Look Good & Stay Warm: What Clothes Do You Need for Skiing?

blogger Hoang-Kim Cung in Sundance, Utah sharing answers to the question "What clothes do you need or skiing?"
Our first ski trip was a success! We are so happy to have been able to share this experience with our closest friends. Since it was our first time skiing, as soon as our plan was confirmed, I took to researching “What clothes do you need for skiing?” I didn’t want us to be stuck on the slopes without the right gear or waste money on something that wasn’t going to last. From base layers to mid layers and more, here’s what I bought (or already had) for me, Johnny and my siblings to make sure we stayed warm on the slopes and during après-ski!

BASE LAYERS

I’ve worn Smartwool for years and so it was no surprise when they turned out to be some of the best base layers around! I got both the pants and top for all of us. They’re very polished for base layers, and also super soft and lightweight. If you’re not ready to invest, my friend Danielle said she got this thermal underwear from Amazon and they were great, too.

MID LAYER

We’re long-time fans of Patagonia’s Better Sweaters and they were the perfect mid-layer. It was thin enough to wear under my ski suit, but thick enough to keep me really warm! Johnny and my brother also wore these, though Johnny ended up taking his off because he got hot on the slopes. The weather had a high of 30ish in Sundance, so it wasn’t super frigid, which is something to keep in mind if you tend to run hot or cold.

SKI SUIT

I got so many compliments on this ski suit! It’s meant to be a replacement for a puffer or ski jacket. It kept me very warm and comfortable without my jacket, plus it just looks so chic! One thing to note is it only has two pockets: one of my left arm that fit my ski pass and on on the back that fit my iPhone 13 Pro without the case, so keep things minimal.
I prefer a one-piece so I don’t have to worry about snow getting into my pants or under a top. It’s an investment, but I would recommend it if you plan on skiing regularly or you just really hate to be cold, like me. eBay is a great resource for suits from brands like Perfect Moment Ski and Cordova Ski at a discount, and I also found a couple more affordable suits from Backcountry and Free People!

PUFFER JACKET / SKI JACKET

My friends wore a mix of puffer jackets and ski jackets as their top layer. It’s very important your top layer is waterproof because you do not want to get wet. Once you get wet, you get cold, and it’s literally downhill from there. My friend wore this jacket on our trip, which is a splurge but may be worth it if you need to wear a puffer jacket often and want it to have a glam vibe that matches your style. I’m also linking the shell Johnny wore and the one his groomsman wore snowboarding, too!

WOOL SOCKS

Everyone wore Smartwool socks, which are the best and truly keep you warm while still being very breathable. Do not double these up though! You only need one pair when you ski, and will overheat with an extra layer. If you’re asking, “What clothes do you need for skiing?” I would make sure to pick these up.

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