Eight76 Sports

Are you planning a winter of outdoor sports and fun? If you’re a first time skier, then you’re probably wondering what you need to take with you, and what will be provided by the slopes. Shopping for winter sports can be a bewildering (and expensive!) experience if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. These tips will help you to figure out what you need, and what’s just fluff.
1. Dress in layers: It can get pretty cold out in the slopes, so wear thick socks, thermals, silk shirts, silk gloves, a fleece top, tracksuit bottoms, and then some heavy ski-gear over the top of that. Pick waterproof fabrics for the outer layer.
2. Cover your head: Heat escapes quickly from your head. Wear a hat or a beanie to make sure that your head and ears don’t freeze.
3. Don’t forget Sunblock: Depending on where you’re going, you may need sunblock. That may sound crazy, but it doesn’t have to be warm for you to get sunburn!
4. Goggles: You may be able to rent these, but you’ll be more comfortable if you buy your own.
5. Remember your shoe size: If you’re renting ski boots, then you’ll need to know your shoe size – rather than hold everyone up trying on dozens of pairs, remind yourself exactly what size you are before you go.
You can rent most of the outer gear that you’ll need for skiing, but if you want to be comfortable while you’re out in the snow, it’s best to plan ahead. Most people wear silk shirts, silk gloves, and socks which are a blend of silk and wool as their bottom layer, then put something loose and breathable over the top of that layer. Their silk shirts act to trap body heat, but are also breathable, making sure that you don’t get sweaty and uncomfortable after a few minutes of exertion.
Wearing silk gloves underneath the ski-gloves does a similar job for your hands. Ski gloves are snug and waterproof, but they can start to chafe after a while, and getting blisters on your first day is an easy way to ruin your holiday!
If you don’t own any silk shirts or silk gloves, then you could possibly get away with cotton as your bottom layer, although it’s much heavier than silk so isn’t really ideal. The most important thing to remember though is to dress in layers. If you find that you’re too hot on your first trip out, you could always remove one of the layers (or just a part of a layer) for future outings. It’s better to pack too many layers than too little.
If you take good care of your silk shirts and silk gloves, then they should last you many years. They do need washed, dried, and stored carefully, but silk is more hardwearing than you might expect. If they are treated with respect, your silk garments should serve you well for many skiing trips in the future.