The Ski Trip Packing List To Save A Week Of Misery On The Slopes

The term “snowbirds” usually talks about those who venture south to places like Arizona and Florida for the winter. If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a snowbird of another feather. Like us, you venture up to the snow and mountains. After many seasons of revising and rehashing our travel checklist, we put together this ski trip packing list so you can make sure you bring everything you need. For a FREE ski trip packing list pdf version, just scroll down below.

Printable Ski Trip Packing List

For a ski vacation, you need a lot of gear. From beanies to flip flops and even a fleece jacket, you have to keep all this organized. To make sure you don’t forget those essentials, download our ski trip packing list printable version below:

What to Bring on a Ski Trip

You’re going to be outside in the elements. The first thing to think about is when are you going skiing? Is it mid-winter? Late spring? Mid-winter you need to ensure you have warm enough clothing. For spring skiing, you most likely can leave the heavy winter clothes at home. Check the weather before you go too. Remember, the temps in town can be as much as twenty degrees warmer so we use Open Snow just to get an idea of what it will be like on the slopes. Last but not least, always have layering options so you can be flexible if the weather changes for the better…or worse.

Base Layers – Foundation to Staying Warm

Tips

What you wear for skiing and riding matters just as much as what’s strapped to your feet. Start with a moisture wicking base layer since you are sweating even on the coldest days and staying dry is key to staying warm. Your mid-layer is your second line of defense, so bring options when traveling to colder zones and bonus points if it doubles as apres or hangout gear. And speaking from experience, Jaime (our Local Freshies® Gal) always packs an extra pair of quilted knickers because cold legs on a powder day are a hard no.

The List

• Ski or snowboard-specific socks
• Base layer like Smartwool Classic Merino
• Balaclava or neck gaiter
• Skull cap (for helmet-wearers)
• Fleece jackets or quilted down jacket (i.e. Puffy)

Outerwear – Defense Against the Elements

Tips

This is your shield against the elements, so waterproof and windproof are non negotiable. Choose pants with side vents so you can dump heat when things warm up on the hill. Heading to colder zones like Big Sky or Crested Butte? Pack an insulated coat as your backup for those brutally cold days. And if you run cold, go with mittens—keeping your fingers together is the easiest way to stay warm.

The List

• Shell ski jacket
• Insulated ski coat
• Snowboard / Ski Pants
• Ski Gloves and/or Mittens

Ski and Snowboard Gear

Tips

You’ve got your layers dialed, now make sure your gear is ready to rip. If your helmet is pushing five years, it’s probably time for an upgrade. Check that your skis or board are freshly waxed and matched to the temps: hard wax for cold days, soft wax for spring corn (our how to combat sticky snow guide breaks it down). Give your boots and bindings a quick once over too. Laces, buckles, toe and heel lips all need to be solid. Nothing kills a pow day faster than gear that quits on you.

The List

• Skis / Snowboard
• Snowboard boots / ski boots
• Ski Poles
• Helmet
• Ski Goggles
• Multi-tool
• Rub-on wax

Après & Off The Hill

Tips

Even if you love skiing or snowboarding, you’ll spend time off the hill too. We always pack snow grip shoes. Nike Lunar Force Duckboots are our go to for their traction, near waterproofing, and sneaker comfort. For a week-long trip, bring just a couple pairs of jeans since you’ll mostly be lounging. Skip bulky slippers and opt for lightweight, packable ones like Camp Booties. We ditch cotton socks for extra thermal pairs, hoping for fresh snow. And don’t forget thin gloves for clearing snow off the car!

The List

• Swimsuit
• Flip flops
• Shoes / Snow Boots
• T-Shirts
• Jeans / Pants
• Sleeping Clothes
• Slippers like the Camp Booties
• Thermal socks
• Beanie

Accessories

Tips

These are the essential ski trip items beyond clothing, gear, or toiletries. After a buddy dropped his phone in three feet of powder, we got smart and now always carry a waterproof phone case. Our newest must have is a foam roller, perfect for working out knots after a long day on the slopes. If you’re skiing or riding with a backpack, keep it simple and light with a water reservoir. Our favorites are the Mammut Lithium 25L or Osprey Kamber 22L Snowpack. And as our as Local Freshies® Gal discovered, there is a big difference between men’s and women’s packs. Read more in our article Dear Santa: I Want The Best Women’s Ski Tour Backpack.

The List

• Season Pass / Lift Tickets
• Phone + Phone Plug
• GoPro / Camera + Accessories
• Foam roller
• Hand / Toe Warmers
• Sunglasses
• Headphones
• Tablet / Computer + Plug
• Books
• Re-usable water bottle
• Backpack

First Aid & Hygiene

Tips

Bring a smaller or travel sized version of items like aspirin or other pain relievers. You’ll be outside at high elevation, so sun protection is a must even in mid winter. Think travel sized sunscreen and SPF lip balm to prevent chapped lips. Travel bottles are a great way to save space and cut down on plastic.

The List

• Medication & Prescriptions
• Sunblock
• Scissors, Tweezers, Nail Clippers, Razor
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Bar of Soap
• Deodorant
• Lotions
• Contacts / Glasses
• Hair Brush / Comb
• Lip balm

Packing Tips

The first thing we suggest you do is lay out everything you’re thinking of taking on your trip based on the packing for ski trip list. Now, do you need ALL of of it? Are there any items that you can use for multiple things like apres AND skiing?

Luggage

Before we delve into what should be on your ski trip packing list for a week vacation, let’s talk about the type of travel luggage you’ll need. If you’re flying and have your own equipment, there’s no way around it – you’ll need to check-in at least one bag.

Wheeled Ski or Snowboard Bag

For week-long trips via plane, this is the most essential piece of luggage. Look for something that has wheels and a bit of padding. We like our ski or snowboard roller bags to be large enough so that we can throw all of our snowboard clothing AND equipment into one.

Air Travel Tips

Not all airlines are the same for their rules about ski equipment. In general, airlines allow ski equipment to count as one piece of checked luggage. Be aware that most airlines charge an overweight baggage fee if it’s over 50 lbs. So, weigh your bag at home and make sure it’s under the 50 lb limit. Another thing to consider is that some airlines charge an oversized baggage fee if it’s above the prescribed size limit. The size limit is normally 62 to 80 linear inches (height + width + depth).

Duffel bag

You’re going to be in the mountains. Hopefully, there’s also going to be A LOT of snow. Sure, you can bring your normal hard case travel roller bag, but it might cause headaches in the rough and tumble mountains. For a skiing or snowboarding trip, a rolling duffel bag is the most versatile and better option. They’ll protect your stuff from scuffs and allow you to travel easily on uneven surfaces.

If you want to use it as a carry-on, check that the dimensions are under 9in x 14in x 24in. A good example of this is the Patagonia 40L Black Wheeled Duffel or for a few $$$ cheaper the North Face’s Base Camp. Otherwise, you can always go bigger. For our road trips, we normally go with a 100L.

Organize, Organize, Organize

Lastly, we try to add another layer of organization. Winter clothing as a whole can be a bit bulky, so to save space, we usually put our outerwear into space-saving packing vacuum bags. For all other items, we use Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes to keep our stuff easily organized. The cool thing is when you get to your final destination, you can unpack quickly and still know where everything is.