Beginners Tips: Essential Equipment for Your Ski Holiday!

Are you taking your first ski or snowboard holiday this winter? As well as the worry of finding skis, boards, lessons and accommodation, there are a few "accessories" which in fact can add an enormous amount to the enjoyment of your first time on snow.

The wonderful Francesca from ace chalet company Powder N Shine in the Three Valleys has written us this great piece with some excellent advice for the first timer about what not to leave behind.

"As anyone who has skied in their life knows, the first time can be extremely daunting – and that is before you even see any snow! Many first-time skiers are unsure of what essentials they will need to buy, beg, borrow or steal before making their way to the snowy mountains, so Powder N Shine have put together a list of basics to aid the novice skier before departure:

Ski jacket

These are very warm, but breathable jackets that often contain a number of pockets for things such as lift pass, iPod, wallet, snack bars etc. Classic makes are brands such as The North Face, Helly Hansen and Spyder, while at the trendier end of the spectrum you have the likes of Burton, Quiksilver (Roxy) and Oakley. Branded jackets can be as expensive as £400 (Snow & Rock is a good place to start), whilst budget brands such as Dare2Be (in TKMaxx or online) can start at just £35.

Ski pants

Made by the same manufacturers as jackets, ski pants are warm, but often zip-vented for comfort in warmer conditions. Again they often have multiple pockets for storage and are fully waterproofed. Prices are similar to jackets and of course, all the rage of late are the combined one-piece suits or “onesies” as an homage to the 1980s piste-style, though I wouldn’t recommend these for absolute beginners.

Ski gloves

Hands are one of the first places to feel the cold, and a good pair of gloves are essential. This needn’t mean breaking the bank, but the best gloves (or the even-warmer mittens) are fleece-lined and can cost in the region of £80-100 from the same sort of retailers as the above merchandise.

Thermals

Thermal base layers are definitely required when it is cold, but most people wear them all of the time on the slopes. You can buy lycra-style fitted base layers these days – known as compression garments (e.g. Nike Pro or Under Armour), whilst the older-fashioned undergarments are more cotton style thermals. For thermals, you should budget from around £30.

Thermal ski socks are also vital and can be snapped up for about £7 per pair.

Goggles (and/or sunglasses)

For novice skiers, goggles are a good way of protecting the eyes (a must) from the cold, the glare of the sun and wind. Virtually interchangeable with sunglasses, goggles are more compatible with helmets – which are essential for learning to ski, but can be hired for the week – but a pair of sunglasses is preferable at lunchtime. Goggles begin at around £20.

Layers

Many skiers like to wear around 4 layers, including the items mentioned above, so it is important to have enough clothes. A standard person might wear a thermal base layer, a t-shirt, then a fleece/hoodie and then their ski jacket. It is necessary, therefore, to bring a suitable number of each on a skiing holiday, for example one thermal layer, a number of t-shirts, one or two long-sleeved fleeces and a ski jacket. Thermals and ski pants usually suffice for the bottom half.

Scarf/Snood

In colder weather, the face can feel rather exposed, so it is a good idea to have a scarf or snood at the ready to keep your neck, chin and sometimes nose a bit toastier!

These are the basics of what you are likely to need. Once you have done a few weeks’ skiing, I would suggest the next thing to consider is buying your own ski boots as these are the most personal item of skiing equipment, and should be tailored to your own feet.

However, at first you should ensure you enjoy the sport and want to do it regularly before forking out £300+ on a pair of ski boots! Hire shops tend to have very up-to-date boots which are plenty good enough for you to get your ski legs and the same can be said for the equipment they stock. Only when you have truly caught the ski bug should you start to look at buying all the kit."

Thanks Francesca! Find out more about Powder N Shine's great catered chalets in Les Menuires.

Thanks also to Ski Bartlett for providing the images. If you're looking for gear, Ski Bartlett have an enormous selection of ski hardware and all the extras you may need. They can also give you extremely helpful advice whether you're a nervous beginner or a confident expert (the top GB racers are regular clients). They also provide a great range of services - such as the latest in custom boot fitting and top notch ski servicing,