What To Wear Skiing

This post was originally posted in January 2021 and I am updating it for 2023! It has been top of mind for me because I am going to New York in mid-February for a little skiing and I am so excited. 

This is the most comprehensive guide to everything you need for skiing that I have ever done. 

The day I could walk was basically the day my parents had me skiing. My dad had skied all his life, and when my parents were dating, he taught my mom how to ski. Many of my extended family and friends ski- it's popular here as we have quick access to slopes and typically get quite a bit of snow each winter. 

My grandparents had a ski house at Seven Springs, so growing up, we spent many weekends skiing. In middle and high school, we had something called 'ski bus' where each Friday we would go up to Seven Springs with our classmates. All that said, I LOVE to ski. Love.  

I really think skiing/snowboarding is something you have to truly love to make it worth it, though. It's pretty high maintenance, it's cold and time-consuming. If I wasn't passionate about skiing, there is no way I'd put on all of those layers, sit on a cold lift, wait in lift lines, etc. 

It's a great workout, a fun way to spend time outside in the winter, and a great social sport. 

Whenever I share that I ski, I get DM's asking what to bring/wear. I would say if it is your first time, don't invest much because you want to make sure you truly love it. You need a lot of stuff as you can see in the list below. But I think if it's your first time, you can get by with less. Then, if you try it and love it, you can invest in more gear! 

Skiing can be pricey, but if you buy quality things (I don't mean expensive, just quality!), they'll hold up for many years, and you won't have to continually replace things.

The stuff you need also depends on where you are skiing and the conditions, so keep that in mind! I'm linking to exactly what I own as best as possible and will also give some recommendations of other things I love at the bottom of this post. 

I've broken it all into categories, as I think it helps to visualize it all. It's all very wordy, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible because I want to be able to refer people to this whenever I am asked about skiing! A lot of it is also personal preference, so this is just what I have and what I do, but you might prefer it differently! 

- BASE -

Base Layer Thermal Top// I LOVE this top as a base layer. It's thin but incredibly soft and great with moisture wicking. It is warm, but not heavy. There are a million and one different brands out there for base layers and weights for different levels of warmth. I usually wear the base layer that I am linking as I layer and accomplish different warmth levels that way, but if you are in arctic conditions, you might need something heavier. I am not sure I'd go any lighter than the one I linked, but that's just a personal preference. My ONE tip with ski clothing is no cotton. It doesn't provide much warmth, and if you sweat, you'll be sitting in your sweat all day as cotton does not wick away moisture when cold. You need either a synthetic material specifically made for heat retention/warmth that is sweat-wicking OR wool OR silk. I am usually all about natural fibers, but I prefer a synthetic base to wool or silk when it comes to a skiing base layer. I find that they hold up better, are easiest to care for, and are just as warm, if not warmer. Another thing about base layers- I don't like my clothing tight or clingy, but you want your base layer to be close to your body. I know leggings are self-explanatory, but my top base layer is as tight as my leggings are. The tight fit makes room for more layers and helps you to stay warm when the fabric is right up against your skin. 

BASE LAYER BOTTOM// These are my favorite. They're thicker than typical sports leggings and have a nice fleece lining but are still flattering and not bulky. If it's a warmer day, these are usually too much. These are synthetic, and I find that they hold up nicely and wash easily. 

SOCKS// I have many pairs of Smartwool socks. They make socks specifically for skiing, which I also wear, but I prefer their hiking socks. They have different weights, light, medium, and heavy, and if you plan on skiing a lot, you probably want all of those different weights in your arsenal. The heavy is WAY too heavy for me unless it's single digits. I wear the medium weight most. I sometimes wear light if I'm mostly doing daytime skiing with a lot of sun to keep me warm. The skiing socks are pretty light, and I never need them to go all the way up my calf. You can also get sock liners if your feet tend to get really cold. My ski boots are heavenly, so I never really have an issue with cold feet, but I know a lot of people do sock-liners. I always bring an extra pair of socks if I want to switch them out during the day. Another brand I recently discovered that is less pricey is Alpine and their socks are synthetic instead of wool. They are very comfortable and warm, too! 

- LAYERS -

 

* This is all like choosing your own adventure once you have a base. It's all dependent upon the weather from here, so here are a few items that I have and love to use as layers over my base. Sometimes I do just one layer, sometimes 2, sometimes even 3. These all also depend on what 'outer layer' you choose... aka your ski jacket. 

