What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

From layers to accessories, here’s everything you need to pack for a ski vacation.

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

Whether you’re hitting the slopes with your family at Snowmass or taking in the breathtaking views of the French Alps at Courchevel, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed everything you need for a ski trip.

Growing up 20 miles away from Oregon’s largest ski resort, I spent every weekend training with the local alpine racing team my dad coached. It wasn’t until moving to the French Alps when I was 19 that I appreciated how much easier it is to pack ski gear when you use a thorough packing list to ensure smooth travels.

Our Travel + Leisure team chatted with several snow sports experts to get their advice on the best clothing, equipment, and luggage to bring on your next ski trip, so you’ll arrive prepared from head to toe. Many of the items included were personally tested by our expert skiers after countless hours of testing — here are our favorite ski jackets, pants, gloves, and more.

Packing Checklist for a Ski Trip

Here is everything you need to know about packing for a ski adventure in the mountains. From jackets to goggles, our experts weighed in on the best brands and provided helpful tips and travel hacks.

Ski Clothing

 Off-slope Clothing

Equipment and Accessories

T+L's Top Picks and Tips

Best Ski Clothing

Before you hit the slopes, you’ll want to make sure you have all of the gear you need to stay warm and dry while skiing. Ski jackets, snow pants or ski bibs, and gloves will ensure you stay warm, but the most important thing is that the materials are completely waterproof. Even if it’s a sunny spring day, the weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains.

President of the Denver-based ski club Ski Noir 5280 Quincy Shannon helped co-found the group with the mission to diversify the snow sports industry after recognizing the lack of BIPOC community members with access to snow sports. Shannon, who has visited most of the ski resorts in Colorado, shares that the first thing he thinks to pack when embarking on a ski trip is plenty of layers. “I would say layers, layers, layers are your friend when doing anything snow- or cold-related because you can always take things off. But if you go somewhere and you don’t have the right layers on even from the beginning, your core will get cold, and then everything else is downhill from there,” he says. After packing layers, travelers can begin to think about outerwear like waterproof jackets, snow pants, and ski suits.

Best Ski Jacket for Women

Stio Women’s Environ Jacket

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

View on Stio.com

While our experts can’t stress enough the importance of layering for staying warm, your outer layer is the next most important piece of clothing for skiing. Personally, I prefer a shell like this one from Stio since I like to ski in it all season long. It’s one of our favorite ski jackets for its versatility thanks to its protective exterior for chilly days and lightweight design (with ventilation) for spring skiing.

When it comes to a shell versus a jacket with more insulation, Ian Levine, the wax technician for the U.S. Snowboard Cross Team, says, “I've [used] a lot of both and see the merit in both, but I like the insulated jacket just because I'm usually pretty cold. So that keeps me warm, and then if it's extra cold then I can also throw another down jacket on underneath.”

Best Parka for Women

Aspen Collection Cirque Down Jacket

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

View on Aspencollection.com

For ski trips that land in the middle of winter, I like to travel with a puffy down parka that can protect me from the chill both on and off the slopes. The jacket from Aspen Collection pulls double duty thanks to its ability to function as a ski jacket and a more leisurely piece of outerwear for après. The 750 fill offers tons of warmth, and it has all the things I look for in a ski jacket, including a detachable hood, suspenders to carry the jacket hands-free, and a pass pocket on the lower arm. Plus, it's a supercute style that earns me tons of compliments.

Best Ski Jacket for Men

Black Diamond Men’s Recon Stretch Ski Shell

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$450 at Backcountry $450 $270 at Blackdiamondequipment.com

Our favorite men’s ski jacket, this shell from Black Diamond is an excellent option for all-season skiing. It is extremely lightweight, but the material boasts a protective and durable design with a 20k/20k waterproofing and breathability rating. The jacket also offers four-way stretch, meaning you’ll never feel constricted in it, whether carving groomers or exploring the backcountry.

