The Top 14 Ski Essentials for Your Next Ski Holiday

Ski essentials - Clothing

We’ve always found the best place to start with your ski essentials list is clothing. What you wear on a ski holiday is a lot different from other trips. It’s good to start early in case you need to buy some new items. Here are the basics you’ll need:

1. Base Layers

We hate to state the obvious here, but your ski holiday is going to be cold. Sure, you’ll warm up when you start skiing or snowboarding, but that soon subsides when you stop. The solution? Ski essentials number one: base layers.

Base layers are items of clothing that sit underneath your normal clothes against your skin. They are made of synthetic materials, wool (especially Merino), or a mix of the two. The magic of a base layer is that it will help regulate your body temperature and – if you get the right ones – will also wick away your sweat. That means your clothes won’t get wet and you won’t be uncomfortable.

Trust us: invest in the base layers. They are 100% skiing essentials.

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2. Ski Jacket

Next on your ski holiday essentials is the mighty ski jacket. You might be wondering what’s different about a ski jacket compared to a regular winter jacket. Oh, so many things! Let’s walk through it.

A lot of ski apparel is admittedly about fashion. Skiing and snowboarding is a fashionable sport with trends coming and going with each season. But some of the clothing is designed specifically for the practicality of skiing.

For example, a ski jacket will have way more pockets than a regular winter jacket. More specifically, there’ll be a pocket just for your ski pass – often on the left arm.

Then there are the hooks along the hip area of the jacket. Those are to secure to your salopettes to keep you warm and tucked in. And the outside of the jacket itself is wind- and waterproof while still being breathable. Finally, these jackets are far more durable, making them the perfect choice for skiing long-term.

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3. Salopettes

Similarly to a ski jacket, salopettes are essentials for skiing. In essence, salopettes are a snowsport-specific pair of trousers. Many of the features that make salopettes specific to snowsports are the same ones for the ski jacket, as mentioned above. Durability, wind- and waterproof, breathability, etc., all come into play.

But there are some extra features that make salopettes special. They’re high-waisted and often have a bib with braces. The braces help to keep the trousers where they need to be and ensure no snow or ice gets underneath your clothes. Some salopettes will also have the ability to attach to your ski jacket for the same reason – to keep you warm and protected.

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4. Ski Socks

You might be wondering why skiing has its own category of socks. Surely socks are socks, right? Wrong. And how are socks classified as ski essentials?

The reason skiing has its own type of sock is all down to the boots you wear when you are skiing. Not only do the boots come up quite high on your leg to underneath your knee, but they can also be quite uncomfortable. At least when you first start wearing them. That’s where the socks come into play.

Not only are ski socks much longer than regular socks, but they are also thicker in places where you might feel pressure from the boots. The length of the socks means they won’t fall down below the boot, and the padding will give you extra comfort when you ski. Definitely ski essentials.

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5. Gloves/Mittens

Next on the ski essentials list are gloves and/or mittens. Definitely a must-have on the slopes. The decision about whether to go for gloves or mittens is mostly about warmth. If you are someone who feels the cold, you should go for mittens, but if you’re more concerned with dexterity, go for gloves.

Regardless of which you choose, both should have the following features:

• A durable outer-shell
• A water- and windproof membrane
• Insulation and lining
• Grips on the palms and fingertips
• Long cuffs

Some extra features you might also find to be useful are a nose wipe and a zip pocket for hand warmers.

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6. Non-Skiing Clothing

While we’ve now covered the ski trip essentials for clothing you’ll need on the slopes, don’t forget that you’ll be spending time off the slopes, too. Your ski essentials list should also include warm clothes for the days you spend away on excursions or rest days. A comfortable pair of boots with good grip for the snow are helpful, and definitely don’t forget the swimsuits! You do not want to miss out on the hot tub and sauna!

Remember to pack with layers in mind. It’s going to be much colder off the slopes when you’re not exercising. And don’t worry about any fancy clothes – après ski famously has no dress code.

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Ski essentials - Equipment

With your ski essentials clothing sorted, it’s time to move on to your ski equipment list. When it comes to equipment for skiing, there’s a lot to consider. First, you need to decide which sport – skiing or snowboarding – you’d like to do. We cover it all – including hiring options – right here in the next section of our ski essentials list:

7. Skis/Snowboard

As mentioned, your first choice is the sport. You should definitely know this before you head off on your ski holiday. Like most things on this skiing equipment list, you’ll find you can hire skis or a snowboard at the ski resort you visit. In fact, if you are well prepared, you can even organise your ski equipment hire before you even set foot in the Alps.

At Ski Vertigo, not only can we help organise your ski hire for you, but we’ll also give you exclusive discounts. Simply give us a call and ask us about it.

If – of course – you have your own ski equipment that you’d like to bring with you, that’s easily achievable, too. It’ll require a little extra work in the airport, but other than that – no trouble.

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8. Boots

Boots are what secure you to your skis or snowboard and are incredibly important when on the slopes. If you have your own, feel free to bring them along with your other packed ski essentials. However, we’re happy to report that most resorts will have the option to hire them.

If it’s your first time skiing or snowboarding, you might find the boots a little uncomfortable at first. It won’t take long to break them in, though. And you’ll soon find just how much they help you get the technique right on the slopes.

