Ski newbie - I have lots of daft questions 😬

[NoAprilFool]

First ski holiday in half term. Just me and the kids (10 and 12)
Ive got us all base layers, fleeces and ski jackets, salopettes, socks, goggles and gloves.
do you wear trousers as well as base and salopettes? What kind? What do people wear in the hotel? I live in dresses/skirts and jumpers and don’t have any trousers beyond exercise leggings.
How do you carry all your gubbins for the day?
do I need sunglasses for us all in addition to goggles?
is there anything I’ve not thought of that you wish you’d known before your first ski holiday?

thank you 😬😀

[Octavia64]

You just wear base layer and salopettes.

People usually wear jeans/jumper/skirt etc around the hotel. Dinner is not normally very formal.

[Octavia64]

I carry a rucksack for mine and the kids stuff but it does affect your balance.

Generally there are enough pockets in the jackets and salopettes that you can put ski pass/money/tissues/lip gloss in there.

You don't really need sunglasses if you have tinted goggles.

If it's hot (Easter or beyond) I do sometimes ski in ski trousers t shirt and sunglasses but you won't get away with that in Feb!

[Caspianberg]

Take T-shirts also. It’s really unseasonably warm atm (it’s +13 today here in alps)

yes sunglasses
Small rucksack or just coat pockets. You can’t wear anything large on chair lifts

[yomellamoHelly]

I don't have base layers. I wear leggings and a long sleeved top. And then salopettes,jacket and gloves. They give you a helmet when you hire skis. Goggles go over the top. I don't have sunglasses, but you see the slick practised type in them on the slope / in the bars as they're having a drink. I'm not cool enough / anywhere near good enough a ski for all that.
Wear normal clothes for breakfast and then get changed before we leave our room. Tend to have a small bottle of water in one of my side pockets which can be topped up over the day / holiday as needed.

Plus phone in top pocket. And we agree where we'll meet if we lose sight of each other on the slope.

[AMuser]

I’m sure you know this but lots and lots of high factor sun block

[Octavia64]

Ski lifts are challenging with a rucksack. Fine once you get the hang of it but maybe not for your first time.

[stringbean]

Agree, you have to remember to put the rucksack in front of you, hooked over one shoulder - it's a bit too much for a beginner to manage while you're getting to grips with chairlifts. Get some small snacks for your kids to put in their pockets - they'll usually have a break part-way through the lesson. The instructors sometimes take them somewhere they can get a drink so a few euros in a pocket wouldn't go amiss.

Make sure you each keep sunscreen and lip balm in a pocket (or a tube with lip balm on the top) - you'll need to reapply frequently, especially on a sunny day. Be mindful that it's really easy to burn in the mountains. Keep a pack of tissues in a pocket as well - I find the cold weather makes my nose run!

Neck buffs are a good idea as well - kids often pull them over their heads (under helmets) to provide extra warmth on a chilly day. They can also protect your neck from the sun on a warm day (make sure you apply sunscreen there too).

[Caspianberg]

Rucksack wise I use my water hydration camelback bag. It’s very slim so stays on my back. Fits water hydration bladder, sunglasses in solid case and mini sun cream.

sunglasses handy for when you stop on mountain for food or drinks if outside

[stringbean]

To be honest, my kids wore goggles the whole time to ski - they just kept them on their helmets. I like to have sunglasses with me in a pocket for when we stop for a drink on a sunny day, but increasingly wear goggles to ski unless it's really sunny. Even then, I still have the goggles on my helmet so I can use them in event of a weather change.

[SM4713]

• I would wear good quality goggles. You could always keep a pair of sunglasses in your pocket if you stop for drinks etc though. I rarely ski in glasses though because the wind makes my eyes water
• I've often skiied in a cap to stop the sun in my eyes, but also a woolly headband to keep my ears warm.
• Make sure you all put on 50+sunscreen before heading out, and top up during the day. Don't forget the ears, under chin, under nose and anything exposed.
• The UF is high and the reflection up from the snow can be surprisingly harsh. I always carry a sunscreen/lipbalm with high SPF with me to top up.
• Carry a mini packet of tissues. Your nose can get runny going from hot to cold and also handy for cleaning your goggles.

