What A Ski Instructor Wants You To Know About Keeping Warm
Rescued male Labrador mix wearing his winter scarf ready to go! Credit:Stephanie Phillips
by Stacey Smith
I have been a ski instructor for 18 years. I am also a parent to two grown adults who learned to ski as children by going to work with me. Keeping all of us warm and comfortable for entire days on the slopes was my responsibility, and I make sure my clients, at any age, are warm and comfortable to ensure they have their best day on snow.
Layers
There’s one word to describe how to stay warm – layers. Today’s materials and fabrics are so much thinner and warmer than the heavy knits of decades ago.
Start with a base layer consisting of a long sleeve top and long underwear bottoms or even yoga pants. Long underwear is made in so many different materials and weights, such as fleece for cold, sub-zero days, and thin polyester blends for warmer spring skiing days.
Stay away from anything with a tight ankle cuff as you will want the ability to pull your pant leg up and over your calf when getting fitted for ski boots.
Socks Are Important
If your feet get cold, that will be enough to distract you from your ski experience. Find a good pair of synthetic/wool blend socks. Just make sure they are long enough to go over your calf.
Stay away from cotton socks and anything shorter than crew length. Anytime bare skin rubs against the inside of the boot, it creates friction and becomes very uncomfortable. The more coverage you have on your foot and calf, the better.
Fleece
Keeping your body’s core warm is key if you’ll be outdoors for any length of time. Depending on the weather forecast, you may want to wear a thin fleece pullover or vest under your jacket or coat. They can always be taken off if you get too warm.
Snow Pants
Either bibs or standard snow pants, will do. Do yourself a favor and wear the most
comfortable pair of winter boots you have to the mountain. You’ll thank me for that advice at the end of your day!
Mittens or Gloves
Which you choose is an individual preference. In my experience, a thin glove liner in a mitten can help to ensure even more warmth on cold days. If you use hand warmers, the liner acts as a barrier to your skin preventing any burns if the handwarmers get too hot.
Helmets
I cannot stress enough the importance of a helmet, for two reasons, first to protect your head. Secondly, you will find it much warmer than a hat. You don’t need to buy a helmet; you can rent them at most ski areas and most ski schools require them with lessons, including for kids.
If you are renting and feel funny putting your head in a helmet worn by others, wear a balaclava (combined neck warmer and cap) or a thin hat/cap underneath the helmet. This will add an extra layer of warmth. Just be sure the hat is thin enough, so the helmet fits properly.
Neck Warmers
These are a great way to close the gap between neck and helmet. Depending on the weather, choose toasty fleece or something thinner. A scarf can work, too, provided the ends are tucked securely into your jacket. The last thing you want is your vision obstructed by a scarf fluttering in the wind as you’re sliding on snow, or – worse – caught in the chairlift when you exit.
Goggles
These are important all winter, especially when weather conditions are snowy, windy, or just brilliantly sunny. It’s difficult to listen and watch your instructor if you must constantly turn away or cover your eyes because of blowing wind and snow.
Boots
I mentioned handwarmers with gloves or mittens and it should be noted, toe warmers are also a great thing to have on very cold days. They are best applied when you put on your ski boots, or right before you go to the rental shop to save time.
When fitting your ski boots, do not place any other clothing in the ski boot other than your sock. The single biggest complaint I hear from “first time” clients when we meet on the snow is “My feet hurt, my boots are too tight”. It’s usually because they have their underlayers and pants tucked into their boot and then the boots are buckled tightly, causing their circulation to be cut off.
I hope this helps you prepare for your first time or perhaps your grandchild’s first time on the slopes. Positive experiences on snow create future skiers and that’s always been my goal!
Bio
Stacey Smith grew up in NH not far from the Mt. Washington Valley. I realized when mychildren were young, that I could become a ski instructor and at the same time they could learn to ski. I spent close to 18 years teaching all ages and abilities to make their first turns on snow. These days, I live in southeastern MA with my husband. He doesn’t ski but loves apres ski, and we both enjoy all things related to skiing, travel and food.
