Packing list: Ski trip
34items — tick them off as you pack
This list covers day trips and cabin-to-cabin ski trips on mountain skis or touring cross-country skis — not ski touring in steep avalanche terrain (see ski touring). The rucksack usually weighs 8–12 kg without skis, boots, poles and food carried on your body — with the clothing on, the weight drops towards 6–9 kg.
For trips on prepared tracks the list is generous; for a cabin trip in the mountains it is enough. Avalanche kit and an airbag rucksack belong on a ski touring trip, not here.
Packed: 0 / 34
Clothing
Ski
Trip gear
Safety
Food and drink
Hygiene
* = recommended safety equipment
Tips
- Wax the grip zone before the trip, not in the field. Klister and grip wax are sticky to handle out in the cold — spend 5 minutes at home instead. Bring a scraper and a piece of wax that suits the day’s temperature.
- A spare basket for the ski pole weighs nothing and saves the day if one breaks. Binding parts and a couple of screws belong in the same repair box.
- A flask beats a drinks system in winter. The drinking tube freezes, and so does the bottle opening. A flask with lukewarm squash or tea works all day.
- A hat is mandatory, not optional. Even on mild days the temperature falls quickly in shade or wind. Spare wool mittens and a neck gaiter are safety, not luxury.
- Wool against the skin, not cotton. Cotton holds moisture and cools you down. Wool base layers work both to wick sweat and as extra warmth during breaks.
- The ski track can be icy in the evening — micro-spikes or light traction aids in the rucksack are smart if you head out after the sun has gone down.
Source: DNT — packing list for ski trips, adapted by Snuitide.
Need a more tailored list? Build your own packing list →