THE PERFECT SUITCASE TO GO SKIING
The time to pack is generally heavy for many. We end up doing it at the last moment because we are too lazy to do it, and we end up putting in a lot of unnecessary clothes, those kinds of "just in case" and meaningless clothes. Precisely for this reason, from Uller we are going to give you some tricks, so that packing your suitcase to go skiing is more pleasant, effective and quick to do. After all, in winter clothes take up a lot of space and you have to be precise about the real needs that you are going to have. How many days are you going to go on a trip to the snow? Will you ski all those days you go? Will you have après ski plans? Will there be more sports activities? This battery of questions could be a perfect example to ask yourself days before the specific trip. But we will go little by little, in this article, giving you advice and recommendations that will help you in this process.
IT'S NOT AN EMPTY SUITCASE
The trick is not to start thinking about the concept of an empty suitcase, that is, not to understand it as a suitcase that we don't know what to fill it with and that we end up packing clothes almost out of obligation. Just as blank pages can overwhelm the writer, or a new canvas distresses the painter, this is the same. For this reason, first of all, we advise you to think about the number of days that you will be able to enjoy the snow, and the outfits that you have recently acquired or verified that they fit you well. Keep in mind those clothes with which you feel favored and, in addition, you are comfortable, thinking that they are suitable for the temperatures that you are going to face and that you are going to have to combine it with the appropriate après ski type footwear . Place the folded looks on top of the table or bed, in such a way that you have them visually grouped. This global vision will help you to be able to complement them much more easily and not to forget anything.
To give you a hand, we are going to leave you a list of essentials to pack your suitcase to go skiing:
- Ski outfit, pants and jacket or jumpsuit and jacket, whatever your team is.
- Thermal underwear: tights, long-sleeved shirts (as many days as you go skiing)
- Comfortable underwear. In the case of being a woman, a sports bra and comfortable underwear that does not stick.
- Special socks for skiing, as many as days you go skiing. And socks for street outfits.
- Neck warmer for skiing and scarf for when you don't ski.
- Good quality, technical ski gloves, as well as non-ski gloves.
- Uller's mask for snow.
- Uller sunglasses for the street.
- Ski boots.
- Skis and poles if you have them. If you don't have them, don't worry. This type of material is something that is easily rented in the ski resorts themselves and that it is not necessary that you have, especially if you do not go skiing repeatedly.
- Depending on the days you stay and the plans you have after skiing, a couple of outfits to go out in the afternoon or to go out for dinner.
- Lounging boots or street swag, depends on what you're in the mood for. But we recommend footwear that supports the ankle well, since we can always find some snow on the street and slip. Besides, it will be better to cover you from the cold.
Whether your activity in the snow is going to be snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding, sliding on Snake Gliss (which is a chain of linked sleds consecutively) skiing, snowboarding… your snow gear has basically the same needs: to protect you from the cold and humidity. For this you must take into account that snow garments must be thermal and with high protection against humidity. The ones that we recommend the most are those that maintain the body heat generated by the body with physical effort and that at the same time are light, having a touch similar to that of a down coat but, being a technical fabric, allows it to be much finer with the same functions.
As for the outfits to wear, we recommend opting for sets of neutral colors. Because? The main reason is that it can help you not get tired of always looking like you are wearing the same clothes and that, in this way, it is also easier to combine with colored accessories and give it your point of character.
WHAT IS THE SUITCASE OF THE FAMOUS?
In the same way that we let ourselves be influenced by different people when it comes to dressing for the day to day, choosing looks to go skiing also goes through that filter of inspiration in which, whether they are famous people or close to us, helps us pack our own suitcase. For example, this is how we saw it in the 4 looks that Kylie Jenner showed us at Christmas 2020, while she was enjoying her family and friends in the snow. Among the activities they practiced were skiing and taking snowmobiles, although they also took the opportunity to delight themselves with good views, a fireplace and good food, as is to be desired with low temperatures. We list the looks below:
- Set of overalls and black jacket, total black, which contrasted with the white snow gives a good presence and elegance.
- Another set of pants, shirt, vest and jacket, all in sand color, thus highlighting his silhouette.
- Combination of pants and a black sweater with a white jacket.
- Black pants and sweater with a blue holographic jacket (fabric that, even though it is one color, shines reflecting the colors of the rainbow).
What conclusion can we draw from an example like yours? Mainly that the most successful option will be neutral colors. In other words, black, gray and white can be your best allies, which, as we said, you can easily combine with your favorite color accessory or garment and that says a lot about you.
This is also what Chiara Ferragni did on the summits of Mont Blanc, with a set of black jacket and pants, a gray sweater and a hat from her brand, bubblegum pink .
Or as María Pombo did, who, to go to the snow to different seasons, chose 3 outfits:
- To be having a drink on the slopes, she opted for a set of boots, vinyl pants and a hoodie all in black, combined with a white shearling jacket with black buckles.
- To go skiing, he chose a black jumpsuit with a white vertical stripe on the side, à la Kill Bill , combined with a silver jacket, helmet and black screen glasses.
- White break pants and boots, with colored striped wool sweater and silver jacket.
WHICH SKI GUNS TO PUT IN THE SUITCASE?
