Travel Loot

15 Winter Ski Essentials for Your Next Mountain Getaway

by California Chaney
Hiking Aspen Highland's Bowl. Photo by Tamara Susa, courtesy of Aspen Snowmass.

The snow is falling and the mountains are calling. Make the most of the ski season and stock up on innovative new gear, beauty essentials to save your skin from the cold, and chic fits that take you from first tracks to après in style. 

Winter Ski Pass

First things first, you'll need a ski pass before you hit the slopes. Check out Fathom's guide to choosing the best ski pass

Refillable Travel Bottles

The Ries reusable travel bottles are made for liquids like moisturizer and sunblock, with a tight seal to keep skincare fresh and tidy — even when you're reapplying on the chairlift. A very smart patented airless pump keeps products from exploding in high altitudes. 

Après-Ski Kit

Pinch Provisions' après-ski kit offers an all-in-one pouch to transition from the slopes to the hang, whether that looks like drinks by a fire or a cozy snooze. The kit includes a personal shot-ski with collapsible stainless-steel shot glass, sherpa sleep mask, scrunchie, and hangover kit with pain relievers, electrolytes, facial cleaning towelette, and breath drops.

Backcountry Safety Kit

Stay safe in the hinterlands with Smith's portable all-in one emergency pack: S.O.S. floodlight, fire striker, wire saw, first-aid kit, repair tools, ski strap, and whistle.

Tree Line Candle Co.

Hand-poured in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Tree Line Candle Co. 3D-topographic candles showcase wax replicas of hundreds of ski mountains around the world.

Stylish Life of Skiing

Get inspired by alpine style with The Stylish Life: Skiing, a photo journey of glamorous and thrilling ski history around the world.  

Helmet Headphones

Outdoor Tech's wireless ski-helmet headphones seamlessly fit over any helmet and connect to Siri and Google Play for music streaming or phone conversations while keeping hands free. Headphones are designed to resist cold temperatures and have a 13-hour battery life (that should get you from first tracks to your final run).

The Man Behind the Maps

Ever stopped to admire the intricate artwork of ski maps? Most are hand-painted by one legendary artist, James Nieheus. The Man Behind the Maps is a coffee-table book highlighting the over 200 ski-resort trail maps that he painted in his 30-year career. 

Après Ski Scarf

Wrap it around your neck, tie it to your ski poles, or hide your helmet hair with Hunter Bell's ski scarf depicting vintage posters of Aspen, Saint Moritz, Big Sky, and Telluride.

Après-Ski Cocktails

Impress your ski squad with creative and warming cocktails from Après-Ski: 100 Cozy Cocktail Drinks, perfect for nights by the roaring fire.

Winter Skin Kit

Barbara Sturm's Winter Skin Kit offers a selection of her best sellers in mini size.  This collection of particularly hydrating products will seal, protect, and nourish dry skin. Tuck them into your ski jacket!

Ski Luggage Set

Gray Malin's leather passport and luggage tag will inspire your next winter ski getaway, whether its hitting Hokkaido's "JAPOW," or cozying up in a Swiss chalet.

Thule Boot Bag

Thule's ski-boot bag compactly fits a pair of ski boots, a helmet, and pair of goggles, and has a convenient back panel that flips down so that you can use it as a standing mat to keep your feet dry while changing in and out of your boots. Snowmelt efficiently escapes from the bag, ensuring boots are dry before your next day on the hill. 

Nordic Ski Socks

Falke's ergonomic ski socks keep your feet warm and comfortable with a three-layered moisture-wicking design and blister-prevention pads. Their classic nordic pattern looks cute peeking out of your ski boots. 

NorthFace Ski Jumpsuit

Why wear a two-piece when you can rip down the hill in one? NorthFace's Off-the-Clock one-piece ski suit has a puffer jacket on top and wind-resistant pants on the bottom, along with convenient pockets to tuck in your ski pass and chairlift snacks. 

High-Tech Ski Goggles

Vallon's Freebirds ski goggles use a blue-light blocking and anti-reflective mirror coating for bluebird days, and a swappable brown-tinted lens for clarity and depth perception in the powder. 

Now Where to Ski?

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Forget Chamonix. Courmayeur Is the Alpine Winner
Skis, Skates, and Sleds: Having All the Winter Fun in Charlevoix

We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.