What To Wear When Cross Country Skiing

Clothing what to wear cross country skiing.

Hitting the mountains soon and wondering what to wear when cross country skiing?

In our guide to what to wear for cross country skiing, we’ll show you what you need for cross country skiing. From the right cross country skiing pants to jackets and other apparel to cross country skiing gear.

Table Of Contents

Cross Country Skiing Outfit To Wear
How To Dress Properly For Cross Country Skiing
Cross Country Skiing Clothing Women’s
Cross Country Skiing Clothing Men’s
Cross Country Skiing Gear
FAQ

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What To Wear Cross Country Skiing?

Cross Country Skiing Outfit

A typical leisure cross country skiing outfit consists of some slim cross country ski pants, a lightweight insulated jacket, thermal socks, gloves, and a headband or beanie.

On sunny days, don’t forget sunglasses.

Cross Country Ski Outfit

XC Ski Pants
Lightweight Insulated Jacket
Thermal Socks
XC Gloves
Head Band / Beanie

Layering

Just like hiking or running in winter, cross country skiing is an aerobic activity that will get you warmed up pretty quickly, even though it’s winter.

You will want to wear clothes for cross country skiing that protect you from the cold and snow but at the same time absorb your body heat and won’t get you overheated.

It’s best to wear multiple layers of clothing for cross country skiing, which you can take off or put back on accordingly should you get too warm or too cold.

Cross Country Skiing Clothing Layers

Base Layer
Thermal, skintight & breathable
Mid Layer
Keeps body heat to stay warm
Outer Layer
Shields from snow and wind

How To Dress For Cross Country Skiing?

Cross Country Skiing Apparel

What Kind Of Pants To Wear Cross Country Skiing?

We recommend wearing pants for cross country skiing that are slimmer than regular ski and snowboard pants. Due to the constant forward leg motion, baggy pants will constantly rub against one another which hinders your movement and is also quite annoying.

There are great insulated slim snow pants out there that work perfectly for cross country skiing.

Slim Cross Country Skiing Pants

On warmer days you could even opt for fleece-lined leggings, which is what I do when we are going cross country skiing on a warm sunny day.

Thermal Fleece Lined Leggings

Can you wear leggings for cross country skiing?

You could wear regular leggings for xc skiing, but we would only advise it on a warm and sunny day. Even then, it’s probably best to wear two pairs of leggings on top of each other to keep you warm and dry.

What jacket to wear for cross country skiing?

Just like with the pants, wearing a bulky snow jacket for cross country skiing will most likely not give you a good time.

In addition, cross country skiing is quite a workout, even on flat terrains, and you will get hot pretty soon. Therefore, a lighter but still insulated jacket will be your best choice for cross country skiing.

What shoes to wear cross country skiing?

Just like with skiing, you will need special shoes for cross country skiing.

There are two main binding systems that you will encounter most often when looking for cross-country skiing shoes.

When buying cross country skiing shoes, make sure they fit with the system or your cross country skis and vice versa.

NNN Binding System

75mm 3-Pin Binding System

What socks to wear cross country skiing?

Just like with skiing, don’t just wear regular socks. It’s best to wear thermal socks for cross country skiing, which will keep your feet a lot warmer than regular socks.

Thermal Cross Country Ski Socks Men & Women	Merino Wool Lightweight Thin XC Ski Socks
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Headwear for cross country skiing

Your cross country outfit is only complete with some proper headwear.

Merino Wool Beanie	Winter Thermal Hat Active Wear
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Winter Head Band Ski Ear Muff	Fleece Ponytail Hat W/ Drop Down Ear Warmer
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Cross Country Skiing Clothing Women’s

Cross country skiing outfit and clothing for women

Women’s Cross Country Skiing Jacket

Women’s cross country ski jackets should be warm yet breathable as things can get sweaty quickly. Good cross country jackets are lightweight to allow for easy movement.