As for snow goggles, which can be chosen for both women and men, Uller offers unisex models that it will be difficult for you to choose just one. But to group your needs in one as much as possible, we offer you specific glasses with an interchangeable magnetic screen: a Category 3 for sunny days and a Category 1 for cloudy or stormy days. If you are unsure which goggles best suit your needs, we recommend you read our blog article Find out which ski goggles is yours. In it we tell you everything about our models. Now, the highlights? First of all, we have the The Wall model, which will be perfect if you are looking for glasses framed in one color and contrasting lenses in another, finding up to 5 different color combinations. We also have some models in which the lenses are mounted to the air: on the one hand the model Freeride (with flat lenses) or the model Snowdrift
WHAT ARE THE BEST FABRICS TO PROTECT US FROM COLD AND DAMP?
The best fabrics to protect us from the cold are natural ones such as wool. This wool can have different origins, and the most common are goat, sheep or alpaca. However, cashmere goat is the softest, but as we all know, also the most expensive. It insulates from the cold, it is resistant, elastic and comfortable, although it is recommended to wear it as a second layer as it can cause itching or allergies.
Nylon and cotton is the best fabric for thermal undershirts, because it insulates from the cold and allows perspiration, while being soft on the skin. On the other hand, Polyester in the form of fleece is the most suitable fabric to keep you warm, practically imitating the properties of wool, even being lighter and leaving aside the propensity to cause allergies. For this reason, it is also ideal as a second layer.
The third layer should be waterproof. Because? Mainly because their waterproof properties will prevent the water produced by the snow from coming into contact with our body. The fabrics used for this are of the latest generation, such as Futurelight or the new Gore-tex Pro 3L. Garments made from these fabrics have several membranes or layers, each with its own function: the inner one acts as a fleece lining, the intermediate one breathes and is invisible, and the outer one repels water. Every year research on technical fabrics progresses, in such a way that every year we can aspire to quality equipment for more affordable prices.
These that we have mentioned would be the three recommended layers for the upper part of the torso, where we need to be more protected. Now, what about the legs? These extremities are in constant motion, and technical ski pants already have a thin fleece part, with thermal nylon or cotton leggings and technical pants would suffice.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- WHAT CAN YOU DO ON A SNOWY MOUNTAIN?
It is beginning to be time to bundle up to enjoy the activities in the mountains and add to the fun that the snow brings us. We can go snowshoeing, hot air ballooning, snowmobiling, mountain biking, horse and dog sledding, skiing or snowboarding, and also an alternative to all of the above: ice diving.
- WHAT ARE THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN SPAIN TO GO SNOWING IN SPAIN?
Here are some of our favorite options:
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In Aragon, Huesca, Formigal Panticosa.
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In Lleida, Baqueira Beret.
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In the community of Castilla y León and Madrid, Sierra de Guadarrama.
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In Madrid, Puerto de Navacerrada.
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In Castilla y León, Sierra de Gredos.
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In Andalusia, Granada, Sierra Nevada.
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Andorra.
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In Catalonia, Valle de Aran.
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In Asturias, Somiedo Natural Park.
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In La Rioja, Valdezcaray.
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In the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Teide National Park.
- WHAT SHOULD I WEAR IN THE SNOW?
You should wear thermal underwear and technical outer clothing that insulates you from humidity, that is light and keeps the heat that your own body generates when you move. The most important thing is to keep the water that snow turns into away from our bodies, which is why emphasizing the impermeability of garments is essential. You must not forget your ski suit or jacket and pants, gloves, helmet, hat, ski goggles and sunglasses, neck gaiter, boots and breaks. As well as your favorite winter outfits to go out to dinner.
- WHICH ARE THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT SNOWS THE MOST DURING THE YEAR?
We are going to give you a list of all the countries in which more meters of snow accumulate per square meter:
- Although the answer to this question may come as a surprise, Japan is the country where it snows the most. In fact, in the Japanese city of Aomori, 8 meters of snow are reached each year, in Sapporo 5 meters, and in Toyama and Akita, 3 meters.
- In order from most to least, we continue with Canada, where there is also a lot of snow accumulation, easily reaching 3 meters of snow in cities like St. John's, Quebec and Saguenay.
- In United States, in the state of New York, the city of Syracuse, where there is a well-known university, collects 3 meters of snow. And in the same state, in the city of Rochester, they reach 2 meters, as well as in the city of Buffalo, where the famous Niagara Falls are located.
- In Antarctica, where it is coldest on the planet, -89.2 degrees, it also snows a lot, although living or even getting there is really complex.
- Estonia is also on the list, a place where it lives below zero, and the snow gives the landscape that nostalgic and almost fairytale look.
- Finland, with its -45 degrees, specifically in the city of Rovaniemi, Lapland, where Santa Claus's house is.
- Gadafoss, in Iceland, with -20 and -30 degrees and its attractive volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls.
- Norway, the Lofoten pier, where you can contrast the view of the snow with the sea.
- Russia with temperatures of -69 degrees, even -72 degrees in the city of Verhoyansk.
- And Greenland with its -66 degrees, closes the list of countries where winter lasts a long time.
