Packing for any vacation has lots of stress, and there’s plenty to go around when it comes to knowing what to pack for a ski trip! What’s the temperature going to be, will I be too hot on the mountain? Too cold? Is the weather like Antarctica? Does spring skiing mean that I can pack a bathing suit and Bermuda shorts for the mountain? Do I need bear spray?
Ski villages are full of fashion Do’s and Don’ts. Some people try to get away with a pair of jeans or sweatpants, while others will bundle themselves up until they can barely move. While there’s plenty of advice on you should wear to your winter mountain resort, we wanted to offer the ultimate guide of what you should absolutely NOT wear.
Good ski clothes need to keep you warm and dry while maintaining a comfortable ease of motion. They should wick moisture away from your skin and dry quickly. Think layers. Wear a soft, comfortable, moisture-wicking surface layer. Skin tight compression layers are perfect! The outer layer needs to be waterproof and not let the snow in, but please note, unlike ski boots, the warmth comes from the under layers and the jacket should simply be a dry insulated shell. Numerous layers can be worn in between so that you can remove layers when you’re hot and put them on when you’re cold.
1. Wearing Jeans and Anything Else Made from Cotton
Cotton may be soft and warm when you put it on, but when it gets wet, it stays wet and is sure to ruin anyone’s day on the mountain.
Jeans collect snow and quickly become drenched on the slopes. If you attempt to wear jeans while skiing, you are going to find yourself extremely uncomfortable and will struggle to move around. Jeans most uncomfortably start to stick to you and make you look and feel miserable. You do not want to be wearing wet jeans, especially on a cold day. When skiing, you need to wear a waterproof outer layer, quality ski pants are preferred!
While multiple layers are always a good idea, we recommend that the layer against your skin is made of moisture wicking fabric. Modern athletic fabrics help to keep your core temperature stable, instead of allowing it to fluctuate with activity and inactivity.
Where not to layer? Your socks! Cotton socks also invite disaster. Wool socks are your lifesaver when skiing because they will keep your feet warm and dry. If you are not a fan of wool or have an allergy to it, there are plenty of warm moisture wicking socks made of high-performance material that you can choose from.
Pro tip: Foot warmth comes from the boots, so pick the thinnest socks you can find to comfortably fit under your often much less comfortable ski boots. Hey, we’ll take any extra comfort for our feet we can!
2. Showing up with Old and Worn Mittens and Gloves
While those old mittens or gloves might have worked well building a snowman a couple years ago, they are your worst enemy when it comes to skiing for hours at a time. They may be comfortable in the backyard, but the insulation is most likely worn out and the waterproofing layer tends to dry out and crack over time. Gloves and mittens have come a long way in the last few years, which means that a new pair will keep your hands warm and dry no matter how long you ski.
We recommend mittens because your fingers share the warmth together, making them a whole lot more comfortable. However, this is not an absolute necessity because modern materials allow gloves to keep a person’s hands and fingers warm and dry all day.
Pro tip: Gloves with zipper pockets for handwarmers are a huge plus and often are designed to distribute the warmth throughout your whole hand!
3. Goose Down Jackets
Yes, goose down jackets are warm, light and comfortable when they’re dry, but have you ever worn one after it got wet from the snow? If you did, you know all too well that those feathers become heavy and clump together and even lose all their thermal properties. If a down jacket gets wet, you’ll probably get cold pretty quickly. As we mentioned earlier, the warmth for comes from the under layers.
Bring a quality brand shell jacket to go over your 2-3 layer under layers. This will insulate your chest, while still allowing you a full range of motion with your arms.
Pro Tip: Find a jacket with a zipper vented pocket under the arms for coolness during a warmer day on the slopes. While we recommend against down jackets, a down vest is the best as it leaves full mobility for your arms and insulates your core and will be protected from wet snow by your quality and water-resistant shell!
4. Cute Bulky Hats
Those cute pompom hats are adorable, and you will look like quite the fashionista when you put one on, but you aren’t going to be able to get it under your ski helmet. Plus, the pompom and other decorations tend to accumulate snow, which is not what you want in snow clothes.
Thin scull caps work much better. Not only do they keep you warm, they also act as an extra layer of protection between your head and helmet.
Pro tip: a helmet with sliding vents can add the insulation of a nice hat, while offering the ventilation needed to cool off on a warmer day.
5. Designer Sunglasses
Yes, the sun will be shining in your eyes when you are skiing, but your favorite sunglasses are not going to be ideal for skiing. The glare from the snow can be blinding, and sunglasses can easily fog up from your breath. Not even polarized lenses can save you here!
You may be bummed that your favorite sunglasses won’t do the trick when you are out on the slopes, but don’t worry, the fashionable ski goggles that are now available will keep you seeing clearly in blinding white sunshine and looking stylish. Ski goggles will block some of the sun’s rays while preventing snow from getting into your eyes and making it easier for you to see as you make your way down the mountain. Bring those glasses with you for the day off the slopes, though, as the sun is just as bright in the town.
Pro tip: Find goggles that have multiple lenses for the various lighting conditions of the mountain. Low light lenses can make or break your visibility on a darker, snowier day!
6. Scarves
Scarves look cute when you’re walking around town on a chilly evening, but not when you are skiing. A scarf can become a choking hazard if it gets caught on anything, plus if it comes undone, cold air can creep inside and give you a chill. We know that they are a staple of any model Christmas ski village available from your local arts and crafts store, but a lot less stylish when your neck can’t turn to see incoming skiers at a TRAILS MERGE sign.
You are much better off wearing a neck gaiter, as it keeps your neck covered and warm, and it will not slide out of place. They are a lot more comfortable, are typically very breathable, and will do just as well for you at keeping your neck and even ears warm.
Pro tip: With so many stylish options available with very cool designs, pick up a gaiter that you like wearing and looks good, it’s another piece of clothing that will show up in your pictures on the mountain.
Now that you know what you should and should not wear out on the slopes, you are ready to pop on your skis, get onto that lift, and make some turns look good!
