First time family ski-ing - what to pack? clothes to buy?

[NextDoor2017]

Have booked to go ski-ing for February. I have never been ski-ing before so have no idea what to expect, neither have my two primary school children. DH went ski-ing as a child, but can't remember much.
We have booked a private group lesson (so that we can all learn together).
But, what do I need to pack in terms of clothes? Shall I hire or shall I buy? And if so, ca anyone recommend any online retailers please?

If you can co-ordinate the times.

How old are the dc? You may all find it restrictive to learn together as children tend to pick it up quicker and have fewer inhibitions. Try the first session then see how it goes but if you are going at half term it may be harder to swap. If dh learned as a child he may prefer a faster group lesson once he recovers his ski legs.

Children are 10 and 6. The 10 year old isn't very sporty and tends to have lots of inhibitions, which is why I thought it would be fun for us all to learn/fall in the snow together.
Swapping after the first lesson isn't a bad idea and might be do-able as we aren't going during the British half-term, though might be busy with lots of Dutch and French families around
We're going to Austria, so hoping it will be a bit quieter.

Hi OP, I’m excited for you! You’ll have a brilliant time!
I learned to ski as an adult and didn’t find it too tricky to pick up. If the main aim of the holiday is family fun then I wouldn’t worry too much about splitting up adults and kids, particularly if you think the 10 year old might prefer a more familiar environment to learn in. Also, when you’re all together out of lessons then the kids will be restricted by how much you can do so you don’t want them being too far ahead 😉
I’ve skied a few places in Austria, which resort are you going to?
I’d second trying to borrow kit, for the kids especially. Ski gear can be expensive so if you can borrow decent gear it’ll be better than buying from Aldi for example. Typically, the cheaper the kit the more layers you’ll need. Although don’t forget that skiing is exercise so if you layer up too much you’ll be way too hot before you know it! TK maxx is great, particularly if you’re not too fussy about colours!
Ski socks and base layers will definitely do a few days (you might be able to get away with just 2 sets each for the week). Having said that I don’t wear a base layer in Europe, just a t shirt under my ski jacket.
Please do factor in helmets; I think most ski schools insist on them now but even if yours doesn’t, it’s really not worth the risk.

Decathlon! Defo best place.

Agree with initial list from PP plus fleeces.
Three sets of thermals and fleeces each should be fine. Six pairs socks although the kids might re wear.

Two pairs of gloves for 6yo perhaps.

You might want Sunglasses - I only use googles if it's actively snowing.

Small rucksack to take snack / tissues / bits and pieces.

I wouldn’t bother with hiring ski wear; you can get really good stuff cheap at Decathlon (online or in the you can mix and match however you like.

If you are in a hotel they are often really hot inside in the evening so don’t fall into the trap of only taking fleecy pyjamas and wool clothes etc for evening; you just need normal clothes!

I agree , you can get ski outfits for less than £50 for kids (Decathlon, Dare2be, Trespass) or buy a jacket which wouldn't look out of place on walks in London. You have no control over quality or effectiveness of hire outfits which would cost almost as much. You really don't want to find out they are chilly or leak in resort. Little Trekkers often have reductions online for kids' gear.

Hi OP. We are going on our first family ski holiday this year. I’ve never been skiing before. I’ve done a lot of searching around online for gear and little trekkers still has some really great deals on socks, good quality base layers and gloves. Polarn and pyret have some heavily reduced ski coats if you can find the right sizes and I have had so many recommendations for decathlon. I however have nothing for myself yet .

Could I quickly hijack the thread to ask a question? Our youngest will be 2 when we go skiing. She is booked into kids club but obviously will come out and about with us too. She already has a spotty otter insulated, waterproof all in one but do I need to upgrade to the down filled one? Reluctant to as she is our youngest and on the cusp of sizes so it won’t get used afterwards but I don’t want her to freeze. We will be in Tignes.

Uniqlo heattech is great for base layer and thin enough to reuse under ordinary clothing afterwards.

