5 days of skiing - how many of each to pack

[Christmasdreaming]

I’d really appreciate some help. DS is going on a ski trip with school in April for 5 days of skiing and 2 days travel

we’re going to aldi and Lidl this morning to get his supplies as we don’t want to spend loads

he’s got a package from school which includes ski boots. Ski jacket and helmet

quick question really, for 5 days of skiing how many of the following should I buy him?

• gloves
• base layers
• ski socks
• ski trousers
• fleece to go over base layers

we will grab some waterproof walking boots nearer the time to wear when he isn’t skiing

hell take joggers and warm clothes for the evenings but we have no idea if he needs 5 sets of everything or if that’s excesssive!

I would personally go with:
1 pair of ski gloves, 2 pairs of liner gloves to swap out if they get sweaty, 1 pair of normal gloves to wear around town
2 pairs of bottom base layers and if he’s a teen then 5 tops so clean for every day because they do get sweaty and will stink if reworn by a teen boy, if he’s younger though you can probably get away with 2 and change midweek.
Same applies to the ski socks- clean each day for a teen but 2 pairs would fine for a kid
1 pair of ski trousers
2 fleeces/mid layers

Definitely not 5 sets of everything.
We wear ski socks and base layers for 2 days, fleece for over base layer will do 3 days. He’ll only need 1 pair of salopettes/waterproof ski trousers.
He’ll need 1 pair of ski gloves and 1 other warm pair of gloves for evenings if they go out anywhere (ski gloves will be drying on radiator). May also need thin cotton inner gloves for extra warmth depending on time of year.
He’ll need 2 fleece snoods for his neck which can pull up over his face if very cold.
And goggles, maybe also ski sunglasses depending on time of year.

Actually just saw it’s April so will probably be quite warm. So may want to skip the base layers altogether and wear nothing under the ski trousers and just a normal t shirt under the mid layer. This is what the teens in my family would do anyway! And maybe forget liner gloves and just get 2 pairs of ski gloves since he likely won’t need the extra warmth but drying them can sometimes be a struggle so he might appreciate a second pair to swap out.

• gloves x2
• base layers tops x5
• Base layer bottoms x2 or 3
• ski socks x5
• ski trousers x1
• fleece to go over base layers x2

Kids soak gloves so I'd get 2 pairs so one can dry out.
Remember if he has underarmour / skins for football they could also be used.

Thanks everyone that’s really helpful

he doesn’t have anything at the moment so hoping to grab it all between Aldi/lidl today

for the inner gloves, are they like running gloves?

im so pleased we don’t need 5 of everything! I think im nervous as I wont be there to remind him to hang up his wet clothes but im sure he’ll learn that if he doesn’t they will be wet!!

He's not likely to get too wet. Gloves are the exception as kids start messing around trying to make snow balls etc.

I wouldn't worry about inner gloves esp at that time of year. I'd just have 2 pairs of gloves.

Id go
2 gloves
2 base layers
2 socks
1 fleece
1 trousers

That's what I take for me, so I took/ sent the same for my teen boys when they came skiing with me (February Poland) and went on a school trip (Feb Italy) and it was fine. The boys are sweaty obviously, they're teenagers 14-16, but the ski stuff didn't smell sweaty.

I like to team a thinner pair of woollen gloves and an outer waterproof pair of gloves when skiiing..

Woollen socks are warm and better if slightly damp.
A spare pair of tights to put on under everything can make a very cold day bearable.

1x water proof ski trousers
1x fleece, but with a thick jumper as back up
3x socks
2x thin gloves
1-2x waterproof gloves. Not crucial to have, but if he throws snowballs they'll be wet.
Base layers depends how sweaty and smelly he gets! I only take 2, but a teen boy might want more. If you can get merino, it smells less. Under armour type sports lycra also works if he's got some of that as spares.

Depending on where he’s going, April
can be very warm and the snow can be wet. Get two pairs of ski gloves so one can be drying. I’ve never worn base layers on my bottom half in March or April; salopettes/ski trousers on their own will be fine. Some t-shirts or short sleeved running tops may be better than a long sleeved base layer on warm afternoons. Plenty of factor 50 suncream suitable for mountain use - cannot emphasise this enough: the sun is strong at that time of year, coupled with altitude and reflection from the snow - it’s very easy to burn.

He’s going to la thuile

We’ve never been skiing before so I’m really grateful for all your advice

so far I’ve got 2 pairs of gloves. 1 x ski trousers, 2 x base layers, ski goggles with blue lenses, 2 pairs of ski socks and 1 ski coat. Not bad for a quick dash to Lidl and aldi!

weve come home and tried it all on and it fits 🙂 so I’ll go back tomorrow and get a few more now I know his size

The only thing I think he’ll need more of are ski socks. Otherwise sounds good. Base layers unlikely to get worn, good to have just in case but La Thuile isn’t high altitude so in April it will be warm, definitely don’t get any more and pack a clean t shirt for each day. He can wear hoodies he already owns instead of a fleece.

I’m a teacher who goes on school ski trips in April. I have sold my old ski coat because it was too thick and I was boiling! In the town itself, we all just wore hoodies and normal shoes because there isn’t actually any snow lower down. You have to go high up for the glacier skiing at that time of year. I take one lighter ski coat, one thin fleece top, one pair of ski trousers, long sleeve t-shirts, one pair of gloves, two neck warmers, and three pairs of ski socks. Thermals don’t get worn, but I take them just in case. Then normal clothes for the evening.

Also - Vinted is great for decent ski gear at a fraction of the price

Id go for 5 pairs of ski socks, but baselayers probably aren't needed in April, unless hes always cold. Can you ask round and borrow things? Or a trip to Decathlon for cheap basics.
It might rain, and ski stuff isn't waterproof generally. 2 pairs of gloves can be handy, and maybe his normal coat for the evening (or a pac a mac thing if packing space is tight). He'll need evening clothes, especially if activities are planned. Skiing holidays take a lot of packing!

2 of everything except outer ski wear. My kids often wear the same base layers for 5 days!

He'll have a blast. School is where I got my first taste of skiing.

In April I wouldn’t bother with any sort of snow boots. He would boil in town (v v unlikely to be any snow on the ground then, and they clear the streets anyway). Too hot to wear on the coach or in the hotel too. Sturdy trainers should be absolutely fine. Save your money.

Definitelynat least 2 pairs of ski gloves preferably the same.
My DC frequently dropped a glove off a ski lift or left one in a gondola etc.
And it will be warm so they will get soggy.
Ski gloves in resort can be eye wateringly expensive (speaks from bitter experience).

Would good quality walking boots be ok instead of snow boots then? He does go walking a lot and is in scouts so they would get used more than snow boots

maybe I’ll grab another pair of gloves as they are only £3.99 in Aldi at the moment

Definitely walking shoes

Walking boots will be fine. There’s not going to be deep snow on the ground at ~1400m in April so definitely save your money and get what will be reworn.

His walking boots will be fine. Have school issued a kit list of what they recommend?

No we haven’t got a list yet, it’s probably too soon but I just wanted to grab some things this week in the Aldi & Lidl special buys as the prices are great