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Ski Trip Packing List: A Carry-On Kit for the Slopes
Christine Walek
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The skis go in the ski bag, the ski bag goes to the oversize counter, and everything you need between home and the first chairlift has to fit in the bag on your shoulder. A good ski trip packing list sorts that out before you are standing at the checkpoint. Here is a carry-on kit built around TSA's rules, plus where a small NasalGuard® step fits on travel day.
Checked bag or carry-on: what goes where
Start with the long items. TSA's "What Can I Bring?" listing marks ski poles as not allowed in carry-on bags and allowed in checked bags, so they ride in the ski bag with your skis. Most skiers check skis or a snowboard as sports equipment; your airline sets its own size, weight, and fee rules for those, so check its site before you book.
Everything else is a judgment call. A useful test: if your checked bag showed up a day late, what would you need to ski tomorrow? That goes in the carry-on.
Long gear goes in the ski bag; the things you would need tomorrow go on your shoulder. Source: TSA.
Your ski trip packing list for the carry-on
This list fits in a standard carry-on with room to spare. Adjust it for your trip length.
Goggles in a soft case, so the lens does not get scratched in the bag.
Gloves or mittens and a thin liner pair.
One full base layer, top and bottom, plus ski socks.
Neck gaiter and a hat, which take up almost no space.
Lift pass or confirmation, rental reservation, and lodging details, saved offline.
Chargers and a power bank for your phone on the mountain.
Snacks for the shuttle ride up.
Your quart-size liquids bag, packed and ready to pull out at the checkpoint.
Lip balm sticks are solid, so they can ride anywhere in your bag. If you prefer a tube or jar, put it in the liquids bag.
The quart-size liquids bag
TSA allows one quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on, with each container 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less. Anything larger goes in checked baggage. Sunscreen counts as a cream or liquid, so a travel-size bottle belongs in the bag.
A typical ski kit for the bag:
Travel-size sunscreen
Travel-size face lotion and toothpaste
A small tube of NasalGuard For Air Travelers
The NasalGuard For Air Travelers 3g tube is a small travel-size tube that fits easily in the quart-size bag next to everything else. For more on gels and the checkpoint, see Can You Bring Gel on a Plane?
Where NasalGuard fits on travel day
NasalGuard For Air Travelers is a simple, externally applied barrier step for everyday airborne particles at airports, on airplanes, and in other travel settings. It is an invisible, drug-free gel that goes around the outside of the nostrils and above the upper lip.
Here is how to apply it:
Wash and dry your hands.
Place a small amount on a fingertip. It is opaque and milky white in the tube and on your finger.
Spread it between the thumb and finger, and apply around the outside of the nostrils and above the upper lip. It goes on invisibly.
Three steps, done before you leave for the airport. Reapply as directed on the current label.
A natural rhythm on a ski travel day: apply at home before you leave, then use the gate or the shuttle pickup as your checkpoint. Reapply according to the current directions and after the area becomes wet. For more flight-day timing, see NasalGuard for Air Travel.
On the mountain: keeping the tube handy
Use an inside pocket. A zippered inner jacket pocket keeps the tube close to you and stops it from bouncing out on the lift. Check the label for storage directions.
Wet counts. Snow on your face, a goggle wipe with your glove, washing up at lunch: any of these means it is time to reapply as directed.
Lodge breaks are your checkpoint. Wash your hands, check the directions, and reapply if they call for it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring ski poles in a carry-on?
No. TSA's "What Can I Bring?" listing shows ski poles as not allowed in carry-on bags and allowed in checked bags. Pack them in your ski bag with your skis, and check your airline's rules for sports equipment size, weight, and fees before you fly.
Does sunscreen count as a liquid for TSA?
Yes. TSA's liquids rule covers liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. In your carry-on, each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and fit in one quart-sized bag. Larger bottles of sunscreen should go in your checked bag.
Can I bring NasalGuard in my carry-on?
Yes. NasalGuard is a gel, so it goes in your quart-size liquids bag. The For Air Travelers 3g tube is a small travel-size tube that fits easily alongside sunscreen and toothpaste. Keep the bag near the top of your carry-on so you can pull it out at the checkpoint.
Which NasalGuard should I pack for a ski trip?
NasalGuard For Air Travelers is packaged for airports, airplanes, and other travel settings. The 3g tube fits the liquids bag, and a 10g tube can go in a checked bag. Choose Unscented for no added scent or Cool Menthol if you like a menthol scent.
Christine Walek writes for the NasalGuard editorial team about air quality, travel, and the everyday airborne particles we share space with. Articles are reviewed against current product labeling before publishing.
