Finding the right equipment for winter sports can be a challenge. Cross-country skiing requires boots, skis, and poles, along with hats, gloves, coats, and layers to combat frigid temperatures. Fortunately, fabric and technology have improved significantly. However, the number of choices can be overwhelming.
Cross-country skiing isn’t about bulk-it’s about moving efficiently, staying dry, and clamoring through cold terrain with fluid motion. The best Nordic ski pants feel more like high-performance running gear than downhill shell pants, offering breathability, stretch, and light weather protection.
This guide helps you navigate the options and find the best cross-country ski pants for your needs.
Key Considerations for XC Ski Pants
Before diving into specific products, consider these factors:
- Weather Resistance: Softshells with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment are ideal.
- Breathability and Stretch: Essential for high-output activities.
- Fit and Layering Compatibility: Ensure enough room for base layers.
- Pocket Design: Pockets should not sag mid-stride.
- Comfort: Pants should be comfortable during high-output movement and suitable for both groomed tracks and light backcountry excursions.
Finding the perfect fit for your next cross-country skis
Top Picks for XC Ski Pants
We narrowed down many contenders and tested them side-by-side on days ranging from mild and sunny to gray, windy, and sub-freezing. Our field trials included grooming centers and backcountry trails near Breckenridge, Colorado, putting each pair through real aerobic skiing conditions.
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1. Patagonia Wind Shield Pants
The men's and women's Patagonia Wind Shield Pants earn the Best Overall title. They combine a weather-resistant softshell main panel, Capilene behind-the-knee breathability, slim but forgiving fit, and pockets that stay put without dragging. It’s the pair we trust across Nordic conditions-from groomers to snow-dusted trails.
- Price: $179
- Materials: Polyester softshell with DWR treatment, Capilene behind the knee
- Fit: Slim
- Available sizes: XXS-XL (women’s) / XS-3XL (men’s)
- What we liked: Comfortable, good weather protection, enough room for a base layer underneath, versatile, lightweight
- What we didn’t like: Women’s sizing range not as high as the men’s
These pants check all the boxes regarding fit and features that make a pair of pants ideal for Nordic skiing. They’re slim but not skin tight, offer decent weather protection while remaining highly breathable, have good pockets, and are wonderfully comfortable. The pants are treated with a non-PFC Durable Water Repellent (DWR) to help with moisture repellency. The wide, mid-rise waistband is stretchy and comfortable, and has a drawstring to dial in the fit of the waist. The cuffs have outer zippers at the ankles, so you can wear them tucked both in and over Nordic boots. Dual thigh pockets on the sides hold a phone or snacks without causing the pants to sag while skiing.
2. Ortovox Col Becchei Pants
The Col Becchei pants strike a nice balance of features, warmth, and weather protection without being as heavy or cumbersome as regular downhill or touring ski touring pants. If you primarily ski off the groomed track when cross-country skiing, these pants are ideal.
- Price: $330
- Materials: Softshell outer with merino blend inner lining
- Fit: Slim with wider cuff
- Available sizes: XS-XL (women’s) / S-XXL (men’s)
- What we liked: Durable outer softshell, merino wool lining adds warmth, cuff fits over a ski boot, PFC-free
- What we didn’t like: Expensive, pocket placement could be better, limited sizing given that they run small
The Col Becchei pants are fully-featured yet lightweight softshell pants designed for winter activities like backcountry ski touring and Nordic skiing. They have a classic zipper and button closure, with an elastic velcro tab to adjust the waist as needed. There are zippers at the outer ankles on the cuffs, and the pants are wide enough to fit over most ski boots (both Nordic and touring boots). The burlier design of these pants and the wider cuffs make these ideal for Nordic skiers who spend long days in the backcountry, and they double nicely as lightweight backcountry ski touring pants, too. The pants do a better job of keeping snow from creeping into boots, especially in ungroomed areas or on trails that have not been packed down well.
3. Kari Traa Ruth Thermal Tights
While these tights might look like another pair of winter running tights posing as cross-country ski pants, Kari Traa actually designed the Ruth Thermal tights with Nordic skiing in mind. Thoughtful features like ankle zips, thigh pockets, and a super-cozy fleece lining make these an awesome pair of tights for ladies who want a Nordic pant that somehow fits and feels like both your favorite running tights and favorite fleece lounge pants at once, all while offering the performance needed for a good kick-and-glide.
