Skiing with Kids-The Best Ski Gear for Kids
So you want to ski with your kids and you’re wondering what gear you should buy? Let me help you! Our kids have been skiing for 4 years, we live in the mountains, and they ski anywhere from 3-5 days a week in the winter. Here’s our hot takes on what gear you need and why!
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Best Ski Gear for Kids
Glove leashes: you don’t want a glove to fall off while you’re on the chairlift. Kids need to take their gloves off to scratch a nose or get some air, trust us, it’s easier if they stay attached to your kid.
Cheap goggles: they get scratched and scraped when kids put their helmets down, don’t invest in fancy ones until they are older/ski pros who take care of their stuff.
We are trying goggle covers this season, will report back.
Helmets: Helmet are non-negotiables, you absolutely need them. Try to get a helmet with a circular tightening device on the back. You want to check how helmets and goggles fit together because there can be a gap that lets cold air in. That little gap can cause instant whining-a cold kid is a whiny kid. We have Cygnus helmets and goggles from Hervis, a local European sports store.
Mittens/Gloves: We prefer mittens with zipper on the back of the hand where they can put a ski pass/air tag/hand warmer/few euros for snacks. Mittens generally keep your hands warmer than gloves, but if your child prefers gloves you can go that route. These are my favorite toddler gloves.
Base layers: my husband says pajamas are fine. I say, wool is the gold standard, but a good synthetic pair is another cheaper and good alternative. We have some LL Bean layers that I really like.
Snow pants: get the bibs, they keep the snow out and won’t fall down. Columbia has been our go-to brand for snow pants. Reinforced knees are a bonus! If you’re skiing a lot, get two pairs.
Coats: My husband says don’t overthink it, doesn’t have to be super warm. In fact, we would steer you toward more of a waterproof shell model than a thick puffy coat style. It’s all about having layers, our kids can get hot when they ski. If the coat is too much, they can’t really layer down. Look for accessible zipper pockets, and a zippable ski pass pocket on the sleeve or inside on the chest. I would also skip any fur on a hood, fur will just collect snow and get wet. A detachable hood is another nice to have feature.
Socks: we favor smart wool socks, make sure they are long. No short socks for skiing. Wool is the best. We will also grab socks when we see them on sale at any of our local sports stores.
Balaclava or Gaiter: these are really great for an extra bit of warmth on those really cold days. We suggest always bringing one and you can put it on later or take it off and put it in a pocket if it’s too much. Our kids take our Adult Smart Wool gaiters often and they fit fine. It might save you money to just buy adult ones.
Extra Tools to Help with Skiing
Edgie wedgie: if you’re starting with a toddler, this tool really helped us. It keeps the front of the skis tied together to force a “pizza” position. Once your skier gets that down you can remove it and go from there.
Ski Backpack Leash: this helped in the very early days. It will burn your back up to ski with a toddler bent over, so this lets you stay upright without fear that your toddler will ski right off the mountain.
Go Pro & Helmet Mounts: you gotta capture all the fun so what better way than mounting a Go-Pro on your helmet or your kids helmet? You’ll get to hear all the funny things they say too!
Hand Warmers & Toe Warmers: these are so great for keeping fingers and toes warm. You can even put them in jacket pockets. Be sure not to place them directly on the skin! We like to buy big boxes so we always have them available.
All this said, we are big fans of taking hand me downs when you can get them, buying things on sale, and buying from affordable stores. You do not have to go buy brand new top of the line stuff to enjoy skiing!
To see all my favorite items from Amazon, visit my storefront. To see my other favorite ski brands and items go here!
Do you ski with your kids? If you have favorite gear recommendations, add them to the comments. If you have questions, you can ask those there too! Happy skiing!
