The Best Snowsuits

Though the term "snowsuit" likely conjures images of young children and ski-resort "retro day," there are actually a large variety of snowsuits that extend far beyond toddlers and fashionably challenged tourists. From simple kid's snowsuits to expensive, highly technical, two-piece ski suits, snowsuits can deliver superior warmth and waterproofing.

  1. Molehill Mt. Children's Snowsuits

    • Young children have a way of leaping in snow like pigs in mud--jumping, rolling, swimming and simply immersing themselves. While insulated, waterproof pants and jackets will keep them warm and dry, one-piece snowsuits will prevent snow from sliding up their back and down their pants, keeping them even drier. Molehill Mt. offers both waterproof/breathable one-piece snowsuits for children and water-repellent down snowsuits, which will provide extra warmth but won't stand up to water as well. The company offers a lifetime warranty on their products.

    Helly Hansen Odin

    • One of Helly Hansen's most advanced winter shells, the Odin 3L mountain jacket, incorporates Helly's O2 fabric to provide 20,000 mm of waterproof protection. The jacket includes many other top-shelf features such as pit zips, a Recco reflector and a YKK Aquaseal waterproof zipper. For those days when you need to seal the heat in and the moisture out, the jacket-to-pant interface zips in with the Odin 3L mountain pant to deliver a bomber one-piece snowsuit that Helly created with input from professional guides and mountaineers. The full-stretch pants include a removable bib. The combination of pants and jacket will run you a cool $900, as of winter 2011, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a more complete or versatile waterproof and breathable snowsuit.

    Champion Everest Supersuit

    • In winter 2010, Champion, a brand not usually associated with technical outerwear, made a rather momentous entry into the market with its "Supersuit." While the Helly Hansen "Odin" is among the best snowsuits that the everyday adventurer can buy, the Champion Supersuit provides a look into the future. The one-piece uses technologically advanced design that incorporates components such as Zeroloft Aspen Aerogels insulation and radiant foil to create a jacket that's as warm as a down parka while being much thinner and easier to move in. The Supersuit is just 3mm thick, while comparable down jackets are around 40mm, according to Hanesbrands.

      Champion and parent company Hanesbrands developed this NASA-like suit with one of the world's grittiest destinations in mind--Mt. Everest. The suit was put to the test on Everest in the spring of 2010 and performed well. While the Supersuit isn't available on the market as of May 2011, Hanesbrands plans to implement the research and development into consumer outerwear. The Supersuit is basically a look into the future of high-performance expedition outerwear.

    The North Face Haines Tuxedo

    • Much like Helly Hansen's "Odin," The North Face "Haines Tuxedo" is a combination of technical, three-layer jacket and pants designed to seal together as a full suit. Instead of a proprietary fabric, The North Face goes with the market leader: Gore-Tex Pro-Shell 3L. A waterproof zipper and sealed seams augment the shell's waterproofing capabilities to keep you dry. The jacket was developed in conjunction with extreme skiing legends Scot Schmidt and Jeremy Nobis and named after one of the most infamous big-mountain skiing destinations in the world--Haines, AK. This is a serious suit with a serious price: $999 in 2011.