How to Pack for Your Family Ski Trip

Its vacation week and the slopes are wide open and white. Taking your family on a ski trip is awesome, but packing for a ski trip, even a weekend on the ski slopes, can be a hassle. I have done it enough that is doesn’t frazzle me anymore… but I can relate to families who find the task of packing for a ski trip daunting.

Simply put, you need systems for your ski packing to streamline the process, and so you don’t forget someone’s’ goggles (which could mean spending the morning in the ski shop instead of on the fresh snow).

For February vacation, here are a few tried and true travel systems for family skiing:

Ski Bag: Every skier in the family should have his or her own ski boot bag, labeled with name, address, and cell contact. In this boot bag, ski boots should go in a separate compartment, and the bag should also hold your ski clothing and accessories – except for those items you are wearing to the mountain. I am a big fan of Kulkea Powder Trekker backpack. It has boot compartments, lots of pockets and space for your ski attire, and you can carry it hands free.

Ski /Snowboard Boot Bag Checklist:
Ski or snowboard boots (in a separate compartment)
Two pair of ski socks – stuffed into your ski boots to save space and find easily
Ski pants for colder days, wind pants for the warmer days
Ski jacket for wintry conditions, windbreaker/shell for warmer weather
Hat or helmet, goggles and sunglasses in their protective cases inside your helmet or hat
Gloves/mittens /disposable hand warmer packets
Neck warmer/balaclava/facemask
Pocket size sunscreen and lip balm
Base layer/long underwear
Turtleneck, ski sweater or polar fleece top
Season pass, lift ticket voucher
Identification with contact numbers

For the Kids:
Extra pair of undergarments
Granola bar or snack

Check each ski bag before and after each ski trip to be sure everyone’s inner and outerwear is clean, dry, and ready to go. Pack separately your après ski clothes, pajamas, toothbrush, and a swimsuit for overnight ski trips.

Dress rehearsal: Before your first ski trip, have a full dress rehearsal to make sure everything still fits. This is especially key with fast growing kids. You don’t want to find out Saturday morning that Suzie lost one mitten last March or Joey’s ski pants are too tight.

Ski Equipment: Store all your hardware such as skis, boards, and poles in one place so you can grab everyone’s gear and go. Ski and snowboard bindings should be inspected annually by a technician for safety.

Ski Resort: Visit the ski area’s website and check lift hours, lesson registrations and times, rentals, parking, ticketing, and everything else you need to know before you go. This saves considerable time at check in and guarantees space in ski camp. You may even unearth special discounts that weren’t otherwise promoted.

Lodging: Know your lodging amenities and check in policies. Find out if you have a full kitchen, swimming pool, DVD player, etc. Then you can pack accordingly. Bringing a lasagna can save money, but can be a frozen flub up if you don’t have an oven.

I hope these ski travel tips will help you get to the slopes more often with less stress.

By Heather Burke, Photos by Greg Burke