Wearing a helmet is essential when skiing or snowboarding. Not only does it protect and prevent head injuries, it also keeps your head and ears warm. Pro tip: A helmet is mandatory for children 17 and under in our Snow School lessons and programs. If you purchase a rental, a helmet is included. Otherwise, you can rent one from our Rental Shops.

Hat

When you are not skiing, it is ideal to wear a hat during the cold Canadian winters. Up to 60% of your body's heat can escape from an uncovered head!

Ski goggles offer protection from the elements and are designed to keep snow and wind out of your eyes while skiing or snowboarding. They also protect your eyes from UV rays from both the sun and reflected off the snow. Pro tip: Make sure your goggles fit snugly around your head or helmet and rest gently on the bridge of your nose.

You may find sunglasses work well in good weather and sunny days while most people prefer goggles.

This close-fitting layer, casually called long underwear, will retain warmth next to your skin. Look for words like thermal or wicking when choosing long underwear. Pro tip: Cotton fabric is not ideal as a base layer for outdoor activities. Cotton doesn’t allow your sweat to evaporate causing the layer to lose insulating qualities.

This middle layer includes sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which is accomplished by trapping air between the fibers. Popular insulation materials include fleece and wool.

A snow jacket, also known as ski jacket, is different than a winter jacket as it will offer more protection from the elements like wind and water. You can get ski jackets that are insulated with more layers to provide warmth, or a shell, which is thinner like a rain jacket, where you have the option to layer underneath. Either are great options if you layer properly.

When choosing gloves and mittens look for waterproof and breathable fabrics.

Gloves give you more dexterity because each finger is separated. Due to each finger being separated, they tend to be a colder option and are not recommended for kids. Lots of skiers and riders like gloves in the spring months.

Mittens provide more warmth as all fingers are together except for the thumb. Although you lose some dexterity, they are easier to put on making it a great option for kids!

There are many styles of snow pants. Some are tight or relaxed fit, some come with straps, while others do up just like pants. Similar to a snow jacket, you can get insulated snow pants that are warmer or thinner snow pants that you can layer underneath. Either is a great option if you layer properly.

Whatever type of snow pants you prefer make sure they are waterproof! Pro tip: Jeans or any other non-waterproof material are not recommended for snow sports.

Ski socks are different than hiking or ankle socks. These socks are long and stop just below the knee for better comfort in your ski or snowboard boots. Look for light-weight or medium-weight ski socks. These work best for skiing, snowboarding or even snowshoeing. Ski socks are made from a variety of materials, including polyester, silk, wool and nylon. Some ski socks have wicking properties similar to long underwear, meaning your feet will stay dry and comfortable. Pro tip: It is recommended to put a dry pair of socks when you put your ski or snowboard boots on.