Continuing in the grand tradition of packing lists for different trips, here goes for a week of skiing! In this case, a week in Verbier, in the Swiss alps. I’ve only been on a ski trip once before as an adult and I have no idea what I brought last time, so I was a little unsure this time round.

By and large I had everything I needed, although I misjudged some things, in particular bringing far too many warm jumpers and too few tops. The reason for this is that although it’s freezing outside it gets incredibly hot in the bars and clubs! I had imagined going straight to après ski from the slopes but my friend and I ended up first going home to shower and change. This means more nice tops are required for evenings out and double clean underwear for day and night! I ended up wearing the same thing every day…

*Update February 2016: I learned from my lesson last year and brought a LOT of little vest tops this time round, and a lot of underwear. Plus we were able to do laundry as we were in an airbnb this time. Perfect!*

In terms of kit, of course there’s a huge amount of extra stuff you need for the skiing itself. You can rent at the resort, and even buy clothes there, although it’s likely to be more expensive than if you’ve sorted out your outfit and accessories before you go…

Bags:
1 x black ski bag (I originally thought mine was too big but it was great as I could stuff it with not only my skis but all my ski clothes!)
1 x suitcase/bag with wheels for clothes
1 x small rucksack for water, tissues, sun block etc. on the slopes
1 x small handbag for the evening (I forgot this, so I put money and lip gloss in my jeans pockets but it meant that I couldn’t bring my phone – I don’t know how men manage without a handbag!)

Ski gear:
1 x set of skis, poles and ski boots (it might be cheaper to rent than bringing them on the plane, as most airlines charge extra)
1 x pair of boots for walking to and from the ski lockers/slopes
2-3 x pairs of ski socks
1 x pair of thermal underwear bottoms
2-3 x thermal underwear tops (long-sleeved plus short-sleeved in case it’s a bit warmer)
1 x ski jacket plus 1-2 fleeces/down jackets to wear underneath (I bought a great set from North Face with a turquoise Gore-Tex shell jacket with a removable hood (big enough to cover the helmet) and a blue “Doudoune” Jacket, incredibly thin but incredibly warm)
1 x pair of ski trousers
1 x pair of ski gloves (my mittens with inner finger gloves worked really well – ideally the inner gloves would be tactile i.e. work with your touch screen so that you can take photos with your iPhone without your fingers falling off!)
1 x neck warmer (good extra protection for your neck under your jacket)
1 x headband (again, good extra protection for your ears under your helmet)
1 x helmet
1 x pair of goggles plus cloth for cleaning (apparently I ruined my old ones by cleaning them with my sleeve!)
14 x instant hand warmers to put inside your gloves (These are little sachets that you shake until they heat up. I bought some really cheap ones that didn’t heat up at all! But assuming they work they are great for when even your mittens can’t keep your fingers from getting cold…)
+ snacks (bars, nuts to keep you going on the slopes)

Evening/non-skiing days:
1 x jacket
1 x scarf
1 x pair of gloves
1 x hat/ear muffs
1 x pair of boots for the evenings (I wore my Uggs, and most people were in big chunky boots or trainers. I saw one woman in tight leather trousers and stiletto heels but I don’t recommend it!)
Lots of tops (as I said, it gets hot in the bars and clubs, so layering is the way to go)
Lots of cardigans/jumpers (LAYERING!)
2 x pairs of jeans (at least! Mine got really dirty from mud and beer in the après-ski bar)
1 x pair of sunglasses (in case you skip skiing one day, or else for sunning yourself on the lunch terrace!)

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of knickers (you need double what you’d usually bring, for daytime and nighttime i.e. for skiing and going out)
2-3 x bras
1 x sports bra for skiing? (I just wear a normal bra)
1 x bikini for spa/hammam

For sleeping:
1 x pyjama vest top and trousers
1 x eye mask and earplugs (crucial when you’re sharing a room with someone!)

Toiletries (the usual):
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Face wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors/clippers (important for keeping your toe nails short when skiing!), nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream for face (high factor for your nose! Mine tends to go red…)
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Wet wipes
Tampons
Small packs of tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics (I eventually found the ideal hair do to keep my hair back and still look nice when I took my helmet off, a kind of Heidi look with a bun at the back)
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (which I use for this sort of trip when I can bring full-sized bottles) and a smaller one (for backpacking/hand luggage). The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Migraine sprays (not used, hurrah!)
Consider Ibuprofen or gel for your sore muscles!

Electronics (because I’m “always-on”):
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger
iPhone 6 plus + charger
Earphones
Adapters for Switzerland/whatever country you’re going to
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger and harness for chest or helmet
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport
Visa master card and debit card
Small wallet
Local currency
Ski pass

So what do you think? Anything missing that you couldn’t live without? Anything I’ve included that you think is completely unnecessary? Let me know how you get on with packing for your next ski trip!

Why not also check out my other packing lists: for South America, for Asia, and for travelling as a digital nomad!