Snowboard Trip Packing List: 12 Things Not To Forget
Going on a snowboarding trip to a new mountain or ski resort is one of the best experiences you can have. Carving up new terrain with your buddies and lounging after “last chair” in a cozy lodge is as good as life gets.
However, packing for a snowboarding trip is the opposite of fun. There’s so much to bring, so much to remember, and forgetting something important can ruin your whole trip.
You don’t need to worry though! We’ve done all the thinking for you. Just check out this list of things not to forget, check the boxes, and you’ll be good to go for your next snowboarding trip.
Things to Include on Your Snowboard Trip Packing List
When you’re packing for a winter trip, it’s a good idea to go through the three basic categories of things you need to pack. You’ll need all your snowboard gear, clothes (for both on and off the hill), and a few miscellaneous items that are easy to forget.
For quick reference, here’s our essential snowboarding and ski trip packing list:
Your Snowboard (or snowboards)
Snowboarding Boots
Snowboard Bindings
Waterproof Layers
Insulating Layers
Base Layers (and tons of socks)
Comfy Clothes for After You’re Done Riding
Avalanche Gear (if you’re going into the backcountry)
Tuning Kit and Hardware
Goggles
Toiletries and Travel Needs
(And last, but never least)
Your Pass!
This is the bare minimum list for a successful trip riding in the mountains. Let’s dig in and get a little more detail on each, so you can get a better idea of how you might want to pack.
Boarding Gear
No snowboard, no snowboarding trip. It’s that simple—but which board do you bring? Which boots? What if the conditions change, will your everyday board cut it? Here are some things to consider:
1. Board (or Boards)
If you have room, we always recommend bringing several boards. Over the course of a weekend, conditions can change a lot.
If you get to the mountain on Thursday night, you may be riding powder Friday morning, but by Sunday, that fresh powder might already be chopped up and melted into slush.
When in doubt, bring boards to suit a range of conditions.
2. Boots
Obviously, forgetting your boots before a snowboarding trip would be catastrophic. Sure, you could probably rent some at the mountain, but riding rental gear is never as good as using your own.
So don’t forget your boots. When you get done riding, be sure to put them someplace warm and dry, too.
3. Bindings
If you’re like us, you have a favorite pair of bindings and you probably swap those bindings onto whatever board you happen to be using for the day. Make sure you’ve got them mounted before you leave, or you may find yourself up a creek when you get to the resort.
Clothes for On and Off The Hill
Winter trips can be tough to pack for. Cold weather gear is bulky and you’ll need clothes for riding plus clothes and snow boots for after you are done. So what should you bring?
4. Waterproof Layers
With riding clothes, waterproof layers are a must. We always recommend investing in high-quality Gore-Tex waterproof jackets and snow pants for riding.
Your gloves go in this category, too. Whatever you do, don’t leave them at home.
5. Insulating Layers
News flash! Snow sports are cold. Ski jackets, fleece jackets, and anything with a long sleeve will be your new best friends.
Whether you prefer down, synthetic, or fleece insulating layers, bring more than one. That way, if your hoodie gets soaked while riding, you’ll have a dry backup.
6. Base Layers and Riding Socks
Never forget your base layer tops & pants. On long trips, having a surplus of clean, dry, non-smelly socks is a must. Along with your socks, remember to bring merino wool long johns and base layers for your upper body too.
7. Loungewear!
When you get off the hill, you’ll want to change out of your wet clothes and into something more comfortable. Bring some casual clothes for hanging out around the lodge or heading to the bar.
Think about where you’re headed while packing your clothes. Does the lodge have a hot tub? You may want to bring a swimsuit, too.
Miscellaneous (Easy-To-Forget) Items
Now we get to the items that are easiest to forget, the ones that don’t really fall under “clothes” or “boards/boots/bindings”. First of all, you need to remember that you’re traveling, so you’re going to need all your travel stuff.
Here are some ideas to get you going.
8. Avalanche Gear (for Backcountry Trips)
If you’re only riding in the resort on your trip, ignore this one, but if you plan on doing backcountry snowboarding, you’re going to need your full avalanche kit: your beacon, shovel, probe, skins, and poles.
This is the bare minimum gear for backcountry riding. You might also need a backpack, snacks, a hydration bladder, sunscreen, a sun hat, and other gear for ascending like an ice ax. It all depends on what your objective is.
If you're going backcountry snowboarding, you’re going to need to pack snowshoes or a splitboard. Plus, you’ll need splitboard bindings and backcountry boots. If you’re doing some resort riding and some backcountry riding, make sure you’ve got all the gear you need for both.
9. Helmet
If you like going fast, riding through trees, hitting cliffs, or sliding rails, you should definitely be wearing a helmet. Even if you’re not ready for riding fast, carving trees, or anything else we listed above, you should also be wearing a helmet.
Helmets are warm, stylish, and protect your most important asset. Our mantra is: “you only get one brain”, so protect what you’ve got, and make sure your helmet ends up in your bag before you head out the door.
You can check out the collection of Retrospec ski and snowboarding helmets here.
10. Goggles
Goggles are essential for riding in all conditions. When the sun is out, harsh rays of visible light reflect off the snow’s surface. This amplified brightness can cause permanent damage to your eyes. On sunny days, you want a darker goggle lens, often called a “high-visibility” lens.
On cold, stormy days, having too much light isn’t an issue. Instead, the problem is having cold wind on your face and in your eyes, which is incredibly uncomfortable and can make it hard to see. On cold days, go for a clearer (or completely clear) “low-visibility” lens.
Luckily, most goggles nowadays come with two interchangeable lenses, so regardless of the conditions, you can just swap in whichever lens is most appropriate and you’re ready to rock.
11. Toiletries and Travel Needs
If you’re going overnight, you’re going to need your overnight stuff. Contact case, toothbrush, prescriptions, whatever it is. These are easy things to forget, but can be a huge pain to be without. Having a toiletry kit helps to keep everything organized, so you don’t leave anything at home.
12. YOUR PASS!
The biggest no-brainer item on this list is, ironically, the easiest to forget. If you’re headed out on a snowboarding trip, you’re most likely going to need a pass of some kind to get access to the mountain. Keep it on a lanyard if you need to, just don’t leave it at home!
Now you’re ready to hit those slopes!
If skiing is still an option for your next snow trip, the same list can mostly apply. Stay tuned for our ultimate ski trip packing list with all the essential ski gear tips and must-haves for your next adventure.