Ski Gear: What to Buy, What to Rent, and What's Unnecessary
Whatever touches the snow you rent; whatever touches your skin you buy. One shopping list before your first flight, how a boot should feel, and why you don't upgrade your level at the rental shop.
The rule for ski gear the first time around: whatever touches the snow you rent at the resort, whatever touches your skin you buy. Skis, boots, poles and a helmet are rented at the rental shop; gloves, ski socks, a thermal layer, ski goggles and sunscreen are best bought in advance; a jacket and pants you buy once, by the number on the label. A sports shop will sell a family half the store before their first ski trip, and most of it will stay in the closet.
In short:
- Rent: skis, boots, poles, helmet
- Buy good: gloves, ski socks, thermal layer, ski goggles, SPF cream and lip balm
- Buy cheap or already at home: ski jacket and pants, fleece, thin hat, warm shoes
- Don't need: a big bag, a wax kit, a new camera, and food
What to rent and what to buy for skiing?
Rent everything that touches the snow. The gear is fitted to your height, your weight and your current level, and after a week your level changes and the right ski changes with it. If something isn't comfortable, you swap it the next morning. You don't lug a ski bag through the plane and the bus. And kids grow: a child's ski boots serve one season. Those who buy skis after the first week usually discover they bought the wrong model. On the types and grades in the shop, see types of skis.
What the rental shop will ask: height, weight, shoe size and skiing level. Don't upgrade your level. These details are used to set the release force of the bindings, which is what frees the ski in a fall before the knee gets hurt. A beginner who declares "intermediate" gets bindings that don't release in time.
How a boot should feel: snug, not comfy like a house slipper. When you stand upright your toes touch the front lightly, and when you bend your knees forward they pull back. The heel doesn't move. A boot that feels perfect in the shop is almost always too big: after a day your foot floats inside it, you lose control and you get blisters. Pinching in one spot? Say so, and switch model, not size.
In Alba di Canazei and in Canazei the large rental shops are located next to the bottom of the Ciampac lift and across from the Belvedere lift, with heated lockers where you leave your gear overnight by the lift. Hotel guests get a discount on the rental, and the hotel has a heated boot room for those who prefer to return their gear. In La Plagne and in Gudauri the rental is in the village, right by the hotel, and our team points you to the shop on arrival day.
What to buy good
These are the items that touch the skin, that can't be rented, and that determine whether the day is pleasant:
- Ski gloves, waterproof; for kids, mittens. The most important expense on the list.
- Ski socks, dedicated ones reaching below the knee, three pairs.
- Thermal layer, top and bottoms, two of each. Merino or synthetic, not cotton.
- Ski goggles with a lens for changing light, or two lenses. Most goggles fit most helmets; try them together at the rental shop, and if there's a gap, switch helmet.
- Sunscreen with a high SPF and lip balm with SPF.
- A warm neck gaiter.
You can top up at the resort, from whatever selection is left.
What to buy cheap, or already have at home
Ski jacket and pants. Bought once every few years, no need for expensive. What matters: waterproofing of 10,000 mm or more on the label, ventilation zips, and a "snow skirt" at the cuff of the pants that closes over the boot. The brand doesn't matter, the numbers do. In a family with a few kids this is a garment that passes from sibling to sibling without shame. Fleece, a thin hat and warm shoes for the street — you probably have those at home. How to put it all on, see the dressing guide.
What you don't need at all
- Skis, boots, poles, helmet. You rent those.
- A big backpack. A ski jacket's pockets are enough for the day.
- A wax and repair kit. The rental shop does that.
- A new action camera. The phone in your inner pocket does the job.
- Food. It's part of the package, from the morning and up on the mountain.
What's required by law when skiing in Italy?
Two things. A helmet for every skier, of any age, since November 2025, on skis, on snowboard and on a sled; the ski school won't take a child without one. And third-party liability insurance for every skier since 2022: cheap insurance that covers damage you cause to another skier, and the ski resort is required to offer it with the ski pass. It is not your travel insurance. Regular travel insurance does not cover skiing without a winter-sports extension, and the extension should ideally include mountain evacuation. Details and a discount on the travel insurance page.
One list before the flight
Thermal top and bottoms × 2 · fleece × 2 · ski jacket and pants · ski socks × 3 · ski gloves and a spare pair · ski goggles, warm neck gaiter, thin hat · sunscreen, SPF lip balm, sunglasses · regular clothes for the evening, swimwear for the pool and spa · warm shoes for the street. All of this fits even in a carry-on only.
Got old gear at home and not sure if it's still good? Talk to us at Har Tayarut, send a photo.
Do I need to buy skis for a first ski holiday?
No. You rent skis, boots, poles and a helmet at the resort, fitted to your current height, weight and level. Those who buy before the first week almost always buy the wrong model.
How should a ski boot feel?
Snug, not comfy like a house slipper. Standing upright your toes touch the front lightly, and when you bend your knees they pull back. The heel doesn't move. A boot that feels perfect in the shop is almost always too big.
Is a helmet mandatory for skiing in Italy?
Yes, for every skier of any age, since November 2025. Third-party liability insurance is also mandatory for every skier, and it is sold with the ski pass.
All magazine posts · To the kosher ski vacation · To the kosher summer vacation · Har Tayarut