Published February 14, 2026 03:30AM
If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy
What to Wear When You're Expecting (to Ski)
From bibs that actually zip to boots you can slip on without bending over, here's what worked for keeping the uphill laps going all the way up until 36 weeks pregnant.
(Photo: Courtesy Photos courtesy Norrona, The North Face, Arc'teryx, and Rab; illustration Canva)
As fall faded in Colorado, where I live, I started to get bummed. Peak winter this year coincided with my third trimester of pregnancy and I assumed two things would happen: I’d get bigger and more uncomfortable as my baby doubled in size, and I’d be waddling around icy sidewalks trying to ignore everyone out ripping backcountry pow laps.
Only the first part of that came true. While I’m not having my typical ski season, I’ve found delight in early morning uphill laps at the local hill. With the knowledge that any lap could be my last one of the season, I’m enjoying them far more than I usually do. Plus, the morning scene at Eldora, outside Boulder, is incredibly social. My one and only challenge was outfitting a growing body.
(Editor’s Note: Pregnant? Be sure to consult with your doctor before skiing.)
How to Think About What to Wear
Finding clothes to exercise in during pregnancy can be tough. My trusty low-slung sweats and oversized T-shirt don’t cut it for skiing. So I went on the hunt for items that met some key criteria: easy to put on, comfortable to wear, and nice to move around in. I didn’t want it to feel like I was stretching into a sausage casing. I didn’t want to readjust layers when I squatted down or bent over. I didn’t want waistbands that rolled. My ski boots are already hard enough to put on, and I needed that to be my only crux of the day. Ideally, I wanted to forget I was pregnant.
ADVERTISEMENT
My goal was to find gear that was not maternity-specific so I could keep wearing it long after the baby arrived and didn’t require modifications or major unzipping. I often went one size up, but I anticipate these pieces will work well next season too. I tested this gear between 25 and 35 weeks, and during that window, I ballooned. At the beginning, I could get by on my beloved touring pants of the last five seasons—albeit unzipped—but soon needed to make some swaps.
If you’re pregnant and hoping to be active during the winter, think about investing in gear that will work now, through pregnancy, and beyond. This is a specific category, and all pregnant bodies are unique, but here’s what worked best for me and some tips I found helpful.
Ski Bibs and Pants
Ski pants are tricky as a pregnant belly often defies the construction of the majority of pants out there. I was looking for strategic stretch to accommodate changing size and proportions, enough room to accommodate growth without changing the fit in a weird way, and as little unzipping as possible. I went one size up in all of these. Bibs mostly reigned supreme—having straps and the ability to adjust zippers without everything falling down was key.
1. Arc’teryx Rush Bib ($750)
I like how these look and feel, but I had to ski with them unzipped a few inches by the later weeks. I appreciated the zipper location in front (rather than the side, like the flex1) because it’s easier to accommodate the belly without throwing off the overall fit.
2. Patagonia Untracked Bib ($649)
These were the only bibs I could wear with no modifications throughout the ski season. They’re roomy around the belly and I was comfortable keeping them fully zipped while skiing. The drop seat made peeing easy.
3. Norrona more flex1 Bib ($329)
I could comfortably zip these softshell bibs until closer to the end of my ski season, thanks to the lightweight and forgiving material. There’s a good amount of stretch and I didn’t feel restricted, but sizing up was crucial as they definitely had a tighter fit than the others.
4. Patagonia Upstride Pants ($329)
These are more akin to skimo pants, and while I’m no skimo gal, I didn’t need many features for resort mornings (no beacon pockets or weather protection). These are light, stretchy, and the most unobtrusive pair I tried. The midrise cut stays put under the belly, but by the end, I gravitated toward the ease of bibs.
Parking Lot Shoes
The parking lot was where I felt most likely to fall. The criteria here were fluid because we get a range of conditions throughout the winter—bone dry dirt, powder, hard pack, straight up ice, and sneaky ice—but I was mostly looking for grip and ease of getting on and off. Fun style never hurts.
1. Grundens Deviation Sherpa Ankle Boots ($155)
I could step into these without bending over and liked the soft fleece inside and the waterproof rubber shell. They didn’t have the most traction, but were comfy and easy to wear.
2. HOKA x Halfdays Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX ($210)
These are puffy jackets in sneaker form. I liked them for days when the parking lot was snowy or hard-packed, and I appreciated the foot dexterity. The Vibram sole provides good grip, though I did have to bend over to put these on.
3. Merrell Coldpack 3 Moc ($120)
A snow slipper, if you will. These mocs are great for icy lots and for the kind of ice that sneaks up on you. With Vibram Arctic Grip soles, they’re made to provide traction in slick conditions.
4. The North Face Nuptse Traction Booties ($140)
More down-jacket-for-your-feet vibes. Seven-hundred–fill down keeps toes toasty, and the temperature-sensitive rubber lugs offer increased traction in slippery conditions.
