English
German
French
Italian
For the 2026/27 season, certified cut-resistant pants are required at every FIS Alpine Skiing event, including FIS Masters. If you race outside the FIS calendar, your national federation or event organizer sets the rule.
Below, you'll find the requirements, what changed this season, and how to check a pair of leggings before you buy or race.
What Is the FIS Cut-Resistant Mandate?
The 2026/27 FIS Alpine Equipment Specifications make cut-resistant undergarment pants mandatory for "all FIS Alpine Skiing events." To comply, the pants need:
- At least 3-star FIS certification under the FIS-DITF 2021 testing standard. EN388 or ANSI cut-resistance ratings alone don't meet this requirement.
- Continuous certified protection everywhere between the iliac crest (the top of the hip) and the onset of the ski boot.
- A non-removable conformity label on the back of the lower left leg, above the boot-cuff area. It must show the CRG 2021 conformity statement and star level.
Pants are the mandatory item. FIS strongly recommends cut-resistant shirts and full-body suits as well.
What Changed for 2026/27?
The FIS cut-resistant pants mandate first took effect in the 2025/26 season, when it applied to race Levels 0 and 1. For 2026/27, it expands to every FIS Alpine Skiing event, including Level 2+ races and FIS Masters. The minimum rating stays at 3 stars.
| Season | FIS requirement |
|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Minimum 3-star pants were mandatory at race Levels 0 and 1. Cut-resistant undergarments were strongly recommended at all other FIS levels. |
| 2026/27 | Minimum 3-star pants are mandatory at every FIS Alpine Skiing event, including Level 2+ races and FIS Masters. Shirts and full-body suits remain strongly recommended. |
If you race at Level 2+ or in FIS Masters, you're now included in the mandatory group. You can compare the wording in the 2025/26 specification and the 2026/27 specification.
Who Does This Affect?
FIS Alpine Events
The requirement covers:
- Level 0: World Cup, World Championships, Olympic Winter Games
- Level 1: Continental Cups (Europa Cup, NorAm, etc.), Junior World Championships
- Level 2+: FIS races, including national and regional events listed on the FIS calendar
- FIS Masters: FIS Masters Cup, FIS Masters World Championships, and other FIS Masters events
Non-FIS Club, Youth, and Recreational Events
A club race, academy race, national age-class event, or recreational skiing doesn't automatically fall under the FIS rule. For non-FIS competitions, check your national federation's current competition guide and the event notice.
Some national federations extend their requirements beyond FIS events:
- France: The French Ski Federation (FFS) states that minimum 3-star cut-resistant tights are mandatory from U12 upward for 2026/27 in its competition-and-training framework. Its separate promotion-race paragraph says they are strongly recommended, so promotion-race participants should check the specific event rules.
- Italy: The Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) requires minimum 3-star cut-resistant underwear pants for all categories at national, regional, and provincial calendar races in 2026/27. Its rule also applies during training.
- United States and other countries: As of this article's last update, we didn't verify a comparable blanket national non-FIS mandate in the current official materials reviewed for the U.S., Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. That's not proof that a regional series, club, academy, or organizer has no rule. Check the current event notice.
Understanding FIS Star Ratings
FIS rates cut resistance on a 1-5 star scale. Higher stars mean the fabric withstood more cutting force during standardized testing.
| Rating | Force Required | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | 100N | Below mandate minimum |
| 2 Stars | 200N | Below mandate minimum |
| 3 Stars | 300N | Mandate minimum |
| 4 Stars | 400N | Above minimum |
| 5 Stars | 500N | Maximum available |
The FIS-DITF 2021 test cuts the fabric in three directions and assigns its rating based on the weakest direction. Four of five samples must pass at the star's force level. The test parameters appear in §3.5.3.3 of the FIS specification.
Our FIS Star Ratings guide explains the testing method and certification in more detail.
Meet VIX
Worn by the best.
Most of the world’s best ski racers wear VIX. Comfort Pro brings that protection to your own skiing: FIS 5-star certified, above the mandate’s 3-star minimum, and comfortable enough to forget you’re wearing it.
It started with a racer who nearly died from a ski-edge cut. Victor Wiacek spent years developing the protection he wanted to wear himself, so he could keep skiing. That became VIX.
