What Do You Need to Go Skiing?

There’s no greater feeling than spending a day on the slopes and a night with some hot drinks, bad taxidermy and good conversations.

Skiing is an exhilarating sport that is enjoyable all day long — unless you don’t have the right equipment. As you plan and pack for your trip, reference this list to remember the six pieces of gear that will keep you warm, dry and happy.

1. Base Layer

Also known as thermals, a strong foundation for staying warm is a solid base layer. These are the clothes that are closest to your body, so the material needs to be moisture-wicking.

Cotton has no home here — wool or synthetic materials are your friends. This also applies to socks to keep your feet dry. Nothing is worse than foot slushies.

2. Pants

As probably the most essential piece of equipment as far as clothing goes, your pants need to be as waterproof as possible.

Everybody falls, whether it’s a victory slide at the end of your run or a wipeout that no one was expecting. It’s important to make sure your show pants resist wind and water, so you can spend your day on the slopes — not in the lodge.

3. Jacket

Your jacket is the armor outside of the rest of your layers, so it’s important to get something weather-resistant and waterproof. When you try one on, keep in mind that you may have a couple of layers underneath it on cold days — be sure to size it accordingly.

Jackets can also offer things such as pit zips, goggle zippers and phone pockets to make it easy to carry your gear and electronics around on the slopes while also preventing overheating.

4. Helmet

A helmet is a non-negotiable piece of gear, no matter what your skill level is. You can layer a hat underneath if needed, and you can usually rent one if yours breaks or if you don’t want to buy one.

You can’t ski if you’re in the hospital, so protect your noggin.

5. Goggles

Nothing magnifies the intensity of the sun’s brightness quite like snow. If you prefer to be able to see what’s in front of you, goggles will be a huge help.

When you’re going down the hill, goggles will also prevent you from having freezing wind in your eyes to the point of tearing up and ugly sobbing during the entire ride.

6. Boots and Gloves

A good pair of boots is useful in pretty much every situation in life, but even more so for the snow lovers. If there’s one piece of equipment you should buy instead of rent, it’s boots.

Make sure you buy a pair of boots that are comfortable and waterproof. They’re going to be in contact with snow all day, so don’t be afraid to get yourself something nice.

Gloves or mittens are also a necessity to keep your fingers warm and avoid things like frostbite. It’s worth investing in a good pair — you can’t hold poles if your fingers can’t bend.

Ski With Snow Worries

Once you pick out the gear that fits your style and will keep you dry, you’ll be ready to spend hours shredding rather than shivering. Enjoy your time outside by staying warm!