Best Ski Pants for Women

Stio Women’s Figment Bib

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

View on Stio.com

Chair lifts can often be damp or icy, so you’ll want a pair of waterproof pants to protect the bottom half of your body from moisture. Stio’s Figment Bib snow pants are made with a recycled polyester material that is fully waterproof and insulated. Earning a spot as the best women’s ski bibs we’ve tested, we love that the bibs are adjustable in multiple spots; the plethora of pockets is a bonus, too.

Best Ski Pants for Men

Backcountry CrestCarver Men’s Gore-tex Shell Pant

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$299 at Backcountry

Blowing us away for being quality pants at a fair price, this pair from Backcountry is the real deal. They’ve proven time and time again that they keep legs protected from wet, heavy snowstorms, but they are perfectly breathable and lightweight enough for warmer weather. They have a relaxed fit, which makes it easy to layer underneath, but they don’t feel too baggy — which are all reasons why these earned the top spot as the best ski pants for men.

Best Ski Gloves

Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Gloves

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$160 $128 at Amazon View on REI View on Hestragloves.us

Any skier who has used Hestra gloves knows that they are built to last a lifetime. These ones are the best pair we’ve tried after they proved their value on the slopes. Warm, durable, and designed with thoughtful features like a goggle wipe (or snot wipe, let’s be real), a leash, and removable liners, these gloves have it all.

Best Thermal Underwear

Smartwool Women’s Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$140 at Amazon $115 at REI $115 at Backcountry

All of our experts couldn’t stress enough that layers like thermal underwear are key, so we recommend these Smartwool tops for men and women. The long-sleeve tops are made with a naturally moisture-wicking and thermal-regulating Merino wool, so when you break a sweat after a run, the layers will keep you nice and dry while staying warm, too. We also love that the matching bottoms and tops are cozy and stylish enough to wear off the slopes for superior versatility while traveling.

For a versatile pair of cozy leggings, you can’t go wrong with this pair of fleece-lined leggings we tested and love from Amazon. The interior is lined with soft fleece material and the exterior has the same stretchy and compressing fabric as a regular pair of leggings. Plus, there’s an option for a pair with pockets to hold your phone or keys after you take off your snow pants.

Stifel U.S. Alpine Team member Tommy Ford recommends wearing multiple layers under your outer shell or jacket, like a thin vest that can be easily taken off if you get too warm. “You think it’s cold, but when you’re actually skiing and moving, you get pretty warm, so it’s nice to have layer options,” he says. This men’s and women’s REI Co-op Vest is one of our favorite vests we’ve tested since it’s warm but thin and easily layers underneath a jacket.

Best Fleece Layer

Patagonia Women’s Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$69 at REI $139 at Backcountry $97 at Dicks Sporting Goods

Once you’ve packed your base layers, you’ll want to throw in a cozy fleece for extra chilly days on the mountain. This T+L-tested and approved Patagonia Fleece for men and women is a solid option for a warm and breathable layer thanks to its 100 percent recycled polyester fleece material. And even though you may end up not needing it, it’s wise to keep one in your ski bag just in case.

The 6 Best Fleece Jackets for Women of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Best Ski Socks

Smartwool Ski Compression Print Over The Calf Socks

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

View on Smartwool.com

A pair of high-quality ski socks that don’t bunch up and pinch your shins are crucial for a comfortable skiing experience. I turn to these ones from Smartwool time and time again because they are so comfortable. I wore these with a new pair of ski boots recently, and I didn’t experience any chafing and redness in high-friction areas around my shin and ankle.

Best Off-slope Clothing

Whether you’re planning to end a day of skiing with an après at the bar or tailgate barbecue, you’ll be much more comfortable if you pack a few extra pieces of clothing and shoes. There truly is no better feeling than taking off a pair of ski boots and changing into a pair of comfy snow boots — and it’s much easier to walk around in the snow with them. Just in case your ski jacket gets damp, a cozy parka will feel nice after wearing a shell all day, and consider packing a pair of heated gloves to warm up your fingers when it gets extra cold.