[LIZS]

Exercise leggings indoors and at breakfast are fine. You only need base leggings under salopettes. Yes to sunglasses as well as goggles , depends on weather and light which works better at any time. Most jackets have zip interior pockets for your "stuff". Try to take the minimum out with you - card/cash for drinks and lunch, id, lift pass(should have a secure pocket on chest or sleeve for ease of scanning), sunglasses, small suncream/lip balm , sweets to suck, maybe some blister plasters just in case, wooly hat so you can remove helmet at lunchtime but not get cold.

Tips: use a neck warmer/gaiter to fill in around low face and top of jacket if it is windy or on chairlift. Don't overreach yourselves, many accidents happen on late afternoon "one last run of the the day" . Warm up before you start either by walking to the ski school rendezvous or doing stretches. On third morning you may feel stiffest and achy so do loosen up by taking stairs not lift! Take an afternoon off midweek if you feel you are not making progress and are tired.

[Ibizafun]

We're off this week but it's so hot at the moment we will probably wear base layers under jackets first thing and change into t-shirt later. Take goggles but if sunny I ski in sunglasses.

Depends which hotel you're in, it's mostly casual but I'm taking a couple of nice blouses. Such a lovely holiday

[Runskiyoga]

Have you bought helmets? Or are they included in your hire package (they weren't in ours).
One of those drawstring gym bags can be good for carrying a water bottle and snack bars if it's too much for pockets.
I wear thermal footless tights or leggings under salopettes and that was perfect in warmish conditions. I wore two pairs of socks.
Sunglasses or glasses will fog up constantly if you wear them under goggles. But your goggles should protect from UV.
If your jackets have a little zip pocket on the arm for lift passes that's handy.
Wear what you fancy in the hotel but outdoors when not skiing you'll need sturdy footwear for walking across icy snowy boardwalks or paths if you go anywhere, although they are pretty good at clearing them quickly.
Enjoy!

[Andintotheseawego]

Unless it's super cold I don't wear anything under my salopettes. Just ski socks, salopettes, long sleeved cotton top, maybe a thin fleece if cold and then my ski jacket. Neck warmers are great if it's windy or super cold!

I'd try not to take a bag. Just a small suncream bottle, tissue and your bank card/phone in your pockets. We always hide a small rucksack outside the restaurant with water bottles, suncream.

[stringbean]

Personally I would advise against wearing two pairs of socks - you're more likely to get blisters: feet get more sweaty and then likely to get cold. A single pair of well-fitting ski socks - not tubes - with a padded heel and toe and padded shin should be fine. If your boots are uncomfortable or poorly fitting take them back to the hire shop to adjust or exchange - as many times as you need. It can take a bit of time to get the right fit.

[Ibizafun]

The good ski socks now are thin. You definitely do not need two pairs of socks if they're ski socks.

[redskybluewater]

Ditch the rucksack and just use your pockets for essentials.
You'll be fine in base layers plus outer wear unless it's exceptionally warm where you can probably get away with just ski socks under salopette.
Hotels are generally winter casual , so trousers and jumpers type thing.

[almondfinger]

loosen your boots when walking up to lessons/the piste. Tighten before you click into your skiis. I thought I had done serious damage to myself on day one by tightening my boots too tight! My calves were so seized up I could barely walk! Also your boots should be snug, I changed mine 3 times. First too tight, next too loose (cause feet to cramp), last fit better. The ski rental shop dont mind at all.

Advice I got here was to find a slope and stick to it. First time skiier, not interested in becoming a speed freak. Our ski lessons were from 10-50 year olds. The range was too great, the kids were amazing, 3 of us adults not so much. I gave up on the 4th day. I was just not getting it, not able to turn without flying off ito the side. I found a nice little slope and practiced there till I was confident to go down a longer slope. Did that a few times. I was never brilliant but absolutely loved it and will go back again.

Our hotel was v casual, everyone was too tired every evening for getting all dressed up.

Snoods are a must, which we ended up buying out there. If you have them bring with you.