- Rediscovering My Ski Groove at Deer Valley - March 5, 2026
- Turns Through Time – A Ski Story Spanning 90 Years - February 19, 2026
- In the Shadow of the Matterhorn - February 19, 2026
There is an attachment that can be added to the foam on goggles to protect the nose and cheeks from the blowing wind and sun. It will not fog the goggles.
One thing I have learned over 60 years of skiing and over 25 years as an instructor. This has been my experience. Change into your boots with a dry pair of socks. Not the socks you wore to the ski area.
Also never put any kind of hand or foot cream on, it’s mostly water and that l putting a layer of moisture on your skin, it will freeze.
I still think wool is the best insulator, base layer of poly then wool shirt, wool sweater, outer wind proof parka.
Hey Stacey,
Great post! Me: skier for 60 yrs & still skiing, instructor for 15 yrs, taking this year off except to maintain my PSIA status with an on-snow workshop
Couple thoughts to add:
1) READERS: PRINT Stacey’s post & give to your first-timers – it’s all here!
2) Socks & Feet: great advice. One more thought: on really cold days, drop two hand warmers in each ski boot when you wake up. When you put on your boots later, and remove the warmers, your feet will be so happy for the instant warmth, which will last even longer since boots start out “warmed up.
So glad you mentioned a neck warmer. I have found that I can be all bundled up everywhere, but if there’s the slightest draft seeping in between my jacket and helmet, it’s like an Achilles Heel of cold.
This is all good advice – – but with all the right clothing you will still get cold if you have to pee. Your body will draw heat to keep all that liquid in your bladder at 98.6°. And it takes a lot of energy to heat water. So make sure you hit the hills with an empty bladder, and don’t hesitate to come back to the lodge for a potty break.
Preventing cold feet. The only tight buckle should be the third buckle on your ski boots. This buckle locks your heel. The first 2 buckles should just be tight enough to seal out the snow. The top buckle can be adjusted for ankle flexion or tight for downhill racing. A boot glove also works wonders on really cold days.
Hello,
I have been skiing for 68 years. That includes all over the USA and Europe. Last year a friend was wearing his hood up most of the day. It was around 20 degrees. He claimed that it kept him 10% warmer. My hood has been up ever since then on colder days. He was right- it is amazing how much warmer I am. Give it a try.
I suffer from very cold hands and feet. I had heated insoles, battery powered installed in my ski boots as soon as they were invented and recently purchased heated mittens that I also charge up in the condo before I hit the slopes. These innovations have happily kept me skiing!
I am also a ski instructor with 40 years of experience teaching. These ideas are good ones, especially having no clothing inside the boots other than a ski sock. Most people don’t know that the elastic band under the cuff of ski pants is supposed to go over the boot to keep snow out., not inside the boot.
I agree with the response about not buckling boots too tight, especially over the instep. That 3rd buckle helps the most for comfort and control.
I think the idea that urine in your bladder makes you lose heat has been debunked. You could consider the opposite-it’s already heated and keeps you warm.
Toe warmers are great, but put them on top or your toes, not underneath.
The neck gaiters or tubes can also be pulled up over your chin or all the way up to your goggles if it is really cold.
Long time skier, and a skier with skier friends who are out from 1st lift to the last.
I used to suffer from cold feet from 20 degrees and below. I believe most skiers have cold feet due to their feet perspiring. All the facts of dressing in layers… so when it gets warm, you take off a layer.
That doesn’t happen in ski boots… not a very breathable environment. Where is the sweat going… so your feet sweat then they get cold as they get damp.
I use baby power on my feet after I have sprayed them with an antiperspirant, or use a stick rub. Then, liberal powder… with the thinnest of socks (never any cotton) my feet never get cold unless it is below zero. That’s when the boot muffs (neoprene) go on.
Gamechanger, night and day.
After skiing, I always dry my boots overnight.
Never leave boots in a car overnight, way too cold.
I don’t ever take them off at lunch, they feel great and comfortable so you don’t waste time fiddling.
A wet boot is a cold foot.
Stay disciplined and there’s no drama with feet issues.
Beside your hands, feet have the greatest number of sweat pores of your skin. Where is that perspiration going?