Ski and snowboard trips are awesome and following a ski packing checklist helps with making sure you have all the things. And there are so many things!
But don’t let that deter you, as the comprehensive list below should cover most items that travellers need when arranging and planning for a ski vacation.
Forgetting items is one of the great annoyances and sure you can get most ski related items at the resorts and alpine towns, but if it is something specific to you or a favourite item of clothing, good luck trying to find that.
The list below will cover most situations for a resort style, in-bound ski/snowboard experience. For more specific snow adventures e.g. Backcountry, Ski Mountaineering, XC, you will require more specialised equipment, not covered in this ski packing checklist.
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Lets get into it.
Ski Clothing and Outerwear
Check the weather and conditions for the days you will be at said destination and pack accordingly. We like to employ the 3 Layer approach of Base, Mid and Outer, which cater to most conditions.
Work out what is best for you, your travel companions and the destination, and plan accordingly.
- Ski/Snowboard Jacket
- Ski/Snowboard Pants / Overalls
- Base Layers (Moisture-wicking close to body – Merino is great for this)
- Mid-Layers (Fleece or lightweight puffy jacket)
- Ski/Snowboard Socks (Merino wool or synthetic for warmth – remember to keep them thin)
- Underwear
- Neck Gaiter/Balaclava
- Ski/Snowboard Gloves or Mittens
- Helmet
- Ski Goggles (Anti-fog lenses)
- Sunglasses
- Beanie or Headband
Outerwear is often personal preference on cut, fit and colour. The key here is that it repels water, whilst being breathable. Sounds counterintuitive, but there are some smart people out there that have managed to crack the code and produce quality ski and snowboard outerwear, that does both.
Ideally look for outerwear with either a 2 or 3 layer Gore-Tex (a good explanation of this is here) or a rating of 10,000 and above in both waterproofing and breathability. If you are not purchasing a Gore-Tex fabric you will likely see the xx,000 rating (e.g.10,000) on the tags for waterproofing and breathability. An explanation of what these ratings are, can be found here.
Merino base layers work great here. They keep you warm when the fabric is wet, breathes and is low on the odour, when you are working it, on the hill.
Quality gloves are also worth the investment to keep your hands dry and dexterous. I love my Hestra gloves and glad I paid a bit extra to get these.
Ski/Snowboard Hardgoods
The hard goods required will be dependent who is doing what (i.e. ski, snowboard) and if you are bringing your own or considering renting. Again this is not a must-have ski packing list, but provides a prompt for what you may need to bring
- Skis or Snowboard (Or plan for rentals)
- Ski Boots or Snowboard Boots
- Ski Poles
- Ski / Snowboard tuning tools/Multitool
- Boot Bag
- Boot Warmers (Optional but highly recommended for colder climates)
- Ski Strap
- Ski Lock
- Ski/Snowboard Backpack
Transporting your goods is a key consideration here. Particularly if you are flying near the resort and need to transfer via shuttle, hire car or train/bus.
A roller ski/snowboard bag is a good investment, and in most cases, can hold multiple skis/boards as well as equipment and clothing.
A boot bag can also be handy if you want to bring your boots as carry-on, to avoid any damage in the hold, if travelling by air.
Protection and Safety
A couple of extra items to consider. The sunscreen I would say is a must, as that reflective sun is fierce and have been sunburnt enough times to keep this top of mind.
The body protection items are more snowboarder specific, but if you want to rock kneepads as skier, go right ahead
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm with SPF
- Knee Pads
- Other Body protection (e.g. crash pants, wrist guards)
- First Aid Kit
- Wet Wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toiletries
Après-Ski and Casual Clothing
Again, these are suggestions to help your planning, with getting all the gear needed for your trip. If you want to level up your après game, these guys have a great take on female mountain fashion and après ski culture.
Comfortable Clothing for Après-Ski
Bar hopping, restaurants or lounging around the hotel or lodge is a time to maybe ditch the full head to toe technical gear and have a few, more casual items that will work for after skiing, but still in the alpine.
- Warm Casual Jacket or Sweater
- Jeans or Casual Pants
- T-shirts or Long-sleeved Tops
- Comfortable Boots or Shoes (Waterproof recommended)
- Warm Accessories: Scarf, gloves, and beanie
- Swimsuit (For hot tubs or après-ski spa time)
Lounge and Sleepwear
Ok, loungewear is a pretty loose term here and essentially means in-house/in-room clothing & footwear of some description. Slippers, Birkenstocks with socks or even those North Face mocs would work well here. Keep it comfortable, keep it relaxed.
