Last Thursday in Brooklyn we had another doozy of a winter day. At 7am I looked out the window and saw big flakes swirling past on their way down to the sidewalk and decided that I was going to give the boys an unofficial snow day – an excuse to indulge their wintery whims and end an exhausted day with hot chocolate and cookies.
I’ve never been a cold weather gal, which is sort of a crime since I’m from Utah. But, as a Mom snowball fights, building snowmen and lugging a sled up a hill are becoming part of my job description. That said, when we first enrolled D in ski school, I was pretty clueless about what gear (and there is oh, so much gear) he needed. Luckily, my little guys have 28 cousins, and most of them ski, which means I have a lot of knowledgeable ski mommas just a text away (not to mention some great hand-me-downs as well).
Here are some tips for bundling before hitting the bunny hill:
2. Second layer: My sister-in-law, who skis with her kids almost every winter/spring weekend, loves all things Patagonia, including their mid-zip fleece, worn over thermals. Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket is great for layering on cold days, or alone on warmish spring ski days.
3. Snow Pants: I really like the Spyder Mini Expedition pants because they have an adjustable Velcro shoulder strap which makes potty emergencies easy (meaning you don’t have to take off gloves and coat just to pull down the snow pants). We also have the Rawik Cargo Bib Overalls, which are a more affordable option.
4. Don’t forget goggles.
5. Mittens: I haven’t figured out if the boys should wear mittens or gloves, but I’m going with mittens for now because it’s torture trying to get their fingers into each little finger slot. We have the Gordini Mittens, which seem to keep their fingers toasty, and my sister-in-law likes the Hestra brand. I came across Snowstoppers Mittens for Kids – don’t they look like a dream come true? Just imagine, gloves that don’t fall off! I don’t have them, so I can’t vouch for warmth, but if anyone has experience with this brand let me know.
6. Socks: Smartwool socks seem to be the most popular option, but we go with the wool-free, Euro Supreme Kids Ski Socks.
7. Boots: I made a huge mistake and bought boots with laces for D, so now I’m constantly having to re-tie them. My friend swears by the popular Sorel Boots. I must admit that I have a boot envy, I should have gotten those. Live and learn.
8. Coat: We cheated this year and let D ski in his down puffer coat. It got pretty wet, especially when it started raining. That said, I’m on the market for an official waterproof ski jacket. I have my eye on the Obermeyer Grom Toddler Ski Jacket. I’m hoping that there will be some end-of-season sales soon.
9. Hats/Scarves: We have a lot of random play hats, picked-up here and there. For skiing, the helmet ear flaps, should be enough without a hat. Speaking of helmets, because we only go skiing a couple times a year we rent our helmets, ski boots and skis. Other items: fleece turtleneck scarf. How cool is this comic book one?
Post Ski School Hot Cocoa
The list never never ends, right? It’s a little overwhelming to buy all this stuff, especially if you only go skiing a couple times a year. If you’re lucky enough to have a neighborhood parent listserv, check to see if anyone is selling used gear. Chances are they have only been worn a few times before they were outgrown.
My boys can’t get enough of this weather, but I’m anxiously waiting for spring when I can pack-up all the gear and say, “see ya next year.”
persimmon / 1095 posts
Mittens are the way to go! They keep fingers much warmer than gloves. My hands used to freeze in high school when I had gloves but with mittens my hands are never cold.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
this is great! i really want to take the kids skiing next year. growing up i never had the proper gear — i went skiing in jeans! but it still was a blast!
also definitely mittens. i wouldn’t try gloves until at least 5. we have the snowstoppers for olive and they’ve been working great. i got polarn y pyret for charlie and those i like better because they’re easier to get on.
uniqlo also has a very similar jacket to the patagonia but much cheaper.
coconut / 8472 posts
Do you plan to get more than one season of use out of the gear? I want to teach DS to ski when he’s a little older, but I’m intimidated by the thought of buying so much and only getting one season’s use out of it.
blogger / coffee bean / 32 posts
@Mrs Bee, yes, I always forget about the uniqlo jackets! It seems that I saw them all over today, on this glorious sunny day!
@Shootingstar, I hear you! It is a lot. The first year we borrowed a friend’s gear and Drake only lasted 15 minutes on the “slopes” before he was finished, so I was very glad we didn’t get all the stuff. Boot are necessary anyway, and probably won’t last more than a year. I bought D’s down jacket extra big last year and we used it again this year, I might try and get an size up snow jacket on sale this spring. Snow pants, I’d say the Spyder pants, probably won’t fit next year (they might pull in the torso area, but the cargo big overalls have adjustable straps, so there is a good chance you could use them again. The thermals and fleece will probably only last one season before they are outgrown. I also use all this stuff for outdoor fun (sledding, snowball fights, etc.) to make sure to maximize use. I guess it also helps a bit that grant will one day wear Drake’s stuff, so at least there will be two uses.
grapefruit / 4584 posts
Great roundup! We have several things on this list for our girls and have been happy just for snow play. We’re in brooklyn as well and see the Sorel Boots all over – I’m definitely planning to get a pair for my DD next year (although I didn’t find the lace ups that bad).
For mittens we like the North Face Toddler mitt. They have nice snow sleeves and velcro across the back of the hand so they tighten up and stay on.
In addition to the jackets, Uniqlo has good thermals – I wear their adult sized heat tech stuff skiing all the time.
I can’t wait to get our girls on skis – maybe next year (since the youngest wasn’t walking yet this winter). Any spots near the city you recommend for their first time out?
blogger / coffee bean / 32 posts
@pinkelephant, my friend really loves Windham Mountain’s ski school, it is supposed to be one of the best (starting at 4 yrs) http://www.windhammountain.com/
This year we took Drake to Pico Mountain, and put him in the Little Trekkers http://www.picomountain.com/winter/lessons_and_rentals/adventure_camp/trekkers . It is a long drive from NYC, but a small manageable mountain.
The first year (when D was 3) we took him to Mount Peter – it wasn’t a great place for adults, but it was great for the little guys, but not really a drop and ski situation (as to be expected with a 3 year old) we stayed on the side and watched. He only lasted about 15 minutes before was crying because, “the snow made him fall.”
http://www.mtpeter.com/