Brand Comparison
This comparison from VIX shows the highest-rated current ski-specific cut-resistant leggings we found as of this article's last update. Each brand links to the option represented here.
| Brand / top option | Highest FIS rating | Approx. price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| VIX | $449 | |
| DISTON | $545 | |
| Energiapura | ≈$375 | |
| POC | $440 | |
| SHRED / Iron-IC | $300 | |
| SYNC | $449 |
Prices are approximate USD snapshots of the linked adult options and vary by market. For FIS racing, the garment itself must show the CRG 2021 label and at least 3 stars; the linked SYNC option falls below that minimum.
How to Verify Any Product
Before buying or heading to a race, check the garment itself. Prices, product names, and certifications can change after a comparison is published.
- Find the non-removable conformity label on the back of the lower left leg.
- Look for at least three stars and the wording "Conforms to FIS Specifications CRG 2021."
- Confirm continuous certified coverage everywhere between the iliac crest and the onset of the ski boot.
Common Questions
Do I need 5 stars, or is 3 enough?
A correctly labelled 3-star garment with the required coverage meets the FIS mandate. A 5-star rating means the fabric passed the same test at a higher cutting force. When choosing between compliant options, consider the protection level alongside fit, comfort, and price.
Can I use pants certified to EN388 or another standard?
An EN388 or ANSI rating alone doesn't establish FIS compliance. The garment needs the specified FIS CRG 2021 conformity label, at least three stars, and the required coverage.
Do I need cut protection for training?
Training rules depend on the team, organizer, and national federation. France and Italy explicitly extend their domestic requirements into training in the official documents cited above. Check with your team before the season starts.
What happens if I arrive without compliant pants?
The pants requirement is part of the applicable FIS equipment rules, and officials may check the conformity label. Enforcement follows the rules and procedures for the event.
For non-FIS events, check the organizer's current event notice or competition guide.
Do I need upper body protection too?
FIS strongly recommends cut-resistant shirts and full-body suits, but pants are the mandatory item. VIX doesn't currently offer tops or neck protection; development is in progress. You can join the waitlist for updates.
Why Cut Protection Matters
Ski-edge lacerations are less studied than knee or head injuries. The published evidence shows that they can be severe, though the true incidence is still unknown.
A survey of U.S. racers aged 10–24 reported a 6.8% laceration rate during the 2018/19 season. A separate peer-reviewed case series of five severe racer lacerations documented injuries involving muscle, nerves, blood vessels, joints, and bone.
In January 2024, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde suffered a severe calf laceration in the Wengen downhill. His recovery included emergency surgery and sepsis; Reuters reported on his injury and the sport's safety response in January 2026.
FIS describes cut-resistant clothing as supplementary protection. It lowers the risk. It doesn't remove it.
For more on the materials and how they work, see our Complete Guide to Cut-Resistant Ski Base Layers. We also cover cut protection for recreational skiers.
Before Your First Race
Check the current event rules and your garment's label, then allow time to get the fit right. Try the leggings before race week and follow the manufacturer's care instructions. If you're choosing VIX, our sizing guide can help.
Buying for a growing racer? Our parent's guide to cut-resistant ski gear covers choosing gear for kids.
If you're unsure about the label or fit, email info@vixprotection.com.
Know the rule. Find your pair.
Explore VIX’s cut-resistant leggings, then use the sizing guide to choose the right fit.
Shop VIX leggings ↗Official Sources
Rules and documents reviewed as of this article's last update:
- FIS, Specifications for Alpine Competition Equipment 2026/27, §§3.5.3.2–3.5.3.4, pp. 31–32.
- FIS, Specifications for Alpine Competition Equipment 2025/26, §3.5.3.4, p. 30.
- FFS, Équipements FIS et FFS, "Collant cut resistant," p. 3.
- FISI, Agenda degli Sport Invernali - Sci Alpino 2025/26, §3.0.9, pp. 7–8 (the published transition to the 2026/27 three-star minimum).
- Bielmeier and Man, survey of U.S. adolescent and young-adult racers, 2018/19 season.
- Severe Lacerations in Alpine Ski Racing: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.