Best Winter Jacket for Women

Columbia Women’s Carson Pass Interchange 3-in-1 Jacket

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$100 $78 at Amazon $290 at Dicks Sporting Goods View on Publiclands.com

Besides hitting the slopes, you’ll likely partake in more leisurely activities on a ski trip, so be sure to have a winter jacket packed in your suitcase. This one from Columbia has a three-in-one design since it comes with an insulated puffer jacket and a waterproof shell to wear the layers separately or all together for extra warmth. It also comes with a detachable faux-fur hood for extra style versatility.

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

Travel + Leisure

Best Winter Jacket for Men

Rab Men’s Neutrino Pro Down Jacket

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$400 $361 at Amazon $400 at Backcountry View on Rab.equipment

Chances are the temperatures will be chilly in the mountain town you’re staying in during a ski trip, so this men’s winter parka from Rab is a must-pack item. The 800-fill down jacket is designed to be worn on 13,000-foot peaks, so it’s no surprise that the jacket is impressively warm. It also boasts an adjustable hem, hood, and wrist cuffs so you can get the most comfortable and warm fit for walking around town.

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

Travel + Leisure

Best Snow Boots for Women

The North Face Shellista IV Mid Waterproof Boot

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$128 at Amazon $64 at Backcountry View on Sunandski.com

These North Face snow boots are one of our favorite pairs of all the the snow boots we tested, proving to be excellent for warding off the elements during winter travels. The tall boots have a cozy faux-fur lining, and the waterproof leather exterior means your feet will stay completely dry even after trudging through the snow. Plus, the bottoms of the boots boast excellent traction to help with stability.

Best Snow Boots for Men

Columbia Men’s Fairbanks Omni-Heat Ankle Boot

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$148 at Amazon $94 at Backcountry $130 $66 at Dicks Sporting Goods

Again, there is no better feeling than taking off a pair of ski boots after a workout on the slopes. These T+L-tested and approved waterproof Columbia boots feel luxurious and cozy even without the sweet relief of taking off ski boots thanks to the 200 grams of insulation and high-traction rubber sole. The high-top snow boots are also versatile so you can wear them from slope to street thanks to the sleek and functional design.

Best Equipment and Accessories

When it comes to skiing, safety should be your top priority. The best way to protect your noggin is by packing a sturdy helmet and a pair of goggles to avoid impaired eyesight from wind or snow. It’s surprising how painful snow or rain can be when you’re going down the hill at 10 or 20 miles per hour, so you might be thankful to have a neck gaiter tucked away in your pocket for such occasions.

Best Helmet

Smith Vantage Mips Snow Helmet Women’s

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$275 $238 at Amazon $275 at REI $203 at Backcountry

The most important safety accessory you can purchase is a ski helmet. This Smith helmet is my go-to since it’s thoughtfully designed with all types of skiers in mind, with a lightweight shell, breathable ventilation, and slides that will prevent your head from rotating in the event that you crash and hit it. Plus, if you have a pair of Smith goggles, you won’t have to worry about an awkward gap between the top of the goggles and the forehead of this sleek helmet since they are designed to integrate seamlessly.

Best Goggles

Smith I/O MAG Snow Goggles

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$275 at Amazon $270 at REI $162 at Backcountry

As someone who has tried tons of ski goggles for alpine racing over the years, I can confidently say these Smith goggles are worth every penny. The ability to have clear vision is crucial for safety on a mountain for spotting other skiers, rocks, or obstacles that can cause injury. They come with incredibly clear fogproof lenses that can be changed out for bright and low light conditions.

