Ski virgin
Ski virgin? No-one has to know...When it comes to decking yourself out with the right kit, it can be confusing to know what to take, how much to pay and where to get it and whether it’s really worth remortgaging your house for. Ski kit can be very expensive but if you try you can find some cheaper alternatives that will be good enough for that first holiday.
Below are a few ideas for what you should take and the best places to go:
- Thermals and ski socks – Your base layers are an important part of your ski kit – get these right and you can get away with less technical (and cheaper) outer layers. Aim for granny-style long sleeve and long legged thermals (from £5 – M&S). You can pick ski socks up pretty cheaply at M&S too (from £4).
- Layers – Once you have the above, you will want to stick a couple of layers on top – t-shirts, base layers and hoodies (depending how cold it is) - it’s better to wear lots of thing layers than just a couple of thick ones.
- Jacket and trousers – you can go one of two ways – buy them fairly cheap from Tchibo, TK Maxx, George at Asda and even Tesco’s. These won’t be brilliant but if you have your base layers on, they should keep you warm. Alternatively you can hire them from a company such as Edge to Edge which will mean you will get a better standard for you money.
- Sunglasses/goggles - unless you can borrow some, these will be an expense - probably around £30 for a cheap option. Make sure they fit properly (and can withstand you falling over), have proper UV filters and are designed for mountain sportswear.
- Ski gloves – Many high street places sell these or head to a specialist shop such as Ellis Brigham or Snow and Rock and see if they have anything on sale.
- Hats – Although a fashion item for many, your woolly hat is going to be important as you can lose a shocking 75% of your body heat through your head. Many shops from sports to fashion sell a version of the beanie – we’d recommend going for one with an inner lining to help keep you warm.
- Skis/boards/boots – these can all be hired in resort or in the UK (although you’ll then need to pay sports baggage charges) where professionals can give you advice about fittings and style.
Blaggers ahoy!If you’re not content with paying top prices and are always trying to get the best for nothing, you could put your skills to good use here! Plenty of tour operators offer discounts when booking, and you should always ask if group discounts, or reduced lift pass prices area available, especially for beginners who do not tend to go on the advanced slopes during their first trip.
Many of them also have close links to equipment hire shops and you can receive further discounts in resort, so again, it’s always worth asking.
If you’re after some more info, check out our feature:
Top tips for beginners which includes tips on booking your trip, safety and even the top ten resorts to visit.
