Short answer: Choose your jacket size by chest circumference and sleeve length. Measure both with a tape measure over thin underwear and compare them with the size chart. For winter and skiing, allow room for a baselayer and a sweatshirt, and between two sizes choose the larger. Ski trousers are chosen separately, by waist and hip circumference.
How do you measure your jacket size?
You need a tape measure, that is, a soft flexible tape, and preferably a helper to check that the tape lies level. Measure over underwear or a thin T-shirt, not over a sweatshirt. Stand naturally with your arms hanging loosely and breathe normally. Run the tape horizontally and pull it just tight enough that it neither sags nor digs in.
| Measurement | How to measure it | Used for | Example: men’s M | Example: women’s 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest circumference | around the widest part of the chest, across the back below the shoulder blades | jackets | 96–99 cm | 92–95 cm |
| Sleeve length from centre back | from the centre of the back at the neck, over the shoulder and the slightly bent arm to the wrist | jackets | 87–88 cm | 81–82 cm |
| Waist circumference where you wear trousers | around the body where you wear your trousers | trousers | 81–85 cm | 79–83 cm |
| Hip circumference | around the widest part of the hips and seat, feet together | trousers; for longer jackets and coats, jackets too | 98–102 cm | 100–104 cm |
| Height | without shoes, back against a wall | finding your way around the chart | 177–180 cm | 171–174 cm |
The examples are rows from the NORDBLANC size charts, one men’s and one women’s. The charts give body measurements in centimetres, not the dimensions of the jacket itself. Men’s sizes run from XXS to XXXL, women’s from 34 to 48. A particular model may not come in the whole range; you will see the available sizes on the product page.
Which jacket size should you choose from the size chart?
In the chest circumference row, find the size your measurement falls into. If each measurement points to a different size, start with the chest and check the sleeve length when trying on, with your arms stretched out in front of you.
Neighbouring sizes differ by 4 cm in chest circumference, and by 7 cm between men’s XL, XXL and XXXL. An error of 2 cm can move the result by a size, so measure twice. If you are on the borderline (for men, 99 cm is still M and 100 cm is already L), decide by what you will wear under the jacket and by the fit. You will find more about winter jackets in the guide How to choose a winter jacket.
How much room should you leave under the jacket for layers?
The chart describes the body, not the clothes under the jacket, so you have to allow for the layers yourself. What matters most is the middle layer: a close-fitting baselayer takes up little room, a loose sweatshirt or gilet a lot. As a rough guide:
| What you wear under the jacket | How much room to leave | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirt or thin sweatshirt (city, short journeys) | size from the chart | the jacket does not press on the shoulders and fastens right up to the neck |
| Baselayer and thin fleece (winter outings) | size from the chart, the larger one between two sizes | your arms move freely and the sleeves stay over your wrists |
| Baselayer, sweatshirt and gilet (hard frost, long spells standing still) | possibly one size up or a looser fit | the zip fastens without pulling and the hem does not ride up |
| Skiing: baselayer and thin sweatshirt or fleece | size from the chart, the larger one between two sizes | arms stretched forward and leaning forward; the hem covers the lower back |
| Skiing with a rucksack or back protector | try the jacket on with them | shoulders and underarms do not press, the sleeves do not shorten |
Do not overdo the extra size, though. In a jacket that is too big, the shoulder seams slip down onto the arms, the sleeves cover your palms and air circulates under the jacket. You will find winter jackets in the collections women’s winter jackets and men’s winter jackets, and the guide Winter coat, parka or jacket covers longer cuts.
Regular, Slim fit or Oversized: which fit should you choose?
The fit tells you how loosely the jacket sits at the same size. It is stated among the product details.
| Fit | How it sits | At NORDBLANC |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | classic fit with normal room | almost all winter jackets and coats, most ski jackets and ski trousers |
| Slim fit | closer-fitting | only a few ski jackets and trousers, some softshell trousers |
| Oversized | deliberately loose | only a few ski jackets |
The fit also affects your choice of size. With Slim fit, consider a size up if you wear more than a baselayer under the jacket. Oversized already sits loosely in the size from the chart, so do not size up unnecessarily. With Regular, the chart and a try-on with your layers are usually enough.
What jacket size for skiing with layers?
On the slopes you put more strain on a jacket than in town: leaning forward, reaching out to the poles, sitting on the chairlift, falls. So try the size on in the clothes you will ski in. The guide What to wear skiing sums up what to take for skiing from head to toe.
