Ski trip packing list – What to take skiing for all the family

We have pulled together an ultimate ski trip packing list with what to take skiing for all the family. We love our skiing trips and wherever possible we ski with kids twice a year, so have built up our ultimate ski trip packing list.Keep going to the end as we have a printable which is what we use ourselves to tick off and make sure we have everything we need. This is a packing list for an adult trip but also a packing list for skiing with kids. We’ve realised that the enjoyment of skiing is directly linked to what we take and how well kitted out we are. So this guide has been essential to us. And has been revised and reworked every year to get it to where it is today.

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Ski trip packing list: Adults packing list

These are all the items I pack for the adults on our ski trip.

• Thermals. This is the most essential layer. Buy the best you can afford. You can get cheap versions made of constructed materials but if you can find it merino wool is amazing. It will keep you warm even if it gets wet and will help to regulate your temperature perfectly. Don’t buy anything cotton for a base layer as it will feel very cold about the skin and won’t help you to warm up. I now use my skins in the UK in winter so they are worth the investment. Find women’s merino wool sets here (choose a set as close to 100% merino wool as possible) and merino wool sets for men here. For cheaper non-merino wool versions, find women’s thermal sets here and men’s thermal sets here.
• Fleece mid layers. Having a mid layer which is warm and cosy once snowsuits come off when you’re indoors is ideal. Tracksuit bottoms work really well for the trousers and then a fleece top or pullover.
• Snowsuit. If this is your first snow trip and you’re not sure whether you’ll enjoy it then don’t spend a lot on a new snowsuit. You can pick them up fairly reasonably but you do also get what you pay for so at some point it’s good to just make an investment on one you love that you know will keep you warm. Find women’s ski suits here and men’s ski suits here.
• Goggles. While we hire pretty much everything in terms of equipment – helmet, boots and skis, I do think it’s worth buying your own goggles. Not everywhere has them to hire and even if they do it only takes a couple of trips and cost of hiring them to make buying them worthwhile. Find ski goggles here.
• Hat. A warm hat is an essential part of any trip to the snow. I have a merino wool hat which I love and keeps my head and ears very warm.
• Gloves. Obviously gloves are an essential part to any trip to the snow. And yet again I have realised that cheap gloves just don’t cut it when the temperature really gets low. If you’re going off around Easter when it’s milder or to one of the French resorts a good pair of gloves should work. If you’re heading to Scandinavia I would go for something more heavy duty. Find a selection of ski gloves here.
• Balaclava. These are so important to wear under a ski hat to keep the head warm. These are great ski balaclavas.
• Neck warmer.For very cold destinations a neck warmer is really important. Especially as you can then pull it up over your nose. Find neck warmers here.
• Socks. Take out some ski socks as these will be needed under ski boots or snowboard boots. Find specific ski socks here. It’s also useful to take out some thermal socks to keep feet warm on other activities. Find thermal socks here.
• Snow boots. For time off the slopes, when you’re just walking around in the snow something with a good grip which will keep feet warm is needed. Find women’s boots here and men’s boots here. It’s useful to get something which can be used at home after the skiing trip is over.
• Slippers. It’s nice to have a cosy pair of slippers to wear back in the chalet or apartment when you’re back from skiing. Find cosy slippers here.
• Sunglasses. It’s good to take a pair of sunglasses for times when you’re relaxing in the resort as the sun glare can be quite harsh.
• Underwear. X number of days you’re away.

Kid’s ski trip packing list

A ski packing list for children isn’t actually much different to that for adults. But there are a few specific products we recommend here.

