How Should Baggy Snow Pants Fit?

Sizing snow pants comes up a lot. People either go too small because they're used to fitted outerwear, or they overthink it and end up with something that's way too big. The good news is baggy snow pants are pretty forgiving if you know what you're looking at. Here's how to get it right.

The Basic Rule

Baggy snow pants should feel loose and comfortable but not ridiculous. Think skate pants, not pyjamas. You want enough room in the leg to squat down, make a hard turn and get back up from a fall without your pants pulling anywhere. They should sit comfortably at the waist, come down over your boots and give you room to layer thermals or protective gear underneath without everything bunching up.

If that sounds vague, here's a simple test. Put them on with whatever you normally wear underneath on the mountain. Squat down. Jump. Kneel down in the snow. If your pants aren't fighting you through any of that, the fit is right.

Normal Baggy vs Steezy Baggy

This is where a lot of people get confused so here it is straight.

The normal baggy fit is what 95% of riders will want. It's a proper loose, relaxed fit with room to move, room to layer and room to wear protective gear underneath. It looks right on the mountain and it feels right all day. Most of our customers who ask about sizing end up in their normal size with the standard fit and are happy with it.

The steezy baggy fit is for riders who want it really oversized. Think very wide leg, lots of drape over the boot, the kind of look you see in park edits where the pants are almost pooling at the ankle. This is one size up from your normal size. It still works and it still functions properly, it just has a lot more volume. If you've never worn baggy snow pants before, start with the normal fit. You can always size up next time if you want more.

How to Use the SnowRipper Size Guide

Every SnowRipper product page has an interactive fit finder. Put in your height and weight, choose your fit style (normal baggy, steezy baggy or super baggy) and it tells you which size to go for. It also gives you the actual garment measurements so you can compare against a pair of pants you already own and know fit well.

The size guide covers both adults and kids, with adult sizes from XS to XL and kids sizes 130 and 150. If you're between sizes, go up for more room or down for a slightly less oversized look. Either way the pants are designed to be worn loose so there's no such thing as too baggy, within reason.

If the fit finder gives you two options or you're genuinely not sure, just get in touch. We reply, we help and we'd rather you get the right size than send them back.

Sizing for Layering

One of the main reasons to size correctly on baggy snow pants is layering. If you're riding in cold conditions you'll want thermals underneath. If you ride with protective gear, crash pants or knee pads take up room too. The Drift Baggy Snow Pants are designed to fit comfortably over all of that.

Our model wears a Medium at 173cm and 66kg and wears the pants with both crash pants and knee pads underneath to show you exactly what that looks like. If you're planning to wear a lot of gear underneath, factor that in when choosing your size. The normal baggy fit has enough room for thermals and light protective gear. If you wear a lot of padding, consider going up one size.

Kids Sizing

Kids sizing works the same way. The SnowRipper kids range comes in sizes 130 and 150, covering heights from 125cm up to 160cm and weights from 25kg to 50kg. The fit is the same loose, baggy cut as the adult range.

One thing worth knowing: kids grow. If your child is between sizes or close to the top of a size range, go up. The adjustable waist means there's room to grow into them and the fit still works with a little extra room. Better to have room to grow than be too tight by the end of the season.

When to Contact Us

If you've used the fit finder and you're still not sure, just ask. We get sizing questions all the time and we're happy to help. A few of our reviews mention customers who were between sizes and got in touch, we sorted them out quickly and they had the right pair before their trip. That's the kind of thing we're here for.

You can reach us through the contact page or by replying to any of our emails. We actually reply.