. This winter will be great, which means I will ski 3 to 4 times per week.
Text: Camilla Björkman, 2007