POCKETS! We bought all-in-one ski suits for the children when they were young (7&5) and then realised they had no pockets at all. DO NOT DO THIS. When they are in ski school they are expected to be quite self sufficient, even if they are hopeless when they are with you, so they need pockets for glasses, money, sun screen, snacks.
In fact just don’t buy a one-piece suit, the toilets in mountain top restaurants are difficult enough, you don’t need to make it any harder for yourself or your children…..
I am never going skiing …this list has just confirmed this to me. I’ve often hesitated and pondered if I’m too stubborn and if I’m wrong that it’s a lot of hassle for little return…the list tells me I was right and not to budge in my stance . I’m now exhausted thinking about skiing, packing and logistics of a holiday I will never take and I need a lie down
Emma - I agree! I live in Colorado and ski most weekends but I grew up skiing and I think most adults are pretty miserable learning to ski and are just doing it for the kids! I see so many meltdowns on the slopes every week with families too. I’m north of 50 and even I’m getting a bit tired of it now. Lugging all the gear is the worst part (unless you can’t ski and then that’s worse than the lugging!) It can be quite fun to mooch around resorts doing bits of shopping and drinking coffee tho!
My husband and I are both quite shonky now at almost fifty, and have vowed that the next spring holiday will be not a skiing holiday but a ‘winter holiday’ ie we will take the ski kit (driving) and there will be some skiing but there will also be plenty of thermal baths/shopping/coffee/lunch/snowshoeing/fuckingoff for the day somewhere down the mountain/hot chocolate which will take the pressure off the knees and the holiday expectations.
Forgot to add that I always sewed elastic onto the kids gloves and threaded them through their anorak sleeves which makes them nigh impossible to lose.
Hire the helmets, don’t buy, especially for kids. Don’t wear any cotton - just wicking stuff or merino wool base layers - if you want to push the boat out icebreaker do ridiculously expensive but fabulous merino wool knickers (I suffer from a cold bottom esp on chairlifts) and I wear them all winter long for dog walking etc. Make sure kids are comfortable in their ski boots when hiring. They tend to say oh they’re fine and then spend the rest of the holiday moaning about them.
Thank you, Tania, for this important psa. I get such a cold bottom all the time. Think I will chuck out the awful M&S thermal pants and upgrade to icebreakers this year! Wooo go me.
Icebreaker clothing is amazing and 100% worth the outlay, plus merino wool doesn’t stink like polyester thermals. I’ve never been skiing nor do I plan to, however I swear by merino base layers & out layers. Worth the investment.
Agree about icebreakers - I wear their base layers (tops not knickers) all winter too, they're worth their weight in gold. I detest skiing (ie was rubbish at it so gave up after about 20 years of weeping on the baby slope) but my family loves it (forgivable I suppose as we live in Austria) so we go twice a year. When my boys were small, I took them on walks/sledge rides between villages - good long 2 or 3 hour walks - and I can tell you what the other absolute best thing I ever bought was - spikes for your boots. No more inching down icy slopes making grunting noises, braced for undignified skidding/wheel-spinning/ungainly falls - a good set of spikes will have you gamboling up and down every icy or snowy surface without a care in the world. Honestly.
Brilliant list. I have made notes and am pleased getting our ski gear sorted won’t be a mad last minute battling of Christmas shopping crowds for once.
The lightbulb moment was your suggestion to roll up thermal leggings... WHY do I forget to do this so often!? I should know better. DH cuts his off at mid calf which is effective but because he’s a bloke he does a shit job of it and so his bottom half looks like he’s cosplaying in raggedy pirate costume. Arrrr...
Esther, I don't ski and never will. BUT I am in the market for a plain jumper. That uniqlo sweater: is it any good for tall people with Mr Ticklesque arms?
I just ordered some more of these and they’ve done something weird to the sizing. I always used to buy size M so I ordered two and they were enormous, like men’s size L and really king Mr Tickle arms so they might be perfect! I’m so annoyed as they were my go-to!
