Ski equipment

LabR@t

LabR@t

LabR@t

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My daughter is off skiing soon please suggest decent clothing, I have no idea what's good.


12 years old,
 
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LabR@t said:
My daughter is off skiing soon please suggest decent clothing, I have no idea what's good.


12 years old,
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Hire boots, helmet and skis at the resort - saves teenagers trying to schlep ski and boot bags through airports and you can get any issues sorted at the resort.

Layers, lots of layers under a cheap ski jacket and salopettes. No point buying good gear for someone who might hate skiing and will have at least 2 more growth spurts.

Same with gloves. Cheap outer gloves over something fast drying and wind proof like Sealskins.

Buy quality ski socks - at least 3 pairs so that she can alternate them as they dry fully overnight.

Decent winter coat, hat and boots for going out and about when not skiing. Jeans over thermals will be fine. Boots must be highly water resistant. Get her a pair of those snow/ice grip treads that Velcro onto your boots for walking around in the snow and ice.
 
Image is all, get the credit card out and pray she doesn't like it. Or stick with it and hope she finds a wealthy husband on the slopes to take her off your hands when she's older :)
 
Mitts over gloves. Cold hands make for a miserable week.

Mountain warehouse on Amazon is cheap enough and will keep her dry. As long as she’s dry any under clothes will keep her warm.
Cheap salopettes can be matched with a funkier flashier jacket.

A set of thermal long johns and vest is a got to have.
 
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Layers.

Most of these can be standard clothes, eg t-shirt, long sleave shirt, jumper/fleecy top, then just a cheap waterproof jacket over the top will deal with all but the coldest days. Waterproof bottoms over sweatpants. Should only really need 1 pair of thick ski socks for a week (pull the waterproof trousers down over the boot top!), insulated water proof gloves are a must if the weather is poor though it is possible to get away with wool gloves if the weather is dry. Keeping dry is key, so focus on water & wind proof outers, they don't need to be anything special.

Hire the ski gear, skis, boots, poles and helmet. Helmets are also great at keeping your head warm, though a wooly hat for night off the slope will help. Cheap pair of goggles would be the other thing that's an essential, it would be possible to cope with sunglasses on good days but I would avoid this.

If you're looking to spend a bit of money, layers is still the thing, but you're then into things like merino wool skins, tops, higher quality outers.
 
noticed Aldi has an upcoming ski gear offer(base layers?), otherwise maybe visit costwolds for ideas.

Most of gear can subsequently be used for other activities like run/walk/hiking
as said, artificial/wicking base layer shirt/vest probably need a couple (never T-shirts/cotton) , with fleecy top, and fleece lined water proof jacket
wouldn't/haven't gone salopettes cannot really be used for other activities, water proof trousers with a high waist & salopette/shoulder strap, artificial leggings+ fleece type trousers.
as said, proofed mittens (warmer than slightly more dextrous gloves) for outer, with thin inner gloves, skull cap for beneath helmet.
Have never used goggles (can fog) - just envelopping sunglasses with UV rating
 
Terminal_Boy said:
Hire boots, helmet and skis at the resort - saves teenagers trying to schlep ski and boot bags through airports and you can get any issues sorted at the resort.

Layers, lots of layers under a cheap ski jacket and salopettes. No point buying good gear for someone who might hate skiing and will have at least 2 more growth spurts.

Same with gloves. Cheap outer gloves over something fast drying and wind proof like Sealskins.

Buy quality ski socks - at least 3 pairs so that she can alternate them as they dry fully overnight.

Decent winter coat, hat and boots for going out and about when not skiing. Jeans over thermals will be fine. Boots must be highly water resistant. Get her a pair of those snow/ice grip treads that Velcro onto your boots for walking around in the snow and ice.
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Great jokes aside, this is solid advice. The one thing I'd change is that ski boots (not snow boots touched on at the end of the above post) are probably the most critical part - or to put it another way, the one thing which will either make or ruin your day skiing. Helmets, skis, all the other stuff that goes along with it are mostly interchangeable, cost different amounts but mostly (mostly!) do the same thing to varying degrees. Properly fitted boots, however, are a godsend and your daughter will be unlikely to get them via hiring. If you have the money and the ability to recyle them as her feet grow (younger siblings, sell them on as they retain their value well, etc) then getting fitted boots would be my number 1 top tip.
 
