What to Pack for Your First Ski Trip: The Checklist | SnowTeach
What to pack for a weekend in the snow
Almost everyone who goes to the snow for the first time makes the same mistake, they pack twice as much as necessary and then use half of it. Reality is simpler than it seems, there are only a handful of things you really need to bring from home. Everything else can be sorted out calmly at the resort itself, without you having to think about it before you leave. The key lies in distinguishing three types of things: what is personal or size-related and should therefore be brought already chosen, what the resort resolves better than you can from home, and those small extras that almost no one brings the first time.
What you need to bring from home
This is what you won't be able to improvise well on site, because these are personal, size-related or hygiene items:
Technical layered clothing: a thermal t-shirt and thermal leggings, both thermal (never cotton, it soaks up sweat and cools you down instead of warming you up), a fleece or light jacket, and a waterproof jacket and trousers. For a weekend, count on at least one complete change of thermals and socks for each day, technical clothing doesn't always have time to dry from one day to the next, especially if it has snowed or you've sweated more than usual.
Your own waterproof gloves. Rental ones exist, but gloves you already know, that fit you well and that you know don't let water in, make more of a difference than it seems. It's one of the few items where the exact size and fit matter as much as the function.
High-factor sunscreen and lip balm. They sell them at the resort, but they tend to be more expensive and of worse quality than what you already have at home, and it's exactly the kind of thing you don't want to buy in a rush on the first day.
Documentation: ID card, health card, bank card and some cash, plus accommodation, lesson and lift pass bookings (in case you bought it before going to the resort), also saved on your phone in case you need quick access without signal.
Chains or winter tyres, if you're going by your own car, it's very important to bring chains or winter tyres so you can travel without any danger. On many mountain passes they are mandatory, not optional.
What you can sort out at the resort itself
Here lies the mistake many people make, buying or carrying gear that the resort already sorts out for you without any hassle.
Skis or snowboard, boots, poles, bindings and helmet.
If it's one of your first times, renting at your destination is almost always better than buying. You save the initial investment and get gear suited to your actual level. We cover this in detail in our guide to
Sunglasses or a snow goggle mask, if you don't already have good quality ones, most rental shops offer them along with the rest of the gear. It's better to go for good goggles than to wear ones you have at home that aren't suited for snow. In our article "Equipment for skiing" you can see in more detail what types of snow goggles exist.
Anything you forget at the last minute: most resorts have their own shop for the basics. It's not worth stressing over a minor oversight before leaving home.
For when you finish skiing
Everything above applies the same, but with children it's worth adding some extra margin
One more layer than you think necessary. Children get wet and cold before an adult does, between the effort of standing up at first and the desire to touch the snow with their hands at the first opportunity.
Snacks and water on hand. They use a lot of energy in the snow, and a drop in hunger or tiredness is easily confused with "they don't like skiing", when it's simply that.
A label with name and contact phone number inside the helmet or jacket. In a group of children dressed similarly, this detail makes it much easier to find them if they wander off for a moment.
The extras that change the day
It's in these small extras that you notice the difference between a comfortable day and an uncomfortable one:
A second pair of gloves. Soaked gloves by mid-morning can ruin the rest of your day. A dry spare pair in your backpack solves it instantly.
Chemical hand and foot warmers. They activate on contact with air and give off heat for hours. A lifesaver if you feel the cold easily, are going with children, or the day is genuinely cold.
A small backpack for the slopes. Even if you're only out for a few hours, it's very useful for storing the extra layer, the second pair of gloves, sunscreen or whatever you need.
A separate bag for wet clothes at the end of the day, so that damp gloves or socks don't soak the rest of your luggage.
Moisturising cream and a power bank. Cold dries out skin more than usual and also reduces your phone's battery life more than you'd expect, a power bank prevents you from being left without a way to communicate.
Plasters. Ski or snowboard boots can cause chafing, especially the first time you use them.
Vaseline or hand protector. Wind and cold crack knuckles almost as much as lips.
A reusable bottle to fill up at the accommodation. At altitude it's easy to become dehydrated without feeling as thirsty as on a normal day. That's why staying continuously hydrated is very important.
Before you close your suitcase
On SnowTeach you compare ski and snowboard schools by resort and availability and book online. The part that's really worth sorting out in advance, more than the suitcase.
