Ski Resort EDC — What to pack in your pockets

A hard-charging day of skiing after a big dump of fresh snow is one of the best feelings in the world. Being prepared for a full day of fun in the snow does take a little preparation, though. While there are lots of great articles and videos on what to bring on a backcountry ski trip, I haven't seen as much focused on resort skiing, so here we go.

Ski Resort Essentials

• Most ski resorts now use key cards instead of paper lift passes with bar codes on them. Instead of folks manually checking tickets, there are often gates at the bottom of each base lift and gondola that require you to scan your pass. These ski pass arm bands are great for making that whole process painless, if your ski jacket doesn't have a pass pocket already.
• Keeping your skis/snowboard and bindings ice and snow free and looking fresh as can be is made much easier by bringing this little dish scraper with you.
• Sunscreen and sunscreen lip balm are absolute essentials if you are skiing someplace sunny like California. The reflections off the snow can really get you so don't forget to dab the bottom of your nose!
• Ski equipment is only getting more expensive, so I never leave mine anywhere without locking them up. This Dakine Micro Lock isn't a super secure lock by any means, but since most ski theft is a crime of opportunity (or maybe mis-identication!), locking your skis up should provide enough resistance that your gear should be there when you get back from the burrito line.
• Ibuprofen – or "Vitamin I" as us old folks sometimes call it – is a great thing to bring on the slopes to help with any pain, muscle aches, and inflamation.
• You'll be so stoked to find those hand warmer packets in your pockets when you need the most. Wet gloves, cold feet, cool core – all easily solved by tossing a mysteriously hot pocket in to warm what ails you.
• Eyeglass cleaner wipes are so helpful in keeping your goggles fingerprint free and clean all day long. I also bring eyeglass cleaning cloth to help dry and clean the goggles as well.
• I like to keep all these essentials packed away in a pouch so it's easy to keep it all accessible and not forgotten. I always bring a high pitch whistle attached to the pouch so I can get someone's attention of I get in trouble (look into tree wells if you get off piste often!). This pouch is from my pals at Boom Boom Bike Room in Santa Barbara. I find backpacks to be overkill for resort skiing, and they are really annoying to wear on a lift, so ideally you pack your gear in a compact pouch that you keep in your bibs so you are always prepared while feeling fast and free on the mountain.

Ski Resort Extras

• Skiing with headphones can really elevate your day. There are some expensive sound systems that can be added to your helmet (you should always be skiing and snowboarding in a helmet, no excuses!), but for most folks I think a pair of bone-conducting headphones are the best option. They won't fall out of your ears, they sound great while keeping your ears fully open so you can hear those groms ripping it up behind you with ease.
• A spare ski buff can ensure you stay cozy all day long. Bring one if you don't think you need one today, and bring a spare if you already have one, just in case.
• Wool glove liners are great to stash in your pocket to keep your hands nice and toasty all day long
• Got water? It's very important to stay hydrated during a long ski day. It can be hard to find water stations at some resorts, so tossing a half litre water pouch in a pocket is a great way to keep going.
• Ski/Snowboard tool or multi-tool – it can be handy to have a tool to tighten bindings, make adjustments, or just a knife to cut that gorgeous smoked Gouda you stuffed in your pocket.
• Ski straps – these are handy to keep your skis together in your bag or while you're walking, you can use them to keep your poles attached to your skis to be used like a handle, to keep your boots tight when you break a buckle, or a myriad of other emergency and non-emergency situations. I like to keep one in a pocket at all times on the slopes, just in case.

SNACKS!

These are essential for me, especially because there is no night skiing at the resorts I typically ski at here in California so if the snow is good, I'm trying to go all day without a long obnoxious lunch break. Here are some snacks that I love:

• Skratch Energy Chews – some of these flavors have caffiene too, to keep you flying
• Bonk Breaker Energy Chews – another great and tasty option for chewy snacks to keep the stoke high
• Kate's Real Food Bars – these are incredible bars that stay soft enough to eat even on cold days, have real ingreedients, and taste fantastic

I hope this has been helpful in getting you as prepared as possible for an amazing day on the slopes!