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layers is key. You don't need to pay top dollar bit you want to avoid cheapest clothing. There are lots of bargains going off brands but look at materials.


Avoid anything cotton is most important advice.

Merino wool base layers can be quiet affordable and will last. Otherwise polyester will be fine.

insulating mid layer, like a polyester sweater.

A puffy down insulator can be good when it is cold.

Outer jacket is best as a shell, which can be used for many activities. Some cheap ski jackets with built in insulation will work, as it is unlikely to rain unless in Scotland . But a good waterproof windproof shell can be used hiking . No need for top end, but the cheapest shells should be avoided.

gloves, anything really but good to get thin glove liners to add warmth.

socks, any skis sock without seams.


Don't forget sun glasses. Of somewhere cold then a balaclava to go under ski helmet
 
Can't really add anything different to what's been said about clothing and hiring gear (definitely a good helmet).

If she wants to go more I'd suggest buying boots, they're the one thing that I have to have my own of. Can be trickier with kids though so yeah hiring is best. Carvers are pretty much carvers and it takes no time getting them set up, they just need the boot your height and weight.

One thing though, high factor suntan lotion. It's higher and can burn the crap out of you on the slopes all day. Sunglasses or goggles that do the same job.
 
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Nice gloves and a decent jacket can also be worn in the UK in the winter so you’d get some use out of them outside the week holiday. I would spend proportionally more on these and get something decent.

Pair those with cheap black saopettes and you’re on to a winner. Lots of layers as has been mentioned.

Socks are a tricky one as I bought some super expensive and what I thought were good socks after years of wearing ordinary thin cotton socks. They absolutely tore my feet to shreds and I thought it was my boots suddenly to blame. Went back to thin cotton socks and haven’t had problems since. Hire boots aren’t terrible these days in large resorts and if the boots are bad they can be swapped very easily.

I used to have my own skis and I hire them now. I don’t think I’d go back to having my own as the tech (and of course style!!) moves on very quickly. Hiring also means that you can swap your skis out if the conditions change! Not so relevant for the first time of course.

I need to book another ski holiday. I miss it :(
 
Just a tip, get two-thirds length long johns, not full length. It’s the biggest mistake everyone makes as beginners and they wonder why their ankles kill after having wrinkled long johns inside their stiff boots, rubbing against their long socks and ankles all week.

Don’t get a feather jacket, she’ll boil alive.

Tk Max is always good, or mountain warehouse as stated above. Get a snood, something easy to pull up over your face when the weather changes.

Don’t encourage her to wear sunglasses, they’re for posing at the bar. Get goggles.

Don’t forget chap stick and sunscreen. Would also recommend a camelbak of sorts for water. I used to get so sweaty and dehydrated I’d get massive headaches most of the time (altitude also doesn’t help). Emergency Chocolate bars in pockets are a life saver too. I’d recommend a hip flask too but maybe not for a 12 year old :p

Oh, for beginners make sure the jacket covers her bum. She’ll fall over a lot and it’s no fun getting a wet behind.

Oh, LEAN FORWARD! :D
 
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D.P. said:
layers is key. You don't need to pay top dollar bit you want to avoid cheapest clothing. There are lots of bargains going off brands but look at materials.


Avoid anything cotton is most important advice.

Merino wool base layers can be quiet affordable and will last. Otherwise polyester will be fine.

insulating mid layer, like a polyester sweater.

A puffy down insulator can be good when it is cold.

Outer jacket is best as a shell, which can be used for many activities. Some cheap ski jackets with built in insulation will work, as it is unlikely to rain unless in Scotland . But a good waterproof windproof shell can be used hiking . No need for top end, but the cheapest shells should be avoided.

gloves, anything really but good to get thin glove liners to add warmth.

socks, any skis sock without seams.


Don't forget sun glasses. Of somewhere cold then a balaclava to go under ski helmet
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What's the reasoning behind the avoidance of cotton?
 
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