Kit me out... please help!

[ladyasriel]

Skiing for first time this year - going with a group and no idea what I'll need, what's better to hire etc. Please, help! Grateful for any suggestions.

clothes or eqt?

get a two piece snow suit and some decent thermal undies, with one thin fleece layer to take on/ off as nec (depends where you're going) and some proper ski gloves or mitts (mitts acan be better for warmth). i like a thin 'buff' which can be used as a neckwarmer or pulled over face if v cold. get decent goggles.

hire boots, skis, poles and helmet in resort.

all of it, want to be warm and look decent (i.e. not have people laughing and pointing) on slopes and off.
Thanks!

If it's your first time I'd have a look on ebay for clothes... you'll need a pair of trousers (salopettes) and a jacket at the very least. Gloves you can get new for about £30. You might want to buy those as you can at least use them at home too (esp if we keep getting these snowy winters :o)

You need some good ski socks. It's worth spending on these as if they're soft enough and thick and comfy it can make a heck of a difference to your day.

I've only ever worn goggles when I've been skiing in the snow (ie it's actually falling) because the snow gets in your eyes. As a beginner you probably won't do that much in falling snow. Good quality dark sunglasses are the minimum you need though.

As madwoman said, I quite like having something around my neck. I've got a little silk scarf I use, but a fleecy one will do too. I get quite a chapped chin so it's nice to have something dry and soft to pull over it.

Thermals - a couple of pairs of thermal leggings and tops (you may want more depending on your access to washing facilities and how fussy you are about sweaty thermals :o)

I also take things like long sleeved teeshirts, and thin fleeces to add layers. Much depends on where and when you're going. As a beginner you'll spend a lot of at least the first couple of days standing around quite a bit, with bursts of energy (side stepping up nursery slopes leaves you sweating like a you know what :o) so you might need a few more layers.

don't bother with eqt - concentrate on clothing as above.

be warm and be comfortable, and have a lovely time. really don't worry too much about what you look like.

and wear a helmet.

have a FABULOUS TIME!

Thanks both. Yes - good point on "all the gear"... will leave my Chanel ski suit at home then .
Many thanks for the tips!

You only need one set of base layer if you buy merino wool ones. Google Icebreaker, they are good. You can wear it for a week, sweat as much as you like and smell fresh as a daisy. No cotton next to skin in cold weather, it won't wick moisture and you'll freeze.

If you are going with children same applies, proper base layers and waterproof gloves/mittens. Ask around and see if you can borrow from friends!

Primark have great thermals at a good price. Buy an expensive (£20) or thereabouts pair of ski socks. You can wear them for a week without washing. If you are not sure if you will ski again don't buy expensive stuff unless it is a jacket that you know you would wear again. Primark or Matalan or TKmax all do suits or separates at reasonable prices. Aldi had buffs last year for £3.00 and they also had helmets at a reasonable price. I would suggest buying the best gloves you can afford especially if you suffer from cold hands. You will also need a pair of snow boots for walking about the resort.

I have lots, some unworm what size are you? I'd rather sell it cheaply to a MN than freecycle it to someone who puts it on ebay!

We found decathlon to be really good last year if you have one near to you. make sure you have two piece suit not an all in one (same for any kids). We went in February last year and I spent half the time with my jacket off. Make sure your jacket has lots of pockets for ski pass, purse, mobile, other bits and pieces you need since its a pain learning with a rucksack. Good base layers, couple of fleeces, good gloves and inner gloves (some ski jackets have fingerless mittens attached so that snow doesnt get in) and good socks. Decent hat that doesn't fall off and soft scarf.

Silk thermals are good, especially if you have sensitive skin, and you can sometimes get them mixed with wool. I think Patra and Bella di Notte do them.

Most people look awful on the slopes - ski-weqr just isn't really flattering, unless you're an expert who can wear those short, fitted jackets and shape-skimming trousers. Try and get colours that suit you and a not-too-yeti-like jacket and then don't worry about it.
Don't forget a woolly hat for travelling to and from the slopes and outside lunches!

Aldi is doing its ski kit from tomorrow and it is reputed to be very good quality. I've not tried it but am a huge fan of their running kit, and if it's half as good as that you'll be onto a winner. I'm popping down tomorrow to pick up some base layers and socks for us. Their stuff seems to be well designed and has stuff like the ski pass pocket on the wrist of your jacket which is invaluable if you don't want to embrace the sensors every time you're getting on the ski lift!

You could kit yourself out with jacket, salopettes, helmet (we've gone over to the sensible side this year), goggles, socks, base layers etc for considerably less than you'd pay for a jacket in many places!

I also can vouch for alsi ski kit - excellent value and very well designed technically. sometimes you might not like the colours, but as afwfairy says - it's £20 a jacket instead of 200!
(i was there at 8am as it opened to stock up on htermals socks etc) consider snowboots for walking around after the skiing.

and if you really want to look ok on the slopes book yourself in for some lessons on your local dry slope or indoor slope in the uk. well worth the extra cash!

thermals!!

Is that why there were none left for me? If you want to go down the Aldi route, OP, get down there quick! I was in at 10am and there were no merino thermals in my size, and one chap seemed to be buying ski kit for a family of five from their range.

Is super cheap though, I got merino thermals, boots and socks for DH, and synthetic thermals and a top for me for less than £60.

I already have my thermals, so it certainly wasn't me. Curiously though, where i live there is normally a queue waiting to buy the skigear and if you don't get there as the doors open, a lot of the kids ski stuff has gone. This year (when the stuff has gone on sale on a thursday not a sunday) i went to the aldi near my work, and a lot less people were there. I went back at lunchtime though to get my mom some snow boots and a lot of the stuff was still there (although no black size 6s so my mom has got cream boots!).