Suggested Equipment List for Overnight Ski or Snowshoe Trips

The following equipment list is a guide to help you prepare for overnight winter trips.  More items are listed than you will actually need to give you an idea of some of the equipment possibilities.

Dressing in layers is the best choice for outdoor activities.  As you get warm you can take off layers, and as you cool down during breaks, you can put them back on.  The term synthetics on the clothing lists, below, refers to materials such as pile, capilene, synchilla, lycra or polypropylene.

Note also that some of the items can be shared.  The tent and stove can be split up among the party.  Repair and first aid kits can also be shared. Feel free to make copies of this list and pass it out to the members in your party.

Adapted from Ski Camping: A Guide to the Delights of Backcountry Skiing.
 

Clothing - Inner Layer

Long john top and bottoms (wool or synthetic)
Inner socks (wool or synthetic)
Liner gloves (wool or synthetic)
Vapor barrier (plastic socks or bags, etc.)
 

Clothing - Insulating Layer

Pile shirts or jackets
Down or synthetic fill jackets
Down or synthetic fill vest
Wool shirt
Wool sweater
Turtleneck
Wool pants or knickers
Pile pants
Wool or pile socks (regular or knicker) (2 pairs)
Wool stocking hat or balaclava
Hood of jacket
Mittens (wool or pile) (2 pairs)
 

Clothing - Protective Layer

Windshirt or parka with hood
Rain jacket
Wind pants
Overmittens
 

Other Clothing Items

Suspenders, belt or webbing
Bandana
Face mask
Gaiters
 

Pants Pockets

Matches (in waterproof container). Be sure to use "strike-anywhere" matches.
Knife
Fire starter
 

Feet

Ski boots
Insoles
Extra socks
Boot wax
Down or synthetic fill booties
Overboots
 

Skis/Snowshoes and Accessories

Skis & bindings or Snowshoes & bindings
Poles (screw together type for avalanche terrain)
Skins
 

Haulage

Pack
Stuff bags with toggles
 

Bedroom

Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Bivouac bag
Vapor barrier inner bag
Tent (poles, snow stakes, fly, guy lines)
Candle or candle lantern
 

Kitchen

Stove
12"xl2" ensolite pad for insulation under stove
Matches in stove
Fuel bottle (with gas)
Funnel
Pots
Pot gripper
Cup
Spoon
Corkscrew
Food
Water bottle & water
 

Repair Kit

Sewing needle
Nylon thread or dental floss
Duct tape
Sheet metal (5"x2") -for pole repair
Epoxy
Screwdriver which fits your binding screws
Vice grips (5" size)
Extra screws to fit bindings
Ski tip
Clevis pins (for external frame packs)
Bailing wire
Cables for cable binding users (skiers)
Extra bail for pin binding users (skiers)
Extra basket
Extra stove parts (gasket for stove or fuel cap, etc.)
 

Emergency Kit

Matches (and striker in waterproof container)
Fire starter (solid fuel pellets, candle, pitch wood, etc.)
Compass
Map
Knife
Whistle
Nylon cord
 

First Aid Kit

Two gauze rolls (2" wide)
Moleskin for blisters
Chapstick
Sunblock
Two triangular bandages
Six sterile pads (4"x4")
Anti-acid tablets
Ace bandage
Bandaids-assorted sizes
Butterfly closures
Safety pins
Aspirin
Two-inch first aid tape
First aid book
Personal medications
Also see Lightweight First Aid Kit.
 

Wax Kit (for those with waxable skis)

Waxes (two-wax system or assorted waxes)
Cork
Scraper
Wax remover (often overnight skiers will use white gas which is normally carried for stoves)
Hand cleaner
Rag
 

Avalanche Safety

Pocket hand lens
Shovel
Avalanche transceiver
 

Personals

Lotion
Toothbrush/paste
Glasses or contacts
Comb
Mirror
 

Miscellaneous

Snow saw
Sunglasses
Sun block
Goggles
Headlamp or flashlight (spare batteries and bulb)
Extra candles
Watch
Notebook/pencil
Book
Wire saw
Thermometer
Toilet paper
 

[END]
 

ISU Outdoor Program Links:
General Information | National Outdoor Book Awards | Outdoor Program News | Classes | Calendar | Staff
Yurts | Friends | Publications  | Dutch Oven | Outdoor Informational Resources | Donations | Index/Search