• Long sleeved thermals. As always the first layer is the most important and merino wool is always the best. Find merino wool thermals here which will ensure little ones are really snuggly.
• Fleece mid layers. Having a great mid layer which is warm is important. There are some reasonably priced mid layer clothes around. Find great mid-layers here.
• Snowsuit. For children up to the age of eight an all in one snow suit is probably best to keep them really warm. Find well priced all in one skisuits here. If you are looking for separates then find these here.
• Hats & gloves. Both of these are essential at keeping the extremities warm. These are mainly for walking about as when skiing ski helmets will be used with maybe a balaclava under (see below). For gloves we always like to take along a pair of cheap magic gloves which can be paired with some proper snow gloves for kids. Ski gloves can be hard to do anything with so it’s nice to have a thin layered glove underneath.
• Balaclava. As with adults these are important for under the ski hats. The same as the adult version works for kids with these inexpensive ski balaclavas.
• Neck warmer. These are great to keep kids really warm and again they can be puled up over noses. Find a selection of snoods here.
• Socks. It’s good to take regular sock and also ski socks to really keep little feet warm. Find ski socks for kids here.
• Boots. When children are skiing they will be wearing ski boots. But for out and about around the resort it’s useful to have some good, warm snow boots. Check out a selection of ski boots here.
• Slippers. It can be really nice to have some warm slippers to pull on when you get back to your accommodation to stay really cosy.
• Swimming gear. Many hotels have pools and lots of the resorts will have swimming pools you can pay to go and use. This is a really nice way to spend some downtime doing something different. So don’t forget to pack swimming clothes, goggles and any armbands if needed.
• Ski goggles. These will definitely be needed on the slopes. But unless you are sure this is something you’re going to do every year then I would suggest renting these in resort. If you do then pre-book them if you can (as not all shops have them to rent. Check out ski goggles to buy here.
• Sunglasses. Take a pair of glasses for your children to use when they’re not skiing.
• Underwear x number of days you’re away.

(It’s good to label all of your clothes if they are going to a resort / hosted chalet as they can easily get mixed up in the kids clubs.)

Suitcase essentials

All the items for every trip. If you’re looking for the ultimate ski trip packing list you need these bits.

• Smoke / carbon monoxide detector – the likelihood is you’ll be staying in decent accommodation but we always travel with our own portable version of a smoke / carbon monoxide detector just to sleep well and know we’re protected. Find some here.
• Copy of travel insurance. This is good to take a copy of with you and make sure it includes winter sport activities before you travel. We use CoverforYou – find out more here.
• Currency. We always take some cash. We also travel with a Currensea card which doesn’t charge for transactions and comes out of our debit accounts. Find out about Currensea cards here.
• Travel kettle. Many French resorts don’t have kettles so if you’re travelling to France it’s good to take a travel version if you have one. Find some good inexpensive ones here.
• Teabags. It’s useful to have your own supply to take with you.
• Hot water bottle. I feel the cold so always like to travel to cold destinations with my own hot water bottle. Find hot water bottles here.
• Water bottles. If you’re skiing or your children are skiing it’s useful to have water bottles so everyone can stay hydrated. There are some great portable and foldable water bottles here. These should be easy to stuff in to a pocket where hard bottles won’t.
• Travel adaptors. Remember to take those travel adaptors to charge everything up. Find travel adaptors for UK to Europe here.
• Phone charger
• Rucksack.
• Snacks. We like to buy snacks from the countries we travel to but there are some that our children like that we stock up on beforehand. So they have something familiar from home. But also just to buy a few packs of cheap biscuits to keep everyone going when they need a mid afternoon treat.
• Hot chocolate. Again this can be bought from the country you’re travelling to. So not necessarily a ski trip packing list essential. But it’s nice to just throw a pack in the suitcase so you know you have it.
• Camera. Find some great cameras for skiing here.
• Laptop.
• Blanket. Like the hot water bottle I do like to get warm and cosy when I’m back in the apartment after an afternoon out on the slopes.
• Books. It’s nice to wind down with a book in the evening.
• Paper & felt tips. If you’re travelling with children it can be nice to give them something to do between trips out.
• Small bag of Lego / toys.

Washbag

These are all the wash bag essentials I travel with.

• Suncream (SPF 25 minimum). The sun can be very strong. Especially when it’s reflected off the snow. So this is an essential and top of any ski trip packing list. Don’t forget to apply it under the chin as it can reflect up from the ground.
• Lipbalm. I’m always shocked how drying the cold weather is on my lips. So this is now one of my essentials to take with me. And I’ve started taking lipbalm for each of the children to have in their pockets too. My daughter gets particularly dry, cracked lips so I now take a Blistex with me as well which is a bit more heavy duty and seems to sort them out.
• Hairbrush
• Good moisturiser
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Medicines. Paracetamol / calpol / plasters / antiseptic cream

Read more of our skiing posts here:

20 top tips for first time skiiers

Ultimate guide to skiing with kids

The best ski resorts in Europe for families (tried & tested)

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