The best high street ski-wear as ASOS, Zara and H&M launch snow sports ranges… & it will save you hundreds

SKIING has always been known as the snow sport that you need to save for.

Costs of flights, accommodation, ski hire, ski pass and buckets full of raclette and wine soon add up.

But there is a way to make your alpine trip a whole lot cheaper, without skimping on the Apres style.

With cheaper European ski resorts like Borovets in Bulgaria becoming increasingly popular with Brit travellers, ski holidays are becoming more affordable.

And the high street is reacting too, with fashion giants like Zara, H&M and ASOS all launching extremely stylish ski ranges this winter – and at prices .

While kitting yourself out in ski-wear from traditional Alpine active-wear stores can cost upwards of £500 for the full kit, it’s now much easier to get hold of stylish and practical pieces for much less than £100.

Starting from the bottom up, the right ski socks are key for ultimate comfort. Bearing in mind you’ll be wearing ski boots for most of the day, you want something warm and padded.

H&M’s Drymove ski socks at £12.99 are a great bet.

It’s worth getting at least one pair from a proper sports shop and FALKE have some amazing offers at the moment, like the SK4 advanced socks which are £26.60.

Next up it’s thermals. You want light weight and breathable, like the Peter Storm thermal pants, £19, from Go Outdoors.

And as someone who is always running cold, I recommend taking a few options. I wear these M&S Heatgen thermal fleeces most of the winter and they are great for skiing too.

I also loved the sustainable slim fit base layer tops from BAM. The Jazzy prints are perfect for a sunny apres session and the fabric is as soft as a babygro.  

Next up, salopettes –  or ski trousers, to the non-skier. 

Known for not being the most flattering part of your ski wardrobe, salopettes can be hard to want to spend money on.

But having tried on a LOT of different brands, I can guarantee you won’t find a nicer fit than these Vista Salopettes from TOG24. 

I was amazed at how nice the fit of these was. They aren’t bulky at all and they are extremely easy to move in, which is useful for me as I do have multiple falls most days when skiing.

At £77, they are an absolute bargain. 

TOG24’s ski jackets are also amazing quality and some of the nicer colours I’ve seen.

You won’t find a better option that the Panorama jacket, £105, which looks even better with their APRES bobble hat, £18.

Your ski jacket is arguably the most important bit of kit you need for the slopes. 

For me the number one priority – probably quite obviously – is that it’s warm and waterproof.

While rain on the slopes has been pretty rare in my experience, falling over, as mentioned, has not. 

The Baleen Ellesse jacket is a great option – and a steal at £100.

As well as looking chic and stylish, the jacket has a detachable powder skirt and a goggle pocket with attached cleaning cloth.

Another key thing to look for is an easy-access ski pass pocket – the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around taking your gloves off in -1c to get it out.

If you’re looking for an even cheaper option, Decathlon’s Ski Jacket 500 is a stylist fit and comes in a range of colours for £89.99.

The best budget option I found was the Mountain Warehouse Moon II jacket which is only £39 and comes in an array of colours to help you stand out on the slopes.

Speaking of gloves, there is nothing more essential for when you start speeding down those runs than making sure you can still feel your fingers…

Decathlon have a great range of cheap gloves that are guaranteed to keep you warm even in extreme white outs.

A neck warmer is also essential. 

Roxy, the women’s sportswear brand, have perhaps the best one at just £21. It’s the kind of thing you’ll wear all winter in the UK, as well as it being a key component of your ski kit.

Another way to save money is to buy a ski accessories bundle. Mountain Warehouse – who know what they are doing when it comes to keeping warm in the mountains – have a great three piece set of hat, ski scarf and gloves for just £19.99.

Another way to cut costs on clothes is by buying an all in one. While you’ll still need the base layers, a Zara and H&M have some amazingly stylish one pieces that will have you looking flyer than Kendall Jenner on the slopes.

Their skisuit is a steal at only £119, and it has all the technical stuff you need, like being windproof and water resistant. It’s also got a lovely fleecy lining to keep you snug.

Lastly, ski goggles. I only once made the mistake of not taking them and immediately had to spend several hundred pounds on a pair in the resort as I was unable to see.

My favourite are the Rosewood Snowboard Goggles from Roxy, which are on offer for £105 at present, but if you want something cheaper, H&M’s snow sunglasses are a great buy for £14.99.