What to Pack for a Ski Trip

Happy Friday, friends! Last weekend Ryan & I drove up to Boone for the day for a quick ski trip which inspired this post. Now, let me first say that I am no expert on skiing (in fact, I’ve only gone 3 times) but I picked it up pretty quickly and am officially a huge fan of the sport! Last year I was clueless about ski gear and borrowed a few things from one of my friends but now that I know there will be more ski trips in the future, I decided to invest in some quality gear that will last me for many years.

Getting geared up for skiing or snowboarding is a bit of an investment so I did LOTS of research before making these purchases so if you’re planning a trip this winter, hopefully this guide will help you if you’re in the market for some new ski gear!

What to pack for a ski trip

SKI JACKET

SKI PANTS

When it comes to ski pants, you definitely want something windproof and waterproof (or at least very water resistant). You can either go with an insulated pair which are a bit bulkier, but add extra warmth OR opt for a softshell pair which are generally more fitted and lightweight. I personally went with these North Face STH softshell pants because they fit so well and were the most flattering of the pants I tried on (they are also on sale!). I’m already short and the insulated ones just looked so bulky on me. l’ve worn them with leggings underneath and haven’t had my legs feel cold at all- hopefully they perform well out west! If you prefer insulated, I’d recommend the Obermeyer Malta pants or Patagoina Snowbelle pants.

BASE LAYER TOP

You’ll want a good quality base layer top to wear underneath your jacket to insulate and wick away sweat. Stay away from cotton for this one- wool or polyester is best. My pick is the SmartWool 250 crew neck top, it’s lightweight but warm and not itchy at all.

GLOVES/MITTENS

Whether you go with gloves or mittens is personal preference, but I’ve heard that mittens are usually warmer. I got a pair of the Swany Toasters and couldn’t be happier with them. They have an inner glove lining and have a zipper on the front that opens up so you can access your fingers (and the index finger is touch screen compatible)!!

GOGGLES

BEANIE

A cute pom beanie is a must for any winter trip if you ask me and I have been loving this chunky knit beanie from Free People (on sale right now!). It’s super warm and not itchy at all… the bigger the pom pom, the better!

WOOL SKI SOCKS

Wool is the gold standard in ski gear- it’s lightweight, keeps you warm and doesn’t hold odors so you can easily rewear the items. When it comes to ski socks, you want something thick with light to medium cushion and ideally socks that come up to your knees and past your ski boots. You don’t want them to bunch up in your boots because that can be uncomfortable and cause blisters/bruising. I would also recommend Smartwool for these!

LEGGINGS

Unless it’s 50 degrees out, you’ll probably want a base layer underneath your ski pants to provide some insulation. Wool would be an excellent option here but I have just been wearing my Lululemon Align pants as my base layer and have been happy with them so far.

HELMET

Protect your head, people!! It amazes me how many people I see skiing without helmets and it’s just plain scary. Most resorts offer helmet rentals but they can be anywhere from $10-$20/day and you can purchase a good quality helmet for around $100 so I think it’s a good investment. You won’t outgrow it and will have it for every trip!

SUNSCREEN

Just because it’s cold you can’t skimp on the sun protection, especially when you’re skiing at higher altitudes. I would personally bring sunscreen in a stick form because it’s easy to use and not messy. This one from CeraVe is under $10 and is a physical sunscreen which is perfect for a day at the slopes.

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