How to Layer for Skiing or Snowboarding – from a Novice!

This season our family decided to go to Breckinridge, Colorado for Christmas. It was our first real destination Christmas and we decided to forego tangible gifts and channel our savings into a trip for the family. Oh my goodness… what an experience!

This post is all about what to wear when skiing or snowboarding. Now, this is coming from a girl who hates being cold. In fact, I’ll do literally anything adventurous as long as I can guarantee I’ll stay warm and dry! 

These are my own tips for ensuring you have a good time in the snow – because there’s nothing worse than shivering miserably while you’re just trying to learn to stay upright on the slopes. You must stay warm and dry!

ONE BIG TIP: 

If it’s your first time, or you’re not sure how often you’ll use these items, you may want to forgo purchasing all new things. In that case, I suggest REI because they have all kinds of lightly worn/used base layers and other items. Facebook marketplace is also a great place to find used cold-weather gear.  

Also, you can always rent a bib and coat for about $45 per day. This is where you rent your helmet, snowboard, skis, and boots.  But once you know you’d like to do this many times over, consider investing in your own snow gear. You can also wear them sledding or tubing when you get snowfall! 

With that said, this is what you’ll need: 

START WITH YOUR BASE LAYERS

OK. First and foremost, layers are key and it’s imperative that none of your clothes are cotton. That’s because anything cotton is going to absorb water and get cold really fast, and of course, cause friction and blistering. 

Some of the best base layers are made by Under Armor.  Pay attention to the warmth level. When we arrived in Denver, the temp was a tundra-like negative 20 degrees. Yep, 20 degrees below zero. That’s 52 degrees below freezing. Girl, bye! I came prepared, though.  

I brought my under armor in the 3.0 level. I could have done 4.0, but 3.0 worked great. I got the leggings and long sleeve crew neck.  I also had this SmartWool set and it has been amazing! I linked one other merino wool option, which is warm and a little less expensive. Again, just remember, no cotton. Choose polyester/synthetic blends or wool. 

SOCKS

I’ll say it once more, no cotton. I got bombas wool socks.  And they were amazing- soft and comfy.  As long as you find a good brand of comfy wool socks, you’ll be happy! Here’s an alternative from Amazon. 

CASHMERE

Hear me out, sis. A thin cashmere sweater over your base layer is a life saver.  Not only because it is super thin and lightweight for layering, but because it’s going to keep moisture out and keep you VERY warm, while maintaining thin layers. You can get some great pieces on sale from Everlane or J crew or Quince at end of season prices. A classic cashmere sweater is also just nice to have on hand for everyday wear and I’ve already worn mine three times with jeans since we got back. 

Trust me on this. Invest in a lightweight cashmere sweater. If you can’t get cashmere, look for an ultra-soft thin synthetic version like this one from Banana Republic factory. 

MITTENS > GLOVES 

Get you some mittens and toss a couple of hottie hand warmers in there, and you can thank me later.  Mittens allow your fingers to have contact with one another, which is equivalent to cuddling up with the significant other on a chilly night. Your fingers need their besties when in tundra land, lady! 

THE REAL MVP: A SNOWSUIT

Don’t want snow creeping past your powder skirt and up your back? Yeah, you need a snowsuit. I was so happy I got this one from Free People. It’s lightweight, warm and sleek and NOTHING wet or cold is getting in this baby. It has a hood, lots of pockets and is super cute. If you plan on going on a skiing or snowboarding more than a few times, this is worth it! Just look at the reviews. 5 stars, and I agree! I got the Almond and Judah got the white. It is TTS and Judah and I got our regular sizes. We were able to layer our thin layering pieces underneath but if you like just a little more breathing room, you can size up. 

FANNIE PACK

This was a lifesaver. Make sure you wear it around your waist and not as a cross-body, in case you fall on your chest. Here’s what I put in there:

• sunscreen 
• hand sani
• credit card + ID
• hotties
• lip balm
• a tiny sample of La Mer (a tube of Aquaphor works too!) 
• phone

I bought a couple multi packs of Jack BlackLip balm to put in everyone’s stocking so they could have it for the slopes. Supergoop! Glow Stick was super convenient to reapply throughout the day. Aquaphor or a sample of La Mer to reapply anywhere I need before reapplying sunscreen.  It gets really dry there so you’ll need moisture!

SKI MASK

This was a game-changer. Keeps your neck warm and also acts as a liner for your helmet. You can wear it a few different ways to keep your face and ears warm or pull it back to act as a little neck warmer alone. 

And those are the essentials, folks! Happy snow days!

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