Ski Gear Guide
Seasoned or first-timer, you need more or less the same gear, and that framing is exactly right. Here is the list with the parts that have changed marked.
What you must have, in order of how much it matters:
- Boots. The only piece worth real money and a proper fitting. Everything about skiing is transmitted through them, and a badly fitted boot ruins a week. Hire skis, buy boots.
- A helmet. This is the biggest change since this was written: helmet use went from a minority habit to near-universal. Look for rotational protection such as MIPS, which did not exist in ski helmets then and is the main reason a modern helmet beats a 2009 one. Replace it after any real impact; the foam is single-use.
- Goggles with a low-light lens. Flat light is what stops people skiing, not cold. Modern frames swap lenses magnetically in a lift queue and most ship with two.
- Layers, not one thick coat. A base layer in merino or synthetic, never cotton; a fleece or light insulated mid layer; a waterproof shell with pit zips.
- Gloves, and a spare pair. Wet gloves end days.
If you go beyond the pistes, the list changes completely: a beacon, a metal shovel, a 240cm probe, and the training to use all three in under five minutes. That is not optional equipment and no pack or airbag replaces it. Courses and forecasts are at avalanche.org.
What to hire rather than buy for a first few seasons: skis or board, and poles. What to buy: boots, helmet, goggles, gloves and base layers.
And the money-saving advice that still works: buy clothing at the end of the season. The technology moves slowly and last year's shell is the same shell.
Part of the guide to ski and snowboard.