Men’s & Women’s Cross-Country Ski Trousers: How to Find the Right Trousers for Training and Touring

For sports training and skating, choose a pair of close-fitting tights with a windproof front, such as the M Tights Pro Breeze (item no. 30881). For tours with breaks, choose trousers in a slim or comfort fit, such as the M Pants Elegance AB Light (item no. 30160). The slower you skate and the colder it is, the more insulation the trousers need. The faster you skate, the more important it is to have a breathable back panel.

Cross-country skiing is a winter sport that works the whole body: your arms, core and legs all work at the same time. As a result, you generate a lot of heat and start to sweat even when the temperature is below freezing. At the same time, you’re hit head-on by the wind whilst on the trail. A good pair of cross-country skiing trousers resolves this dilemma with four key features: wind protection, freedom of movement, breathability and the right level of warmth. Together, these ensure a balanced body temperature.

The wind mainly hits your thighs and knees. That’s where your legs cool down the quickest. That’s why Löffler reinforces the front with windproof material: Airblocc softshell, Windshell or the waterproof WPM Pocket 2.0. The membrane in the Airblocc blocks the wind whilst still allowing water vapour to escape. A PFC-free water-repellent finish also repels snow and light moisture. The back remains stretchy and breathable. Whilst all-round windproof trousers do keep the wind out, they trap sweat in the seat and behind the knees.

When skating, you bend your knees deeply and push off with your leg out to the side. In classic style, you extend your hip and leg straight out behind you. Your trousers mustn’t restrict these movements. Look for highly elastic fabric, a close-fitting cut, pre-shaped or flared legs at the knee, and an elasticated waistband with a drawstring. The extra fabric at the knee gives you room to manoeuvre when you squat low.

Sweat and moisture need to be wicked away before they cool down. Double Dry and Thermo inner velour dry quickly. Many Löffler models also feature a transtex® lining in the back. Its polypropylene absorbs 0% water and wicks moisture away from the skin. This protects the lower back, precisely where the jacket rides up during a double-stack push.

The right level of warmth depends on your pace, not just on the temperature. Someone skating fast at −5 °C needs less insulation than someone doing a leisurely classic-style ski at 0 °C and taking breaks. You should therefore buy trousers suited to your typical level of activity, not for the coldest day of the year. Trousers that are too warm trap heat, and you’ll start to sweat more.

Training trousers are designed for high-intensity use, as you’re running without long breaks and constantly generating heat. They need ventilation, elasticity and to be lightweight; they only need to be windproof at the front. Touring trousers are designed for moderate-intensity use over many hours. Breaks, descents and wind whilst stationary will cool you down. They need more insulation, weather protection even when stationary, pockets and a comfortable waistband for maximum comfort.

The rule of thumb is: intensity trumps temperature. At high speeds, your body generates so much heat that you’ll immediately start to sweat if your trousers are too warm. This sweat will cool you down on the next descent. At low speeds, you don’t generate as much body heat. In that case, your trousers need more insulation and wind protection that works even when you’re stationary.
The wind chill intensifies the cold. It significantly lowers the perceived temperature on the front of your legs. A windproof front panel is therefore often more effective than thicker insulation. When it comes to temperature regulation, the breathability of the back panel is just as important.
You should also distinguish between dry and wet cold. In wet snow at around 0 °C, falling snow will soak through a purely wind-resistant front. In this case, you should choose a waterproof front, such as that on the Gemini DDP. In dry cold below −5 °C, however, insulation is key. This is where Airblocc Warm and Thermo inner velour come into their own.

Wear functional base layers directly against your skin – never cotton. Cotton absorbs sweat and releases it only slowly. When choosing, follow the layering rule of thumb: the higher the intensity, the better synthetic fabrics such as transtex® light perform. The lower the intensity and the colder the day, the more suitable transtex® warm or transtex® Merino are.

For tights with a thermal velour lining, a pair of short functional base layers is often sufficient on mild days. From around −5 °C at a leisurely pace, add a pair of long functional base layers. Wearing two pairs of long trousers on top of each other, on the other hand, will slow you down. They restrict your freedom of movement and trap heat. You can read about how to combine the layers on your upper body with mid-layers and cross-country skiing jackets in the guide to the onion principle.

Cross-country skiing tights with braces are ideal for racers and for warming up before the start. Löffler offers the M Warm-up Bib Tights AB Warm (30157, EUR 159.99) and the W Warm-up Bib Tights AB Warm (30112, EUR 159.99) for this purpose. Both combine Airblocc Softshell Warm with a thermal velour lining. The straps keep the tights in place without a constricting waistband. They also cover your back even when you lean far forward during a double-pole push.

The full-length 2-way zip down the side is the key feature. You can pull the tights on over your racing suit and cross-country boots, and take them off again just before the start. For leisurely tours with stops for refreshments, however, we recommend tights with a waistband, as they’re quicker to open.

Löffler develops cross-country skiing clothing in collaboration with elite athletes and knits around 70 per cent of its fabrics at its own knitting mill in Ried im Innkreis. Airblocc is a single-material fabric made from 100% polyester, contains no PFAS and is sourced entirely from Europe. Löffler has been refining the transtex® lining in the back panel since 1976. Damaged trousers are repaired by the repair service at the Ried site.