What to bring for your ski vacation?
Are you going for your first ski trip- and dont know what to bring? No worries. With this packing list for ski trip, you will get all the stuff you need!
The following is a ski trip packing list of items you may need or want to take on a snowboard or ski holiday. Obviously everyone’s holiday or vacation is somewhat different, and everyone will have different ideas regarding what to pack for a ski trip. This is just a checklist guide of all the potential things you might manage to pack into your airline baggage allowance! If you don’t have to fly anywhere, then go for it with your ski packing list!
Ski Trip Packing List
Ski & snowboard equipment (if not renting)
- skis (fat powder skis if heading to a great powder destination)
- snowboard and bindings
- ski/board boots
- ski poles
Skiing/boarding clothing
- ski/ snowboard jacket
- jacket hood (if not attached)
- ski/board pants
- thermal pants (not cotton as it captures the moisture)
- thermal top or other under-layer (not cotton as it captures the moisture)
- fleece/s – vest and long-sleeve
- helmet
- goggles
- headband (or ear muffs if you’re game!)
- beanie (or toque if you’re Canadian)
- neck warmer (neck gaitor)
- ski/snowboard gloves or mittens
- silk or merino wool glove inners – particularly useful if taking photos or video footage
- glove protectors (if going to a resort with nutcrackers e.g. New Zealand club fields)
- ski/snowboard socks
- face mask/balaclava – if going to a particularly cold or windy destination such as Niseko or Lake Louise
- hood or hooded top if going somewhere particularly cold
Skiing and board accessories
- board leash
- wrist guards
- wax and iron if you want to DIY & petex (if you love to ride across rocks!)
- ski holder strap to hold your skis together
- ski/ snowboard lock
- boot/hand warmers (if you get particularly chilly)
- powder ribbons or straps (if going to destinations with very deep powder if you’re worried you’ll lose a ski)
- lift pass holder (if going to resorts that provide little cardboard tickets e.g. various resorts in Hokkaido such as Furano, or low key South American ski resorts)
Backcountry gear
- transceiver (avalanche beacon)
- shovel
- probe
- ski carry backpack or
- snowboard carry backpack or
- airbag pack (ABS float avalanche airbag backpack)
- skins or snowshoes
- radios
- down jacket
Other clothing
- “going out” clothes including warm pants
- “going out” gloves
- non slip shoes/après boots (+/- shoe chains for extra grip)
- slippers
- bathers/swimsuit
- sleeping clothes
- underwear
- socks
Other things for the ski/board jacket
- sunscreen
- lip balm
- tissues
- goggle wiper
- wipe cloth
- lift pass (if you have a pre-purchased ticket)
“First aid”
- Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs, other painkillers
- bandaids, sports tape or water-proof dressings
- Lomotil and Stemetil (if going to a place like India)
- medications
- knee braces
- coldsore lip cream
- vitamins such as A,C,E, zinc, Echinacea (preferably combined in one tablet)
Toiletries
- nail scissors
- face moisturiser
- shampoo
- hair conditioner
- deodorant
- massage oil
- toothpaste and toothbrush (if not in cabin luggage)
- comb or hair brush and hair accessories
- hair product
- shaving gear
- cosmetics
Luggage
- boot bag (may need to take this on as cabin luggage)
- ski or snowboard bag (preferably on wheels)
- suitcase or bag (if able to check 2 bags on the plane)
- luggage locks
- luggage tags
Electronics
- mobile phone, charger (MP3 player) & headphones
- still camera and charger (and if not an all-in-one, video camera and charger)
- spare batteries for camera/video
- tri-pod
- spare memory cards for cameras
- memory stick to back-up photos/videos
- electrical adapter
- walkie talkies (can’t use standard radios in Japan)
- laptop or tablet and charger
- power board for all these chargers!
- travel alarm if not taking mobile phone
- hairdryer (check if voltage appropriate for the country)
Other
- portable clothes line
- spare credit card
- phrase book
- notes off Powderhounds.com website
- sunglasses
- photocopy of passport and visa
- travel insurance information
- octopus straps if likely to travel in a taxi or a train
- drivers license
- playing cards
- cotton and thread
- bag for wet ski gear and/or dirty clothing
- towel (if staying in a backpackers)
- snow chains (if driving domestically)
Cabin luggage
- passport and visa if required
- itinerary, E tickets and reservation confirmations
- maps and directions
- toiletries for cabin luggage in small sealed plastic bag including toothbrush & small toothpaste
- sleeping tablets/pain medication
- ear plugs
- blow up cushion
- eye shades
- book, kindle or equivalent
- wallet, credit card & cash
- eye glasses or contact lenses (and accessories in main luggage)
- don’t pack razors, scissors, matches etc – check for prohibited items
Things to do before travel
- organise ski travel insurance
- make sure passport is valid for at least 6 months
- organise any visas required
- get any necessary vaccinations (e.g. if travelling to India)
- organise international drivers license if necessary (e.g. Japan, South America)
- email your itinerary to yourself in case you lose it
- set mobile phone to international roam (if not buying a SIM card when you get there)
- check electrical adapters required for the country
- photocopy passport, visa and tickets
- leave itinerary/contact information with family member and leave photocopy of passport
- consider currency exchange for at least a small amount of cash
- pay off credit card
- pay bills
- organise mail to be collected or “stopped”
- set up pet care
- download GPS app to your phone
Source: powderhounds
