ROXY Snow Gear Guide: How to Choose Ski & Snowboard Gear

Finding the right ski or snowboard gear gets a lot easier when you know what to look for.

Instead of trying to decode every rating, fabric and technical feature at once, start with three simple questions:

How wet will it be? → How cold will it be? → How do you like your gear to fit?

Your answers will help you choose the right level of waterproofing, warmth and fit for your days on the mountain. From there, technical features can help you fine-tune your setup for even more comfort.

Whether you’re gearing up for your first run or upgrading your outerwear for another season, here’s how to find ROXY snow gear that works for the way you ride.

Start with the forecast.

Snow jackets and snow pants are designed to keep moisture out while allowing heat and moisture from your body to escape. That balance is described through waterproofing and breathability ratings.

You’ll usually see them together, like 10K/10K.

The first number tells you about waterproofing. In general, a higher number means the fabric can handle more moisture and water pressure before water passes through.

The second number tells you about breathability. A higher breathability rating helps moisture vapor escape more easily when you’re moving, hiking, riding or working up heat.

That means 10K/5K and 10K/10K have the same level of waterproofing, but the 10K/10K fabric offers greater breathability. Current ROXY snow outerwear spans 10K through 20K waterproofing plus GORE-TEX options.

ROXY currently offers both 15K/10K and 15K/15K, as well as 20K/15K outerwear, so always check the individual product for its exact waterproofing and breathability combination.

Quick Picks

• Mostly clear, lighter-weather resort days? Start around 10K.

• Expecting regular snowfall or variable weather? Look toward 15K.

• Chasing storm days or spending long hours in wet snow? Consider 20K.

Want ROXY’s premium technical weather protection? Explore GORE-TEX.

Conditions, exposure time and activity level all matter, so there isn’t one rating that is automatically right for every rider.

GORE-TEX is a waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane designed to keep outside moisture from getting in while allowing moisture vapor from your body to escape.

Think of it as weather protection rather than insulation. GORE-TEX itself does not determine how warm a jacket is. The garment’s insulation and the layers you wear underneath determine warmth. 

Waterproofing keeps weather out. Insulation helps keep warmth in.

ROXY snow gear ranges from shells designed for flexible layering to heavily insulated outerwear with more warmth built directly into the garment.

• Shell: Maximum layering flexibility. 

  • A shell has little to no built-in insulation and focuses on weather protection. Add or remove base and mid layers underneath depending on the temperature and how hard you’re riding.

  • Best for: Riders who like controlling their warmth through layers.

• Softshell: Flexible protection with light warmth.

  • Softshell construction combines stretch and comfort with some weather protection and natural warmth, making it a great option when freedom of movement is a priority.

  • Best for: Active riding, milder snow days and riders who prefer less bulk.

• Insulated: Built-in warmth for cold mountain days.

  • Insulated jackets and pants add a layer of insulation inside the outer shell, giving you warmth without relying entirely on additional layers underneath.

  • Best for: Everyday winter riding and customers who want warmth built into their outerwear.

• Heavy Insulated: More built-in warmth for colder conditions.

  • Heavy insulated styles provide ROXY’s highest level of built-in insulation, making them an easy choice when keeping warm is a top priority.

  • Best for: Colder temperatures, long lift days and riders who tend to run cold.

The right fit is about more than the look. Your snow gear should give you enough room to move, bend, sit, layer and ride comfortably without feeling restrictive.

ROXY offers everything from close-to-body silhouettes to relaxed and oversized fits, so you can choose how you want your gear to feel on the mountain.

Jacket Fits

• Slim: The closest fit to the body, with a streamlined silhouette and less overall volume.

• Tailored: A shaped, contemporary fit that sits closer to the body while keeping the mobility you need to ride.

• Regular: A classic snow-jacket fit with balanced room for movement and layering.

• Relaxed: A looser silhouette with more room through the body and shoulders for an easy, laid-back feel.

• Oversized: The roomiest option, with extra volume through the body and sleeves for a modern silhouette and plenty of layering space.

The current ROXY assortment includes regular, tailored, slim, relaxed and multiple oversized snow-jacket silhouettes. 

Snow Pants & Bib Fits

• Skinny: A close-fitting silhouette with stretch built in for movement.

• Tailored: Streamlined through the leg with a little more room than a skinny fit.

• Regular: A classic fit with balanced room through the hip and leg for comfortable movement.

• Loose: More space throughout the leg for an easy, relaxed feel and extra freedom of movement.

• Wide Leg: A roomier, fashion-forward silhouette with noticeable width through the lower leg.

• Short: Designed with a shorter inseam or overall length. Think of this as a length option, rather than a separate level of looseness.

Current ROXY snow bottoms include skinny, tailored, loose, wide-leg and short-length options across the assortment. ROXY

Good snow gear is built for tough conditions, but the way you wash, dry and store it can help its waterproofing and technical features keep performing.

• Always check the label first: Different fabrics, insulation and waterproof constructions may require different care, so the instructions inside your garment should always come first.

• Prep before washing: Empty every pocket, close zippers and secure hook-and-loop fasteners before your gear goes into the wash. Remove detachable pieces when the care instructions recommend it.

• Keep the wash gentle: Wash waterproof outerwear on the temperature and cycle specified on the garment label. ROXY recommends cool washing for waterproof garments to help protect seams, zippers and coatings. 

• Help you DWR do its job: The outer surface of technical gear often uses a durable water-repellent treatment, or DWR, that helps moisture bead up and roll away. If water eventually stops beading and begins soaking into the face fabric, the water-repellent treatment may need refreshing. Low-heat tumble drying can help reactivate DWR on compatible technical garments, but only when the garment care label allows it. 

• Let it dry completely: Never store snow gear while it is still damp. Allow jackets, pants, gloves and gaiters to dry fully before putting them away.

• Store it with room to breathe: Hang outerwear when possible rather than leaving technical pieces tightly folded or compressed for long periods. ROXY recommends careful storage to help preserve a garment’s structure.