Ski Trip Essentials

Whether you’re an experienced skier flying down black diamonds or planning on spending most of your time at the lodge, what you wear on and around the slopes makes a huge difference in your experience. Wearing a vintage jacket or your dad’s old hat may seem hip, but when the wind is blowing on the lift or you take a graceful tumble, quality matters. Thankfully, with all the high tech advancements in winter wear, there is no reason to find yourself shivering (unless that’s part of your plan to get some fireside snuggles). Put these ski trip essentials on your gift wish list to stay both stylish and warm on your active vacation.

Jacket: Arc’teryx

I am a recent convert to a high-tech ski jacket and I can say first-hand it makes a world of difference. In general I am cold all the time, but the features on this jacket block the wind so effectively it literally feels like I have on a magic cloak that makes the wind totally avoid me instead of chilling my bones. If you want to be really impressed, Arc’teryx describes it by saying “Composite Mapping Technology combines zonal weather protection with softshell’s stretch and breathability in a unique women’s jacket developed specifically for ski alpinism.” Basically, the jacket provides hard shell weather protection from the wind, rain and snow while still having the comfort aspects of a softshell (and not making that loud crunchy noise every time you move).

Pants: The North Face

Ski pants no longer have to be huge puff balls on your legs that make you walk like a sumo wrestler. Many companies, including The North Face make attractive feminine cut pants that keep you dry, warm and stylish. This particular style also has a ton of colors to choose from, so you can get a little crazy with a bold red or stick to neutrals.

Base Layer Top: Athleta

The Flurry Base Layer Turtleneck will quickly become one of your favorite winter pieces both on and off the slopes. The turtleneck provides extra coverage on those windy days and the thumb holes keep the sleeves from riding up when you are layering it underneath another jacket. Most importantly during athletic pursuits, itt un-stinkable technology allows you to go grab an après ski drink without smelling like all the badass things you did on the mountain.

Base Layer Bottom: Patagonia

Though it may seem as though every legging is made equal, when it is 20 degrees outside that is certainly not the case. These Borderless Tights from Patagonia keep you comfortable on the coldest of days with their warm fabric and the moisture-wicking capabilities, so if you break a sweat on the moguls you aren’t frozen on the lift ride up. The flat seams eliminate any discomfort from chafing and the tights are technically made for running so you can wear them all winter long!

Body:

If you want the body and stamina to go with the outfit, try the Lindsey Vonn Lower-Body workout to keep you on the slopes all day. No matter what you’re wearing on the outside, you’ll need endurance and a strong lower half to be swishing down the slopes like a pro.

Put your cold weather workouts to use and get out there on the slopes!

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About Catherine Toupin

Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Catherine is a proud graduate of two great Midwestern schools: the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Notre Dame. After receiving a degree in English and Communication, Catherine chose to take a risk and teach teenagers in Florabama for two years. Living in a location with warm weather year-round rekindled Catherine’s love of long outdoor runs (and of relaxing on a beach). Catherine has since taken a Meeting Planning job in Chicago, and though the views are slightly different, she still enjoys runs along the lake shore path and being outdoors as much as possible.