Alright guys, I just got back from a spectacular ski trip out west to Big Sky, Montana. (sidenote: stay tuned for another post about it!) I thought it might be helpful, so I wanted to share some tips about traveling with equipment and how to pack it all up so it arrives safely and in one piece. Whether you're traveling to the Swiss Alps or a local mountain, here are my essentials and how I pack it all. Need some help on how to plan the trip before the packing begins? Click here.
When traveling with equipment, it's important to travel light. Believe me, it's easier said than done. But you're going to be thanking me when you're trying to balance it all and are able to walk right out of the airport to secure that rental car or hop on public transportation like a boss. To keep it light and manageable, I will bring 3 bags: a [rolling] carry-on (shoutout to Samsonite), my boot bag (LOVE my Kulkea powder trekker) and my ski bag (what's up #marker with the adjustable length padded single ski bag!). Airlines typically will accept a ski bag and boot bag as one piece of luggage for a single cost as long as the boot bag only contains 'ski-related' equipment and the weight of the two together is under 50 lbs. To save some $$$, pack as much ski-related equipment in your boot bag as possible and then take the rest of your essentials in your carry-on. You'll only have to pay for 1 baggage fee and prevent getting slapped with double fees for more luggage. However, remember to check with your airline prior to your trip. They all may differ.
What's in my [carry-on] suitcase?
- one set of base layers: top, mid-layer and bottom; just in case my boot bag gets lost in
transit. Need more info on base layers? Check out my other blog post here.
- 'regular' clothes for post-mountain time; jeans, leggings, sweaters, undies, socks, etc.
- toiletries; airplane sized, of course.
- bathing suit; much needed for that post-après ski hot tub soak for muscle recovery.
- hat and gloves; helpful tip #1: pack these in the outside pockets of your carry-on for easy access once you reach your destination. It's going to be cold there, or at least we hope!
What's in my boot bag?
- boots; duh! thank you captain obvious... helpful tip #2: I place them in the opposite side of the bag than usual so that the buckles are towards the inside of the bag instead of toward the outside. Taking it as a precautionary measure so they don't get banged up while being thrown onto and off the plane because, let's be honest, most airports are NOT gentle with luggage.
- insulating layer; helpful tip #3: I place my insulation layer and ski pants on the outside of my ski boots in the outer pockets as cushioning to again prevent damage.
- ski pants; see helpful tip #3 for placement in the bag.
- another set (or two!) of base layers: top, mid-layer and bottom; helpful tip #4: try to check your local accommodations to see if you can do laundry while you're there. If you can, you'll save yourself some packing space (and we all know how precious extra space can be)!
- balaclavas; helpful tip #5: I also use these as more padding around the ankle/toe part of my boot if needed for more cushion and to (hopefully!) prevent damage.
- gloves and mittens; gotta keep those digits feeling the heat!
- helmet; most important safety aspect..it's a MUST!
- goggles; need to be able to see while you're carving down those drool-worthy slopes! helpful tip #6: I pack these in a hard goggle case to...you guessed it..ensure even more
protection. Then, I place them inside my helmet and in my bag. There's so many added protection layers, even the most forceful of luggage handlers won't break them.
- ski socks; important for keeping those tootsies happy and warm! helpful tip #7: if you need even more space, stash a pair of socks inside your ski boots to save some room for other areas.
- extra warm hat: keep that noggin and ears cozy! Can never have too many hats! helpful tip #8: my personal go-to is my #USskiteam hat ..gotta rep for the Olympics! It's super warm and a plus... when you buy a hat, the proceeds go to support the athletes like my fave, Mikaela Shiffrin.
I know it sounds like a LOT, but I promise...it all fits inside! Its like Mary Poppins' magic carpet bag.
What's in my ski bag?
- skis of course! helpful tip #9: make sure to use ski straps on the top and bottom part of the skis to keep them together and prevent them from rubbing on each other. This will prevent them from scratching themselves up or removing the fresh wax you (hopefully!) just laid on for your trip.
- poles; helpful tip #10: bungee/rubber band those bad boys to your skis to prevent them from banging around in your bag, hitting/scratching your skis, or getting bent/damaged in transit.
Once you have them in the bag, be sure to tighten that bag up and remove all extra space in the bag. I recommend using a padded bag for extra protection or wrapping some towels/etc to add another layer of cushion.
And there you have it! Might look like a lot, but after you've done it once, you'll become a pro-packer in no time. My main take-aways: pack light, pack smart (think gear protection), and pack as few bags as possible (remember, you don't want to look like a mom on Black Friday) . If you follow these recommendations, I assure you...you'll be in and out of the airport in no time and ready to hit the slopes faster than you can say #skilikeagirl. Do you have any packing tips? I'd love to hear...share them below!
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