Thermal long-sleeved tops and long johns are an essential part of your ski wardrobe. One should look for the following when purchasing these garments:

Odour Eliminating Properties

Heat Management – Wicking Properties that speed up the evaporation of perspiration, keeping the skin warm and dry.

Super Soft Feel

Good Stretching Properties

UV Protection

Ski socks are thicker, warmer and longer than normal socks. These are important as your feet come under a lot of pressure when skiing. Unique hi-tech yarns are combined to achieve rapid moisture transfer and crease-free comfort. It is preferable to have ski socks that contain wool.

Your jacket should be water proof and wind resistant. It should also be breathable to allow your body’s moisture to wick and evaporate.  Quality ski jackets usually have these important features: Hood with Draw Cord, Inner cuff, Snow Skirt, Draw Cord around the bottom hem, Zip Pockets, Pocket for Ski Pass, Air Vents (not essential, but nice to have).

Once again, like the jacket, your pants should be water proof, wind resistant and breathable. Some ski pants have got air vents on the inner thigh. This is a nice feature, but not essential. Certain styles also feature dungaree-style straps to prevent the snow from getting in when falling. This feature is not essential if you have a decent jacket that has a draw cord around the bottom hem, as this should prevent any snow from getting in if properly secured.

An important feature of any ski pants is the inner gaiter. These are elasticated and are designed to fit over ski boots. This will prevent any snow from getting inside your boots.

In the event of your thermal layer and your jacket not providing enough warmth, it is advisable to equip yourself a mid-layer or two. You need to be able to adjust to the conditions as it is unlikely that you will get the same weather every day of your trip. Also, different people feel the cold differently to one another. Jackets also vary in terms of warmth.

The most common mid layer is a polar fleece jacket with a ¼ or a full zip. Other mid layers include lightweight down jackets, lightweight ski tops, jerseys etc. It is advisable to try on your jacket wearing the different layers before purchasing it, to ensure that there is room and that it is comfortable.

Almost everybody on the ski slopes wears a helmet for obvious safety reasons. It is possible to rent a helmet at most ski resorts. However, it is a good idea to check the rates versus purchasing one. If there is not much of a difference, then perhaps purchasing a helmet is the way to go for hygiene and comfort reasons. In terms of weight, they only weigh about 400g. You can put a few socks and gloves inside them, pop them into your luggage, and voila!

You will need a beanie of sorts to keep your pip warm when you are not on the slopes. Fleece lined ones tend to provide more warmth. Look for a funky comfortable one. Some ladies prefer fashionable head bands, or ear warmers.

Helmet Chubes are cleverly designed to fit under helmets. They provide extra warmth to your head (although helmets do a good job in this regard) and keep your neck warm at the same time.

Yes, you will need something to keep your neck and chin warm. You could take a warm scarf. These are ok when walking around the resort but can be troublesome when skiing. Neck warmers and buffs tend to be the more popular options for the slopes.

These keep your upper face and eyes warm – cold eyes tend to stream. They are imperative when skiing in snowy conditions. Always ensure that the goggles that you purchase are dual lensed, as this should prevent them from misting up.

They are available in a variety of shapes and colours. Lenses vary from clear, yellow, orange, pink, brown and grey. Some lenses are coated for extra protection from the sun, others are photochromic, changing in darkness depending on the weather conditions. More specialised lenses also include polarised ones, which eliminate the glare.  Sonar lenses from Zeiss filter the blue light. This creates a clear view of any irregularities in the snow surface.

OTG (Over the Glasses) Goggles are recommended for people who are short sighted and need to wear spectacles all the time. These goggles are specially designed to fit over glasses, enabling the wearer protection while still being able to see properly.

The straps of all goggles can be lengthened to fit around most helmets.

These are super-important! You want to have warm, waterproof and breathable gloves. Make sure that they are not tight. Mittens tend to keep one’s hands warmer, as the fingers generate more body warmth when grouped together.

Glove Liners are designed to provide extra warmth when worn inside ski gloves, therefore the fit needs to be snug. They are available in quite a few different fabrics: polyester, silk, Softex and spandex. Some are even touch screen friendly! They are also nice to use on their own when not skiing i.e. On the bus, when driving, walking around town etc.

Sun block for you face and lip balm are essential to prevent painful sun and windburn.

Warm, waterproof boots with good grips are important for when you are not on the slopes. Certain models are equipped with the OC System. This is a patented system that includes spikes under the sole of the boot. These can be put into use within a few seconds and will prevent the user from slipping on treacherous icy surfaces. Many bones have been broken from such falls!

Should your snow boots not be equipped with the OC System, you might look at purchasing a pair of Nordic Grips. These can fit into your pocket, and can be fitted over your boot in seconds, should you encounter any icy surfaces.