They fit me and I have regular length arms. but what you can do it turn up the cuff twice so it looks rolled on purpose and not like it shrank in the wash. I am very sympathetic all my friends are extremely tall
Good morning from Denver, Colorado!! I’ve been skiing here for 20+ years on most weekends. V good list Esther! I would take more than one sports bra and more than one pair of socks/base layer for the sweating advice already provided below. Also some days it’s so cold I need to double layer. Nothing cotton needs to wick the sweat. Definitely mittens (they are much warmer than gloves) and I don’t know if they sell these in the UK or not but everyone here uses disposable handwarmers which you ´activate’ in the morning. Esp. good for kids. They have them for feet too but I never find they fit well. As someone already posted absolutely nothing with any fur on if you are coming to the US esp. if it is a fake fur trim on your ski jacket!!! I don’t know why but it is ranked alongside skiing in jeans here. A few safety tips (I’m an ER nurse and we get all the helicopters with the injuries from the mountains and my brother is a ski patroller). Don’t ski the last hour or so of the day unless you are in a lesson with an instructor on a bunny run. I swear 90% of the bad accidents happen then. People are tired or drunk or high or it’s their last run’ of their trip and they decide they are going to ski the fastest they think they can or something… and it’s non stop work for the patrollers. Also the most important item is a helmet. I don’t know what it’s like in Europe but it’s sort of like not wearing a seatbelt here or not wearing a helmet on a motorbike and people will give you weird looks (when it gets very hot at Easter time rules get relaxed a bit though). Sunscreen no matter how cloudy it is… oh and a backpack with food because the food on the mountains is generally disgusting and very expensive (US rule only). We always pack sandwiches and snacks. Also definitely a swimsuit as hot tubs in every resort and pools are open for outdoor swimming on warmer days. Agreed jeans and sweater and casual clothes for the evenings if going out - anything else just looks odd. Even in the most expensive places (I.e Aspen) locals dress very casually. Oh and this year I’m going to be cross country skiing half the time. It’s a great workout and much much cheaper and less crowded generally.
Those ORS hydration tablets are a godsend, I take a couple every night after my usual 2 glasses of dry white anaesthetic on the sofa, before I go to bed, followed by another glass of water with my tablets and a cup of mint tea. Hangover free, mate.
Great list. I’d add a swimsuit - even if your hotel doesn’t have a pool the resort certainly will and kids love the swimming from indoors to outdoors especially if it’s snowing, and good activity for white-out days. Also flip flops if you’re planning on sauna/steam time (always a good idea après in my book …).
I’m so excited for this. I have all the ski knowledge and am an obsessive lister when packing.
More socks is key. (You roll
Up the thermal so you don’t get pressure blisters with sock+Thermal+boot fyi)
They will smell and fresh socks are the dream, even if you never ski again they look great with leggings and make you look ‘ski-y’ out and about for years which can be a fun look if desired.
Sunscreen blocks are amazing. Like lip balm but for your face, sunbum do one as do all the ski brands. You don’t have to take off your glove and get icky on a lift so you actually use it!
If you own a jazzy fur (fake or real) hat this is the time to get it out of your attic/dressing up box/things your too scared to wear pile. Everyone looks a bit mad in ski resorts or has had too much schnapps to care about (this does not apply to American resorts fyi)
Wear a helmet! You don’t want concussion
Have lessons, don’t let your husband/BF teach you ever. This is crucial info, you cannot shout at an instructor and they are being paid to help you and you don’t have to look at them over dinner hating them for mistakenly taking you down a red run.
If all else fails take up xc skiing, people will think you’re mad but also a bit euro chic. And you really earn the schnapps.
Second hand kit! Ebay is awash with ski gear, or ask your friends with bigger children. It never gets worn much so usually it is immaculate. For kids, thin gloves inside their ski gloves. And those clips that attach gloves to sleeves.
Yes, thin gloves with fingers inside mittens for adults too. You have probably not worn mittens since you were a child, but they limit the amount of potential finger/pole-strap related injury. If by chance you injure a thumb, get that treated ASAP and do not be fobbed off with tubigrip and a paracetamol (I’m looking at you, Aviemore first aid post, that thumb still doesn’t function properly after 30 years, you bastards). You want a thumb spica bandage which you can do yourself with elastoplast if required and you can still probably ski with. Get it seen to again when you go home.
Do not underestimate the amount of sweating you will do as a beginner. This applies to underwear and to your face. I get terribly smeary contact lenses from sweat and suncream and wind tears, so changing your lenses when you come off the slopes is an absolute treat.
Swimming costumes. Hotel pool or resort pool complex or thermal spa.
Jen is spot on, mad furry hat or coat perfectly acceptable here. Yes you might still look like a Womble but you are warm and you have fantastic sunglasses so who GAF?
Also instructors - private lesson/s if you can afford it. You will learn sooo much faster, it really is worth it, especially if you’re on about week 3.
Lunch. I love skiing for the skiing, the scenery, and the salade de chevre chaud avec rosé looking at people skiing and mountains and blue sky and sunshine. Enjoy your lunch. If I am truly honest I love mountains and lunch more than skiing, and I’m pretty comfortable admitting that these days.
Skiing in flat light is difficult for all of us, not just beginners. If you are exhausted, it’s time for hot chocolate inside somewhere.
Why have Uniqlo no NAVY crews?? THEY HAVE BEEN MY LIFE since you recommended them Esther...
