Ski Trip Packing List: What to Bring for a Week on Snow
Ski season opens across the Rockies, the Sierra and New England over the next few weeks, and the trip is only as good as what is in your bag. Cold fingers, fogged goggles and a forgotten charger can take the shine off a perfect powder day. This packing list covers what to wear on the mountain, what to carry on the plane, what to rent instead of hauling, and the small items people always wish they had brought.
Start with the layering system
Dressing for skiing is about layers you can adjust, not one heavy coat. The mountain can feel freezing on the morning chairlift and surprisingly warm by lunch, especially in the sun. Three layers handle almost every day.
Base layer
This is the layer against your skin, and it does the most work. Pack long underwear tops and bottoms in merino wool or a synthetic fabric. Both pull sweat away from your body so you stay warm when you stop moving. Skip cotton entirely. It holds moisture, and damp cotton on a cold lift is miserable.
Plan on one set for every two or three ski days. Merino in particular can be worn more than once before it needs a wash.
Mid layer
A fleece jacket or a light insulated jacket goes over the base layer. On mild spring days you may wear it under a shell or skip it altogether. On a frigid January morning in Utah or Vermont, you will be glad you packed a warmer one.
Outer layer
Your ski jacket and ski pants should be waterproof and windproof. Snow pants with built in gaiters keep snow out of your boots when you fall, and you will fall. If you are renting gear, many shops also rent outerwear, which helps a lot for kids who will outgrow it by next season.
The ski trip packing list
Use this as a checklist the night before you leave.
On the mountain
- Ski jacket and ski pants
- Base layer tops and bottoms
- Fleece or light insulated mid layer
- Ski socks, one thin pair per day (more on that below)
- Waterproof gloves or mittens, plus thin liner gloves
- Goggles, ideally with a lens for flat light
- Helmet, if you own one
- Neck gaiter or buff to cover your face on cold lifts
- Thin hat that fits under a helmet, and a warm hat for the village
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- A small backpack or a jacket with good pockets
- Hand and toe warmers for the coldest days
Around town and the lodge
- Warm, waterproof boots with real traction
- Comfortable clothes for evenings and travel days
- A warm puffy jacket for walking around after skiing
- Swimsuit, since many lodges and condos have a hot tub
- Slippers or house shoes for the condo
Health and comfort
- Any prescription medications, packed in your carry on
- Pain reliever for sore legs
- Blister bandages
- Moisturizer, because mountain air is dry
- Reusable water bottle
Electronics
- Phone charger and a portable power bank
- Car charger if you are driving
- Headphones for the flight or the drive
Ski socks deserve their own section
New skiers often wear two pairs of thick socks, thinking it will keep their feet warm. It does the opposite. Extra bulk cuts circulation and makes boots fit poorly, which leads to cold toes and sore shins.
Wear one thin or medium pair of real ski socks that come up over the calf, above the top of the boot. Nothing else should be inside the boot with your leg, including the bottom of your base layer or your ski pants. Bring a fresh pair for each day so your feet start dry.
Sun protection matters more than you think
The sun is stronger at high elevation, and fresh snow reflects it back at you. Sunburn on a ski trip is common, even on cloudy days. Put sunscreen on your face and neck in the morning and again at lunch, and keep SPF lip balm in a pocket.
Goggles protect your eyes on the hill. For the village and the drive, pack a pair of sunglasses too.
What to carry on and what to check
If you are flying, keep the things that would ruin your trip if they got lost in your carry on. That means medications, your goggles, gloves, a base layer and your ski boots if you own them. Boots are the one piece of gear that is truly fitted to you. Skis and poles can be rented anywhere, but a good pair of boots is hard to replace on short notice.
Airlines each have their own rules for ski bags and boot bags, so check yours before you go. A dedicated boot bag with a separate compartment for gloves and goggles makes travel days much easier.
Rent, bring or buy there
For a first trip or a once a year trip, renting skis, poles and often a helmet makes sense. You get gear that is tuned for current conditions and you skip the airline hassle. Reserving rentals ahead of time usually means less waiting on your first morning.
If you ski several times a season, owning boots is the first upgrade worth making, followed by your own goggles and helmet. Skis come last.
Packing for kids
Kids get cold faster and lose things constantly. A few habits help:
- Label gloves, goggles and helmets with their name.
- Pack an extra pair of gloves for each child, since wet gloves end a ski day early.
- Put a snack and a hand warmer in every child's jacket pocket in the morning.
- Lay out each day's layers the night before so mornings are calmer.
If you are planning a family ski week, our family vacation planner page has more on keeping everyone organized.
Small things people forget
These are the items that come up again and again on the first night:
- A spare goggle lens or a lens cloth
- Hand warmers
- A small lock for lodge lockers
- Plastic bags for wet gloves on the trip home
- A copy of your rental and lift reservations on your phone
- Cash or a card in a zipped pocket for lunch on the mountain
Plan the days, not just the bag
A good ski week has a rhythm: which day you ski which mountain, when you take a rest day, where you eat dinner, and when you book a lesson for the beginners. If you are heading to Colorado, our Aspen ski trip planning guide walks through four mountains in three days. Traveling with friends, it also helps to agree on the plan before you arrive. Our group trip planner page covers how to get everyone on the same page.
Doing it in Wander Off
Create an adventure for your ski trip and invite everyone going. Add the mountains, the lesson day, the apres ski spots and the dinner reservations to the Plan tab by day, and let the group vote on where to eat. Book your flight and lodging in the Tickets tab so they sit right next to the plan. Every photo from the mountain lands on the right day automatically, and if the trip turns out great, make it public so friends can copy it for their own winter.
