The Characteristics of Snow Pants

The winter conditions you meet when outdoors may be below-freezing temperatures and snow that's soft and powdery, hard and crusty or just plain wet. Snow pants are specifically designed outdoor clothing that take these special weather conditions into account. Along with other cold-weather gear, your snow pants allow you to have a fun and safe experience in the snow.

  1. Waterproof and Windproof

    • Getting wet when you're in cold weather isn't much fun and can be dangerous. One of the greatest threats to being outdoors in the cold is hypothermia, a condition when your core body temperature is too low to function normally. Layering clothing will keep you warm. Staying dry helps those layers do their job. The outermost layer, including snow pants, should keeps you dry and protected from the chill of the wind.

    Durable Material

    • Because of the falls, bumps and scrapes that naturally occur in outdoor snow play, snow pants should be made of material that can take all the fun without tearing. Most snow pants are usually made of nylon shell fabric, are double-seamed and often double-layered for extra fabric abrasion protection in crucial areas like the knees. The material on a good pair of snow pants will "breathe" allowing body moisture to escape. Look for waterproof pants made of highly durable and breathable material.

    Comfortable Fit

    • Snow pants should be roomy enough to allow for a wide range of movement.

      Avoid wearing snow pants that grab, bind or restrict movement when you're outdoors in the snow. Pant legs and a waistband that allows room for a wide range of movement are a necessity. Find a happy medium between a comfortable range of motion and pants that are too bulky and cumbersome. A little loose is better than too tight.

    Boot or Snow Cuffs

    • If the object of wearing snow pants is to keep the snow on the outside, don't let snow sneak in from the space between your boots and the snow pant's legs. Snow pant cuffs have a built-in strap or gaiters that attaches to and then slide down over the top of the boot. This not only keeps the snow pant legs from creeping up, but keeps the snow from sliding in.