Are you headed to the slopes this winter? Then get ready for your trip with our ultimate guide for what to pack for a ski trip!
Once you have booked your ski trip, you will want to make sure you have all the essentials packed to make your time on the slopes comfortable and snug! In this guide, I share some of my favourite travel essentials for a ski trip, including clothing, luggage and toiletries.
Ski Trip Packing Checklist
Once you have read the article make sure to download my handy printable ski packing checklist from the We Are Travel Girls Travel Library so that you don’t forget any important items in your luggage.
What To Wear On The Slopes
Ski clothing is expensive so I recommend buying neutral-colored items (and not “in-fashion” styles) for the main clothing such as your trousers and jacket, that way you can mix and match those with fun colored hats, scarves and clothes and change up the look without having to have several pricey pairs of ski trousers. This also means you are less likely to get bored of the ski clothes and buy new ones the following year.
Clothing
Ski Trousers: Bring two pairs of ski trousers so you can switch up your look each day. I suggest getting neutral colors and then using gloves, scarves, and your innerwear to add pops of color!
Ski Jacket: Buy one ski jacket that can be paired with different colored trousers and tops. I have a white ski jacket and black trousers and can add color with hats and gloves.
Base layers, Thermal Leggings and Tops: I buy all my thermals at Uniqlo since they actually look like normal vests and tops so you can take off your sweater and not look like you are in your underwear! Uniqlo also has great leggings, jackets and sweaters. I also love the Sweaty Betty base layer sets which are super cute.
Accessories
Ski Goggles and Sunglasses: My favorite ski goggles are Flight Deck™ Snow Goggles from Oakley. Pack a pair of durable sunglasses that you can pop into your ski jacket pocket.
Ski Gloves and Neckwarmers: Invest in a good pair of comfortable ski gloves and a pair of glove liners. I recommend getting ones that have a clip so that you can clip them to your ski jacket when you take them off rather than stuffing them into your pockets.
Thermal socks: One of the most important things to pack! Keeping your feet warm and comfortable is essential and will make or break how long you can spend on the slopes!
Helmets: Stay safe on the slopes with your own ski helmet. You can usually rent these at your resort, but having a fitted helmet that matches your ski gear is a great investment!
What To Wear Off The Slopes
At the end of a long day of skiing, it’s time to relax and enjoy your ski lodge. Here are a few essentials you must not forget to bring along with you:
Snow Boots: I have a few pairs of snow boots now for different looks. I have these gorgeous Timberland Shearling winter boots, they are waterproof and lined so your feet stay warm. I also have these cute Baronero grey fur lined boots, since they are not waterproofed I used a waterproofing spray and this worked great in the snow and they stayed dry.
Hats, Scarves, and Sweaters: I have pom pom beanies in almost every color so, but an absolute essential is a cute white pom pom hat like this one!
Quilted Coat: Make a change from your ski coat with a stylish quilted jacket to wear in the evenings like this Orolay Women’s Thickened Down Jacket. I also love the selection from Abercrombie which are currently on a major sale!
Ski Romper: If you want to look great and get noticed on and off the slopes then you should invest in a Racysuit for your next ski trips!
Yoga, Gym Clothes and Trainers: Stretching out after a long day skiing will help you recover your muscles, so make sure to book a hotel or chalet with a gym or studio facility.
Cameras
When you get to the top of the mountain and discover the amazing views you will want to have a camera with you to capture the moment. This is all the gear I take with me on my ski trips, I don’t carry everything with me every day but use different equipment depending on the skiing I plan to do.
- Camera: I use a Nikon D850 DSLR camera body for all of my photography with a Tamron 24-70mm lens or my Sigma Art 35mm lens which is great for video. However, this kit is quite expensive and I prefer not to ski with it all on my back, so I take along my Panasonic DMC LX100. This camera is now relatively old but works great for skiing since it is small and can fit in my jacket pocket with a fixed lens and takes great photos and videos.
- Video Equipment: Go Pro Hero 8 and Karma Grip for stabilization
Gear
- Reusable Water Bottle: One of the easiest things you can do to be a more responsible traveler is to carry a reusable water bottle instead of using multiple plastic water bottles. I have a selection of Avana water bottles in different sizes.
- Reusable Cup: Bring your own collapsible Stojo reusable cup or Avana for hot drinks.
- Ski Backpack: Carrying a small ski backpack will make your ski experience a lot easier if you are planning to carry water, snacks and camera equipment. In previous years I have placed everything in my pockets, but I think this Osprey Ski Backpack is a more convenient option. For more serious off-piste skiers the Mammut Light Removable 30L Airbag 3.0 Backpack or something similar.
