Sharing my packing list for kids for ski trips for two kids. As a family, we pack extremely light for our regular trips. However, ski trips are particularly challenging because of all the winter gears are quite bulky and you have to bring extra layers to anticipate different weather. At the same time, I like to minimize the amount of stuff we bring so we have room (and hands) for all the other gears.

The following is based on a 5-day ski trip. I am not including the adult clothing since that’s personal preference, you can always use the kid’s list as a guidance.

Must have per child:

  1. two pairs of pajamas
  2. one pair of underwear for each day
  3. two pairs of regular socks
  4. one pair of snow boots
  5. two sets of regular tops/pants
  6. one beanie

Ski gear per child:

  1. two sets of thermals
  2. two extra mid layers
  3. one ski outfit (jacket and ski pants)
  4. one helmet
  5. one pair of ski gloves
  6. 3 pairs of ski socks
  7. one baklava
  8. one pair of goggles

Must have:

  1. Chapstick – to protect those delicate lips
  2. Body Lotion – apply on legs before putting on ski socks to prevent dry itchiness
  3. Travel size sunblock high SPF – the sun reflection on snow can be quite strong so reapply often.

Fun stuff to have:

  1. Snowball maker, kids love these because they make shaved-iced types of snowballs that are easy to play (and eat!)
  2. Hand warmers, it’s not necessary, but it’s fun for kids when they played in the snow for too long
  3. If you are driving, bring a sled so you can entertain the kids after hours.

Things to watch out for:

  1. High altitude+dryness = bloody nose, make sure the kids drink plenty of water, put lots and lot of tissues in every pocket just in case. That’s also the reason I pack two sets of pajamas since the nose bleeding tends to happen at night.
  2. Dry weather also is prone for dry skin and itchiness. That’s when lotion and chapstick come in handy.
  3. Cold/windy is the worst experience for little kids who are trying to learn skiing, dress them warmly and put baklava on them help reduce the uncomfortableness in windy and snowing weather.
  4. I often pack a kid energy bar in their pocket too just in case they get hungry.
  5. Eat lots of fruits! The mountain weather makes everybody thirsty and tired – bananas, apples, grapes, watermelons are an excellent way to help replenish potassium, vitamins and help rehydrate.

Hope this is helpful. Skiing is super fun! As long as you are well prepared, the weather doesn’t bother the little ones so much!