What do I need to take on a ski holiday?

poe.tuesday

Hotspur wrote: »

Famous last words! I ski in Europe in March each year and can say that whilst most days are sunny there is regularly 1 day in 5 where it is windy and /or snows and is so cold that layers and hood and goggles are required. Best be prepared and not need it.

I totally agree but it's hopefully not going to be -20 like it apparently is up in northern finland. The guide that I have been told is 1 layer per -5 degrees taking wind chill into factor, personally if I was going to the same resort as the OP I would take a silk base layer, a mid-layer such as thermal or micro fleece and then the outer layer

hailbop_2

Poe.tuesday, I've PM'd you...Bop

DKLS

poe.tuesday wrote: »

it won't be cold so you won't need loads of layers, we are going skiing in the far north of finland, it's going to be really, really cold so the layering is a must for us

Are you downhill or cross country? there are some stunning cross country tracks in Finland.
I was in southern Finland in January, and it was -16 when we drove Ice buggys on the frozen lake. Dont forget to try the Salmiaakii and a traditional sauna, perfect apres ski.

TK Maxx in Leeds had loads of Ski Gear mostly good brand names yesterday.

Lucie_2

For the last few years I've been skiing in wicky "dri fit" type tops rather than a traditional cotton top, and they are far far better. You can pick them up pretty cheaply. They are also easy to wash out in the sink with some travel wash & dry overnight. I have mostly long sleeved ones & always take a couple of short sleeved ones for warm days, which I wear under my windproof fleece instead of my full-on ski jacket.

Socks - buy proper "sock" shaped ones rather than cheap tube socks which don't fit your feet properly. You don't want to have to take your boot off half way down a run to adjust your socks!

Don't let any of the females in your party bother with shoes/boots with heels, they're really not practical for a ski resort. I always find a pair of slippers/flip flops is ideal for wearing indoors around the hotel/chalet. Ski hotels are often pretty warm too, so hubby takes a pair of shorts to wear to breakfast! Don't forget swimming costumes if your hotel/chalet has a pool or hot tub.

Ski ties - two little bits of velcro which hold your skis together when carrying them. Vital purchase for a couple of quid. Rental skis don't come with them, so don't forget to take them off when you give the skis back (speaks the voice of experience......)

You might not need a lift pass holder, as many resorts now use electronic "hands free" cards which you just keep in a pocket. Check on the resort website. You pay a couple of € deposit & give it back at the end of your holiday. Check whether you need a passport photo for your lift pass too. It's quite often cheaper to buy your lift pass direct from the resort website too. If you buy early (before Christmas) there are often "early bird" or online-only deals.

poe.tuesday

DKLS wrote: »

Are you downhill or cross country? there are some stunning cross country tracks in Finland.
I was in southern Finland in January, and it was -16 when we drove Ice buggys on the frozen lake. Dont forget to try the Salmiaakii and a traditional sauna, perfect apres ski.

.

we are doing down hill skiing DKLS but if time permits we will definately try cross country, but we have so much to cram in our week there that we will either be too tired, the children won't want to or we just won't have time to

as for clothing, I have done a website on what to wear in Lapland (or other stupidly cold places) as there just didn't seem to be one on the web, I hope it is of some help

lapland.fruitbandit.com

katykboom

TKMAX usually have a great selection of jackets, salopettes, gloves, ski socks, hats etc. and usually all the good names eg helly hansen etc. Check out earlier rather than later as they tend to be there pre season and it seems when they are gone that's it!

Hope this helps have a fab ski hol it's great fun!:cool:

poe.tuesday

TXMax have loads of ski gear in at the mo and like katykboom says, check it out sooner rather than later

FluffyFiFi

We are going to Lapland in December and getting a bit concerned about the -20 that is predicted, we are going to look like mitchelin men with all the layers we will need. Is there anything we should be aware of for this kind of extreme, with only a few hours of daylight will we need goggles/sunglasses. Also, what camera to take, our digital one has a warning of not be used at -1 degrees so worried that we can't take any pictures. Any advice would be appreciated.

poe.tuesday

take a disposible camera with you just in case and all the info you need about what to wear etc is on lapland.fruitbandit.com

Armbase

Never_Enough_Money wrote: »

Great, thanks, i will pop to Basingstoke tomorrow and have a look.

Okay here is my take on it....

Before I mention the gear, think breathability and flexibility. An important thing is a waterproofer called NIKWAX see paramo.com. What it does is waterproof/showerproof jackets. That way the assistant doesn't convince you that you have to buy gortex. :-)

THe expensive cool way is to buy inflated expensive gear in a Ski shop.

The cheap way is to do this

Go to Markies and buy a Nylon t-shirt...I use the ones that they sell as bedware. Secondly, buy long-johns (you may get the t-shirt as part of a packet). No-one is going to see them. Well if they are, and they get you down to your long-johns they are never going to say Ohhhh your wearing cheap long-johns :-). THink Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones Diary... "Hello Mummy".

Anyway back to Skiing. :-)

Next Buy a Midlayer. This should be a thin layer. I used to use a Polo neck for that, however, a high long-sleve is better with a neck fleece...take off the neck fleece for more breathability.

Next a top layer. I used a thin fleece for that (only when I didn't have my Paramo smock and that was windproof enough).

Salopettes are essential. You don't need to go for the expensive waterprof one's, simply get a pair of man-made fine woven ones and wash with Nikwax TX10.

For the Jacket get a light one with a Ski-pass pocket. I only go skiing in Norway (hemsedal) and they have an electronic gate so you dont need an extender. I use a cheap Trespass jacket that is flexible and has elbow patches for when you fall and a pocket on the arm and one high up on the front for the passes.

All Boots, skis etc can be hired.

Also here is a word of warning from someone who is a Cell Biologist. Going on piste without suncream has the same effect as being on a high power sunbed. You will do your skin a great deal of damage. Skin factor protection is only a multiple of the time it "normally" takes to BURN. Normally in a hot climate I use factor 20-25 so I can be out all day.

ON the slopes I recomend factor 50 or total Sun Block. That way you can ski all day every day without having a head like a beetroot.


Cheers
Dr. Bob