Packing for an extended weekend ski trip can be fun and overwhelming. Fortunately, our friends at Altrec.com have you covered with all the essentials. Whether you're planning for a road trip to Boyne Mountain or a trip out west, Altrec has all the gear and apparel to have you outfitted for peak performance, and will ship it to you fast. Here's your complete packing list:
Gear:
- Duffel Bag
A large, durable duffel bag will be needed to pack in all your gear. Ski goggles, gloves, pants, jackets, and boots take up a lot of space, so you'll want one large enough that is built tough. The best one for the job is the North Face Base Camp Duffel bag, and it comes in 3 different sizes. This thing will last a lifetime and can be rolled around, beaten up, and it simply will never let you down.
- Backpack
If you're planning to maximize time on the mountain, you may want to bring a ski backpack along to carry your lunch and any extra garments in case you need to add or remove one throughout the day.
- Skis
Unless you're snowboarding, you'll need these. Top brands for skis include K2, Rossignol, Salomon, Volkl, and Head.
- Ski Bindings
Give yourself time to make sure your ski bindings are installed correctly and ready to go. Rossignol, Salomon, and others are always reinventing these with new features and enhancements, so if you've been looking to upgrade, it might be worth looking into.
- Ski Boots
A good pair of ski boots will lead the ultimate ride. Don't worry about buying these online, if they don't fit right you can always return them.
- Ski Goggles
When it's snowing or raining, you'll really want to have a good pair of ski goggles. They're good for sun protection too, and your eyes will appreciate them on cold days. New features from brands like Zeal Optics enable you to have on-screen GPS, Caller ID, Music Notes, and more displayed on your lens while you're carving up the mountain. Oakley, Smith, and Anon will also handle the basics just fine.
- Ski Helmet
If you're going into the backcountry, don't forget your ski helmet. It keeps your head warm too. If you're just learning to ski, definitely don't forget this one. Your head will thank you.
- Ski Poles
Top brands for ski poles include Rossignol, Leki, Swix and Komperdell. A lightweight pair of ski poles will make your day much more enjoyable.
- Snowboard
Never learned to ski? Snowboarding is equally fun. A new snowboard from Burton, Ride, or Rossignol will get you up and going fast. A new technology from Lib Tech can be found on Rossignol snowboards called Magne Traction and it will help you have more control and learn the sport fast. 5 points of connection on each edge brings a world of change to this sport.
- Snowboard Lock
- Snowboard Bindings
Don't get too stressed out with all the features. A basic pair of snowboard bindings that are easy to take on and off are all you need here. These range in price; you just need a pair that are durable.
- Snowboard Boots
Snowboarding starts with a good pair of snowboard boots. Seriously, forget the board and bindings until you've decided on a pair of boots that feel right. Nothing else matters if your boots don't work for you. Shop at Altrec and buy with confidence knowing that you can return anything that doesn't feel right when you first try them on.
- Long Underwear Bottoms
30 Degree temperatures or less might feel more comfortable with a pair of capilene long underwear bottoms from Patagonia, Ibex and North Face also make garments from synthetics and wool that you'll quickly become a fan of. Don't skip out on these, you'll need them. Under Armour is another one you'll want to look at.
- Long Underwear Tops
Many brands exist for these. Check out Patagonia , Ibex, North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Arc'teryx (this stuff is high end) Under Armour, Icebreaker, or you can view them all at once here: Long Underwear.
- Upper Mid Layer
This is what will provide your warmth on top of your baselayer. You can get a good fleece from probably two dozen brands, including North Face, Columbia (their stuff has improved greatly over the years), Patagonia, Marmot, Icebreaker, Mountain Hardwear, and several others. Check out the whole collection of fleece jackets at Altrec.
- Shell Jacket, aka the Ski Jacket
A good ski jacket will last a lifetime. Lots of options exist. They run from $100 all the way up to $700+. Remember, this is an investment and you'll have this for many years to come. You can go with a traditional player above, or sport something a little more unique from a brand like Outdoor Research, Icebreaker, Spyder, Mammut, Helly Hansen, Cloudveil, or even Volcom,
- Shell Pants, aka Ski Pants
Jeans are not cool. Real ski pants are the way to go. Layer a pair on top of your long underwear for maximum comfort. The lighter the better. North Face has a pair called the Freedom Pants that are a crowd favorite among many.
- Hats
Ears and melons need to be kept warm. A cool beanie will always come in handy, both on the mountain and around campus. Stock up... you can never have too many.
- Facemask - aka the Ski Mask
This is one item that's super easy to forget. Outdoor Research is the go-to brand for ski mask. Don't waste your time with anything else. Outdoor Research = Face Masks.
- Ski Gloves
Lots of options exist for ski gloves... our favorite brands are Mountain Hardwear and Outdoor Research. These are high end solutions for sub zero temps. Get some!
- Ski Socks
Brings lots...and not your basic white socks from Target. You'll need a new pair of ski socks for each day on the mountain.Brands like Bridgedale, Smartwool, and Patagonia are your go-to players for this.
- Snow Boots
You're gonna need a good pair of snow boots to get you to and from the car to the mountain. Check out Sorel, Merrell, Columbia, North Face and even UGG.
- Snowshoes
If you're planning any backcountry action, you may want to pack snow snowshoes on the back of your backpack. Atlas snowshoes and Crescent Moon are the top go-to brands of choice.
- Car Rack
If you're going on a road trip, you might need a car rack setup from Yakima or Thule to get your gear there safely. These can be configured for a variety of vehicles and designed to carry much more beyond your basic skis and snowboards.
- Helmet Camera
Show your skills off on facebook with a helmet camera that records in HD 720 60 frames per second 32 gigs and 2.5 hours ready to go! GoPro Cameras are the way to go. Designed for helmets, bikes, surfboards, and more. Skiing and snowboarding is getting techy!