For a lot of skiers, a ski day is a day trip: drive up early, ski, drive home. The gear is simpler than a fly-in trip, but the parking lot is a harder place to get dressed.
In the car
- Skis strapped base to base, with tip covers on
- Poles
- Boot bag with boots, helmet, goggles, and gloves
- A towel or mat to stand on while you change
- Dry clothes and shoes for the drive home
- Snacks, water, and a thermos
Booting up in the lot
Changing into boots in slush is the worst part of a day trip. A bag with a built-in mat helps. Diamant's Tank is a 70L day-trip boot bag with a pull-out mat for exactly this, plus a helmet section and room for layers.
The walk to the lift
Carry skis on one shoulder with the tips forward and down, and boots on your back. Padded tips keep you from knocking skis into cars and people on the way. See how to carry skis without scratching them.
The drive home
- Wipe edges dry before skis go back in the car
- Pull liners out of the boots if you can, so they dry overnight
- Keep wet gear in the boot bag's sealed compartment, away from dry clothes