Dressing for snow!

[Hop27]

I've been invited on a work trip at a snow resort, I'm not a ski bunny but keen on learning and lessons are part of the trip.
What essentials do I need?

What resort and what time of year? What you need to wear differs quite a bit but as a rough guide:
-Thermals: top and bottoms to wear under your ski clothes, people on here will swear it’s fine to take 1 pair for a week long trip but skiing is a work out and IMO it’s grim to not wear at least a clean top every day
-Ski socks: get good ski socks, don’t wear a second pair inside the socks as it risks blisters
-Ski clothes: Jacket and trousers
-Jumper or fleece to wear over thermals, under jacket, nothing bulky
-Gloves: ski gloves, I like ones with removable liners and to buy a spare set of liners to swap out if your hands get sweaty
-Neck gaitor to pull up over your face if it gets cold on chairlifts (the original face mask)
-Goggles: I like the ones where you can swap the lenses for sun and low light
-Snow boots, hat, non ski gloves, sunglasses for wandering around town/apres ski, snow boots may not be necessary at a low altitude resort
-Swimsuit if accommodation has spa facilities
-Once a day high factor facial sunscreen
-Ibuprofen for those learning to ski aches and pains

Resort will be Perisher in September, so not super cold. But I have very little winter clothes .... all I have is a north face duck down vest.

I would recommend hiring the snow gear. You’re only going for a week and there is absolutely no point spending a fortune on buying snow gear unless you know you love it. I would probably buy my own thermals, (Uniqlo or Anaconda are excellent) 2-3 pairs of ski socks and gloves. (Hygiene) Apart from that, you will need something like a zip-up fleece that you can wear under your jacket and take off if you get hot. (Same shops). Jumpers, beanie, scarf, apres-ski boots can be bought pretty cheaply at Anaconda or hired there so you don’t have to carry them. Lip balm with SPF and SPF for your face that you absolutely MUST remember to apply to your neck, under your chin, under your nose and under your eyebrows as these areas catch the light reflected off the snow abs burn very quickly. An occlusive moisturiser to put over that because it’s very dry. (I carry a small tube of Weleda Skin Food as you can use it for hands and face. Far too thick to use any other time.)

*Once a day high factor SPF is not going to cut the mustard as you are hanging out under the hole in the ozone layer. You’re going to need to reapply religiously.

I’d ask around and see what you could borrow, ski wear is so expensive that it’s not worth buying your own really

*Also recommend polarized goggles as it will probably be beautifully sunny. It gets very glary. (I’m going to Hotham again in September, borders-willing so fingers crossed!!!)

If you do end up needing to buy, TK Maxx does a good line in skiwear, although you might be a little early in the season.

Decathlon should have everything you need.

Ski Trousers, jacket, socks, gloves, hat, thermal leggings and long sleeved top. Ski goggles. Sun glasses.

There should be shops there with anything extra you'll need hopefully. Take swimming stuff. Obvs jumper / hoodie and normal clothes for evenings. Non slip boots such as hiking boots

It might be boiling hot so prepare for that too

A buff or similar for round your neck and then you can use it as a headband when you take your helmet off.

I second borrowing as much as possible.

Have fun!

If you want to buy look at sportspursuit for sales

Also if you are into mountaineering etc you can use some of yoir mountain equipment. You don’t need a special ski jacket for example