[NoKnit]

Rucksacks on chair lifts are a big no no. Especially a draw string gym bag time thing. You have to take them off to get on (more importantly off) the lifts and if you are not good at lifts then best not to do it, too dangerous in my opinion. Pockets in coats are big enough for phone, little suncream /lip balms a bit of cash or card for beverages. I also take a spare buff in my pocket. Other than that you don't need much.

[LIZS]

There are often lockers near ski school/base of main lifts so you could leave rucksack, surplus layers and drinking bottles there.

[Terribletooths]

Warmish weather in jan where it’s bluebird skies, it’s my base layer leggings/base layer too and trousers/salopettes. Plus body armour as snowboarder : knee pads and bum pad. Thin buff And shell coat and if cba to buy thermal leggings, I have used cotton rich and both those 60 dernier tights lol

add a fleece/micro fleece for cold weather /bad conditions in jan/feb and thicker fleecier buff. (Or sack it off after an hour and head to the spa)

in spring conditions march onwards and if resort is south facing , don’t bother with the leggings under the trousers/ salopettes. Depends on trousers, if they have a fleece layer inside. Alto of technical brands are just shells with venting. Or I’ve done those thin 40 dernier tights before

my pockets include keys, sunscreen and phone and one zero fee credit card like a clarity card. Use plastic water bottle that can be squished and protein bar for emergencies

[TheTripThatWasnt]

I have one of these to carry stuff with me. But I'm strict about what I have in it (ie - as little as possible) - hat, gloves (I ski in thick mittens) and sunglasses for when we stop, sugary snacks (DH is diabetic, so I carry some as a back up), small tube of sunblock and occasionally a small bottle of water.

I've never taken it off at a lift (everything is squashy, so it doesn't prevent me sitting on a chairlift properly) and it doesn't affect my balance/ability to ski.

My trousers don't have pockets, and my coat pocket has the piste map in one side. I could possibly put gloves in the other, but I still want hat and sunglasses, so I may as well have a small bag.

Whatever you do, put your lift pass in a pocket (the one on the sleeve if you have one) and DO NOT OPEN THAT POCKET AGAIN. Losing your lift pass is something you don't want to do, and if you have anything else in the same pocket the danger of it falling out is high. Drum that into the kids too!

Add a couple of buffs to your ski gear list - invaluable for keeping warm.

For evening wear - I travel in one pair of jeans and take another - and that's it for the week. I probably have 5 tops max - all casual. You could easily get away with 1 or 2 skirts instead if that's all you have - but definitely ones you can wear with trainers/boots - nowhere is very formal! I don't think I saw a skirt/dress anywhere last week.

[TheTripThatWasnt]

@NoKnit

Rucksacks on chair lifts are a big no no. Especially a draw string gym bag time thing. You have to take them off to get on (more importantly off) the lifts and if you are not good at lifts then best not to do it, too dangerous in my opinion. Pockets in coats are big enough for phone, little suncream /lip balms a bit of cash or card for beverages. I also take a spare buff in my pocket. Other than that you don't need much.

About 50% of people were wearing bags where we were last week, and not once did I see someone take one off at a lift! I saw one sign at a lift asking people to take them off, but no-one did.

I always assumed they wanted people to take them off because you couldn't sit far enough back in the chair if you were wearing a bulky bag. Which is fair enough. But I can't see how a close fitting bag would be an issue for getting on or off a lift.

[CharismaticMegafauna]

I ski with a small rucksack as I like to take a bottle of water and maybe a flask. I've tried using a Camelbak before but the hose always froze up.

[NoAprilFool]

Thank you all so much. This is really helpful, and reassuring that I haven’t forgotten anything crucial. Helmets are included in our hire. The kids do have their own but depends on luggage space.
its definitely going to be cold. We’re going to Norway and the forecast has a high of -5 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

I’ll not bother with a bag (but have one packed in case there are handy lockers), it’s mainly water I was concerned about but I may just have to suck up paying for bottles. My jacket doesn’t seem to have all that many pockets but I maybe need to investigate it a bit more!

thank you all