Can someone give me an idiots guide to what clothes we'll need?

[NuzzleandScratch]

I had a look, but couldn't find a similar thread. We're off skiing as a family for the first time in Jan, so that's me, dh and dds aged 4 and 6. Dh has ski boots and skis, but other than that, we have nothing. Can someone guide me on what we will need, without breaking the bank? I'm happy to search eBay etc, or buy new at a reasonable price. Many thanks.

I get my kid's ski stuff from Decathlon. It's very cheap.
January will be cold. Aside from ski pants and a ski jacket, you will all need 3x base layers and 2x fleece plus 6 pairs of ski socks.
Ski gloves for adults and kids over 8ish. Mittens for younger kids. Waterproof boots. Goggles or glasses. Googles are best for young kids, they attach to their helmets.

Thank you so much, that's a great starting point! Can I just check something? I think I understand about base layers, so that's a long sleeve top and leggings style. You mention fleeces, so I presume that is the next layer on the top half. But what about the bottom half? Do ski trousers just go over the base layer, or do you put something else on first?

Good thing about layers is that you can customise depending on how you feel and how warm your outer gear is. Normally I'd say just base layer and trousers, but you may want a pair of jogging bottoms that you can put on in case it's very cold.

You'll also need goggles or sunglasses, skiing helmet and ski gloves/mittens.

January will be cold so I would wear

Bottoms - leggings, normal socks, ski socks and salapettes

Top - vest, long sleeved top (polo neck), fleecy jumper, ski jacket

Extras - gloves (invest in good waterproof ski pair), hat, goggles, snood/fleecy neck warmer thing

I would normally wear:
Base layer of top and leggings (a few pairs because they can get quite sweaty with the exercise)
Fleece/jumper
Sometimes tracky bums
Ski jacket
Salopettes
Apres ski boots (for walking around the town, to and from the slopes etc.)
Ski socks (or just thick sports/hiking socks)
Ski gloves
Goggles or sports sunglasses
A scarf

Helmets can normally be rented when you get there.

Then generally make sure you take lip balm and sun cream.

If you are getting stuff from decathlon also buy the boxes of disposable hand warmers - the teabag like things that warm when shaken - as if kids have cold hands they won't enjoy it and these are always so expensive to buy singly in resorts.
For kids second pair of gloves for evening is also a good idea and if you think you will go more than once I would buy helmets for you and dh (as your heads won't grow) and maybe even for the kids. Look at how expensive they will be to rent, some places it's almost the same as buying your own.

Thanks all, I think I'm getting the idea now!

With the base layers, if we're going to need a few each, any tips on best place to buy these at a reasonable price? Would it be feasible to wash them through, or will we pretty much need one set per day?

For the children's jackets & trousers, I've seen lots of sets on eBay, are these likely to be ok? Anything I need to look out for in the description, or any good brands?

Thank again!

Thanks for starting the thread OP and to the other posters ! We are going for the first time in Feb!

Decathlon great, also Aldi do a ski week special which has fab stuff, including base layers. Other option is a designer outlet type place. My current ski trousers are helly Hansen ones, worth £130, cost me a tenner! Don't wear two pairs of socks. One pair of decent ones will keep your feet warm and less chance of blisters. Fleece lined leggings are great if you can find them, amazon or eBay often sell them cheap. January can be bitterly cold and I wear thermal leggings with fleece leggings over the top and then ski trousers. Definitely need a buff/snood you can pull over your face on the slopes. Assuming you'll all be wearing helmets just get goggles, don't need sunglasses too. Your kids will be miserable if they get cold so plenty of layers is the way to go. We usually ski in January as its cheaper but have regularly experienced temperatures of -20 up the mountain so be prepared!! High factor suncream for faces too.

Get two pairs of ski gloves for the children. When they are little they get damp so a fresh pair for the next day is helpful. We've got good stuff from eBay and charity shops.

Also one glove will go missing!
For layers, we don't bother with specual ski stuff just long sleeve tee shirts.

TKMaxx have started to get some skiing stuff in and they'll have loads in by November. You can get some decent stuff there relatively cheaply.

If you're going to wear helmets (and pretty much everyone does now), have a thin hat or balaclava you can wear underneath.

Also, mittens will keep hands warmer then gloves.

