Have you ever been skiing? I’m not talking about water skiing – I’m talking snow skiing.
There’s sort of a difference between these two sports.
For water skiing, you have the issue of trying to get up, but for snow skiing, you’re already up!
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The action of bending your knees while you are “up” is still the same for both water and snow skiing, though.
Alright, I’m not here to teach all you kiddos how to ski, that’s for your own doing! However, I’ll mention that I had never been snow skiing before this trip (I have been water skiing before. though), and it was fairly easy to catch on to!
Jenna’s Pro Tip: I would recommend you take a ski lesson if you have never been water skiing/snow skiing before – Better safe than sorry!
You know the saying, “dashing through the snow on a pair of broken skis…” Welp, let’s just say you don’t want to end up like this poor kid:
Anyway, I took a road trip across the midwest (from Kansas City to Colorado) on February 11th, 2021, and stayed until February 15th, 2021. It was my first ever visit to Steamboat Springs, Colorado!
Let me tell you, I HATE the snow but for some reason, I LOVED IT when I went to Colorado.
You guys, the way the snow hits and is laid out on the ground and buildings in Colorado is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!
I mean, LOOK AT THIS:
Anyway, let’s get into why you are here – the cold weather/snow skiing packing situation. I’m here to tell you what to pack for a ski trip.
Table of Contents
What to pack for a ski trip
Have you ever packed and then got to your destination and forgotten to pack that one single essential item?
Like, “How in the world did I forget to pack WATERPROOF gloves?!?”
Some may be thinking, “You’re kidding, right?” Nope.
I know, crazy. But that’s why I’ve gathered a list of all the essential items you NEED for a ski trip vacation so that you don’t end up with frost-bite fingers like me!!
Whether you are snowboarding, skiing, tubing, hiking in the mountains, etc. these items work well for any snowy outdoor trip. However, this list is the perfect packing list for skiing in colorado.
These are essential items and they’ve got to be in your suitcase!!
Ski Trip Essentials – packing list
Necessary items for what to pack for a snow ski trip:
1. Water Proof Gloves
If your hands turn to ice the second it drops to 40° degrees, then you’ve got to get yourself some waterproof gloves for your ski trip!
Jenna’s Fav: Your hands will thank you after putting these bad boys on, VELAZZIO Thermo1 Battery Heated Gloves. This product has so many perks to it like thermal heating, touchpads for iPhone use, and so much more.
2. Snow Pants
Arctix Women’s Insulated Snow Pants
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT forget your snow pants when going on a ski trip!!
I don’t care how much of an “expert” you are when skiing, I can guarantee your booty will touch the snow at least once! You’ll need to have waterproof ski pants on so you aren’t soaking wet after you fall down.
Trust me, if you’re a beginner, you’ll need these for sure.
Also, these snow pants aren’t just for snow skiing, they are great for other outdoor snowy adventures. for example, if you rented a snow jet ski, these snow pants would come in handy!
ATO Top Choice: I like the snow pants overalls more because it helps keep everything in place and there’s less of a chance of snow getting into your ~undies~. 🙂
3. Face Shield / Neck Gaiter
Neck Warmer / Face Shield Fleece
I purchased this super-soft face shield before my trip and it was one of the best decisions I made! It kept my face super warm and it stayed tight enough on my face for me to ski with it on.
And since coronavirus, this is perfect to act as a “mask” as well when walking around the ski town!
4. Goggles
Honestly, goggles are everything when you’re on the slopes. They protect your eyes from the snow flying all around you and it also helps to see where you are skiing!
Here’s a guide to purchasing Ski / Snowboard goggles:
FYI – VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission. This is the amount of light that is able to pass through a lens. This is necessary to know for when you are purchasing goggles (and really any type of sunglasses).
Click here to download the Ski Goggles VLT% Guide PDF
The darker or less transparent/see-through the goggles are, the lower the VLT % is.
This means, if it’s super sunny and bright outside, then you’ll need goggles that have a VLT % of 10-20%.
The goggles we are wearing in this photo are from OutdoorMaster and they have a VLT % of 15%.
5. Helmet
Helmets are ALWAYS a good idea – even if you are an ~expert~ skier. You can bring your own or buy one when you rent your skis.
The helmet I’m wearing in the photo above is from OutdoorMaster and it was a perfect fit! Not too snug, but there’s a lever on the back where you can tighten or loosen it – pretty cool!
6. Snow Boots
If you are planning on checking out the ski town while on your vacay, you’ll need some warm snow boots.
ATO Top Choice: These Columbia Snow Boots kept my feet super warm and super easy to walk in!
Yes, these boots can be pretty hefty and take up a lot of luggage space but trust me, they are essential to your ski trip!
7. Water Proof Jacket/Coat
Obviously, you’ll need some sort of waterproof jacket or coat while skiing but you can also wear it when you’re just walking around in the rain/snow!
The one I am wearing in the photo above is from OutdoorMaster and it’s actually a 3-in-1 water proof jacket plus fleece! It has a fleece on the inside, which can be taken out if wanted, and the waterproof jacket has SO MANY POCKETS plus a removable hood – it’s amazing!
I purchased the Men’s jacket in a size Small and it fits perfectly!
8. Hand/Feet Warmers
Bring a couple of hand warmers to use while on your ski trip!
ATO Cold Weather Hack: Put a hand warmer in your socks and inside your gloves for extra warmth! I recommend the HotHands Hand Warmers!
Just remember, it’s better to be sweating than to be freezing! 🙂
Also, when you start skiing/snowboarding, your body naturally warms up because it’s technically a “workout”! So you might be a little cold at the start but I can guarantee you’ll warm up during your ski sesh!
ATO Pro Tip: Don’t forget to pack your favorite jersey to wear when you ski. This is a fun “style trend” that you’ll see people have on when skiing or snowboarding!
Make sure to try all your snow gear on with the jersey to make sure it fits!
You can style it underneath your jacket or on top of it. Check out these fits – As you can see, we packed our Chiefs jerseys!
If you’re wondering where I went skiing while I was in Colorado, here are the places:
ATO Pro Tip: Create a packing list – yes, with a pen and paper! This will allow you to see what you’ve packed and what you still need instead of searching through the luggage that you’ve already packed away!
If you have any other clothing tips or hacks that you’d like to share for ski trips, please leave a comment!
Safe Travels!
