Our team at OutdoorGearLab has spent years researching and testing the best ski gear to find you the top options for the ski season or your vacation. We understand how frustrating it can be to find the right gear, especially with the many options on the market, so we hope we can make it easier by sharing our favorite award-winning products. Whether you're an experienced backcountry skier or planning to hit the slopes for the first time, a good pair of ski pants is necessary.
Ski pants keep you dry and warm with waterproof and breathable materials such as Gore-Tex or similar fabrics. Our favorite men's ski pants feature a range of functional features such as zippered pockets, powder cuffs, adjustable waistbands, and vents. We cover a wide variety of top ski pants for women from bibs to pants and insulated to uninsulated.
The Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants are a super popular ski pant aimed primarily at resort skiers. Helly Hansen has been making its ‘Legendary’ ski pant for years, adding and removing color options along the way. Our pair of Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants are slightly different than most pairs - they’re the corduroy-style version, which has both benefits and drawbacks. The primary benefit is the style - they look fantastic in person. Aside from this now sold out face fabric option in the bright orange color style, the Legendary Insulated Ski Pants with the more common smooth face fabric include the same construction and materials.
You get dual front hand pockets as well as a back pocket. The Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants come with a 2-way stretch fabric with fully seam-sealed seams. They’re also waterproof and breathable - but not super breathable. Remember, these are insulated ski pants so the breathability is hampered by the insulation. Still, despite skiing all day in both frigid temps as well as in wet, sleety conditions, we never felt much humidity build up on our base layers or in the pants. Better yet, despite our interest in how well the waterproofing would hold up, they never seemed to wet out or leak through.
Overall, we were impressed and pleased by the comfort and performance of the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pant - we’re not surprised that the Legendary is Helly Hansen’s best-selling ski pant. In our experience with a size XL, the legs were slightly longer than typical comparable insulated ski pants. It’s hard to tell here, but the size XL is a bit long and big on this gear tester who is 6’1″ and 189 pounds - as expected. He normally wears a size L.
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As for overall fit, we think they fit a bit trim. For example, I’m about 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Our Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pant test and review pair in size XL fits a little tight for me around the hips - but the thighs and knees gave me plenty of room. I tested them for one day and liked them despite the hips fitting a bit too tight for me. Another Man Makes Fire gear tester, however, who typically wears a size Large - 6’1″ and 189 pounds - tested the XL Legendary pants and has put them through more than 15 days of mixed-weather skiing. On him, the XL was just a bit large but still comfortable.
All in all, we stand by our assessment of fit - the pants will fit a bit trim, particularly compared to most North American-centric clothing brands. Consequently, our fit recommendation is this: You can likely stick with your usual size unless you want extra room for layering.
One thing we like about insulated ski pants is how easy they are. You don’t have to worry about managing your layers much . . . and you’re usually well prepared for sitting on ski lift seats or standing in long lift lines. What am I trying to say here? You can go hard and ski all day and the Helly Hansen Legendary Ski Pants will keep you warm and dry. While we very much appreciate the articulated knees and overall fit, insulated ski pants are simply a bit bulkier than uninsulated ski pants.
Shell vs Insulated Ski Jacket: Which is Better for Winter Sports?
Which are better, insulated or uninsulated ski pants? We like insulated ski pants for how easy they are to use over a variety of conditions, but we prefer uninsulated ski pants for our longest, most hard-charging days on the hill.
Here's a comparison of popular insulated ski pants:
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| Pants Model | Key Features | Fit | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants | 2-way stretch fabric, fully seam-sealed, waterproof, breathable | Trim | Stylish, comfortable, good waterproofing | Breathability hampered by insulation |
| The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants | Waterproof, breathable, inner thigh vents, articulated knees | Multiple inseam options (Short, Regular, Long) | Wide range of sizes, optional non-insulated version | - |
| REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Pants | Affordable option | - | Outstanding price-to-value ratio | - |
| Columbia Bugaboo IV Snow Pants | Waterproof, breathable | Slightly loose | Great for flexibility, affordable | Lack of interior reinforcement at the hem |
Here are a few alternatives to the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants:
- The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants - The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants might be the most popular insulated ski pant in North America. Like the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Snow Pants, The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants are waterproof, breathable, and have inner thigh vents and articulated knees for agility. One key benefit of the Freedom Insulated Pants is the awesome range of size options: The North Face offers Short, Regular, and Long inseam options with ranges from XS to XXL. In addition, The North Face offers a non-insulated option that costs a bit less.
- REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Pants - REI has been making competitive-yet-affordable outdoor clothing for years. The REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Snow Pants deliver an outstanding price-to-value ratio.
- Columbia Bugaboo IV Snow Pants - Like all the competitive insulated ski and snowboard pants we cover here, Columbia has been making its popular Bugaboo IV Insulated Ski Pants for years. In our experience, the Columbia Bugaboo IV Snow Pants fit slightly loose, which is great for flexibility if you’re ok with a little extra material. They’re also waterproof and breathable and deliver a fantastic price-to-value ratio - pricing tends to be a bit lower than the competition, which reflects a slightly lower build and cut quality. They’re great for casual skiers and snowboarders and are a hard-to-beat option for parents trying to outfit growing kids. The biggest drawback for skiers is the lack of interior reinforcement patches at the hem, which means ski edges can scuff the fabric.
Pro Tip: You can use AquaSeal to repair tears to most any waterproof fabric, even fly fishing waders.
All-in-all, the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants deliver a classic insulated ski pant design in a surprisingly agile cut that looks great on the hill. Waterproofing hasn’t failed over multiple long-day outings in a variety of conditions, including sleety days with wet lift seats. If you want an affordable insulated ski pant, you can’t go wrong with the Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Ski Pants.
Regardless of your goals and ability level, having the right gear to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable is important.
Built-in gaiter! Front and back pockets! Reinforced hem!
Read also: Snow pants: What to look for
Armpit zips improve breathability and are a feature more and more jackets are starting to incorporate. Many buckles twist around to allow for micro-adjustments to help get that perfect fit.