What to Pack for a Tahoe Ski Trip
A last-minute checklist covering the things that actually matter: the gear that turns a cold, stressful drive into a day worth repeating. No filler, no fluff.
The essentials
Bring these on every Tahoe ski day, regardless of conditions. They cover the basics that make the difference between a good day and a rough one.
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Insulated Snow Jacket
Quiksilver Highline Pro GORE-TEX Jacket
Top of Travis Rice's signature Quiksilver line, the shell he rides in the backcountry.
Insulated Snow Jacket
Burton [ak] Cyclic GORE-TEX Jacket
Burton's pro-built [ak] line, the brand Chloe Kim and Zeb Powell ride for.
Insulated Snow Jacket
Jones Shralpinist 3L Jacket
From backcountry legend Jeremy Jones' own brand: storm gear built for big lines.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Burton Covert 2.0 2L Insulated Pants
The everyday insulated pant from the brand Chloe Kim and Zeb Powell ride for. Thigh vents let you dump heat on the stairs.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Quiksilver Travis Rice GORE-TEX Pro Bib
The bib half of Travis Rice's Quiksilver kit, built for the same days as the jacket.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Patagonia Storm Shift Pants
A straightforward GORE-TEX resort pant, backed by Patagonia's repair program.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Glove
Flagship glove from Dakine, Kai Jones' gear sponsor.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Hestra Army Leather Heli Glove
The big-mountain standard. On more pro freeride hands than any other glove.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Crab Grab Cinch Mitt
Zeb Powell's glove sponsor, and the most fun mitts on the hill.
Snow Goggles
Smith 4D MAG
Smith is Kai Jones' optics sponsor, and the BirdsEye lens shows the landing under your feet.
Snow Goggles
Quiksilver Travis Rice Signature Goggle
Travis Rice's own signature goggle line.
Snow Goggles
Oakley Flight Deck
The X Games park staple. Massive field of view, fits over glasses.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Burton Crown Weatherproof Full-Zip Fleece
Water-resistant bonded fleece. The easy-on, easy-off layer that also survives the walk from the car.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Synthetic fill, so it keeps working when it gets damp. Packs into its own pocket when you shed it.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Arc'teryx Atom Hoody
Coreloft synthetic insulation that stays warm wet, and breathable enough to leave on all day.
Snow Helmet
Smith Vantage 2 MIPS
Flagship lid from Kai Jones' helmet-and-goggle sponsor. MIPS + Koroyd, BOA fit.
Merino Wool Ski & Snowboard Socks
Le Bent Cody Townsend Pro Series Snow Sock
Signature sock designed with big-mountain pro Cody Townsend of The Fifty.
Merino Wool Ski & Snowboard Socks
Darn Tough Ski/Snowboard OTC Socks
Lifetime warranty, quick-dry merino.
Waterproof Duffel Bag
Dakine EQ Duffle 70L
The ski-town workhorse from Kai Jones' bag sponsor.
Waterproof Duffel Bag
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L
Bombproof weather-resistant build with lifetime repair.
High-SPF Sunscreen
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Face Stick
Mountain staple that won't sweat off mid-run.
High-SPF Sunscreen
Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
The daily-wear favorite.
Insulated Water Bottle
Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth
The standard for all-day insulation.
For cold & storm days
When temperatures drop below 20°F or a storm rolls in, these extras are what keep you on the mountain instead of warming up in the lodge.
Thermal Base Layer Set
Le Bent Core Midweight Base Layer
Merino-bamboo blend from Cody Townsend's base-layer sponsor on The Fifty project.
Thermal Base Layer Set
Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino 1/4 Zip
Smartwool's warmest 100% merino, the resort-day default.
Hand and Foot Warmers
HotHands Hand & Toe Warmers Value Pack
The ones patrollers actually carry.
Neck Gaiter / Balaclava
Le Bent Balaclava
Merino-bamboo face protection from the crew outfitting Cody Townsend.
Neck Gaiter / Balaclava
BUFF Merino Lightweight Multifunctional
The original, the neck tube you'll spot in every pro edit.
Portable Power Bank
Anker PowerCore 10000
Most trusted compact bank, a cold-day essential.
Ice Cleats / Microspikes
Kahtoola MICROspikes
The benchmark winter-traction device, parking-lot insurance.
Ice Scraper & Snow Brush
Hopkins SubZero Ice Scraper & Snowbrush
The perennial best-seller. Simple and effective.
Driving in the snow
Caltrans can impose chain controls on I-80 and US-50 with little warning, and it makes no difference whether you're driving to Heavenly, Palisades Tahoe, or anywhere else in the basin. Get turned around at a checkpoint without chains and your day is over before it starts. Check Caltrans QuickMap (opens in a new tab) before you leave and bring these.
Tire Snow Chains
Security Chain Super Z6
GearJunkie's go-to passenger chain. Low-clearance Z-cable design, built-in tensioners, no re-tightening stop.
Tire Snow Chains
König CB-12
Time-tested budget classic, heavy-duty for the snowiest climates.
Folding Emergency Snow Shovel
Black Diamond Deploy 3 Shovel
The backcountry standard. Deploys fast, packs flat in a trunk.
New to skiing?
First days on snow mean falls. That's part of learning. These pieces of protective gear make the learning curve a lot less painful. Both go under your outer layers and are easy to find on Amazon or at a ski shop.
Wrist Guards (snowboarders)
Dakine Wristguard
Low-profile, slips inside gloves or mitts.
Wrist Guards (snowboarders)
Demon Flex Wrist Guard
Double-splint protection, forum favorite.
Padded Impact Shorts
Demon Flex-Force X D3O Shorts
High-end D3O padding with a functioning fly.
Padded Impact Shorts
Burton Total Impact Shorts
G-Form padding, the low-profile favorite.
Ready to plan the full trip?
Tell us where you're driving from, your group size, skill level, and budget. We'll match you to the right Tahoe resort and build a complete trip plan with weather, road conditions, and where to stay.