Ski Trip Packing Tips
One advantage of our commitment to early season skiing was that we had fully tested our outerwear and equipment and were comfortable with it. We knew what every family member needed to pack for a long weekend of skiing. The biggest challenge was making our necessities fit into a manageable number of bags! Taking a vacation with young kids is never easy, and traveling with ski equipment definitely increases the difficulty level. Here are some tips to make it work:
1) Use one large boot bag for each skier. Fill the bag with everything that person needs for their entire trip—on and off mountain. Reduce the amount of non-ski clothing that you pack and take full advantage of laundry facilities in your lodging. The best boot bags have straps so you can wear them like backpacks, freeing up your hands. Our family likes these Swix boot bags.
2) If traveling with multiple pairs of skis, use double ski bags. While heavier, these reduce the total number of bags you'll need to transport. Once skis and poles are in, fill the bags with any remaining durable soft goods (clothing) that didn’t fit in each traveler’s boot bag. We highly recommend double ski bags with wheels, like this durable, affordable bag from Athletico.
3) Fill the empty spaces in each traveler’s ski boots and helmet. Stuff ski socks and rolled-up base layers into boots, and place each skier’s liners, gloves, balaclavas, and goggles inside his or her helmet.
4) Remember that on most airlines, your ski bag and boot bag together will count as only one bag when you check luggage. This gives you more flexibility to check other bags.
5) To the extent it’s practical, dress in layers for travel and wear your bulkiest clothing on the plane. Ski trips really only require two items of footwear: a pair of ski boots and one quality pair of snow boots. Wear your snow boots in flight and save space in your luggage for other things (maybe that cozy pair of slippers you can’t live without).
Even though boot and ski bags are surprisingly roomy, skiing with kids quickly teaches even the heaviest of packers to pare down. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that “dressy” in a ski town means something quite different than what you might wear for a city night out; the relaxed vibe at even higher-end restaurants means that finery can be left at home. Clean jeans, a nice sweater, and a great pair of winter boots will be the utility players for all of your adventures off-mountain, and ski outerwear can usually perform double-duty for evenings out. Pack light, pack warm, and pack practical, and you’ll be on the road to ski trip success!
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