What You Need To Buy Before Your First Ski Season
You’re heading out to the slopes for your first ski season, but now you have the unenviable task of deciding what to buy and what to pack. You’ve come to the right place.
It can be a daunting task to know exactly what you need to buy when preparing for your first ski season.
That’s why we have created this guide so you know exactly what you need to buy before heading out to the ski resort.
Some items in this list, like thermal underlayers and ski socks, are absolutely essential.
Others, like a hip flask or ski tuning kit, are optional extras to make your ski season as successful as possible.
We have categorised the essential items into price brackets so you know where to focus more on spending and what items can be bought cheaply.
So, let’s get into what you need to buy before your first ski season:
It is worth bearing in mind that the items you need to buy may depend slightly on where you are planning to work during the ski season. In the reasonably warm resorts in Australia and New Zealand, a thinner ski jacket will suffice.
In the Beginner’s guide to working a ski season in Canada, we outline what life can be like when you’re experiencing -30°C (-22°F) for weeks on end. In that scenario, you definitely want to have the warmest, highest-quality gear possible.
Note: in this article we haven’t mentioned any of the more generic things that you need to be taking with you while working a ski season (things like towels, water bottles etc.). Our packing tips for long-term travel goes into more depth on essentials that should feature on any travel packing list.
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
During our Ski Season in Lake Louise
Things To Buy Before Your First Ski Season under £25 ($30)
Hand Warmers - brilliant invention and crucial for those -20 days.
Hip Flask - to get you in the apres ski mood while on the slopes. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just practical.
Lip Balm - your lips will get dried and cracked in the cold, so please protect them.
Phone Sleeve - phone batteries never last long in freezing temperatures, so buy a phone sleeve to keep your phone warm.
Portable Charger is essential to ensure your phone stays alive in the freezing temperatures.
Ski Lock - you’re going to be spending a fair bit of cash on all of your ski season gear, so the last thing you want is for your skis or snowboard to be picked up by somebody else mistakenly
Toe Warmers - these even stick to the inside of snowboard or ski boots to keep your toes warm all day long.
Travel Adapter - nice and simple and has plenty of USB ports, so you don’t have extension leads everywhere. It’s even universal so that it can be used for a ski season in Canada, the US, the Alps or even Japan.
Warm Hat - you will want a hat that keeps you warm throughout your season. Something simple like a Vans Beanie is perfect.
Ice-climbing in Maligne Canyon - wearing our full winter gear
Things To Buy Before Your First Ski Season under £50 ($65)
Osprey Backpack - you want a good quality backpack for the slopes that’s tough and durable for when you inevitably fall and not too expensive, so you aren’t too fussed if it gets some wear and tear.
Protective Bum Pads - you don’t have to spend too much on these, but if you are nervous about your first season, then they are definitely worth investing in. One of the realities of working a ski season on your gap year is that you will learn to fall over successfully, but while you learn, protective bum pads are definitely a wise investment.
Snowboard/Ski Socks - you don’t need many pairs, but make sure you buy good quality ones. These Women’s Burton Snowboard Socks and Men’s Burton Snowboards Socks are an excellent place to start.
Ben’s snowboard gear - Salomon Sleepwalker (2020 edition) Snowboard
Did you know? Buying your ski gear from sustainable outdoor brands is one of our best tips for becoming a more sustainable skier (or snowboarder)
Things To Buy Before Your First Ski Season under £100 ($135)
Gore-tex Mittens - you never want cold hands during your ski season. Buy a cheaper pair of regular gloves to use every day and then have a pair of fully insulated and waterproof mittens to wear on top of the gloves for when you’re on the slopes.
Thermal Under Layers - your best bet here is to get good quality Merino Wool thermal underlayers. Merino wool is warm and doesn’t take in sweat, so it doesn’t need to be washed quite as often. Icebreaker is a great brand for thermal under layers, and we’ve given you some suggestions to get started with: Men’s Merino Leggings, Men’s Merino Top, Women’s Merino Leggings, and Women’s Merino Top.
Ski Goggles - yes you can go all out and buy Oakley Flight Deck Goggles (they really are good), but you can easily find a pair for cheaper that can do a similar job. If you can, buy some with interchangeable lenses to suit all snow conditions.
