The lift tickets are paid for, you have transport sorted and you’ve just booked accommodation for your very first winter snow trip. It’s an exciting time, except for one issue: you don’t really know what to take skiing. 

As the winter months begin to roll in across Australia, we have decided to do some of the heavy lifting for you and have put together this handy guide to help you decide what to bring to the snow. So don’t let all that excitement go to waste, unzip the dusty suitcase and let’s get packing!

Clothing For Your Snow Trip

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Let’s get the obvious out of the way, clothes that are going to keep you warm and dry are absolutely essential when packing for a ski trip. With that in mind, research into temperature rating for your clothing and how that stacks up against the climate you’re heading into is encouraged, but when it comes to practicality, we would recommend a few necessary clothing items for both on and off-the-mountain. 

Thermals or some form of heat compression wear as a base layer to your clothing is a must for both on and off the mountain. It’s what keeps your body heat locked in and is a layer of clothing that will go a long way to helping you move around with your joints feeling stiff or freezing. Off the mountain, we would recommend layering up with pants or tracksuits and thick woolly jumpers or jackets that will help keep you insulated. Waterproof-rated clothing off the mountain isn’t super necessary, but it is important to keep these clothes handy if it happens to be snowing consistently where you’re staying.

When it comes to clothes for snow, ski pants, ski jacket, and correctly rated ski socks are a no-compromise – you want to make sure you’re wearing gear that is going to function and will keep you warm and dry. We stress investing in a quality pair of waterproof socks as these are often the most compromised if snow happens to get in your snow boots. How you layer your clothing is then often determined by the weather – it may be important to layer tracksuit pants or jumpers underneath your ski clothes to help keep you toasty on the more chilly days. 

What to wear in the snow is often relative to how cold/hot you get when the temperature starts to dip below freezing, but we cannot recommend enough bringing clothes to help layer yourself to keep you warm and stylish the colder it gets.

Accessories, Accessories, Accessories

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To complete your snow outfit, you need to accessorise your fit to the nines. Snow accessories help give you a much-needed heat boost on the chillier days but also add a layer of style to whatever you’re wearing on or off the mountain.

You can’t go wrong with the essentials when it comes to snow accessories; beanies, scarves, and sunnies are vital when strolling off the mountain. First-timers will often forget that a good pair of sunnies are one of the most important things to take to the snow when the sun decides to come out and reflect right off the white sheets of snow. This is especially necessary when driving around in a heavy snow-laden area.

On the mountain, neck warmers or bandanas tied around the neck are a great way to stop any form of wind chill from making its way down your jacket. It’s surprising how quickly the chill can sweep through your snow fit if you’re not best prepared, so investing in a good wraparound for your neck when the snow days get brisk is a big plus!

The Ski Gear

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If you’re wondering how to pack light for your next ski trip, we’d recommend only bringing the essential ski gear to help you have the best time on the slopes. Everyone is different when it comes to their own comfort on the slopes, but if you are looking to minimise the amount you bring on your next winter getaway, only the essentials to help you move around the mountain are needed. If it is your first trip and you are looking to pack light, we can’t recommend hiring gear enough – this allows you to get a good feel of what gear works best for you and also saves space for packing.

When it comes to hiring or bringing along the right gear, make sure you have your boots, bindings and skis/snowboards all correctly fitted and snug for a solid day of shredding. Giving your board a good wax before a day of snow is also the perfect way to kick off the morning – most ski resorts will have shops to assist with this, and it is often a quick and affordable process. We would also encourage hiring or investing in a good pair of goggles that will go a long way to seeing clearly on a snow-draped mountain. Keeping safety first, riders who are keen back-country skiers or like the thrill of the half-pipe should also bring a correctly-rated helmet for the more adventurous runs.

Travel Essentials 

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If you’re travelling internationally and you’re wondering, “What do I need to ski for the first time?” one of the most important investments is insurance. Travel insurance is vital when going overseas to the slopes, it’s that extra bit of coverage should you have a bit of a tumble on the slopes and require some attention. 

As well as travel insurance, make sure you have your passport, lift tickets and your plan to get to and from the mountain locked in and ready to go prior to your arrival. For some countries, it can be a bit of a trek to get to the slopes, so it is best to do your research and make necessary payments well in advance of your departure!

Something for the Kids

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Going to the snow is an exciting time – and even more exciting when done with friends and family! If you have decided to bring the kids along to your next snow trip, most of what we have already covered applies if you are looking for things to bring to the snow for your children. 

With this in mind, we would encourage purchasing tickets for lessons if it is your child’s first time on the slopes and also investing in quality gear that will keep them safe and snug on the mountain, like helmets and goggles.

Going to the snow doesn’t have to be a stressful event, especially when you have all your necessities sorted and the accommodation booked! If you’re planning your next ski trip to Perisher this season, come stay at Eiger Chalet. With incredible panoramic views of the slopes and the home of the award-winning White Spider restaurant, it’s an incredible stay for the winter season.