Snow tubing is a great winter activity for the whole family, but it does take place in the winter, which means that it is cold. Whenever it’s cold, and you plan on being outside for the day, dressing appropriately is very important.
When snow tubing, conditions can be very cold and often wet, which means that you need good insulation and clothes that will keep the moisture away from your body.
Without the proper clothing, at the very least, you’ll get cold and wet, but there are worse issues that may arise, with windburn, frostnip, frostbite, and hypothermia being some of them, therefore, what to wear when snow tubing is exactly what we’re going to cover right now.
What is the Best Outfit to Wear Snow Tubing?
To go snow tubing, you want to wear at least three different layers. A mistake that many people make is thinking that wearing one thick layer is enough to stay warm and dry, which is often not true. It’s a proven fact that multiple thinner layers retain heat much better than one thick layer. However, it’s also about the function of the individual layers.
Each of the three layers we are about to discuss has a slightly different purpose, and they all come together to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable while snow tubing down a big hill.
In short, when snow tubing, you should wear long thermal underwear, a fleece middle layer, and all your winter snow gear including gloves/mittens, winter hat, snow jacket, and snow pants. These combined will keep you warm and safe in the cold.
Let’s take a look at each of the three layers in more detail that you should wear when snow tubing.
Base Layer
The base layer or first layer, which is the one closest to your skin, is very important. This initial layer is all about moisture-wicking capabilities. As funny as it sounds, more often than not, when you dress for winter, you end up being a bit too warm at times.
If you’re tubing, walking around in your gear, and having fun with your friends, you might get a bit sweaty. Sweat is wet, and if your clothing gets wet, especially up against your skin, you’ll get very cold very fast.
Therefore, having a moisture-wicking base layer is crucial. This is fabric that will remove moisture from your skin, so you stay dry. Some specialized long underwear and a matching top which are labeled as moisture wicking, are called for.
A secondary purpose of the base layer is warmth and heat retention. These moisture-wicking materials, when specially designed for cold weather, usually also offer a good bit of insulation to keep your body heat in.
Middle Layer
The next layer is the middle or second layer, with this one being all about warmth. The number one purpose of the middle layer is to provide you with a lot of warmth, insulation, and heat retention. This means that a good thick pair of pants and a matching sweater or hoodie are required.
These should be relatively thick and able to hold onto a lot of warmth, with something like fleece being a go-to option. Some people may even decide to double up on the middle layer, although this is likely overkill in most cases. A single thick layer of clothing made of a material that is well-insulating should be just fine.
Outer Layer
The third and final layer, the outer layer, serves a triple purpose. First, the secondary purpose of the outer layer is warmth. The outer layer should be thick and well-insulated. In other words, here we are talking about cold weather snow gear, such as a thick winter jacket and snow pants, something with a really thick layer of insulation for great heat retention.
However, notice how we said that heat retention is the secondary purpose. The primary purpose of this outer layer, or the two primary purposes realistically, are to keep wind and moisture out.
This means that first, the outer layer should be windproof. There should be some kind of coating that prevents wind from cutting straight through. Wind chill is always a big problem. Even if you have really thick and well-insulated clothes, if the wind can cut through them, you’ll still get cold no matter how many layers you have on.
Simultaneously, that outer layer also needs to be water and moisture proof. We are talking about an outdoor activity in the snow, which can quickly melt when it comes into contact with you and leave you soaking wet. Your outer layer needs to be waterproof, windproof, and well-insulated.
Choosing the Right Gloves
Your body and limbs aren’t the only things that need protection here. You can’t leave your hands exposed to freezing temperatures, not even for short periods of time. Fingers especially are susceptible to cooling down quickly and developing frostnip and frostbite. Fingers have a lot of surface area and aren’t very large, which means that the cold can quickly penetrate them.
The situation just gets worse if snow and moisture are involved. Therefore, a good pair of gloves is called for. Preferably, you should get a pair of gloves that have the same windproof and waterproof capabilities as your winter coat and snow pants.
This is especially important with gloves, because you’re holding the tube, throwing snowballs, falling down, and more. Those gloves are in constant with the snow, so they better be waterproof. They should also be insulated for general warmth. The best gloves come with an interior liner that wicks moisture away.
Pro Tip – Mittens that have all of your fingers in one pocket, as opposed to gloves that separate your fingers, are much better for heat retention, albeit they drastically reduce your manual dexterity.
