The ski packing list

What to pack for a week of skiing

For a week away with six days on snow, start with one ski jacket, one pair of ski pants, a helmet, goggles, gloves and a neck warmer. Add the clothing below, your skis or snowboard and boots if you are not renting, plus travel documents and clothes for the evenings.

These are suggested quantities for one adult without laundry, not a shopping list of things everyone must buy. Use what you already have, and add more base layers if you prefer a fresh set every day.

Count underwear, toiletries and personal medications for the whole time away, including travel days. For a day trip, skip the overnight clothes and accommodation items. For a longer stay, change Days on snow in the checklist rather than multiplying everything in your bag.

Documents & money

Check passport validity and any visa requirements for your nationality and itinerary. Bring winter-sports travel insurance documents and confirm the policy covers your planned activities, mountain rescue and repatriation.

UK travelers who are eligible should also carry a GHIC or EHIC: it can help with necessary state healthcare in the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, subject to eligibility rules, but does not replace travel insurance. See the NHS guidance on GHIC and EHIC cards.

Pack lift-pass confirmations, payment cards, some local cash, a suitable travel adapter and your usual personal essentials. Switzerland and Liechtenstein use Swiss francs; most other Alpine destinations use euros. Check your adapter fits the sockets at your accommodation.

First ski trip: what should you rent?

If you are trying skiing or snowboarding for the first time, renting lets you avoid buying skis, a board or boots before you know what suits you. Reserve your equipment for the right dates and check whether the package includes boots, poles for skiing and a helmet. Clothing rental is available in some places, but do not assume it is part of an equipment package.

Bring your own ski socks, base layers, gloves and goggles unless you have specifically arranged to rent or borrow them. Try your goggles with the helmet you will use, and wear your ski socks when the rental shop fits your boots.

If you own boots but are renting skis or a snowboard, tell the shop and bring the boots to the fitting. Let its staff check compatibility and set up the equipment. In the checklist, select Bringing boots, renting the rest so your boots stay on the list without adding equipment you have already booked.

Choose a jacket and ski pants for your activity and the mountain forecast. Compare fit, adjustable warmth, weather protection and vents. Add a helmet, suitable goggles and gloves, with dry spares as needed.

Does snowboarding need a different packing list? Most clothing and travel essentials are the same. Swap skis and poles for your snowboard and bindings, and bring snowboard boots rather than ski boots. Select Snowboarding above to make that change in the checklist.

How many layers do you need?

A base layer, an adjustable warm layer and weatherproof outerwear give you room to change what you wear as the day warms up. An insulated jacket already provides some warmth; an uninsulated shell leaves that job to the layers underneath. You do not need to wear every layer you packed at once.

The quantities in the table assume you will reuse base layers after airing and drying them. How often you want a fresh top depends on how much you sweat and your own preference. Pack more if you do not want to rewear them.

Can you pack less if you have laundry?

Yes, provided you can both wash and dry your clothes. For 14 days on snow, the checklist suggests eight base layer tops and 15 pairs of ski socks without laundry, or four tops and five pairs with laundry. That smaller bag means washing during the trip, not making five pairs last two weeks.

Check the accommodation's facilities before selecting Laundry available, and follow each garment's care label. A washing machine alone is not much help if your next day's clothes will still be wet in the morning. Our ski layering guide explains how to combine the clothes you bring.

What changes in cold, wet or spring weather?

Use the mountain forecast close to departure to make your final choices. A monthly average helps you plan, but it cannot tell you whether your particular week will bring a cold spell, rain or warm afternoons.

• Cold days and long lift rides: make room for a warmer midlayer, warm gloves or mittens and a neck warmer. Check that your outerwear still fits comfortably over the extra layer.
• Wet snow or rain: prioritize waterproof outerwear and dry spare gloves. Find somewhere to hang wet clothing overnight, and keep spare layers protected from water in your bag.
• Milder spring days: bring layers you can remove and carry, rather than packing only your warmest outfit. Keep gloves and weather protection with you; a warm village does not mean warm lifts.

Find your destination in the resort guides for monthly weather advice, or use gear by conditions to compare clothing for the weather you expect.

What to carry for a day on the slopes

Keep your lift pass accessible and bring your phone, a payment card, sunscreen, SPF lip balm and a lens cloth. Add water, a snack and any personal medication you need during the day. A small backpack is useful if you want to carry a spare layer or gloves, but leave the rest of your travel luggage at your accommodation.