POCKETS! We bought all-in-one ski suits for the children when they were young (7&5) and then realised they had no pockets at all. DO NOT DO THIS. When they are in ski school they are expected to be quite self sufficient, even if they are hopeless when they are with you, so they need pockets for glasses, money, sun screen, snacks.
In fact just don’t buy a one-piece suit, the toilets in mountain top restaurants are difficult enough, you don’t need to make it any harder for yourself or your children…..
I am never going skiing …this list has just confirmed this to me. I’ve often hesitated and pondered if I’m too stubborn and if I’m wrong that it’s a lot of hassle for little return…the list tells me I was right and not to budge in my stance . I’m now exhausted thinking about skiing, packing and logistics of a holiday I will never take and I need a lie down
Emma - I agree! I live in Colorado and ski most weekends but I grew up skiing and I think most adults are pretty miserable learning to ski and are just doing it for the kids! I see so many meltdowns on the slopes every week with families too. I’m north of 50 and even I’m getting a bit tired of it now. Lugging all the gear is the worst part (unless you can’t ski and then that’s worse than the lugging!) It can be quite fun to mooch around resorts doing bits of shopping and drinking coffee tho!
My husband and I are both quite shonky now at almost fifty, and have vowed that the next spring holiday will be not a skiing holiday but a ‘winter holiday’ ie we will take the ski kit (driving) and there will be some skiing but there will also be plenty of thermal baths/shopping/coffee/lunch/snowshoeing/fuckingoff for the day somewhere down the mountain/hot chocolate which will take the pressure off the knees and the holiday expectations.
A buff! Absolute necessity
Forgot to add that I always sewed elastic onto the kids gloves and threaded them through their anorak sleeves which makes them nigh impossible to lose.
Hire the helmets, don’t buy, especially for kids. Don’t wear any cotton - just wicking stuff or merino wool base layers - if you want to push the boat out icebreaker do ridiculously expensive but fabulous merino wool knickers (I suffer from a cold bottom esp on chairlifts) and I wear them all winter long for dog walking etc. Make sure kids are comfortable in their ski boots when hiring. They tend to say oh they’re fine and then spend the rest of the holiday moaning about them.
Thank you, Tania, for this important psa. I get such a cold bottom all the time. Think I will chuck out the awful M&S thermal pants and upgrade to icebreakers this year! Wooo go me.
Icebreaker clothing is amazing and 100% worth the outlay, plus merino wool doesn’t stink like polyester thermals. I’ve never been skiing nor do I plan to, however I swear by merino base layers & out layers. Worth the investment.
cold bottom!! 😂
Agree about icebreakers - I wear their base layers (tops not knickers) all winter too, they're worth their weight in gold. I detest skiing (ie was rubbish at it so gave up after about 20 years of weeping on the baby slope) but my family loves it (forgivable I suppose as we live in Austria) so we go twice a year. When my boys were small, I took them on walks/sledge rides between villages - good long 2 or 3 hour walks - and I can tell you what the other absolute best thing I ever bought was - spikes for your boots. No more inching down icy slopes making grunting noises, braced for undignified skidding/wheel-spinning/ungainly falls - a good set of spikes will have you gamboling up and down every icy or snowy surface without a care in the world. Honestly.
Brilliant list. I have made notes and am pleased getting our ski gear sorted won’t be a mad last minute battling of Christmas shopping crowds for once.
The lightbulb moment was your suggestion to roll up thermal leggings... WHY do I forget to do this so often!? I should know better. DH cuts his off at mid calf which is effective but because he’s a bloke he does a shit job of it and so his bottom half looks like he’s cosplaying in raggedy pirate costume. Arrrr...
Esther, I don't ski and never will. BUT I am in the market for a plain jumper. That uniqlo sweater: is it any good for tall people with Mr Ticklesque arms?
I just ordered some more of these and they’ve done something weird to the sizing. I always used to buy size M so I ordered two and they were enormous, like men’s size L and really king Mr Tickle arms so they might be perfect! I’m so annoyed as they were my go-to!
