What To Wear Skiing

SKI JACKET (it's a shell)// SKI PANTS

DOWN VEST 

I'm skiing today so this post feels very fitting. This is the most comprehensive guide to everything you need for skiing!

The day I could walk was basically when 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 we spent many weekends skiing growing up. In middle and high school, we had a 'ski bus' where ,we would go up to Seven Springs with our classmates each Friday. All that said, I LOVE to ski. 

I really think skiing/snowboarding is something you must love to make it worth it, though. It's high maintenance, cold, and time-consuming. If I wasn't passionate about skiing, there is no way I'd put on all 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 messages asking what to bring/wear. If it is your first time, don't invest much because you want to make sure you truly love it. As seen in the list below, you need a lot of stuff. 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! 

The stuff you need also depends on where you are skiing, the conditions, and the weather 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. 

- BASE -

Wearing just the THERMAL TOP and DOWN VEST on a VERY warm day. 

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 varying levels of warmth. 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 colddon't thinkeI woulder a synthetic material specifically made for heat retention/warmth that is sweat-wicking OR wool OR silk. I don't personally like silk. I prefer merino wool or a synthetic blend. They hold up better and are easiest to care for. 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. This is another good option. I also really like the Kari Traa brand. 

BASE LAYER BOTTOM// These are my favorite because they're thicker than typical fleece leggings, but they are still flattering and not bulky. If it's a warmer day, these are usually too much and I prefer these fleece lined leggings. 

SOCKS// I have many pairs of Smartwool socks. They make 'ski' socks specifically but sometimes I switch from ski socks to the regular, just depending on the weather and my mood. They have different 'cusioning' levels. I personally prefer the 'full cushion'. Totally a preference thing. I always bring extra socks if I want to switch them out during the day. 

- LAYERS -

DOWN VEST + FLEECE PULLOVER on a particularly warm day

Once you have a warm and sleep base, it's a choose your own adventure from here!

FLEECE PULLOVER// I wear this mostly when I ski, but it also looks great with leggings pre-and post-workout. 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 mediumr. 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 often wear over my base layer. This one from Lands End looks similar (I have not seen it in person) but is a 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 quickly, focus on heating your core, head, feet, and hands. I wear this A LOT. You can see me wearing it in the photo at the top of this post. 

SYNTHETIC VEST// This is a great budget buy and perfect for travel as it is 'packable'. It's thin and a perfect midweight layer with synthetic fill. This is easy to layer under coats without adding any bulk. 

SLIM JACKET// This is a thin jacket filled with synthetic insulation but it's still nice and warm. This is good for a really warm day or to layer under a shell. It doesn't add much bulk. There is an Amazon version that I also have that is under $50! 

FLEECE QUARTER ZIP//I 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! 

DOWN PULLOVER// I don't have this exact pullover as the one I have is a few years old but it's the same brand and same concept. Think of it like a sweatshirt down jacket hybrid. When it is bitter cold outside, I will wear this underneath my coat. 

SWEATER// I often just wear sweaters I own that are made of wool or cashmere. You can ski in pretty much any warm sweater and it always makes things feel a bit 'cuter'. This sweater, in particular, is incredibly warm and a mix of wool and cashmere. I prefer the 'mini' as it is easier to layer and the slightly cropped fit looks best with ski pants. If I am wearing this, I really like turtleneck base underneath. This is nice when you are packing for a ski trip because you can wear it with 'real clothes', too. I also love the T by Talbots line with 'thermolite'. They usually release a bunch of beautiful pieces around the holiday season and I scoop up a few to add to my collection. 

Tip: I love color but I tend to center my ski clothing around black, white, gray and a pop of red. That way, anything I ever buy can be mixed and matched. 

- OUTER LAYERS -

This ski sweater is an old T by Talbots favorite. 

SKI PANTS// I think the pants are the hardest to find out of all the clothing you need for skiing. 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. These are a soft shell so if it's snowing heavily or your are a beginner and tend to fall a bit, you may want to go with something a little more waterproof. I size up one size in these and they have room for my thickest base layer underneath. 

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. This one is so cute!

- ACCESSORIES -

Helmet// This is about as basic as you get. With my helmet, I don't wear anything else on my head. This is a comfortable and very affordable helmet. Not cute, but necessary. Eventually, I'd love to get a sleeker helmet but I have not found anything worthy of the upgrade yet. 

