Cotton vs blend sweatshirts for après-ski

Cotton is the right fabric once you stop moving, and the wrong one while you are riding. That single split explains how this line is built: nothing here is a riding layer, and most of it is cotton.

Why cotton works after the lifts stop

A lodge is usually heated well past comfortable, and you have just come in wearing three layers. Cotton breathes and does not trap heat the way a sealed synthetic layer does, so it suits sitting still in a warm room. It also tends to soften with washing and pills less readily than polyester-heavy blends.

Why cotton is wrong while riding

Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it against your skin, so it stays wet and cold once you have worked up a sweat. That is why base and mid layers are merino or synthetic. Buy those from an outerwear brand — we do not make them.

Where blends fit

A cotton-and-polyester blend holds its shape and dries faster, and a little spandex adds stretch. Two of our styles are polyester-led blends. They are listed with their exact fabric rather than folded into a cotton claim.

What every style is made of

• I'm Difficult Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• ZigZag Cotton Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• Powder Flip Off-Shoulder Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• Snowboard Social Club Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• U.S. Snowboarding Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• Snowboarders Are Cooler Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton

• Powder Chaser Mock Neck: 100% Cotton

• Red Panda Knit Sweater: 100% Cotton

• SNO Mountain Sweatshirt: 85% Cotton 15% Polyester

• Born To Snowboard Cropped Top: 80% cotton 20% polyester

• Catch Air, Not Feelings Sweatshirt: 51% cotton 49% polyester

• Snowboarder Graphic Sweatshirt: 50% polyester 43% cotton 7% spandex

• Board Meeting Sweatshirt: 42% cotton, 53% polyester, 5% other fibers

Common questions

Is cotton a good choice for après-ski?

Yes, for the part of the day when you are no longer working hard. Cotton breathes and feels comfortable in a heated lodge. It is a poor choice as a riding layer, because cotton holds moisture against you instead of moving it away, which is why riding layers are wool or synthetic.

What is the difference between a sweatshirt and a sweater?

A sweatshirt is made from knitted fleece or French terry fabric and is cut and sewn. A sweater is knitted as a garment. SNO Fashion sells sweatshirts, plus one knit sweater, the Red Panda.

How much of the SNO Fashion line is cotton?

8 of 13 styles are 100% cotton, which is 43 of 63 size and colour options. The remaining styles are blends, and every product page prints its exact fabric.

Fabric percentages come straight from our supplier specifications. We do not publish fabric weight (GSM) yet, so you will not see fabric-weight adjectives here until we can print the number.