By: Meghan Wolf
My family recently relocated to Texas from Chicago and it wasn’t until I started packing for a ski trip that I realized how much winter gear we no longer have! I was used to bundling everyone up in multiple layers and now my youngest son doesn’t even have a pair of warm shoes.
We try to get out to Colorado once a year and we’ll be in Chicago for the holidays, so I decided to invest in a few things that can be used after our trip or passed down to my younger son.
My oldest son, Connor, just turned four and will be in ski school for five days of the trip. Since I don’t want to do laundry every night (who am I kidding, I probably will do laundry every night anyway!), I’m buying the essentials and looking into rentals through Mountain Threads. It’s a great service that rents out ski gear and delivers everything to your hotel. I’ve also been chatting with neighbors through Next Door about borrowing gear since it’s silly to buy everything when you live in a warm climate.
Here’s what we have lined up for the trip so far. Thankfully my youngest, Thomas, has a lot of hand-me-downs from our winters in Chicago!
Snowsuits
Do yourself a favor and get a snowsuit instead of using snow pants and a coat. This eliminates the risk of snow getting trapped between their jacket and base layer if they fall. We’ve used both of these snowsuits for multiple seasons, so they’re a great investment.
Snowsuit similar to Connor’s // Snowsuit Similar to Thomas’
Winter Boots for Kids
Both of my boys LOVE playing in the snow, so we’re bringing a few pairs of boots with us. They live in Keen sandals when it’s warm out, so I decided to try Keen boots this year. I really appreciate how durable their shoes are – Thomas has a hand-me-down pair that have been through two boys before him and they’re still in great shape. I have a feeling the boots will be the same quality!
The boys each have a pair to wear all day in colder weather and a pair specifically reserved for playing in the snow. Connor can’t wait to make snow angels and build snowmen in his new boots! Our boots:
Connor 1: Kootenay II // Connor 2: Lumi Boot // Thomas 1: Kootenay // Thomas 2: Pep
Ski Mittens
I recently purchased these Veyo mittyz and I’m obsessed. They don’t have a spot for the thumb, making them super easy to get on and off. They also cinch at the wrist, which helps keep the mittens on and snow out. These North Face mittens are also extremely warm and have lasted three winters.
Snow Hats for Kids
I love personalized winter hats and hope my kids never grow out of them! These are our favorite.
Ski Goggles / Sunglasses
Connor needs goggles for ski school and he picked a pair that will make him easy to spot on the slopes! I’ll also pack a few pairs of sunglasses from Carters because it does get pretty bright in the snow when the sun is out.
Ski Socks for Kids
I stocked up on socks because I know we’ll wear these after the trip. SmartWool is my favorite and their kids designs are really cute: Kids, baby/toddler
Long Underwear
Long underwear are key to staying warm, so each boy got a pair.
Sunscreen
I never leave home without sunscreen now that we’re in Texas. This Beauty Counter sunscreen stick is always in my bag because it’s super smooth and easy to apply on little faces. Connor will be outside several hours each day during ski school, so I want to make sure his face is protected.
Packing cubes
Nothing makes me happier than organized packing cubes and these Gonex cubes compress what you’ve packed.
Thankfully we’re renting ski boots, skis and a helmet. But I’ll be packing extra kleenex, chapstick, hand lotion and water bottles to stay hydrated. If you’re planning a ski trip this year, I’d love to hear about your must-have gear. And make sure you check out this post with tips for planning a ski trip:
https://thechirpingmoms.com/planning-a-family-ski-trip/
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