A ski trip packing list will help you remember all of the essentials you will need for a day on the slopes. Skiing involves so. much. gear. If one thing is forgotten, it can ruin your whole experience.
One time I went skiing and forgot snow pants. I went into the ski shop but couldn’t get myself to pay $200 for a new pair I didn’t need…so I was that person skiing in jeans. Don’t be that person. Keep a ski trip packing list handy to help you remember everything you need.
Ski Trip Packing List:
1. Long underwear- It is so important to get good quality long underwear. If you are freezing, it’s really hard to enjoy being outside. Trust me, invest in a good pair. I wear the Smartwool Merino 250 Base layer (top and bottoms sold separately). The kids wear Hot Chillys Youth La Montanas (top and bottoms sold separately) and they are made of great thick fleece.
2. Ski socks- You don’t want thick socks. They actually cut off circulation and make your feet colder. I like the Darn Tough brand which is made in Vermont.
3. Snow Pants- Make sure they are waterproof, not water resistant. If you are learning or you have kids, they will be cold, wet and miserable. We are all wearing North Face snow pants. The kids Freedom Insulated Pants are great because they are very adjustable and grow with them. I also like Obermeyer for kids. They are good quality without breaking the bank. Spyder is a good brand, but $$$. If you look in the ski shops at the end of the season, you can usually find them at a huge discount. Plan ahead and buy for the following year.
4. Snow jacket- I have a North Face jacket that is pretty thin. I like to layer as much as possible so you can make easy adjustments on the mountain. For kids, I like Patagonia’s 4-in-1 Everyday Jacket. Synchilla Fleece Pullovers are perfect for layering.
5. Helmet- I don’t wear a hat because the helmets these days basically have them built in. I like Smith helmets for adults and Giro for kids. My son is always cold so I put a powder hood over his helmet.
6. Balaclava- Blackstrap makes a great balaclava for kids that fits under their helmets and doubles as a hat. They looks like adorable little bank robbers in them.
7. Hat- as mentioned earlier, I don’t wear a hat under my helmet, but you will probably still want to wear a hat to the mountain. Skida is my favorite brand for hats.
8. Neck warmer- My favortie brand is Skida, which is made locally in Vermont. Their Alpine neck warmer is great for cold days. For warmer weather, they sell an unlined version called the Tour.
9. Gloves- My hands are always cold, so good gloves are important. I like the “lobster” style gloves, because they give you the warmth of a mitten while letting your index finger still have movement. The brand I have is Scott. Hestra is another great brand. My kids wear North Face and Outdoor Research youth gloves.
10. Goggles- My Smith Goggles are great. They come with 2 different lenses- one for day and one for night skiing.
11. Skis- I have Head (absolute joy) skis and my kids have K2’s. If you are in Central Mass, our favorite ski store is The Ski Barn in Westborough, MA. They are so helpful and will walk you through everything you need. They also offer rentals.
12. Boots- I have these Head boots.
13. Poles- these will usually match your skiis, but it doesn’t really matter. Your size will depend on your height.
14. Ski Trainer– this is a great device if you are teaching a child to ski. You don’t have to be scared that they are going to go shoot down the mountain at 90 miles an hour. There is also a strap across the back to easily pick them up after a fall or get them onto a chairlift.
15. Ski Straps– these inexpensive straps are great for helping kids carry their gear from the car to the mountain.
16. Hand warmers– my kids use these on really cold days.
17. Tissues– I always keep these on hand.
18. Snacks/ drinks- If we are only doing a couple of hours, we pack Z-bars and water bottles for the kids. If we will be at the mountain for a full day, we have been packing our lunch in a cooler.
19. Ski passes- most ski mountains are doing contact-less pick up. Here is a tip- screenshot your QR code before getting to the mountain in case you can’t connect to the internet. One ski resort gives out passes that are like credit cards. Be sure to save them, because you will save time and money in the future. We save $3/ tickets when we reload and then don’t have to stand in line when we arrive.
20. Thule Ski bag– I love this ski bag for keeping all of my gear sorted. It also helps to keep everything neatly packed away. My kids each have an Athalon bag to store their gear.
Ski Trip Packing List Printable:
To print this ski trip packing list, click here to download a PDF.
I hope this ski trip packing list helps you plan for your next adventure. Being prepared will help you be more comfortable and relaxed. Have fun hitting the slopes!
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