FLEECE PULLOVER// I wear this mostly when I ski, but it also looks great with leggings pre/post-workout so it is versatile. It looks and feels like a sweater on the outside, and on the inside it's fleece. If I were lounging around the house in this, I'd prefer it in a medium for something a little roomier. However, I like the small in this for skiing purposes because it's a bit more fitted, so it can fit under other layers. this is what I wear most often over my base layer. This one from Lands End looks similar (I have not seen it in person) but is a much more budget-friendly option. LL Bean and many other brands also make something similar!  

DOWN VEST// I put this over the better sweater if it is extra cold! It is down-insulated, so this is a warm option. I wear this under other coats (even when not skiing) or just over a sweatshirt when I walk Henry in the fall/spring! If you get cold easily, focus on heating your core and your head, feet, and hands. This down vest is puffy, so it's not really slim. It has slim/flattering lines to it, but I only wear this if it's necessary. There's a slimmer version of this vest with synthetic insulation and an Amazon option that I also own and love. I don't have it, but it's a good option, too! Here's another similar and more affordable option from Lands End. L.L. Bean also makes pretty much the same items that I have listed here, too, and most things I have from L.L. Bean are high quality and very comparable. The same for brands like North Face, too! 

SLIM JACKET// My sister wears this as her winter coat in North Carolina. This is a fall/spring coat for here in Pittsburgh. It's casual and filled with synthetic insulation. This is pretty thin but still nice and warm. There is an Amazon version that I own that is under $50 and really nice. Because it is so slim, it layers nicely under a shell ski jacket where you need an added layer of insulation. 

FLEECE QUARTER ZIP// Love this fleece pullover. It's just very basic. I frequently wear it over my workout clothes. It is so soft and warm. It works nicely overtop of a base layer when skiing. I have a small, and it is roomy, so I'd probably size down to wear it for skiing purposes! Really great quality for $25ish! 

- OUTER LAYERS -

SKI PANTS// I think out of all of the clothing you need for skiing, the pants are the hardest to find. I have gone through quite a few pairs over the years. The sizing is so tricky because each brand's sizing is so different and they are not sized like jeans. I've had to go up to 8/10, large in some ski pants and I'm normally a 4 in almost any other pants I wear. These are a good place to start. The price is great, the style is classic, and it's a hard shell so it works in most conditions. It's not necessarily flattering but it's not unflattering like some other ski pants I have tried. I size up one size in these, meaning I get a size 6. I like wearing black as a base and then using my ski jacket as the 'style' part. Black pretty much goes with anything and doesn't show stains as easily. 

SKI JACKET// I have a few that I rotate around. I don't think you need a few; I've just amassed them over the years. The yellow one you see in the photos is super old, Roxy, it's actually my mom's coat because I couldn't find my ski jackets. I linked the black and white one, which is a shell jacket. You'll see shell, systems, and softshell/down. This all depends on your preference. I prefer a shell. Personally, just because I like to be in control with layering. I usually go one size up in ski jackets (the outermost layer) to accommodate layering, especially if it is a shell. You can literally wear any winter jacket to ski in, but there are some nice functionalities of a jacket made specifically for skiing, like pit zips, a hood big enough for a helmet, a powder skirt, etc. I don't wear these jackets outside of skiing because I prefer a down puffer if it's just everyday life. 

- ACCESSORIES -

Helmet// With my helmet, I don't wear anything else on my head. My helmet is super comfortable and much warmer than a hat/headband. 

HAT// I wear this before/after skiing because I have my helmet when I am actually skiing. 

GOGGLES// I recently got these and really like them! At under $150, a relatively good price! 

Sunglasses// I prefer sunglasses to goggles when I can get away with it! If it's snowy or too cold, I use the goggles but if it is just sunny and beautiful, sunglasses are the way to go. Again, a personal preference. 

NECK WARMER// It's crazy how cold your face can get- I prefer the turtlefur because it's warm and soft against my skin. My face gets irritated really easily with certain fabrics and this is one of the few that I have found that doesn't break me out, plus it is long enough that I can pull it all the way up to sit right under my eyes.

MITTENS// I wear these outside of skiing, too! They're warm and waterproof and they have held up for years. The key with these is that they have a thing that attaches to your wrists so you can take your glove off without using it. So helpful on the lift if I want to pull out my phone. Some people like liners, too, I personally don't. I'm also a mitten person vs. gloves, but again, just a personal preference.