We used to use parts of school PE uniform to be honest - baselayer and fleeces at least.

It's good to buy hand warmers in bulk here if you have space in your luggage and want to save money.

Raah, I wouldn't bother upgrading. At 2 kids will spend hardly any time out in the snow. I would get several layers of thermals and a fleece top and trousers. As someone mentioned down below the M&S ones can be used as PJs afterwards

Brilliant, thanks Trixy.

I would second the suggestion of Decathlon, especially for kids clothes.

For us, ski school for the kids in the morning (they loved it!) and then skiing with us in the afternoon worked really well. I would also recommend having a look to see what other activities are on offer where you are staying e.g- swimming pool. Both children got quite tired mid-week and appreciated one afternoon off the slopes to re-charge. It's useful to know what's around to occupy them should that be the case.

I would change to adult beginners and children beginners. My children wanted to make friends, not be stuck with mum and dad holding them back! Are there not ski lessons for beginner children only? That is quite normal in ski resorts. You can do private which obviosly costs a lot more than group lessons.

Regarding all the advice you have had, which is good, but I would suggest you need more than waterproof trousers. You need ski trousers. There is a lot of standing around when you cannot ski and you will get cold with light thermals and waterproofs. Ski trousers have more insulation.

I guess you can hire ski wear but skiing is never a cheap holiday! Its enough faff getting skis and boots for most of us!

More hats than you think you’ll need - I always see beginners walking around wringing out wet hats.

Hats you will wear only when not skiing

So do you wear a thin hat under a helmet or just for when you are not skiing?

Raaaah I think a lot of people wear some kind of thin fleece under a helmet but I don’t get how because every helmet I’ve worn in the last 20 years or so has been very fitted.

Last time I was in Le Praz I saw endless people skiing without helmets or taking off very thin (what looked to be a fleece material) hat type thing off and wringing it out.

Beginners most adults and kids wear helmets to ski and they are very warm. for me anyway

The neck thin gaiters my dd pulled up over her head so inside the helmet.
She also liked wearing a thin balaclava.
Take your regular winter hats and cheap spares as in resort they tend to have expensive brands. You can replace things gloves hats boots layers socks in a resort but the shops tend to have the more costly brands.. Tho dd did get a basic balaclava for €10. The others in store were €25 €30.

Just dropping back to say thank you for the advice and ask a couple more questions. I have just spent the morning in decathlon with the kids feeling overwhelmed. Do the kids need sunglasses as well as goggles or is that over kill? Also, this probably a really silly question but do we need to take a pushchair or are we better with a back pack? And finally...what do you wear coat wise/foot wear wise to travel? We have a bus transfer and then short walk to the chalet at the other end. I am finding the logistics a bit mind boggling.
Finally, finally would this be ok for the older kids to wear on the slopes-merino base layer (leggings and top) fleece layer and ski coat? Or is another layer needed?

Wear the snow boots ... unless it s April there will be snow on ground and cold. And boots take up more space if in the suitcase.

Thank you. That was my inclination but I didn’t want to be the family in snow boots at the airport .

We are also going skiing for the first time next month so this is a very useful thread! Thank you!

In my experience kids wear goggles all the time on the slopes and only older ones will bother to change into sunglasses on a break.

With your travel plan I would wear snow boots on the journey.

I generally take a pushchair for youngest but have never had to walk the last bit - perhaps check snow on the ground on resort webcam or could one of you manage to carry the folded buggy if it's super heavy?

3 layers for kids on slopes is absolutely fine.

Raaaah, I wouldn't bother with pushchair. Took DD1 at 7 months, 22 months and didn't take pushchair. Does kind of depend where you are going tho, some resorts don't have many streets to walk!!

Re layers, DD1 wore Decathalon base layer plus t-shirt under jacket plus Decathalon leggings and was fine in blizzard snow in December.

Always take an extra layer in bag and you'll be fine.

Under gloves - thin Decathalon ones - v good.

Sunglasses useful if you not skiing all day, goggles def best for skiing - go over helmet.