- Pyjamas or Comfortable Lounge Clothing
- Slippers/Birkenstocks or Thick Socks (For around the hotel/lodge)
Accessories
The accessories include those items you may likely need for everyday use. Both at the resort and/or on your travel days. The bulk of the items are electronics, cords and power, to keep you going.
Gadgets and Travel Accessories
- Phone and Charger
- Various cords (USB-A, USB-C, Lightning, HDMI, Garmin etc.)
- Portable Power Bank
- Ski Pass/Mountain Card (Pre-book if possible)
- Camera, Batteries, Charger, Media Card
- GoPro or Action Camera
- Headphones (e.g. Noise Cancelling)
- Travel Power Adapters
Hydration and Snacks
Depending on where you are going, you may not need the hydration pack & snacks, as there will be on-mountain huts, and food & drink stops available, but are handy to have.
- Water Bottle (e.g. Insulated)
- High-energy Snacks (Trail mix, Clif Bars, Lara Bars, Gels etc.)
- Hydration Bladder (For all-day hydration on the slopes)
Ski Holiday Travel & Transportation Specific Items
The items to help get your gear to the resort and various documents required for a successful trip. All these items are not essential, but may be required. They are included in the ski packing checklist.
Transportation and Storage
- Ski Bag or Snowboard Bag (Wheeled is good choice here)
- Boot Bag
- Backpack/Carry On Bag
- Luggage / Bag
- Tote/Equipment Bag (Large carry-all to keep items together)
Travel Documents
- Passport (If traveling internationally)
- ID and Driver’s License (For car rentals)
- Copies of Reservations (Accommodation, Ski Rentals, Lift Tickets)
- Travel Insurance (Including winter sports coverage)
For air travel, trying to keep all ski/snowboard gear, including boots in the one bag, makes sense, and packing clothing/padding around them to keep them secure.
Airlines may have different rules regarding this, but generally you can check-in a ski/snowboard bag and ski equipment up to a weight limit.
For example United will accept a ski/snowboard bag and a separate boot bag as a set, with a weight limit of 50 pounds (23Kg). Qantas include the equipment (1 or multiple bags) as per your overall checked baggage allowance of 70 lbs. (32Kg).
See below links to popular airlines luggage allowance for ski/snowboard equipment:
- American Airlines
- United
- Delta
- Alaskan Airlines
- Lufthansa
- British Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- Air France
- JAL
- ANA
- Qantas
- Air New Zealand
You general luggage bag is one that can transport easily, particularly if transferring through multiple modes of transport (Plane, Train, Car etc.) This may include duffels, wheeled duffels or general 4-wheel spinner travel bags.
Some brands like Dakine, DB and EVOC have ski gear (ski and snowboard rollers) and luggage bags that cover both purposes.
Another handy item for travel, particularly by vehicle is the large tote, where you can have gear organised by person, for quick access and transporting around. It can be as simple as those blue Ikea bags or level up to tote like the Yeti Camino 50 tote. Patagonia and the North Face (amongst other brands) also have similar gear totes, which are great for this.
For carry on bags, you can certainly go down a rabbit hole with this one. There are a handful of pretty good carry-on, ‘one bag’ style options here. From brands like Pakt, Aer and the affordable TomToc, you can get a backpack carry-on that can hold your electronics, toiletries, plus 2-3 days worth of clothing, if you need to spread you gear between checked and carry-on.
For those travelling internationally and want travel wallet that is perfect for the trip, the Bellroy travel wallet is one of the best. With a mini Japanese quality pen to fill in those pesky arrival cards, multiple card slots and quality leather material.
Tips for Efficient Packing
Ski and snowboard vacation trips come with lots of gear, so dialing your packing approach will help to get the best out of your luggage space and any external restrictions, such as weight/size and travelling methods (airline, car, van etc.).
Packing cubes can help a lot with this. You can cram a lot in a small zippered cube for excellent space management. These cubes are also compressible; in that you open the sides fully, pack your items and then zippered sides to compress the cube.
Whether you are a folder or a roller (or a stuffer), the cubes help to mange your luggage space effectively. Be sure to look for sizes that work with your bag and needs.
Weight Limits
Consider airline weight limits, if travelling by air and pack accordingly. In some cases you are not able to bring multiple skis or boards for different conditions. You many need to consider renting that fish tail powder board, and bring that All Mountain favourite, as your main driver.
Final Thoughts – Ski Packing Checklist
Ski and snowboard trips are gear intensive, so having a well-planned and organized approach will do you well this winter season. As with most trips away, you can generally find those forgotten items available at your destination.
The items listed are not all essential, but provides a good prompt to consider if you need a particular item. This also depends on where you are travelling to and if flights are required.
By referring to this ski packing checklist, you can be ready with your packing approach and feel confident that you have covered the core items needed for a great ski vacation.