HAND WARMERS// I always have them on hand; sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't, it just depends on the weather.

- GEAR -

Ski Boots// I have the Head dream 100 boots. I LOVE them. Ski brands often change up boots and skis and all of that each year so there is likely something very similar that's being sold today. I LOVE my boots. I think my last pair of boots were Rossignol and they were nice, but these are much better. Love love love. These are the most comfortable ski boots I have ever put on my foot. I would recommend going into a ski store and figuring this all out with someone who knows their stuff. Plus, they often run sales and sometimes sell skis, boots, and bindings in one bundle. 

Skis + Bindings// I have the Head total joy skis, and I love them. I did a campaign back in 2015ish with the brand! Easy to ski in. Again you want to go to a ski shop (Willi's here in Pittsburgh is great), and they can make sure you get the right length of skis for your height and ability. 

Poles// Mine are k2, they're fine, nothing special! 

BOOT BAG// My husband just switched from snowboarding to skiing, so he is now using my boot bag and I just got this boot bag! This is another good option.  I find that they wear over the years and have to be replaced. I don't mind, as most of them are usually under $100ish. I prefer the backpack style as that's easiest to get around with. Schlepping all the gear is my least favorite part of skiing. I really like the design of this one. So maybe when this one wears out, I'll try this! 

SKI BAG// I like that this is padded, so I know my skis are safe. You can check this on most airlines.

- EXTRAS -

TOWEL/ Any old random towel will do, but you need to wipe off the snow and water from your boots and skis, and poles before stowing away. That way you prevent rust and corrosion. 

LIP BALM// I love this lip balm and have used it for over 10 years. It's moisturizing and not too goopy when you put it on. For skiing, specifically, I love that this has SPF 15. 

SUNSCREEN// This is what I have been using, and I LOVE it. I don't use it day-to-day but love it for beach/pool and skiing. It's both a physical and chemical sunscreen, and I think it works wonderfully- I have never burned when wearing it. It has a slight tint to it, but it is very light and doesn't look like makeup when you put it on; it just gives you a glowy look that I like. 

HAIR TIES// I usually wear my hair in two braids. It's most comfortable with the helmet, and then I don't have hair whipping me in the face as I go down the run. Sometimes I do a low pony; it just kind of depends on what I'm feeling. I've done my hair all down before, but it's a pain. 

HEAVY FACE LOTION// My face gets so dry! I always bring the Cetaphil Rich cream, and it works wonders. 

Extras// I usually bring extra socks, extra turtle fur, etc. Things get wet or sweaty and gross, and it's always great to have backups. 

Misc.// I don't wax or sharpen my own skis, I leave that to the pros, but I know many people wax their own skis, so you might want to have some on hand if you plan to DIY. 

- APRÉS -

Similar Sweater

SIMILAR SWEATER// I just tweak what I'm already wearing from skiing, which you can see in the photo above. I left my base layer on and put this sweater on over the top. My sweater is Talbots and a few years old. I also have a few of my dad's vintage wool sweaters: fair isle and fisherman knit. They're oversized on me and pair nicely with leggings and a turtleneck and have that vintage ski cabin vibe to them. I also like to do a cashmere turtleneck and a faux fur vest. 

LEGGINGS// In the photo above, I kept my leggings on from skiing, so I usually take off my snow pants and wear fleece-lined leggings. Sometimes I will change into something a little 'nicer' like these velvet pants that tuck nicely inside of boots.

SNOW BOOTS// I have several pairs of snow boots, which is more out of necessity than my desire to wear them. I refer to the boots I am wearing in the photo as 'prettier Uggs' as they have the same fit and feel (shearling) as Uggs but just look nicer. Although no hate to Uggs, I love them!! I also could not do Pittsburgh winters without my Bean Boots. Mine have the goretex and Thinsulate lining, which keep my feet toasty warm, and I also have the shearling inserts. 

SOCKS// I didn't change out of my ski socks in the photo above, but usually, I do. I like pops of red, and socks are easy to do that with. This red snowflake design just feels classic! 

TOTE// I've shared these totes many times before. For skiing I use them for a change of clothes, snacks, water bottles, etc.

HAT// I usually have some sort of hat or ear warmers. This hat I am wearing in the photo is old, but I do love the ones with pompoms on top!