The ultimate ski holiday checklist

We suggest purchasing a ski or snowboard-specific waterproof and breathable jacket and trousers as they usually come equipped with other useful features, all ideal for tackling the mountain. Powder skirts can prevent snow from sneaking inside your jacket on those deep powder days. While underarm and leg vents are perfect for keeping you from overheating on those perfect blue sky days.

When skiing or snowboarding it is a really good idea to wear a helmet. Even if you are confident on the slopes there is a lot going on that can be outside you’re control. You can think about it like wearing a seat belt whilst driving. Good helmets are easy to find online or in most outdoor sports shops, but if you don’t fancy buying one, you will be able to rent a good helmet at any Club Med resort.

It is imperative to protect your eyes when out on the slopes. The reflective snow covered surfaces mean your eyes are getting bombarded by a lot more light than they are used to. A pair of goggles or sunglasses with a tinted, polarised lens will help to protect your eyes. Modern ski goggles have many different types of lens to choose from, low light lenses will enhance your vision in bad visibility, while high light lenses are great for shielding your eyes from the high intensity light. Most goggle companies will have a lens that is suitable for a range of conditions, saving you from purchasing many different lenses

The use of lip balm on the mountain is twofold. First, it’s the most effective way of protecting your lips from the sun. Second, a layer of lip balm will help keep your lips safe from the dryness and cracking that comes with cold winds.

Very useful for protecting your face from the elements. Keeps you nice and toasty in the wind and extreme cold and protects your face from the sun’s rays on beautiful blue sky days.

These warming pads are great on the really cold days. If its really cold then placing a ‘hand warmer’ nearer to you heart or core can be even more effective than having one in your gloves. Nowadays you can also buy reusable hand warmers, so you won’t have to keep buying new ones.