Packing list
Ski trip packing list
Choose skis, board or a non-skiing week, whether you bring your own equipment and how cold it is. Layers are counted for your days in resort and children's items appear when you need them.
Documents and bookings
Layers for the slopes
Hands, head and eyes
Equipment
Evenings and downtime
Toiletries and health
Electronics
Tips for this list
- Buy layers rather than one thick coat: a base layer, a mid-layer and a shell cover a range of temperatures from one set.
- Put gloves and liners somewhere warm overnight so they are dry by morning; a wet glove ends a morning faster than tired legs.
- Wear ski boots only for skiing. Carry them rather than walking in them, and use a comfortable pair for evenings.
- Weigh the case: jackets and boots reach the baggage allowance sooner than most people expect. Check your airline's rules on sports equipment.
- Look at the lift opening times and your accommodation's check-in time together, so you know where to leave bags between the two.
Questions
Should I buy or hire my ski equipment?
For a first trip hire the skis, boots and helmet and buy only gloves, goggles and base layers. If you go every year, boots are the item worth owning because fit matters most there. The own-equipment option switches the list between the two.
How many base layers do I need for a week?
Two or three tops, rotated, with a sink wash if needed. The list works out one top for every two nights plus a spare, between two and five.
What do I wear on the journey?
Layers you can take off: a base layer, a fleece and the jacket. Wear the bulkiest ones on the plane or in the car, and carry gloves and a hat in a pocket so they cannot be lost in a bag.