# Ski/snow pants buying advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235 "2011-01-11T17:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/1 "2011-01-11T17:33:40Z")
looking at buying a pair, my choice is down to two: they’re the same brand, same models (I presume) except that one has side zippers that run down the entire pant leg, so you can presumably take them off without taking boots off. is that worth it (it is ~20% more expensive than the non-side zippered pants)? is there another reason for this that i’m missing? is the convenience outweighed by the fact that you have a seamed area which can let in more snow/cold than if the zippers weren’t there? discuss! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/2 "2011-01-11T17:40:33Z")
I’ve never had side zippers and probably wouldn’t use them if I did. I can’t really imagine wanting to remove my ski pants while leaving my boots on. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/3 "2011-01-11T17:43:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve never had side zippers and probably wouldn’t use them if I did. I can’t really imagine wanting to remove my ski pants while leaving my boots on. about the only thing i could think of was drying off without completely stripping down (like in the lodge or something) or using the zippers to give you some airflow if its too hot. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/4 "2011-01-11T18:22:46Z")
Zippers all the way up the side are not especially useful. I have never been in a situation where I wanted to removed the pants where I did not want the boots off as well. Zippers at the bottom that go up a little higher than the top of your boots make it more convenient to adjust the tightness of your ski boots. I personally tighten my boots at the top of the mountain and loosen them before getting on the lift. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/5 "2011-01-11T18:48:41Z")
I just loosen my lower two buckles, but don’t need to move my ski pants to do that. I also don’t know of any good reason to have side zips. I can’t think of a circumstance where I’d take off my pants but not my boots. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/6 "2011-01-11T19:09:56Z")
I’m going to disagree with the previous 4 posts. I wear snow “overalls” with long zippers. They are very handy. I’m assuming the zipper has two pull tabs. The lower pull-tab = very useful. So you can unzip from the bottom of the pants leg up to , say, mid-calf to get to your boots, and if you want a little ventilation, if you are sweating. Upper pull-tab = VERY useful. So you can pull the zipper down, from waist high to a few inches above the knee. This makes it easy to grab your wallet or whatever from the pocket of your jeans. Also good for ventilation if you are sweating. > [@](#): > > I can’t think of a circumstance where I’d take off my pants but not my boots How 'bout when you go to the bathroom? Sometimes you just gotta lower your pants. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/7 "2011-01-11T19:33:13Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > How 'bout when you go to the bathroom? Sometimes you just gotta lower your pants. 🙂 I am failing to understand this. I have never needed to take off the ski pants to use the bathroom. You need to pull them down just like normal pants. I don’t take my normal pants off in the bathroom do you? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/8 "2011-01-11T19:44:29Z")
gee, I don’t take 'em all the way off, either. But when you you’re wearing so many layers of bulky stuff, the side zippers make it easier and more flexible to push the snow pants down. maybe we need to start a thread called “how to shit at a ski resort” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/9 "2011-01-11T20:16:49Z")
Full side zips are critical IMO for backcountry skiing, where you may need to add/remove layers during the day. For inbounds at a ski area, they have no real use. All my winter pants are uninsulated (so I can layer) and have full side zips. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/10 "2011-01-11T20:42:35Z")
I’d be more concerned that they have venting; the more you vent, the less often you need to come in and warm up/cool down various body parts. Venting are small zippers that open up along the outside (or inside) of the pants to allow a mesh area some airflow. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/11 "2011-01-11T21:06:02Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > gee, I don’t take 'em all the way off, either. > > But when you you’re wearing so many layers of bulky stuff, the side zippers make it easier and more flexible to push the snow pants down. > > maybe we need to start a thread called “how to shit at a ski resort” 🙂 Na, I just pull them down like regular pants. I’ve never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/12 "2011-01-11T21:36:20Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > gee, I don’t take 'em all the way off, either. > > But when you you’re wearing so many layers of bulky stuff, the side zippers make it easier and more flexible to push the snow pants down. If you have any problem whatsoever pushing your pants down to normal pooping heights you’re wearing too much stiff, bulky clothing. That does sort of explain why you’re sweaty. I have lightly insulated ski pants, and I don’t wear anything under them other than wicking long underwear. I’m plenty warm, with a downfill parka, wool socks, etc, skiing in weather down to -11 (F). ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-snow-pants-buying-advice/567235/13 "2011-01-12T03:02:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Full side zips are critical IMO for backcountry skiing, where you may need to add/remove layers during the day. For inbounds at a ski area, they have no real use. > > All my winter pants are uninsulated (so I can layer) and have full side zips. On this topic, you should really pay attention to someone who chose the name **Telemark**. IMHO, as a recreational downhill skier, complete side zippers are somewhere between useless to annoying, unless they have two pulls. But even a casual skier can benefit from the ability to control ventilation for comfort. I wear tights and and and a thin insulating shirt and maybe a sweater, according to conditions, along with uninsulated outer layers with zippers that offer me the ability to open gaps for ventilation when I get warm