What kit does DC need for school ski trip?

[fireflyz]

DC is going on the ski trip with secondary school at the end of January for a week in a European ski resort. There will be ski tuition every day and then evening activities organised by the teachers.
We don’t go skiing as a family so I don’t have much of a clue about what’s needed. The school will give us more information but I am just wondering how much clothing would a teen need for a week like this? What would they wear under the ski jacket while skiing? Fleece? Wool? Layers? How many layers? Sports socks or normal socks? Trousers? Thermal trousers? 🤯

They’ll need:

• base layers (long sleeve top and legging bottoms) - maybe three pairs for a week. You can get them in places like Decathlon which are fairly reasonable, if you search for thermal base layers they should come up.
• An extra jumper layer on top - either a fleece or technical top
• Ski socks - please don’t go for regular socks or sports socks as they won’t fit comfortably with ski boots. You could get away with three pairs if you don’t want to buy 6, if they don’t mind wearing the same pair two days running.
• Ski jacket and ski trousers/salopettes

Also - ski gloves/mittens and maybe glove liners if it’s going to be cold. Plus goggles and perhaps a neck warmer (less bulky than a scarf). And then a woolly hat and gloves for the evening.

Don't forget a helmet.

Decathlon is good for cheap ski gear

It’s ski week at Lidl, @fireflyz !

We found the kids stuff great quality for the price when the DC were little and growing like weeds. The jackets were handed down to friends DC many many times before I lost track.

We also like the Uniqlo heat tech thermal stuff.

Don’t forget he will need a pair of boots that are suitable for snow and ice to wear when he isn’t skiing.

No scarves! They are unsafe if they get caught on the ski lift when disembarking. No backpacks either. There was a tragic accident on a school ski trip about 10 years ago when a boy’s backpack caught on a chair lift and he was dragged up again by the lift.

Look on vinted for ski wear.

Aldi skiwear is from 20th iirc. Thin fleece and a long sleeve tshirt/baselayer underneath. Neck gaiter/buff to keep chill out of neck and cover lower face. Long socks and base layer leggings. Goggles to wear with helmet (often provided with ski equipment hire) and waterproof padded gloves (TK Maxx are good for accessories) . Outerwear needs to be waterproof and windproof, ideally jacket has an inner snowskirt, lift pass pocket with zip and zip pockets for snacks, lipsalve and mini suncream.

Helmet will be provided with the ski / board / boot hire - no need to buy one and let it take up valuable luggage space.

Decathlon is your friend but I've always took;

Ski pants
Long John's
Long sleeve thermal top
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Thick socks
Gloves
Goggles

You can get quite sweaty so extra tops

Thank you - all advice v much appreciated.
Just wondering…
Do people normally wear the thermal long sleeved vest and then wear a regular cotton t shirt over the top of this? And then a fleece /jumper and then the ski jacket? Or just the vest, the jumper and then the jacket?
Also with the long thermal long johns - do you then wear joggers over these under the waterproof ski trousers? Or just wear the long johns and then the ski trousers?
TIA

When we go skiing our teens have:
2 x base layers (although I think 3 might be better for a sweaty teen boy 😬) - I mean 2 or 3 for the week, they only wear one at the time!
1 x mid layer (think outdoor long sleeved PE top)
Then ski jacket/trousers

They’ve never wanted an extra layer between the base layer and fleece although I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have one. But I’d be a bit wary of a cotton t-shirt as it holds the sweat. It’s the sweat against the skin that will make you cold. I’d also recommend something to go round the neck but not a scarf (safety reasons as PP has said). We have these buff/neck warmer things, they have a fleece bottom then a long polyester tube, which is good to have up over the head if it’s very cold or snowing, it’s thin enough to go under a helmet.

I’d say no to joggers under the ski trousers. They’d be too bulky and we’ve never found them necessary. (Even me and I am notorious for feeling the cold.)

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but I’d recommend two pairs of ski gloves, so if one pair gets wet they’ve got another pair to wear whilst they dry.

I bought everything from Decathlon

Socks get wet so buy more ski socks

It really depends on the weather, temperature and wind. We’ve had everything from -5C and icy winds to 20C in the sun! Long johns and ski trousers should be fine. Thin layers on top are best so you can add or take them off - thermals, a long sleeved thin mid layer/top, then a fleece or merino wool top layer, and ski jacket. We like the Uniqlo heat tech thermal base layers because they look like “outerwear” rather than underwear so you can wear them on their own as a top if it’s hot and you want to take your jacket/fleece etc off at lunch 😂 They come in different styles camisole/t shirt, long sleeve, V neck, scoop neck, polo neck in lots of different colours.

There's a big difference between the Alps and the Pyrenees, for example. In the Alps you'd probably be cold whereas sometimes in the Pyrenees I see people skiing without a jacket on

The coldest weather we have ever had was in the Pyrenees and the warmest in the Alps 😂 Check the forecast and “feels like” temperature before he packs. The temperature can vary quite a lot across the resort depending on whether they are in sun or shade. He shouldn’t need anything special/technical for mid layers (if he needs them at all), just normal long sleeved tops that aren’t bulky will be fine. Don’t forget sunglasses to wear when they aren’t skiing.

None of us have ever worn even long johns under ski trousers except when kids were teeny and not moving so much so definite no to jogging trousers. Ski trousers are padded. My 2 run hot so tend to wear a thermal base and a cotton tshirt on top. On colder days would be a fleece top or hoodie underneath. The weather is so variable it's best to have a number of layer options. One time in Andorra it was so warm I was stripping in the lift queue. It's been a few years since I've felt the really cold -20 conditions. In general I think most places are heating up unfortunately.

I would add that if they already have sports type tops, you don't need to buy ski specific ones. I tend to wear short or long sleeve sports tops as my base layer, then a thin fleece if cold out, then ski jacket. I wear 3/4 joggers as my base layer on lower half then ski trousers but my husband runs hot so doesn't wear any base layer trousers at all.

You do need to buy a ski jacket and trousers, and several pairs of ski socks and gloves. Get some goggles, Decathlon are good for all of this, or try TK Maxx / mountain warehouse. A couple of tube scarfs and you're all set.

Other things to take would be sturdy outdoor shoes/walking boots for walking on snowy pavements. High factor suncream for the face. SPF lip balm. Sunglasses and hat for when not skiing.

They may want comfy clothes for the evenings, joggers and jumpers.