10 Items to Pack for a Ski Trip

The Patagonia Rubicon is a great ski jacket pick for many reasons. Seventy percent of the exterior is made from recycled polyester ripstop, which is both durable and weather-resistant to keep free from the wet and cold that comes from ski trips. The interior is insulated with recycled Thermogreen polyester, too. There’s two hand pockets and handwarmers, as well as a helmet-compatible hood. And because Patagonia knows you want to keep your tech close at hand, they included a media pocket with a cable route. There’s also enough pockets for goggles and gloves, too, making this ski jacket a top choice in our books. 

Ski pants should be insulated to keep you warm, and flexible enough to allow for smooth moves on the slopes. These Salomon Chill Pants do just that. The Advanced SkinDry fabric is both waterproof and windproof, while an insulated layer makes sure you are warm, but not too toasty. They’re roomy enough to allow for layering, which is great for those really cold days, and the suspenders are removable for those who don’t like that style. Perhaps the best feature is that the Salomon Chill Pants are affordable, allowing you to spend your money on more runs on the mountain. 

Stiff, cold fingers could make skiing—or just enjoying a cup of cocoa—difficult. These OZERO Winter Gloves feature some amazing technology to keep your hands warm. It’s called Heatlok thermal layering, and it traps warm air in the gloves. This technology combined with a polar fleece lining and TPU waterproof material means these gloves are meant to keep hands warm and dry in zero- to 30-degree weather. Plus, the deer suede leather palm makes it easy to grip items. All in all, the folks at OZERO seem to think of everything, including designing the gloves to be flexible and lightweight.

The knitted wool design of the Bickley + Mitchell beanie will do so much to keep your head and ears warm during a ski trip. While ear muffs or headbands can be fun, the beanie keeps your hair securely off of your face during your snow adventures, and, at the same time, keeps your entire head warm. The black color is versatile, though the brand has other hats in different colors, too.

While scarves are cute accessories while relaxing indoors, they’re not the best option to keep your neck warm while skiing. Just imagine it unraveling and flying far behind you as you ski down a slope. Enter: the neck gaiter. These fun gaiters by Nextour come in plenty of patterns for a little pizazz. And because of the simple circular design, they won’t fall off and cause a ski-tastrophe. 

While a good pair of snow and ski boots will work wonders to keep your feet warm, these PureAthlete Wool Ski Socks will fight against any cold that may slip through the cracks. These socks use merino wool and polypropylene to maintain a foot’s natural temperature while wicking away moisture and preventing overheating. These tall socks are knitted thickly around the shin, ankle, and in certain parts of the foot to keep your feet protected against blisters that might arise from friction with ski boots. They also have elastic at the top so that they don’t slide down your legs during an active day on the slopes. Buy a few in different colors for your trip—you’ll be glad you did!

Protecting your body from the cold is very important, which is why thermal underwear is a must for travelers both during the day and at night. The Goldenfox Thermal Underwear can be layered under your clothes or ski jacket and pants, as is lightweight, thin, and works to keep heat close to your body. This thermal underwear set is also the perfect sleepwear in the evenings, giving the set a two-fold benefit to packing it for a ski trip. 

When you’re not hitting the slopes, you’ll want to stay warm and cozy, and the best way to do that is to pack a sweater. This particular sweater makes our list for a few reasons. The turtleneck keeps your neck warm, which is great for those who don’t like scarves. It’s also baggy enough layer an undershirt beneath it, which is a great way to protect yourself against cold weather. Plus, it’s quite elegant!

Vests are perfect additions to ski wardrobes. The North Face Nuptse Vest keeps your chest and neck warm with a windproof exterior and lightweight insulation. Rock it with a thermal or lightweight long-sleeve tee underneath, and keep your hands warm with the zip pockets.