Bring a neck warmer or face covering for cold days and a warm hat for after skiing. Choose a goggle lens suited to the forecast; if your goggles have interchangeable lenses, pack the alternative and its protective case. Keep sunglasses for breaks and time around the resort.

Flying with ski equipment: what goes where?

Before booking baggage, check your airline's rules for skis or snowboards, boots and helmets. A boot bag may count separately, and equipment allowances, weight limits and fees vary. Do the same with your train operator if you are traveling by rail, especially when reserving space for a large equipment bag.

Keep the first day's essentials in your carry-on

Pack travel documents, personal medications, valuables and a change of underwear, ski socks and base layers in your carry-on, within the airline's limits. If a checked bag is delayed, you will have a change of clothes while you arrange the rest. Bring your own boots in the cabin only if they fit the allowance; do not assume an extra boot bag is free.

Power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in carry-on baggage, not checked bags. Check your airline's capacity and quantity limits, and remove them if your carry-on is taken for loading into the hold. The FAA battery guidance explains the restrictions for US air travel.

Protect equipment in checked bags

Use a bag designed for your skis or board, protect goggles and helmets from being crushed, and weigh packed bags before leaving home. Label each bag and keep rental and accommodation details where you can reach them on arrival. Check what your airport permits in carry-on liquids before packing toiletries.

If you're driving

Check winter-driving rules for every country on your route, not just the one where you will ski. The builder lists equipment for the destination country; a cross-border transfer may need more.

• France: in designated mountain areas from November 1 to March 31, use four 3PMSF-marked winter or all-season tires, or carry chains or approved snow socks. Read the current French guidance.
• Austria: winter tires are required in wintry conditions from November 1 to April 15. Highway travel also needs a vignette.
• Switzerland: there is no fixed-date winter-tire rule, but your vehicle must be suitable for the conditions. A vignette is required on highways.
• Italy: winter-tire or chain requirements are set by road, often from mid-November to mid-April. Check the signs and route guidance.
• Germany: winter-tire requirements depend on wintry road conditions, rather than a fixed season.
• Slovenia: winter equipment is required from November 15 to March 15 and in wintry conditions. An e-vignette is required on highways.

Pack an ice scraper, deicer and winter windshield washer fluid. Check the required warning triangle, reflective vests and first-aid equipment for your route and vehicle. The EU’s country-by-country driving guide is a useful starting point; rental cars also need checking before departure.

Driving from Geneva to Châtel? The ordinary-road route through Geneva and Douvaine can avoid Swiss highways. Check the whole route and buy a vignette if it uses them. See the Geneva to Châtel travel guide.

With children

Try children’s helmets and goggles together before the trip. Pack two pairs of mittens or gloves so a wet pair can dry, plus extra socks and base layers for spills and damp snow days.

Choose a neck warmer rather than a loose scarf, and bring snacks for breaks. Check what your ski school expects children to carry in the family ski guide.

Label gloves, helmets and other easily mixed-up items, and keep a dry change of clothes handy for younger children. Confirm lesson meeting points, pickup times and what is included before arrival. The checklist's child reminders are additions: each child still needs their own clothing, equipment and travel essentials.

Village & evenings

Pack underwear, everyday socks, sleepwear, toiletries and any personal medications for the whole trip, including travel days. Bring warm casual layers and waterproof shoes or snow boots with good grip, since village streets can turn icy in the evening.

Add swimwear if you plan to use a pool or spa, and download something to read or watch on the journey. If you are relying on laundry, check the washing and drying facilities before reducing your clothing quantities.

What can you leave at home?

You usually need fewer bulky items than small changes of clothing. One ski jacket and one pair of ski pants can cover the week if you can dry them between days. Reuse casual outfits for the evenings rather than packing a separate outfit for every dinner.

Leave skis, a board and boots behind when you have confirmed those rentals. Check whether towels, a hair dryer and toiletries are provided before bringing your own. Do not cut the dry socks, medication or essential travel documents just to make room for an extra sweater.

This checklist covers lift-served resort skiing and snowboarding. It is not an equipment plan for ski touring, glacier travel or backcountry routes; those trips need separate preparation suited to the route and conditions.