Ski Helmet - an absolutely essential item. Burton offers great deals for their Anon Helmet range starting from around £70 ($95): Anon Helmets (Men) and Anon Helmets (Women).
Ski/Snowboard Tuning Kit - if you want to keep your kit in good condition and cut down the costs for professional tuning, then this kit will be a great addition to your ski season arsenal
Sunglasses - you will need some good quality polarised sunglasses for those really bright days. Sun days in the snow are tough without sunglasses: Oakley Sunglasses (Men) and Oakley Sunglasses (Women).
Things To Buy Before Your First Ski Season over £100 ($135)
GoPro - you want to impress your friends back at home with excellent quality footage of you on the slopes. People always speak about wanting to buy a GoPro but never have a good enough excuse to get one - use your first ski season as that excuse.
Ski/Snowboard Bag - this one is from Dakine (it’s the one we have), and it can comfortably fit 2 snowboards with bindings, helmets, boots, gloves, thermals and jackets (remember to double-check the length you need).
Ski/Snowboard Boots - you really need to try these on in person to make sure they are right for you, definitely don’t buy them online unless you’ve already tried the exact pair and size in a store first.
Skis/Snowboards and Bindings/Poles - these are wholly dependent on what level of skier/snowboarder you are. These articles should help you get an idea of what to look out for: Snowboard Buying Guide and Skis Buying Guide.
Ski/Snowboard Jacket - when it comes to jackets, you want something warm and waterproof, then anything else after that is a bonus. Switchbacktravel has made a brilliant guide to the best snowboard jackets 2021-2022, and we’d recommend giving it a read.
For reference, we own the Women’s Volcom Pullover Snowboard Jacket and Men’s O’Neill Snowboard Jacket (not the exact same make but very similar), and both served us very well in below -30°C (-22°F) temperatures when working a ski season as a couple in Canada.
Salopettes/Ski Pants - again, these are one of the things that it’s 100% worth spending some extra money on. You need them to be waterproof, comfy and durable. This Ski Pants Guide from DiveIn highlights the best ski pants options for 2022.
Ticket 4 Two Please on the Lake Louise Gondola
Packing Tips for Your First Ski Season
Thinking of everything you need to pack before working your first ski season can seem daunting and intimidating. Don’t panic, though; prioritise the bigger things that need quite a lot of research, and then get the little things after that.
Make sure to follow these packing tips for your first ski season, and the whole process will seem a lot smoother:
Do not pack too much cotton clothing - cotton takes in water and sweat and causes you to get very cold very quickly when on the slopes. Avoid it at all costs and only wear it for when you’re going out or will be indoors.
Bring a spare waterproof jacket - you probably don’t want to wear your favourite expensive ski jacket to the bars and cafes every day, so make sure to pack a spare one for everyday use.
A sturdy pair of waterproof boots is essential - you want your feet to be dry and warm at all times, so a good pair of hiking boots or specialised snow boots is critical.
Pack a few different mid-layers - for the colder days on the hill, you will want to be wearing a mid-layer or two. These can be simple t-shirts made of synthetic or non-wicking material.
Search for Facebook Buy & Sell Groups - most people finishing up a ski season will want to offload some of their kit before heading home. Search for the resort/area you’re heading to on Facebook, and you may find some pretty cheap deals.
Buy compression cubes - these handy compression cubes make sure you can pack absolutely everything you need in half of the space.
Lake Louise Ski Hill (Alberta, Canada)
There you have it, an entire list of everything you need to buy before your first ski season. Remember, though, if you can’t quite find everything before the season starts, you will always be able to pick things up in the resort area itself - though be prepared to spend slightly more on those things as demand will be higher.
Having discovered everything you need to buy before your first ski season, you may be wondering how you’re going to pay for everything; for that, you will need to make sure you have a job for the season.
Finding a job in a ski resort can be a tricky process at times, but finding ski season work as a couple can often prove even trickier, which is why we created a guide featuring the best tips and tricks for finding jobs as a couple in resorts around the world.
In this article, we outline exactly how to become a ski instructor this winter season courtesy of The Winter Sports Company.