5. Danner Cloud Cap ($95)
Classic styling that’s insulated for warmth and paired with Arctic Grip soles for traction in slippery conditions.
6. Loon’r Lo Rider Boots ($140)
Moon boot vibes that feel like a slipper. Easy to step into without using hands or bending over and keep feet cozy when it’s chilly or snowy (also a common boot I used to shovel my sidewalk).
Baselayer Tops & Bottoms
What I appreciated in the baselayer department was simple: extra length in the tops and a wide, soft waistband that stayed put for the bottoms. Bonus points for natural materials.
1. Amundsen Hero’s Hide Crewneck and 4. Long Janes (both $139)
Extra length on the crewneck kept it from riding up. The Long Janes have a high rise, and a not-too-tight waistband that sits above the belly without rolling down. Both are 100% merino wool.
2. Stio Basis PeakWool Midweight Tight ($149)
This wide, stretchy waistband grew with me. The merino-synthetic blend wicked sweat well and the fit stayed consistent.
3. Ridge Merino Inversion Heavyweight Crew Merino Wool Base Layer Shirt ($110)
A little extra warmth for chilly mornings, but didn’t have me overheating on the uphill (thanks to it being made of wool). This one had the longest torso length. I went up one size and it felt fitted without being too tight.
5. Wild Rye Bassett Half Zip ($139)
The half zip gave temperature control and the relaxed fit never felt constricting. I loved the buttery soft material, which is 95% merino.
6. Arc’teryx Satoro Merino Wool Bottom ($120)
Seamless construction meant no chafing, the wide waistband sat comfortably against the belly, and the 100% wool material offered temperature-regulating bliss.
Midlayers
For midlayers I was looking for pieces that could accommodate my expanding belly without feeling bulky or restrictive, and that could be easily layered under a shell or worn on their own during warmer uphill laps.
1. Ridge Merino Cloudripper Grid Fleece Full Zip Jacket ($200)
The Cloudripper is breathable and moisture-wicking, perfect for working up a sweat. The full zip meant I could unzip to dump heat easily, and the longer length in was clutch for keeping my lower back covered when I bent over to rip skins.
2. Amundsen Roalda Rollneck ($209)
This rollneck let me execute on one of my true joys. Wearing “real” clothes while exercising, in this case, a 100-percent wool sweater. Fun aesthetic, naturally thermo-regulating, and a breath of fresh air when you don’t want to wear technical gear.
3. Terignota Women’s Grid-Fleece Hoodie ($34)
Affordable, and warm enough that it was often my outermost layer on the uphill. I wore this before I was visibly pregnant and it had a nice oversized look. Now, it’s comfortably fitted but doesn’t cling in weird places.
4. Rab Conduit Hoodie ($95)
The Conduit has just the right amount of stretch and the cut is generous without feeling oversized. I could layer it over a baselayer and still zip it up comfortably, even late in my pregnancy. The hood was a nice touch for breezy days.
Jackets
I rarely wore a jacket on the up, other than on super windy mornings. Mostly, I just threw on my big puff for the transition and the ski down.
1. Patagonia DAS Parka ($449)
An old standby. I’ve had it for years, was able to zip it up throughout my pregnancy, and it kept me toasty on the way down.
2. Amundsen Mountain Airy Shell Jacket ($699)
The Airy Shell is super lightweight, incredibly roomy, and never felt like overkill. The fit was relaxed so that I never felt restricted, and the simple design meant no fussy features to deal with.
3. Black Diamond Recon Stretch Shell ($499)
Lightweight enough that I didn’t overheat, but protective enough for wind and light snow.
4. Arc’teryx Rush Jacket ($800)
The Rush offered enough room that I could zip it up without it fitting awkwardly or pulling across the belly. Definitely a splurge item, but one that will last far beyond pregnancy.
Fun Accroutrements
These are the small things that made the biggest difference in my daily routine. None of them is strictly necessary, but each one solved a specific pregnancy-related annoyance and made my mornings that much more pleasant.
1. Skida Pursuit Performance Liner Gloves ($44)
Why not inject some colorful vibes into the morning? Especially nice on days where I don’t need more than a liner glove (which were most days this winter).
2. Neutrogena Beach Defense ($3)
Sunscreen is important all the time, but also when pregnancy-induced melasma has taken over.
3. Ski Boot Horn ($12)
The horn helped me avoid my typical morning wrestling match. When paired with putting my boots in front of the heat vent and cranking up the temp for the last ten minutes of the drive, getting my boots on was no longer the crux of the day.
4. Dermatone Original Medicated Lip Balm ($10 for 3)
My personal favorite lip balm: a mild scent, thick enough that it lasts, and no white cast. I keep it accessible to combat that dry Colorado air.
5. Smartwool Ski Compression Print Over The Calf Socks ($45)
Crucial for helping combat pregnancy-related swelling.