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9. Poles

No matter if you’re alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, or cross-country skiing, one thing is true: poles will help. Particularly with your balance as well as propulsion. They can be a real game-changer if you’re struggling, and definitely have their place on this list of ski essentials.

You won’t need poles if you are snowboarding, and like many items on this ski equipment list, you can hire them at the resort. Simply talk to the assistant in the shop about what your plans are, and they’ll be able to help get you the perfect pair.

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10. Helmet

For ultimate safety, a helmet is one of the most important ski essentials on this list. This piece of ski equipment will give you some much-needed protection when you’re racing down the slopes.

No matter how good you are at skiing or snowboarding, a helmet is a must. Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous sports, and you must take great care when participating. We all know that old saying – better be safe than sorry.

As you might have guessed by now, you can hire a helmet at the ski resort. So don’t worry about trying to squeeze it into your suitcase!

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11. Goggles

The final piece of ski equipment on this list is a pair of goggles. No, not the underwater kind. The big, chunky, brightly-coloured ones you see on all the cool snowsport people.

Even though it’s winter weather when you go skiing, you are high up on a mountain top, and not every day is going to be cloudy. After all, you’re closer to the sun up there!

Goggles – especially those with changeable lenses – are a must. Not only do they protect your face if (let’s be honest, when!) you fall, but they also keep the sun out of your eyes. Goggles come in many different lenses designed for different levels of sun glare. We always recommend checking out the weather forecast before you ski.

When it comes to ski equipment hire, some resort shops offer goggles, and some don’t, so make sure to check ahead.

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Ski essentials - Additional

Outside of clothing and equipment, we’ve put together some additional ski essentials that we think will level up your skiing game:

12. Suncream

So, you’re on high ground, the sun is reflecting off the snow, and your face is not fully covered by your goggles. Do you know what that means? You’re at risk of sunburn.

Yes, it’ll be cold. And yes, most of your skin will be fully covered. But for those areas of your skin that aren’t, you need to take care.

Suncream is 100% one of the top ski essentials you need to pack. We suggest using a waterproof, high-SPF suncream that you top up regularly throughout the day. The reason we suggest waterproof suncream is because you might end up sweating a fair bit, and – of course – you run the risk of taking a face full of wet snow if you fall. Keep yourself safe on the slopes!

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13. Nutrition

The great thing about a Ski Vertigo holiday is that they are all fully catered. We provide breakfasts, afternoon tea and cakes, and three-course dinners to you every day of your trip in the comfort of your chalet.

We’re confident that the food we serve you has all the nutrition you need to make the most out of your skiing holiday. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of the basics of what you need. Food and nutrition will always be one of the most important ski essentials.

Remember, skiing and snowboarding are sports, and you’re going to be using a lot of energy throughout the day. You need lots of carbs and lots of protein. Have snacks throughout the day, and have them before you feel like you need a boost.

Last but not least, stay hydrated! You’ll probably sweat a lot, and water should be your very best friend out in the snow.

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14. Apps

You might be surprised to see a section about phone apps on a list of ski essentials but stick with us here. Technology has done wonders for the world of snowsports in recent years. Just consider the snow cannons and other snowmaking machines many ski resorts now use.

So, with that in mind, we thought we’d collate some of the best app concepts out there to help improve your ski or snowboarding experience.

Firstly, there are several apps available that can track your exercise activity. Think distance travelled, calories burned, speed, etc. Some are more generic sporting apps, and others are ski-specific.

Some even have social-media-type abilities, too, so you can share your activities with your friends. Perfect for if you’re planning on pushing yourself in your sport this year.

Next are ski essentials apps for safety. These ones are especially good for those of you planning to go off-piste.

Safety apps can keep you up to date on current mountain safety. They also have accurate tools like a compass and altimeter. And can even send your GPS location to the emergency services if required, via the app.

Finally, there are the official resort apps. These will have tonnes of information about the resort, conditions of the day, and contact information for rescue stations. We absolutely consider these to be ski essentials!

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FAQs

What Do You Need for Skiing?

Packing ski essentials for your holiday requires a little more planning than other types of holiday. You will need far more layers and some ski-specific clothing such as jackets and salopettes. The good news is that you can hire most of the equipment you need at the resort.

What Are Skiing Essentials for Beginners?

Skiing essentials for beginners include clothing like a ski jacket, salopettes, base layers, and ski socks. Then, your ski equipment list will include items such as skis, poles, a helmet, goggles, and boots. Most of which you can hire at the ski resort, either in advance or picked up on the day.

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Get Your Ski Essentials Ready and Book Your Next Ski Holiday Today!

If you’re anything like us, packing and planning your ski essentials gets you feeling all excited for your next big ski trip. When the time comes to start sorting out the finer details (like buying ski socks), you know it’s only a short time before you’re racing down those slopes!

Our list of ski essentials should set you up with everything you need to make your next ski holiday the best one yet. But if you have any questions or need any further advice, just give us a call. We’d be happy to help.

And if you only take one thing from this article, let it be the suncream. Do not forget the suncream!

For more information and to secure your place on your next ski holiday, check out our socials or give us a call on 01252 365490.