Women’s 3 in 1 Fleece Hooded Skiing Jacket	Lightweight Hooded Softshell Jacket
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Cross Country Skiing Pants Women’s

Women’s cross country ski pants should be slim so you can easily maneuver around. The cross country ski pants should also be warm enough yet breathable.

Fleece Lined Softshell Insulated Cross Country Ski Pants Women’s	Fleece Lined Water & Windproof Snow Pants
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Women’s Cross Country Ski Gloves

In addition to the nordic ski clothing, you will need some good cross country skiing gloves.

Insulated XC Gloves Women’s	Fleece Glove for Cross Country Skiing
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Cross Country Skiing Clothing Men’s

Cross country skiing clothing for Men — Cross country skiing clothing for men

Men’s Cross Country Skiing Jacket

Men’s cross country ski clothing starts with a good jacket that keeps you warm enough but dry when things get hot. Cross country ski jackets should allow for good and easy movement of the arms.

Thermal Softshell Jacket Windproof Waterproof	Men’s Softshell Front-Zip Jacket
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Cross Country Skiing Pants Men’s

For men as well, the cross country pants should not be baggy but rather slim fitting to allow good movement. Snowboard pants wouldn’t be a good idea to wear as xc ski clothing.

Waterproof Fleece Lined Men’s Cross Country Ski Pants + Belt	Fleece Lined Wind & Waterproof Nordic Ski Pants
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Men’s Cross Country Ski Gloves

Men’s Insulated XC Ski Gloves	Fleece Glove for Cross Country Skiing
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Cross Country Skiing Gear

Affordable Cross Country Ski Set

The gear for cross country skiing includes boots, bindings, poles, and skis

75mm 3Pin Cross Country Skiing Set

SHOP 157cm Skis (For Skiers 90-120 lbs.)
SHOP 177cm Skis (For Skiers 121-150 lbs.)
SHOP 197cm Skis (For skiers 151-180 lbs.)
SHOP 207cm Skis (For Skiers 180 lbs. & Up)

Cross Country Ski Boots

Unisex Cross Country Ski Boots NNN Binding System	Unisex Cross Country Ski Boots 75mm 3-Pin Binding System
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Cross Country Ski Poles

Essential in the cross country skiing equipment list are xc ski poles. Be aware, these are not the same as skiing poles. Cross country poles are quite a bit longer.

Unisex Cross Country Nordic Ski Poles	XC Ski Poles
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Bag For Cross Country Skis

Fischer Skicase XC Cross Country	Thule RoundTrip Ski Bag
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Cross Country Skiing Gear List

Cross Country Skis
Cross Country Ski Poles
Cross Country Ski Boots
Travel Bag For XC Skis

FAQ

What to wear cross country skiing for the first time?

When cross country skiing for the first time, dress according to the current weather conditions. It’s best to not wear overly baggy snow pants and a snow jacket, as those will hinder your movements.

You will want to wear clothes for cross country skiing that will give you a good range of motion while still keeping you warm enough. However, keep in mind you will be heating up pretty quickly as you get moving.

See our cross country ski outfits above to get an idea of what to wear when cross country skiing for the first time.

On warm and sunny winter days, wearing a pair of insulated leggings and a puffer jacket might be enough already. On colder winter days, you may want to opt for some warmer snow clothes.

What’s the best cross country ski gear for beginners?

If it’s your first time cross country skiing, we would recommend you rent your XC ski gear to see if you like the sport and to get a feel for it.

If you are looking for affordable cross country ski gear for beginners, there are quite some inexpensive cross country ski sets online that won’t break the bank.

What Cross Country Skiing Pants To Wear?

Can I wear jeans for cross country skiing? Don’t wear jeans when cross country skiing. The best cross country ski pants are insulated snow pants suitable for cross country skiing or fleece-lined leggings to keep you warm and dry.

Do you wear a helmet for cross-country skiing?

Wearing a helmet for cross country skiing is not needed, as you are mostly on flat surfaces and won’t go fast. Therefore, the risk of head injury from Nordic skiing is significantly less compared to downhill skiing.

We recommend wearing a beanie or headband to keep you warm.