What to Pack for a Ski Trip to Banff
This is a general overview of what to pack for a trip to Banff for skiing. These items are also good for many winter activities you can enjoy around Banff, like skating, snowshoeing, dog sledding, or ice climbing. If you want a more technical overview of what to wear for skiing or snowboarding, check out our post that covers more detail.
We recommend expert riders, skiers, mountaineers, and ice climbers utilize a shell system. However, they likely don’t need our recommendations for shell gear, which is Arc’teryx if anyone’s curious. Most casual skiers and riders do not need to invest in $2,000 outfits, so we recommend more value-packed insulated jackets for visitors.
Insulated Jacket
A jacket is the most critical item to pack for a ski trip. A lightly insulated jacket with a waterproof shell and snow skirt is best for most skiers and riders. We ride with a shell jacket for our resort wear jacket that contains light insulation from Picture Organic Clothing. It has many sweet features, such as wrist gaiters, a snow skirt, and a helmet-compatible hood. The Bio-Sourced exterior shell on the jacket has performed beautifully and kept us dry on deep days in Jackson Hole, WY, and Snowbird, UT.
Another great option is a Columbia Interchange Jacket, which provides excellent value. Granted, it doesn’t have any of the performance or sustainable cred like Picture. We are big fans of Columbia due to its accessibility and reliable products. As a side note, every ski jacket should be helmet-compatible and have a snow skirt as a minimum. If it’s your first time, don’t purchase a new jacket. Wear your best winter jacket and accept you’ll probably get some snow down your pants.
Mid-Layer
If you opt for a layering system, a mid-layer jacket is where you’ll get most of your warmth. Mid-layers go on over your thermals and operate as a jacket for when you’re not skiing or snowboarding. Even if you’re not skiing, it’s a good idea to pack a good mid-layer for versatility. These jackets come in various fashions, and we have several types for different conditions.
Down jackets provide excellent warmth in dry conditions but are expensive and lose insulation when wet. Synthetic down jackets provide slightly less heat than traditional down but can handle wet conditions well. The most affordable option is a fleece jacket, which offers plenty of warmth at an affordable price.
It’s not technical enough for extreme conditions, but the average person shouldn’t be in adverse conditions anyway. We both use synthetic down jackets from Arc’teryx as our mid-layers. The jackets are versatile and lightweight, provide excellent warmth, and handle moisture exceptionally.
What Ski Pants to Wear?
There are three basic styles of pants to wear: hardshell skiing pants, bibs, and insulated pants. Hardshell pants tend to fetch the highest price tag and offer the most significant technical capabilities but provide little to no insulation.
Bibs come in shell and insulated versions and offer the most outstanding protection from snow. However, they are more expensive than pants and can be too warm for mild ski days. Insulated pants are friendly and generally the most affordable as entry-level pants. The insulation can make these pants the most restrictive or hot on a mild day.
We would advise that you need much less insulation in the legs than you would think. It’s not your core, and it’s where most of your movement comes from when you ski. Everyone’s body is different, so you should dress for what’s comfortable.
Mitts or Gloves
Quality gloves will be your best friend on the slopes because no one likes it when they can’t feel their hands. We prefer mittens because they keep your fingers together and reduce the surface area exposed to the cold. This means your hands stay warmer in mitts than in gloves.
That being said, this comes from two snowboarders. Many skiers prefer gloves to separate their fingers more easily when dealing with their ski poles. It’s all personal preference, but if you’re prone to a chill, I’d suggest some mitts. And at the end of the day, gloves are one of the last things you want to forget about for your winter holiday. ALL of our ski gloves come from Hestra.
Balaclava
It’s always good to pack some snow protection for your face. On sunny days, we’ll go without anything, but more often than not, we expect snowy conditions on the mountain. We generally switch between two different styles of face protection. A Merino wool balaclava is the primary item for bad weather and cold days.
We’ve tried a bunch of different balaclavas and it’s tough to get one that doesn’t collect tons of moisture before freezing to your face. As for the best warmth and performance, we’ve found a wool balaclava can do wonders. Our next choice would be a fleece one that can be bought super cheaply!
Goggles
Unless you’re on a budget, don’t care, and take a short weekend trip with guaranteed sunshine, I recommend packing a pair of goggles. They are an essential part of your ski outfit, and I consider them a lifeline. Goggles provide protection for your eyes and aid your vision on the mountain.
We have long been fans of Smith Goggles for their unrivalled optics quality and low-light performance. Their latest goggles have mag technology in their goggles for easy switches between low light and sunny days. Even if you don’t want to drop $200 on goggles, it is worth picking up a good budget option. For less than $100, you can grab the Giro Roam, which includes two lenses for low light and sunny days.
Ski goggle rentals are tough to come by, so if it’s your first time, opt for the Giro Roams or order a cheap $50 pair off Amazon. It will save you a lot of headaches on the mountain.
Helmet
Not wearing a helmet is a thing of the past. Do yourself and your noggin a favour and wear a helmet when you ski or snowboard. This applies whether you are a beginner or an expert. The great thing about helmets is they keep your head and ears warmer than hats too!
We rock the Smith Vantage Helmet as it’s considered one of the best helmets on the market. It provides robust protection around our head, plenty of ventilation, and a cozy soft interior.
After receiving a concussion last ski season and wearing a helmet, it’s not something I plan to forgo anytime soon. If it’s your first time tra
