Ski Trip Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a ski trip: a warm, waterproof layering system, a ski jacket and pants, thermal base layers, a fleece mid-layer, ski socks, gloves or mittens, goggles and a helmet. Protect your skin and eyes, because mountain sun is deceptively strong: UV rises with altitude and snow reflects up to 80 percent of it, so pack a high-SPF face sunscreen, SPF lip balm and proper goggles. Then add warm apres-ski clothes and the hand warmers, blister bandages and spare gloves that people always wish they had brought.
Ski Trip essentials at a glance
- Ski jacket, pants and a helmet
- Thermal base layers and a fleece
- Goggles and gloves or mittens
- Ski socks, two or three pairs
- High-SPF face sunscreen and lip balm
- Hand and toe warmers
- Waterproof snow boots for apres
- Winter-sports travel insurance
On a ski trip the mountain sets the rules: cold, wet, and far sunnier than it feels. The two things that ruin a trip are being wet and cold, and being sunburned by day two. A proper layering system fixes the first and serious sun protection fixes the second, and after that you are packing for the apres as much as the piste.
On the slopes
- A waterproof ski or snowboard jacket
- Ski pants or salopettes
- Gloves or mittens, plus thin liner gloves
- Goggles · and a spare lens for flat light
- A helmet · bring your own or rent at the resort
- A neck gaiter or buff
- Ski socks ×2 to 3 · tall, thin and merino, not thick cotton
Base and mid layers
- Thermal base layer tops and bottoms ×2 · merino or synthetic, never cotton
- A fleece or light insulated mid-layer
- An insulated jacket for the coldest days
- Warm underwear and sports bras
Sun and skin protection
- High-SPF face sunscreen · mountain UV is intense, reapply often
- SPF lip balm
- Goggles with UV protection
- Sunglasses for the lifts and apres
- Moisturizer · the cold, dry air cracks skin
- Hand and toe warmers
Apres-ski and evenings
- Warm casual clothes and sweaters
- Waterproof snow boots
- A warm hat
- Swimwear · for the hot tub, spa or pool
- Comfortable indoor shoes
Gear and documents
- Lift pass and a pass holder
- Skis or a board and boots · or rent them at the resort
- Winter-sports travel insurance · standard policies rarely cover the slopes
- A small backpack for the mountain
- A refillable water bottle
- The resort or lift app downloaded
Health and safety
- Blister bandages for stiff boots
- Painkillers and any medication
- A small first-aid kit
- Ibuprofen gel or muscle rub
- A power bank for cold-drained phones
What not to pack
- Cotton base layers and socks · they soak with sweat and freeze; wear merino or synthetic
- Jeans for the slopes · they soak through and stay cold and wet all day
- Only one pair of gloves · wet gloves with no backup end a day early
- Bulky bath towels · hotels and most chalets provide them
What resorts and chalets often provide
Check your accommodation, self-catered apartments may provide none of this.
- Bed linen and towels
- A boot room with boot dryers
- Ski and snowboard rental
- Helmet rental
- A hot tub, sauna or pool
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Mountain sun burns fast
UV radiation rises by roughly 10 percent for every 1,000 metres of altitude, and fresh snow reflects up to 80 percent of it back at you, so you get hit twice. Use a high-SPF sunscreen on your face, ears, neck and under your nose and chin, an SPF lip balm, and goggles or sunglasses with UV protection.
Layer, do not just bulk up
Three thinner layers beat one thick coat: a base layer to wick sweat, a mid-layer to trap warmth, and a waterproof shell to block wind and snow. Peel a layer off as you warm up so you never sweat through and then chill on the lift.
Why cotton ruins a ski day
Cotton soaks up sweat and snow and then stays cold and wet against your skin. Merino wool or synthetic base layers and ski socks keep you warm even when damp, which on a cold mountain is what keeps you skiing.
Insure for the slopes
Standard travel insurance often excludes winter sports, and a mountain rescue or medical evacuation is expensive. Check that your policy covers skiing, and off-piste or backcountry if you plan to leave the marked runs.
The things people forget
- A spare pair of gloves, wet gloves ruin a day
- Swimwear for the hot tub or spa
- A power bank, the cold drains phones fast
- Blister bandages for stiff rental boots
What people wish they had packed
- A neck gaiter for the freezing chairlifts
- A spare goggle lens for flat light
- Thin liner gloves for buckles and phones
- Moisturizer for wind-burned skin
Frequently asked questions
What should you pack for a ski trip?
A waterproof ski jacket and pants, thermal base layers, a fleece mid-layer, ski socks, gloves or mittens, goggles and a helmet. Add high-SPF sunscreen and lip balm, hand and toe warmers, waterproof snow boots and warm clothes for the evenings, plus winter-sports travel insurance.
Do you need sunscreen for skiing?
Yes, and a strong one. UV is more intense at altitude and fresh snow reflects up to 80 percent of it, so skiers burn quickly, even on cloudy days. Use a high-SPF face sunscreen, reapply it, and protect your lips and eyes.
What do you wear skiing if you do not have ski clothes?
Rent the technical gear, the skis, boots, helmet and often the jacket and pants, at the resort. Bring your own base layers, a warm fleece, ski socks, gloves, a hat, goggles and sunglasses, which are cheaper to buy than to rent.
What do people forget on a ski trip?
A spare pair of gloves, swimwear for the hot tub, hand and toe warmers, SPF lip balm, blister bandages for stiff boots, and a power bank because the cold drains phone batteries.