- Jacket fastened with everything under it. The zip pulls up to the neck without force and nothing presses under the arms.
- Arms in the skiing position. Stretch your arms out in front of you; the sleeves must not reveal your wrists. Most NORDBLANC ski jackets have hook-and-loop cuffs and almost all have inner elasticated cuffs. Cuffs seal the sleeve, but they cannot rescue a sleeve that is too short.
- Leaning forward and squatting. Your back stays covered. Almost all NORDBLANC ski jackets have a snow skirt and an adjustable hem. They help against snow and draughts, but they cannot rescue a jacket that is too tight.
Parameters such as water column, breathability and features are explained in the guide How to choose a ski jacket. You will find models in the collections women’s ski jackets and men’s ski jackets.
What do you go by when choosing the size of ski trousers?
Ski trousers are chosen by the waist circumference where you wear them and by the hip circumference. So the size of the trousers does not have to come out the same as the size of the jacket; choose each item by your own measurements.
- Waist. The trousers should stay in place when you lean forward and squat, but must not dig in under the jacket or on the chairlift. Most NORDBLANC ski trousers have detachable braces, some have waist adjusters and a few models have an elasticated waist. They fine-tune the fit but do not replace the right size.
- Hips and thighs. There must be room for a baselayer, and nothing should pull when you step up onto a stair or into a binding.
- Legs. They must go on over ski boots. Most ski trousers have zips at the bottom hem of the legs and double legs with a non-slip grip. When trying on in boots, check that the legs do not ride up and do not hang below the sole.
- Fit. Most NORDBLANC ski trousers have a Regular fit, a few have Slim fit. With Slim fit, allow for layers and consider a larger size.
Insulated and uninsulated trousers, water column, braces and waist are covered in the guide How to choose ski trousers. You will find models in the collections women’s ski trousers and men’s ski trousers. Gloves are measured differently: the chart gives the height and width of the palm. You will find them in the ski gloves collection.
How can you tell when trying on that a jacket is too small or too big?
| The jacket is too small when | The jacket is too big when |
|---|---|
| the zip fastens with a pull and the layers under it are squashed | the shoulder seams hang on the arm, not at the end of the shoulder |
| the sleeves ride up above the wrists when you stretch your arms forward | the sleeves cover your palms |
| the hem rises above the waist when you raise your arms | the hem hangs so low that it gets in the way when you sit |
| it presses on the shoulders or under the arms and breathing is harder | air circulates under the jacket as you move |
The surest way is to try the jacket on. You can do that in our stores; come in the clothes you will wear under the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take a smaller or a larger jacket if I am between two sizes?
For a winter or ski jacket worn over a baselayer and a sweatshirt, the larger one. For a jacket worn over just a T-shirt, you can afford the smaller one. Slim fit sits closer, so with layers it usually benefits from the larger size. Decide after trying it on.
How do I measure myself if there is nobody to help?
Measure yourself in front of a mirror, so that you can see the tape is not dropping at the back. A simpler way is to wrap a non-stretch string round your chest, mark where the ends meet and hold the string against a tape measure or ruler. Measure over thin underwear, while breathing normally, and twice in a row.
Is the size of ski trousers the same as the size of the jacket?
It does not have to be. A jacket is chosen by chest circumference, trousers by waist and hips. In the NORDBLANC men’s chart, a chest of 96–99 cm corresponds to size M, but someone with a hip circumference of 103–107 cm belongs in size L in trousers. So choose each item by your own measurements.
Do NORDBLANC jackets run large or small?
There is no single rule for all models; how a jacket sits depends on the fit and the material. Most jackets have a Regular fit, which is stated on the product. More reliable than the impression from other clothes are your own measurements: compare them with the size chart, which gives body measurements. On the product page you will sometimes also see a table of garment dimensions with a measuring diagram; compare that with a jacket that fits you well.
Can a women’s jacket size be converted to a men’s size?
Not by the labelling; compare the measurements. A chest circumference of 96–99 cm corresponds to both men’s M and women’s size 42, but the other measurements differ. Men’s M has a sleeve length of 87–88 cm and a hip circumference of 98–102 cm, women’s 42 a sleeve length of 82–83 cm and a hip circumference of 104–108 cm. So choose by your own measurements and by the size chart for the collection in question.