It depends on your accommodation as to whether washing your base layers works but you can probably get away with 2/3 sets as they do dry quite quickly even if you don't have a special drying room. Merino wool layers are less smelly than the technical fabric ones.
eBay should be fine for ski stuff - - but watch the prices, some seems to end up going for silly money.
Muddy puddles used to do good kid sized buffs etc.
Balaclavas with neoprene face bits are good if it is very cold - balaclava, helmet, goggles leaving no skin exposed.
I like silk glove and sock liners inside the gloves/ socks if it's really cold.

If you can get socks with silver woven into them (really) that's antibacterial, and will stop them being smelly. And spend time making sure boots fit properly (if hiring). Sore feet make skiing no fun. Have a great time!

Oh, and you can get ski jackets with little clips to attach gloves to, so if you take them off you can't drop them. Oh (sorry, all coming back to me), my favourite base layer had a cut out for my thumb, which stopped the sleeves rolling up inside my jacket. Fantastic.

Thanks everyone, great to get all your tips! Good point about potentially losing a glove! Love the idea about the top with the thumb hole! We have an Aldi opening near us soon, and we also have a great outlet shopping place not too far away, so will definitely check those out. May try somewhere like H&M for layers for the children under the proper ski stuff. Will def be wearing helmets, will hire those there.

Glad this thread is helpful to you too Blingy!

Get proper shaped ski socks. Don't buy ski tubes. Don't wear hiking socks and definitely don't wear a pair of normal socks under ski socks. You will end up with bruised shins if they rumple up or there's a seam in the wrong place in your ski boot.

Good gloves are a must as it's miserable if your hands are wet and cold.

another really useful thing is sticky labels for kids skis, boots and helmets, so you can tell which ones are yours.

You can get thermals in primark, local market stalls etc

I've worn normal and thermal socks and never had a problem. I just get a load of cheap ones.

H&m, primark etc do cheap kids fleeces - when I took the kids to Lapland they wore primark fleece pj bottoms under their ski pants!

Magic gloves under ski gloves -h&m style

Personally prefer sunglasses to goggles

Aldi sell ski stuff cheap but usually only hits the shop after Xmas

Apart from the outer layers you don't really need special ski wear imo, leggings and long sleeve t shirts are were fine for my first couple of trips

Primark fleeces for kids and adults all have the thumb hole

I do lazy-washing of my base layers, OP, because I don't want to pack too much stuff (and ski socks etc are expensive) but I'm really precious about "dirty" clothes - even though they're going to get just as sweaty in an hour or two.

I take travel wash, fill the sink and soak everything together for 5 mins (or share w/SIL and do tops in one load, socks, etc next) then just rinse in the shower. Wring it out. Takes twenty mins tops.

This doesn't work well if you don't have lots of drying space mind, and I did once freeze half my base layers - I thought it was sunny enough to dry on balcony and didn't factor in the wind!!

Re: buying - Mountain Warehouse will have pretty cheap stuff too - and they go up to bigger sizes than a lot of shops so my capacious 18 thighs (excellent muscles for skiing ) can be comfy. The stuff is plain but servicable.

There is a company that you can hire the outwear (jackets and pants) from...skismart.co.uk
Has stuff for adults and kids and you can try on items before you go to check sizes. Looks like a good range and they send you the clothing before you go, and on return you put it (dirty!) back in the box and freepost it back to them.
Heck of a lot cheaper than buying and great if you have growing kids as I do x 3!

Don't bother taking skinny jeans for apres ski - being up at altitude will mean you retain water, so they get really uncomfortable.

Don't forget fleece neckwarmers, lip balm, sunscreen and a pair of sturdy warm boots for walking around the resort. Wellies will be too cold. Also, make sure you all have sunglasses in addition to goggles as you won't want to be wearing the latter when you stop for lunch.

It is worth buying proper ski socks as they are seam free and padded in the right places to be comfortable in your boots. Nothing worse than getting a painful bruise from a sock seam.

They don't have to be expensive though, decathlon and trespass do cheap ski socks. We usually have about 3 pairs each and wash mid holiday too.

I found a lovely black thermal top in Mark's and Spencer's. It has a hood on it thin enough to wear up under your helmet so no danger of snow sneaking down your back. Worth looking out for.
Personally I wear thick cotton tights rather than ski socks. I bought some from tesco. This avoids a seam in your boots. Having too thick socks in your boots can reduce the blood flow and lead to folder toes.
Never tuck thermals into your boots have them just above to avoid a seam in your boots.
Mittens are better than gloves for kids because with sweaty hands the fingers from gloves can get mismatched and it's s nightmare trying to realign them.
It really is all about layers. Even in January, if it isn't snowing, it is very hot work when you first learn and are walking up and down the nursery slopes.

Enjoy!