GOGGLES// Zeal is a nice affordable brand for goggles with many differents styles and colors to choose from. These are a nice choice under $150 and they have sharp lenses. If it is not snowing or bitter cold, I prefer sunglasses to goggles. 

NECK WARMER// It's crazy how cold your face can get- I prefer the turtle fur brand because it's warm and soft against my skin. My face gets irritated 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. I also like that this is very easy to launder and they are inexpensive. If I ever see a cute scarf, I also snag that and will wrap that around as a neck warmer. Cashmere sounds luxurious until it gets wet from breathing/nose or you get makeup on it and then need to launder it. To me, it's just not practical. I always have several neckwarmers as I like to swap out midday. 

MITTENS// They're warm and waterproof, and they have held up for years. The key is that they have a thing that attaches to your wrist, so you can take them off on the lift without worrying about losing one. I am a mitten gal through and through. I think they keep my hands the warmest! I really love these and while they may not be the most practical, they are so chic. 

HAND WARMERS// I always have them on hand; sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't, it just depends on the weather. You can buy rechargeable hand warmers, too, but I don't like having the responsibility of remembering to charge them since I ski periodically and sometimes it's a last minute thing. Being cold makes skiing miserable, so I try to bring everything I can to prevent getting cold. 

- GEAR -

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, if you want to go to a ski shop (Willi's, here in Pittsburgh), they can make sure you get the right length of skis for your height and ability. If you ski in the northeast but occasionally go out west, you may want to invest in powder skis and different ski styles to better fit the conditions. If you like doing tricks (not for me, ha!), you may want to look into twin tips. You can also always rent things until you figure out what route you want to go with or even demo things from ski shops and/or brands. 

Ski Boots// I have the Head Dream 100 boots and I linked a similar option. I LOVE them. This is also another cool pair! Ski brands often change up boots and skis only slightly each year, so if you want to save money, you can look for older models on discount sites and places like eBay. I LOVE my boots. They are the most comfortable ski boots I have ever worn. I recommend going into a ski store and figuring this all out with someone who knows their stuff. You will also need to get them molded to your feet. 

Poles// Mine are k2, they're fine, nothing special and what I've used for probably 15 years. Poles are poles, as long as they are the right height, they don't matter too much unless you are like a pro skiier or someone who is out there all day everyday. I love the ones I linked, they are so sleek and simple, maybe I'll upgrade one day, but you really don't need to spend much on poles. 

BOOT BAG + BOOT BAG// A Few years ago, my husband just switched from snowboarding to skiing, so he is now using my boot bag (the black one linked), and I got the red one linked! This is another good option.  I find that they wear over the years and have to be replaced. I don't mind, as most are under $150ish. I prefer the backpack style as that's easiest to get around with. Schlepping all the gear is my least favorite part of skiing. 

SKI BAG// I like that this is padded, so I know my skis are safe. You can check this on most airlines. I only use a ski bag when going on longer trips. You also better believe my Barrington tote is involved for longer ski trips. 

- EXTRAS -

TOWEL/ Any old random towel will do. To prevent rust and corrosion, it's best to wipe down your skis once your day is done.

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. It's also so inexpensive that I put one in every pocket of everything in my ski stuff. 

SUNSCREEN// This is a lightweight sunscreen that works well on sensitive skin. Some sunscreens break me out and this one does not! Sunscreen is important when skiing! My code SUMMERWIND should work on this. 

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. The only annoying thing about braids is that it crimps your hair so sometimes I opt for a low pony. Anyway, the ties I'm linking are specifically made to be tiny for braids! 

HEAVY FACE LOTION// I go heavy on the bader. It heals and protects so well from the wind. It's pricey, but this is a go-to for me when skiing. My code SUMMERWIND works on this. 

Extras// I usually bring extra socks, extra neck warmers, hand warmers, hair ties, water bottle, etc. Things get wet or sweaty and gross, and it's always great to have backups stowed away in your boot bag. I also keep cash and coins in there. I keep a few snacks like a meat stick and granola bar. I'm not a straight liquor gal but I think many people would add 'flask' to their list. If I'm tailgating, I'd definitely bring the fixings for a martini... and some cocktail shrimp... love a good tailgate of any kind, but ski tailgates are the best. 

If you have made it this far, you deserve a prize. Apres ski stuff will be another post because this one was way too long for 2025 attention spans!

More Ski Finds:

you may have to wait a few seconds for the widget to load