Head Wear – Hat, Scarf, And Balaclava
Your head is another part that needs protection. First, the top of your head loses a good deal of heat, so having a thick hat to retain warmth is essential. Special winter hats made out of insulating materials are always a go-to option.
You’ll also want a scarf to protect your neck. The neck is often a weak spot with jackets. The neck is open at the top, and no matter how well-built the jacket is, there’s usually always some room for airflow, which lets heat out and the cold wind in. A good scarf to block any openings is recommended.
If it is a really cold day, wearing a balaclava or face cover is also called for. Your nose is just as susceptible to the cold as the rest of you. You also don’t want to be constantly inhaling extremely cold air while tubing, as this can become painful.
What Shoes Should You Wear Snow Tubing?
There’s only one type of shoe that you should wear snow tubing and that is the insulated winter boot. Good winter boots always take that triple layer approach to keep you warm and dry. They usually have a moisture-wicking liner, a thick layer of insulation, and a waterproof exterior.
Boots are perhaps the most important aspect of all here, because your feet are always touching the snow, so there needs to be a good layer in between your bare feet and the cold ground below. Once your feet get cold and wet it’s virtually impossible to recover.
Can You Go Snow Tubing Without Snow Pants?
Technically speaking, nobody is going to stop you if you try to go tubing without snow pants. However, just because there aren’t any laws against it doesn’t mean that it is a good idea.
That tube will have some snow on it at all times, you might fall off and roll in the snow, and so on. In one way or another, your legs will be in contact with the snow for a good portion of your tubing adventure.
If you don’t have waterproof snow pants on, you’ll end up soaking wet within minutes, effectively ruining your day, and it could lead to hypothermia in the worst case scenario. At a minimum, wear waterproof pants with an insulation layer underneath.
Do You Wear a Helmet Snow Tubing?
It is always recommended that you wear a legitimate ski helmet for tubing. These are specially designed to provide impact protection for your head.
Tubing isn’t overly dangerous, but there is always a chance that you run into somebody or bump your head on the ground, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
There are even some tubing locations where helmets are mandatory, particularly for kids. You may always wear ski goggles as well, particularly on windy days. Tubing down a hill when you can’t see isn’t all that fun!
Tips to Help You Stay Warm Snow Tubing
Let’s go over some quick tips to help you stay warm while tubing.
1. Bring Hand and Toe Warmers
If your feet and hands are extra susceptible to the cold, using some foot and hand warmers may be called for. These usually come in the form of flat little pouches that you can squeeze, which causes a chemical reaction that generates heat. These can then be put inside of gloves and boots, and should stay warm for a few hours.
See Hand & Toe Warmers on Amazon Here.
2. Stay Dry!
Of course, if you plan on staying warm, staying dry is essential. Getting wet will cause to feel cold much sooner than you otherwise would.
3. Take Breaks to Warm-up
If you start feeling cold, there’s no point in trying to suffer through it. Every good ski and tubing location should have a chalet or restaurant to warm up in. Go inside when you start feeling cold and enjoy a warm drink!
4. Always Take Extra Clothes
If you are going tubing for a whole day, bringing some extra clothes is recommended. This is especially the case as far as hats, gloves, and socks are concerned, as these are usually the first things to get wet. You probably won’t bring along a second winter coat, but maybe an extra shirt or sweater would be helpful in case you get a bit too sweaty while tubing.
5. Take, Make, or Buy a Hot Beverage
A great way to warm up is by drinking hot cocoa. The sugary heat will give you a momentary boost of warmth that should make you feel much better. What’s a day of tubing without a cup of hot cocoa at the end of it all?!
Should You Wear Sunscreen Snow Tubing?
If you have very sensitive skin, particularly on your face, then some sunscreen may be a good idea. Unless you are wearing a face cover, your face will be exposed to the sun, and snow is reflective too. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone got a sunburn in the winter. That said, unless you are very adventurous, the rest of your body should be covered with appropriate clothing.
The Dangers of Snow Tubing with the Wrong Gear
If you get wet and cold while snow tubing, you might develop a cold, and even worse, hypothermia may set in. If your nose, ears, fingers, and feet get extremely cold for a prolonged period, frostbite is also a threat.
Examples of Items not to Wear Snow Tubing
Here are some pieces of clothing that you don’t want to wear when snow tubing.
- Anything made of cotton
- Shorts
- Jogging pants
- Jeans
- Helmets that are too big (snowmobile helmets)
- Baseball caps
- T-shirts
- Fingerless gloves
- Wool mittens
- Running shoes
- Sandals and flip-flops
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
