The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing Guide

We get it, packing and prepping for a big ski trip can be overwhelming. Before you get to the fun part of shredding bell-to-bell with your friends, there are always those dreaded few days right before leaving when you’re frantically looking for that favorite pair of ski socks you got for your birthday last year or remembering where on earth you left your helmet and goggles after the last trip.

We can’t help you find those long-lost items, but we can help you with this packing list to make sure you don’t forget the important things or any of the little luxuries you might wish you had. Whether you’re headed on your annual ski trip with your buddies, taking your family on a long-awaited ski vacation, or traveling on your first international ski trip, this list should keep you covered.

We also have a recurring series with some beta on what to bring to specific destinations like Japan, Chamonix, Canada's Powder Highway, and many more. It's called the Bucket List Trips Gear Guide, and it's found here .

How do you pack for a two-week ski trip?

Before we get into what you should actually be bringing, it’s important to think about how you’re going to get it all there. If your trip involves flying, and you're bringing your own skis and boots, you’ll want to pack those into a padded ski and boot bag.

Having traveled with skis all over the world, I’m a big fan of rolling double ski bags with small pockets to stash little items. Definitely throw an Air Tag or other tracking device in there to keep track of things, especially on international flights! These large rolling ski bags generally have enough room for a pair of skis (even two pairs if I’m also bringing touring gear) plus poles, all my outerwear and insulated layers , and my extra footwear–all of which I use as padding to keep things protected.

For the journey there, I’ll generally keep my ski boots with me as a carry-on, slinging them over my backpack. I’m very picky about my boots, and that way if my ski bag doesn't make it, I can at least rent skis for a day or two until my other bag arrives and wear my own boots. I've seen too many ski bags get manhandled to trust them not to damage my helmet, so that comes with me as carry-on luggage too.

On the way home, when there’s no pressure of delayed luggage, I’ll put the boots in my ski bag to consolidate things. Check with your airline for up-to-date weight restrictions on luggage to avoid hefty overweight fees at the airport, and hope the airline doesn't do this to your bag .

Even if I'm heading on a road trip, I'll generally still pack my stuff into a ski bag–it just makes it easier to unload things once I'm at my destination. My other items will be split between a 50–60L duffel bag and my ski backpack.

Related: Bucket List Trip Gear Guide: Canada's Powder Highway

Bringing enough clothing and gear for a two-week trip can be overwhelming, but knowing whether your accommodations have laundry facilities can save you quite a bit of weight since that means you can re-wear stuff a few times. If they don’t, it’s probably worth bringing a tube of handwash laundry detergent for the sink and finding a way to hang-dry your clothes.

For this long of a trip, I’ll generally bring a single set of outerwear and insulated layers, three sets of baselayers (ideally of various thicknesses), and Merino wool ski socks for every other day of the trip. Then, I’ll bring two sets of street clothes, a set of casual wear to lounge around in, an extra t-shirt or two, a bathing suit, flip flops, comfy sneakers, and some warm, waterproof shoes or boots for walking around snowy mountain towns in. I like to organize my clothing into smaller mesh packing cubes inside my duffel and ski bags.

Of course, don’t forget your ski gloves (two pairs are nice to have), goggles, helmet, and a few buffs or neck gaiters.

What do first-time skiers need to buy?

If you’re a first-time skier and don’t plan on bringing your own skis and boots on your first big ski trip, it’s important to remember that well-fitting and high-quality outerwear, base layers, socks, a helmet, and goggles will keep you the most comfortable. It’s easy to rent boots and skis, but finding apparel that fits you and makes you happy is something worth doing before you leave home.

We have a long list of reviews on apparel and accessories here at Powder , so take a look through there for our most up-to-date testing and review articles.

Besides gear, it’s worth investing in both a trip insurance policy and some adventure-specific medical insurance. Accidents can always happen skiing, and knowing that you're well covered in the case of a crash will give you some all-important peace of mind.

Related: Bucket List Trips Gear Guide: The Western Resort Road Trip

What to wear at a ski resort when not skiing?

That’s the age-old question! There’s no right or wrong answer to this, and it largely depends on where you’re headed. If your next trip is all about chasing powder somewhere cold and stormy like Japan or the Canadian Rockies, you’ll want to pack some extra warm layers like a puffy jacket, warm pants, wool socks, and snow boots or waterproof shoes.

If spring trips and warm temps in places like Mammoth, Tahoe or the Alps are more your vibe, you’ll still want to pack some warm layers, but you can probably skip the snow boots. Go ahead and wear your ski shell and puffy jacket for walking around town on the way to dinner—you’re on vacation in a mountain town, after all!

Post-skiing, or on down days on longer trips, I’m generally headed straight to the hot tub or sauna, so I always make sure to pack a bathing suit. When hanging out at the hotel, lodge, or Airbnb, I’m usually in sweatpants and a comfy t-shirt. If I’m on a really long trip and know the weather might be iffy, I’ll pack a pair of trail running shoes to be able to go for a short run or hike somewhere nearby.

One thing I love bringing if I have the space is a small plug-in boot dryer. That allows me to dry out wet boots, gloves, and headwear quickly in my accommodations to get things dry and warm for the next day.

Related: Bucket List Trips Gear Guide: Japan

The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List

Ski Gear:

• Skis
• Ski Boots
• Poles
• Ski pack (or avalanche airbag pack if you’re planning on heading into the backcountry)
• Avalanche safety gear, including beacon, shovel, and probe (if planning on heading into the backcountry)
• Skins (if heading into the backcountry)
• Ski helmet
• Ski goggles with extra lens
• 2 pairs of waterproof ski gloves
• Ski jacket
• Ski pants
• Midlayer jacket
• Insulated puffy jacket for cold days
• 4–6 pairs of merino wool ski socks
• 2–3 sets of baselayer tops and bottoms
• 2–3 Buffs or neck gaiters
• 1L soft water bottle or Nalgene
• Small first aid kit

Casual Gear:

• 2 sets pants (jeans, joggers, or whatever you're most comfortable in)
• Casual hoodie or fun ski sweater
• 3–4 T-shirts
• Underwear
• Sleepwear
• 3 pairs of casual warm socks
• Bathing Suit
• Flip Flops
• Snow boots or winter shoes
• Warm hat or beanie
• Sunglasses

Accessories:

• Camera
• Phone charger + power bank
• Electronics chargers (watch, laptop, camera, etc.)
• Any international plug adapters you might need
• Portable Ski Boot Dryer
• 1 tube of sunscreen
• 2 tubes of lip balm (you will almost certainly lose one)
• 1 tube of laundry detergent for sink laundry
• Toiletries
• Medications and personal hygiene products
• Journal and pen
• Book/E-Reader
• Latest issue of Powder Magazine

Luggage:

• Wheeled ski bag
• 50–60L Duffel bag
• 2–3 Mesh packing cubes to keep items organized
• Reusable shopping bag (mountain towns appreciate you bringing your own bag)