Ski Trip Packing List: Everything You Need for a Week in the Alps

Packing for a ski trip is a balancing act. Too little and you are cold by day two, too much and you are dragging two suitcases through a mountain village on ice. This ski trip packing list is what we take for a week in the Alps, tested over many winters and trimmed to what you actually use. Copy it, tick it off, and go.

Documents and the boring essentials

• Passport or ID card, driving licence if you are driving
• Lift pass confirmation or keycard from last year (many resorts reload them)
• Travel insurance that covers winter sports, and your health insurance card
• Accommodation booking, ski school and rental confirmations
• Phone charger, power bank, a European plug adapter if you need one

Ski gear

• Skis or snowboard, poles, boots (or rental booked)
• Helmet: rent it or bring it, but wear it
• Goggles with a lens for sun and, if you have one, a low-light lens for snow days
• Ski gloves or mittens, plus a thin liner pair for warm afternoons
• Ski jacket and ski pants
• Neck warmer or buff
• Small backpack for the mountain: water, sunscreen, a snack, a spare layer

Layers for on the mountain

This is where most people overpack. For a week of skiing you need:

• 2 thermal base layer tops and 2 bottoms (merino or synthetic)
• 5 to 7 pairs of proper ski socks. One pair per day, no cotton
• 2 mid layers: a fleece or a warm hoodie. Our ski hoodies double as your après layer, which saves space
• 2 to 3 soft cotton T-shirts for spring skiing and sunny terraces. This is where a ski T-shirt with a print earns its place in the bag

Après ski and the evening

Après ski is where the packing list usually falls apart. You do not need going-out clothes. You need a T-shirt that looks good once the jacket comes off and a hoodie that keeps you warm on the walk home. For a full breakdown, read what to wear for après ski. The short version:

• 1 hoodie you love (you will wear it every evening)
• 3 T-shirts, at least one with a print that starts a conversation
• 1 pair of jeans or joggers
• Warm, grippy shoes or boots for icy streets
• Beanie
• Swimwear if your hotel has a spa, and it probably does

Toiletries skiers forget

• Sunscreen SPF 50, the sun at 2,000 metres is brutal
• SPF lip balm
• Moisturiser, mountain air is dry
• Painkillers and blister plasters for new boots
• Hand warmers for the first lift

Three packing tips from the chairlift

1. Wear the bulky stuff on the way there. Ski jacket, boots if you carry them, hoodie. It saves half a suitcase.
2. Roll, do not fold. T-shirts and base layers take half the space rolled.
3. Pack one spare print. Someone always spills something at après. Keep a clean favourite in reserve.

Missing the après layer? Every order ships free worldwide and arrives in 4 to 10 working days, so order at least two weeks before you leave. Buying for someone else? See our gift guide for skiers.