They fit me and I have regular length arms. but what you can do it turn up the cuff twice so it looks rolled on purpose and not like it shrank in the wash. I am very sympathetic all my friends are extremely tall
Good morning from Denver, Colorado!! I’ve been skiing here for 20+ years on most weekends. V good list Esther! I would take more than one sports bra and more than one pair of socks/base layer for the sweating advice already provided below. Also some days it’s so cold I need to double layer. Nothing cotton needs to wick the sweat. Definitely mittens (they are much warmer than gloves) and I don’t know if they sell these in the UK or not but everyone here uses disposable handwarmers which you ´activate’ in the morning. Esp. good for kids. They have them for feet too but I never find they fit well. As someone already posted absolutely nothing with any fur on if you are coming to the US esp. if it is a fake fur trim on your ski jacket!!! I don’t know why but it is ranked alongside skiing in jeans here. A few safety tips (I’m an ER nurse and we get all the helicopters with the injuries from the mountains and my brother is a ski patroller). Don’t ski the last hour or so of the day unless you are in a lesson with an instructor on a bunny run. I swear 90% of the bad accidents happen then. People are tired or drunk or high or it’s their last run’ of their trip and they decide they are going to ski the fastest they think they can or something… and it’s non stop work for the patrollers. Also the most important item is a helmet. I don’t know what it’s like in Europe but it’s sort of like not wearing a seatbelt here or not wearing a helmet on a motorbike and people will give you weird looks (when it gets very hot at Easter time rules get relaxed a bit though). Sunscreen no matter how cloudy it is… oh and a backpack with food because the food on the mountains is generally disgusting and very expensive (US rule only). We always pack sandwiches and snacks. Also definitely a swimsuit as hot tubs in every resort and pools are open for outdoor swimming on warmer days. Agreed jeans and sweater and casual clothes for the evenings if going out - anything else just looks odd. Even in the most expensive places (I.e Aspen) locals dress very casually. Oh and this year I’m going to be cross country skiing half the time. It’s a great workout and much much cheaper and less crowded generally.
this is AMAZING info about the last hour of the day/ injuries
Those ORS hydration tablets are a godsend, I take a couple every night after my usual 2 glasses of dry white anaesthetic on the sofa, before I go to bed, followed by another glass of water with my tablets and a cup of mint tea. Hangover free, mate.
Great list. I’d add a swimsuit - even if your hotel doesn’t have a pool the resort certainly will and kids love the swimming from indoors to outdoors especially if it’s snowing, and good activity for white-out days. Also flip flops if you’re planning on sauna/steam time (always a good idea après in my book …).
I’m so excited for this. I have all the ski knowledge and am an obsessive lister when packing.
More socks is key. (You roll
Up the thermal so you don’t get pressure blisters with sock+Thermal+boot fyi)
They will smell and fresh socks are the dream, even if you never ski again they look great with leggings and make you look ‘ski-y’ out and about for years which can be a fun look if desired.
Sunscreen blocks are amazing. Like lip balm but for your face, sunbum do one as do all the ski brands. You don’t have to take off your glove and get icky on a lift so you actually use it!
If you own a jazzy fur (fake or real) hat this is the time to get it out of your attic/dressing up box/things your too scared to wear pile. Everyone looks a bit mad in ski resorts or has had too much schnapps to care about (this does not apply to American resorts fyi)
Wear a helmet! You don’t want concussion
Have lessons, don’t let your husband/BF teach you ever. This is crucial info, you cannot shout at an instructor and they are being paid to help you and you don’t have to look at them over dinner hating them for mistakenly taking you down a red run.
If all else fails take up xc skiing, people will think you’re mad but also a bit euro chic. And you really earn the schnapps.
Second hand kit! Ebay is awash with ski gear, or ask your friends with bigger children. It never gets worn much so usually it is immaculate. For kids, thin gloves inside their ski gloves. And those clips that attach gloves to sleeves.
Yes, thin gloves with fingers inside mittens for adults too. You have probably not worn mittens since you were a child, but they limit the amount of potential finger/pole-strap related injury. If by chance you injure a thumb, get that treated ASAP and do not be fobbed off with tubigrip and a paracetamol (I’m looking at you, Aviemore first aid post, that thumb still doesn’t function properly after 30 years, you bastards). You want a thumb spica bandage which you can do yourself with elastoplast if required and you can still probably ski with. Get it seen to again when you go home.
Do not underestimate the amount of sweating you will do as a beginner. This applies to underwear and to your face. I get terribly smeary contact lenses from sweat and suncream and wind tears, so changing your lenses when you come off the slopes is an absolute treat.
Swimming costumes. Hotel pool or resort pool complex or thermal spa.
Jen is spot on, mad furry hat or coat perfectly acceptable here. Yes you might still look like a Womble but you are warm and you have fantastic sunglasses so who GAF?
Also instructors - private lesson/s if you can afford it. You will learn sooo much faster, it really is worth it, especially if you’re on about week 3.
Lunch. I love skiing for the skiing, the scenery, and the salade de chevre chaud avec rosé looking at people skiing and mountains and blue sky and sunshine. Enjoy your lunch. If I am truly honest I love mountains and lunch more than skiing, and I’m pretty comfortable admitting that these days.
Skiing in flat light is difficult for all of us, not just beginners. If you are exhausted, it’s time for hot chocolate inside somewhere.
Have a lovely time - it IS a holiday!