Best Neck Gaiter

Turtle Fur Double-layer Neck Warmer

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

Turtle Neck Gaiter. View on Turtlefur.com

You can’t always predict the weather at high altitudes, so it’s best to come prepared for anything Mother Nature throws at you. This Turtle Fur neck gaiter is my go-to one for keeping my face and neck warm on the slopes. It’s extremely warm without feeling bulk and restrictive around the neck, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. The material is lightweight enough that I can wear the neck gaiter in the spring, too.

Best Sunscreen

EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$31 $25 at Amazon $30 $29 at Walmart $31 at Skinstore.com

Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, being outside at a higher elevation means stronger UV rays, leading to a greater possibility of getting a sunburn while skiing. To prevent an unwanted goggle tan, the EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 sunscreen is an excellent option for a travel-friendly sunscreen. It’s only 3 ounces, so it can easily fit in your pocket or backpack.

Best Beanie

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Ribbed Beanie

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$30 at Onequince.com

A beanie is a must-have accessory for keeping your head warm and hiding postskiing helmet hair. This cashmere one is a little more stylish than my other sporty ones, and it’s the ultimate après accessory for warmth. I love how it’s a simple yet elevated beanie with the cashmere material, but the price doesn’t break the bank.

Best Ski Bag

DB Snow Roller Pro 127L

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

$339 at Amazon View on Dbjourney.com

I fly multiple times a year with my skis, which means a durable ski bag is a non-negotiable for protecting my priciest gear. This one from DB is super handy for all lengths of ski because of the roll-top design that allows you to adjust the fit to the exact length of your skis so they don’t get jostled around in transit.

Best Ski Boot Bag

Thule RoundTrip Snowboard and Ski Boot Backpack 60L

What to Pack for a Ski Trip: A Complete Checklist

Thule RoundTrip Snowboard and Ski Boot Backpack. $165 at Amazon View on Thule.com

One piece of ski gear you will never see me check in for a flight is my ski boots. These will always come with me in my carry-on, which is usually a ski boot bag like this one from Thule. It’s sized perfectly for a carry-on bag, and it has more than enough room for your boots, along with other items like a jacket, pants, goggles, helmet, gloves, and more.

FAQ

How do I pack skis and other gear for a flight?

In terms of packing your ski clothes, travelers might find it easier to use compression or regular packing cubes to efficiently stow bulky gear. “I really like packing cubes for ski trip packing, I think it’s really helpful. I put all of my base layers and my ski socks and stuff in a packing cube. And then that way it can all just kind of go back in there once you’re done and it’s dirty,” Levine shares. Ford, who also travels internationally as a member of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Team, likes to use a duffel bag for apparel and a wheeled softside bag (like this one) for skis. To safely pack away your skis, Ford recommends “wrapping your tips and tails, especially in your clothes, or even get some cardboard or some extra protection [to] wrap them a little bit or [strap them] down … so it’s like [a] compact unit.”

What should I wear while skiing?

When it comes to skiing, you should be prepared with extra layers to keep in the car or a backpack just in case the weather takes an unexpected turn. Shannon is a firm believer in packing multiple layers to wear under a ski jacket. “I think it really depends on where you are, what time of the year and kind of what’s going on. If it’s spring skiing, and it’s going to be a bluebird day, you may not need to pack as many as if it was a cold day in the middle of winter and maybe potentially will be a whiteout day. But I would say, generally, my rule of thumb is I start with three [layers],” he says. Of course, don’t forget to wear sunscreen always and a good pair of men’s or women’s polarized sunglasses for après-ski.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L Associate Editor Anna Popp grew up ski racing in Bend, Oregon, spending every winter skiing with her dad as her coach. Anna has lived in Grenoble, France, where she got to travel with her ski gear overseas (nothing was damaged!) and ski in the heart of the French Alps. To put together the best packing list for a ski trip, Anna drew from her travel experience and used insights from T+L-tested products. She also spoke with Tommy Ford, a member of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Team; Ian Levine, wax technician for the U.S. Snowboard Cross Team; and Quincy Shannon, president of the Denver-based ski club Ski Noir 5280.

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