In the United States, when referring to the outermost layer worn on the top of the body during cold weather, most people just call the garment a "coat." This word, of course, is really very generic, the result being that it is sometimes modified with an additional noun in order to properly depict the article of clothing: "leather coat," for example, or a "trench coat." And in the world of ski gear, the coat worn for the sport is known simply as a ski coat. There are actually specific English words to describe a coat worn in snowing conditions.

"Anorak" is sometimes used in other English-speaking countries to describe this piece of clothing. However, while this word is accepted in the United States, it is not commonly used. When an American refers to a ski coat, he means an anorak, a skier's first and arguably most important defense against the elements.

The ski coat, or anorak, actually has a relatively interesting history. It was originally invented by the Inuit of the Arctic region, who made the garment from caribou or seal. The climate in which these people lived often consisted of freezing temperatures and violent winds, all of which made such clothing necessary while hunting, kayaking, or doing almost anything that involved being outdoors. The anoraks of the Inuit, like those of today, were heavy and had hoods, which were often lined with fur to better protect the face. In order to increase water resistance, some Inuit would coat an anorak regularly with fish oil.

Some time in the 1930s, people began to use anoraks while skiing. Since that time, it has become a staple of ski apparel, even though it sometimes bears little resemblance to the original garment. Of course today, anoraks are no longer made of animal skins. Rather, they are often constructed from synthetic fabrics. Although natural insulating materials like down are sometimes used, fleece and Thinsulate are much more common approaches. As to the exterior, it is often made of nylon or some other manmade material, such as microfibers.

As fashionable ski apparel has become more diverse, a number of ski coats have evolved that strictly speaking, cannot be defined as anoraks. Some ski coats lack the prerequisite hood; and due to the environmental sentiments of our time, those that have the hood often lack the traditional fur edging. Some ski coats extend down to the wearer's mid-thighs, whereas technically, an anorak stops at the waist. These longer coats are actually parkas but again, as with the anorak, Americans use "ski coat" to refer to any coat used while skiing.

Ski coats are often brightly, sometimes violently, colorful. This was especially true during the 1980s, when neon colors were often combined with metallic fabric for a dazzling display on the slopes. Although this trend has abated somewhat, it is not unusual to see ski coats, especially those for women, available in bright blues, pinks, reds and other vivid colors. Such colors have the advantage of being easily visible against the white background of a ski slope and making the wearer possible to identify in a crowd.