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- Price: $110
- Materials: Polyamide, polyester, elastane
- Fit: Tights
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- What we liked: Warm, incredibly comfortable, good thigh pockets
- What we didn’t like: Limited weatherproofing, ankle zippers sort of bulky, limited sizing
These leggings are made with a stretchy outer material and brushed with a generously thick lining of fleece on the inside. They’re warmer than most running-oriented winter tights but remain breathable on more aggressive outings on Nordic skis. The thick fleece on the inside is one of the main reasons we love these tights so much-they’re cozy and technical at the same time.
4. Skida Pinedale Joggers
If you’re looking for a pair of Nordic ski pants that don’t look like Nordic ski pants but perform like the best of them, then you can end your search here. The Pinedale Joggers are a technical, high-performing softshell pant for winter that maintain a comfortable, casual look whether you’re out skate skiing or hiking with the dog.
- Price: $149
- Materials: Softshell outer with DWR, brushed backer
- Fit: Jogger
- Available sizes: S-XXL
- What we liked: Great softshell material, soft backer fabric adds warmth, casual fit for all-around outdoor use
- What we didn’t like: Not as light and sleek as others
The Pinedale Joggers are made with an Everlight softshell material with mechanical stretch and a DWR treatment for added moisture repellency. A thin fleece backer adds a touch of insulation, helps wick moisture, and makes these pants comfortable and soft even without a base layer or long underwear underneath. But they’re roomy enough in the fit that there’s space for a layer if the weather warrants it. The Pinedale Joggers fit true to size and have a slightly looser fit than others in our test, which our men’s tester really enjoyed.
5. Outdoor Research Deviator Pants
Cross-country skiing is, for many folks, a high-output aerobic winter activity. That means the ideal gear is ready for fast and light movement while remaining weather-resistant and breathable. The Outdoor Research Deviator tights shine in these circumstances.
- Price: $139
- Materials: Polyester with PU lamination, spandex
- Fit: Tights (women’s) / Slim pants (men’s)
- Available sizes: XS-XL (women’s) / S-XXL (men’s)
- What we liked: Fit and material ideal for high-output winter activities, lightweight
- What we didn’t like: Windproof fabric is slightly stiff
The windproof and water-resistant fabric on the front blocks nasty sun-freezing gusts and blowing snow, while the stretchy fabric on the back of the legs allows for freedom of movement and breathability. On the inside, the back and sides of the pants have a fleece backer that adds some warmth. One thing we really like about the Deviators is the pocket design. The pockets are placed on the thighs and one is a drop-in while the other is zippered.
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6. Kari Traa Tirill Thermal Pants
This pair of slim-fitting cold-weather pants from Kari Traa is another good option for women looking for something that’s not skin-tight like the Ruth Thermal tights. The Tirill Thermal pants have a weather-resistant outer shell material lined with a thin thermal backer for added warmth.
- Price: $150
- Materials: Polyester and elastane
- Fit: Jogger
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- What we liked: Good weather protection
- What we didn’t like: Bulky fit
7. Athleta Rainier Jogger
Our longtime favorite women’s running tights, the Rainier Tights, have a sister in jogger form, which makes them nice for Nordic skiing since you can slip a thin base layer underneath when necessary. These joggers are made with a thick and stretchy material that breathes well and have a thin fleece backer for a little extra warmth. And we love that they come in sizes up to 3X, so if you’re looking for fo...
- Price: $129
- Materials: Recycled nylon
- Fit: Jogger
- Available sizes: XXS-3X
- What we liked: Comfort, breathability, size rag
- What we didn’t like: Not as warm or weather-protective as others, ankle coverage could be better
Additional Options and Considerations
Don’t limit yourself to pants marketed specifically to crossing country skiing. It’s worth trying pants that companies say are geared toward runners, backcountry enthusiasts, or even cyclists.
Layering
If you have skied for years, plan to stay on groomed trails, and know what the conditions will be, you’re fine going out with a single layer or a couple of layers. But if you are new to the sport and plan to be out for a few hours, or if you’ll be in the backcountry, it’s always best to bring multiple layers to brace yourself for a range of conditions.
Waterproof
If you are going to be skiing in powder or off trails in wet snow, then yes, it’s best to wear waterproof pants. If you are going to be skiing on a nice day on groomed trails, you’re likely better off in the same pants you might wear while winter running.
Pant Guide Based on Intensity and Conditions
| Category | Description | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Race and High Intensity | Maximum breathability | Intense training sessions and races with high heart rates |
| Training and Moderate Intensity | Balance ventilation and weather protection | Cross-country sessions at a moderate to high pace |
| Warm Pants for Colder Days | Extra insulation | Easy-paced training and lower intensity on the coldest days |