Ski Trip Packing List.
Everything you need on the slopes and off — from thermals and goggles to lip balm and après-ski clothes. Your complete winter holiday checklist.
A ski holiday is one of the most gear-intensive trips you can take. Forget your goggles and you're either buying overpriced replacements in the resort or squinting all day. Forget your thermals and you're cold within an hour. This checklist is organised by what you actually need: what to hire, what to bring, what to wear on the mountain, and what to pack for the evenings.
Before you pack
Four tips that make the difference.
The base-mid-outer layering system
Wear a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer (fleece or down), and a waterproof outer shell. This system works for any temperature — add or remove layers as the day warms up.
Mountain sun is stronger than you think
UV radiation increases with altitude, and snow reflects it. On the slopes you need SPF 50, not SPF 15. Protect your lips too — SPF lip balm is essential and easy to forget.
Hire bulky equipment in the resort
Skis, boots, and poles are heavy, awkward to transport, and relatively cheap to hire. Unless you ski often, renting in the resort makes more financial sense than checking equipment as luggage.
Pack boot liners separately to dry overnight
Ski boot liners get sweaty. Remove them every evening and let them dry separately — this makes a significant difference to comfort and warmth the next day.
The essentials
What goes in the bag.
Tick items off as you pack. For a full list tailored to your trip length, climate and travel style, use the checklist tool.
Documents & travel
On-mountain clothing
Equipment
Skin & toiletries
Health
Après-ski
Want the complete list, with your own items, saved on your device and exportable to PDF or Notion?
Open the checklist tool →Coming soon to Etsy: a print-ready A4 PDF of this list, in English and German.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
Do I need to buy ski insurance separately?
Most standard travel insurance doesn't cover skiing. You need a policy that specifically includes winter sports — look for one that covers piste closure, ski hire replacement, and off-piste if you plan to venture beyond marked runs. Check whether your existing policy can be upgraded or buy a specialist winter sports policy.
Should I hire or bring my own ski equipment?
For most people, hiring in the resort makes more sense. Ski boots are heavy and awkward to transport, and hiring means you always get well-maintained, properly fitted equipment. If you ski many days per season, owning your own boots (for fit) and potentially skis starts to pay off.
What should I wear under my ski jacket?
A proper moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool or synthetic), not cotton. Cotton absorbs sweat and stays wet, making you cold. Then an insulating mid-layer (fleece or thin down jacket), then your waterproof ski jacket on top.
Keep planning
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