What to Pack for a Ski Trip

Forgetting essential ski gear or apparel for your trip is one of the easiest ways to ruin an alpine adventure. Before you hit the slopes this season, run through our packing checklist to ensure you’re covered head-to-toe for your weekend getaway. Don’t forget, this isn’t just a ski trip; it’s also a vacation in general, so make sure to pack other travel essentials and extra clothing for après-ski activities.

Snowboard & Ski Clothing

• Waterproof Ski Jacket
• Waterproof Ski Pants or Snow Bibs
• Mid-Layer Insulation
• Down or Fleece Vests and Sweaters
• Base Layer Tops
• Base Layer Bottoms
• Leggings or Thermal Underwear
• Ski Gloves & Mittens
• Ski Socks
• Cold Weather Headgear
• Beanie
• Balaclava
• Neck Warmer / Neck Gaiter
• Ski Mask

The amount and type of clothing you’ll bring depends on how long your trip is and what season you’re skiing in. For colder months, you’ll obviously want to bring more items to keep warm on the mountain. Remember that layering your clothing is essential to regulating body temperature, and you can always remove clothing if you get too hot. However, you can never add extra clothing out of thin air if you didn’t bring enough.

You also never want to wear cotton clothing on the slopes, as cotton dries very slowly. Ensure you use moisture-wicking materials like Merino wool.

Non-Ski Clothing

• Winter Jacket
• Winter Hat
• Gloves or Mittens
• Winter Boots or Shoes
• T-Shirts
• Sweaters or Long-Sleeve Shirts
• Jeans and Casual Pants
• Underwear
• Sleepwear
• Swimsuit

The swimsuit is an easy item to forget, but most ski resorts have hot tubs, which are great for soaking in after a long day on the slopes. If your resort has nice restaurants in the area, make sure to bring a button-down shirt or two or something a bit classier than your old rock band T-shirts. Comfy clothes to chill in are also a must. Nothing beats the feeling of taking off all of your ski gear and changing into a fresh pair of clothes after your runs.

Snowboard & Ski Equipment

• Skis and Ski Poles or Snowboard with Binding
• Ski Boots or Snow Boots
• Ski Goggles
• Helmet
• Hand Warmers and Foot Warmers
• Sunglasses

If you’re a first-time skier, it’s important to know how blinding the snow can be at that altitude. Sunglasses are an essential item to bring to combat this when you don’t have your goggles on. Don’t worry if you don’t have most of this essential gear. The vast majority of ski resorts have equipment rental sites where you can be properly fitted for gear. Plus, if you bring your own gear, they have staff on-site to sharpen skis and perform other maintenance.

Toiletries

• Sunscreen
• SPF Lip Balm
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Shaving Supplies
• Contacts and Solution/Glasses if You Wear Them
• Cosmetics
• Cotton Balls
• Nail Clippers
• Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash

Again, first-time skiers may be confused about why they need sunscreen if they aren’t going to a tropical destination. The atmosphere up high is much thinner, which makes it easier to get sunburnt.

Miscellaneous Items

• Ski Passes & Lift Tickets
• Phone Charger
• Wallet with Credit Cards, Cash & Your ID
• Headphones
• GoPro or Other Action Camera
• First Aid Kit
• Blister Relief Kit
• Medications & Daily Vitamins
• Travel Pillows
• Books
• Water Bottle
• Games or Other Entertainment for the Lodge

Prepare to Shred Pow

Skiing and snowboarding are incredibly fun activities as long as you practice proper safety and ski at your experience level. This ski packing list includes everything you need to enjoy your best ski vacation yet, so give it a glance before you head out to ensure you have all of the essentials at hand. Make sure to check out all of our snow sports gear for sale to find great deals on snow equipment for the whole family!