Ski Luggage
Your location and the specific ski resort will likely determine the best type of luggage to bring on your ski trip. You are able to drive up to many resorts in the US meaning a rolling suitcase would be fine, but in Europe, you may be dragging your luggage on the snow to get to your lodge. I recommend buying a sensible duffle bag that you can easily carry by hand without pulling through the snow.
Suitcases and Duffels: My favorite luggage for ski trips is Douche Bags. They make cleverly designed, durable, water-resistant rolling luggage and duffle bags that can be carried as a rucksack. For a ski getaway, I recommend The Big Bastard in white or grey, the Douche Bag and/or The Slim Jim. The Douche Bag ski and snowboard bag is an award-winning design that actually rolls up so that you can store it when it’s not in use.
I am also a huge fan of Osprey luggage for this type of trip because of its durability and strong wheels that can roll through snow or sustain cobbles and uneven surfaces. I have had my Osprey rolling luggage for 7 years and it is still going strong!
Packing Cubes: I always use a set of compression packing cubes to organize my items within my luggage, putting tops and jumpers in one and trousers or dresses in another. Not only do these help to keep your suitcase organized, but it means you can fit more into your luggage!
Ski and Boot Bags: If you have your own equipment, you will want additional bags just for these.
Toiletries
Looking after your skin and staying hydrated when you are up in the mountains is so important and should not be overlooked when you start packing. High SPF and facial oils are key to keeping your skin glowing on the slopes!
- A High Facial SPF: My personal favorites are Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense Active Factor 50, Clinique Face SPF 50 and Coola Mineral Face SPF Factor 50.
- Facial Oils: At the end of the day of skiing, your skin will have suffered from the cold wind, so I always use facial oil before bed. I use pure Argan Oil and pure prickly pear oil that I purchased in Morocco, but you can buy similar products online. My other favourite facial oil is Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil, which I have been using for many years, along with a few other Boscia products. Another favorite is Elizabeth Arden Overnight Oil.
- Quality Shampoo and Conditioners and heat protection spray: The changing temperature from hot to cold during a ski trip can wreak havoc on your hair so I always bring along good quality hair products and leave-in conditioners from Kevin Murphy so that my hair stays in good condition.
- Body Moisturisers: Keeping your skin moisturised is essential during a ski trip, whatever brand you choose just make sure to apply morning and evening!
Travel Insurance With Ski Coverage
It is easy to forget to check your travel insurance coverage when you are caught up in the excitement of booking your ski trip, but this is something you should not overlook! Buying a new pair of ski goggles because you forgot to bring yours is possible, but getting insurance after a ski accident is not.
Travel Insurance is something you should never leave home without and, in fact, something you should purchase as soon as you book your trip should unforeseen circumstances stop you from going on your trip.
My recommendations for insurance coverage are:
- World Nomads: I have used World Nomads for many years for long-term travel coverage and short trips. I have had the need to make claims with them and found the process easy and quick.
- Safety Wing: The world’s first International Travel Medical Insurance developed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and remote workers traveling or living abroad. Coverage with Safety Wing starts at US $37 for four weeks and since it is subscription-based, you won’t forget it when you travel!
- Insure and Go: If you are based in the UK, Insure and Go is a great choice for annual travel insurance. I had coverage from Insure and Go at the time of my ski accident and they were very helpful with organising my repatriation back to England. I had the annual Gold coverage which also included coverage for a plus 1, so my husband was covered to come and help me get home.
- Camera Coverage: If you are carrying lots of photography equipment I highly recommend getting separate insurance for your electronic and photo gear – especially if you are taking them with you on the mountain! I have been using Photoguard for a few years and love that you can build your insurance based on the value of your exact set of photographic equipment, but I suggest checking specific insurance coverage for your region.
After having a major ski accident that required me to be picked up off the slopes, taken to the hospital, and then flown home (requiring three seats), which added up to thousands of dollars, I would never consider going on a vacation or a ski trip without insurance!
I hope that you have found this article helpful to plan what to pack for your next trip to the mountain. Making sure you have all the right equipment will ensure you make the most of your time on the slopes! Please share your own ski trip packing tips with own readers in the comments below.
Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Go to our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.
We Are Travel Girls Founder Becky van Dijk of BeckyvanDijk.com
Connect with Becky Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube
Pin For Later
This website may use affiliate links in our articles. Please see our Disclosures for more information.
Leave a Reply