Booked your first ski trip? Nice one – first-timer stoke hits different. The big stuff like buying or renting skis, boards and boots is sorted at our Snow, Bike & Rentals store at 22 Ardmore Street. It's the smaller bits that can make or break your first day, and you'll find most of those just down the road at our Clothing & Footwear store at 99 Ardmore Street. Here are ten essentials our Gear Guides reckon you shouldn't leave home without.
Scroll down for the ten accessories our Racers Edge Gear Guides reckon you shouldn’t leave home without:
1. Gloves or mittens – warm, waterproof hands are non-negotiable. Mittens are toastier, gloves give you more dexterity; either way, leave the woolly winter ones at home.
2. Merino base layers – a good thermal top and leggings do the quiet heavy lifting under your outer layers. Merino keeps you warm, wicks sweat and doesn’t get whiffy after a big day.
3. Proper ski socks – one pair of tall, cushioned merino ski socks beats three pairs of cotton every time. Thin is actually warmer than bulky, and it stops your boots rubbing.
4. A neck warmer or buff – the easiest way to seal the gap between helmet and jacket. Pull it up over your face on a cold chairlift, down when the sun comes out.
5. A beanie – for the drive up, the lunch break and the après. Merino or fleece – you’ll live in it.
6. Goggles – your eyes need protecting from glare, wind and snow, plus clear vision when the light goes flat. Pick a lens to suit our changing conditions; our helmet and goggle guide breaks down tints and fit.
7. Sunscreen and lip balm – alpine sun is brutal even under cloud, and snow doubles the glare. High-SPF sunscreen and an SPF lip balm save you from the classic goggle-tan burn.
8. An insulated water bottle – altitude and cold, dry air are surprisingly dehydrating, and it’s easy to forget to drink. A bottle or flask keeps water handy.
9. A snow daypack – somewhere to stash your snacks, spare layers, sunnies and phone on the hill.
10. Dry clothes for afterwards – first days involve a lot of sitting in snow so take a change of dry socks, and a cosy midlayer or hoodie for a well-earned at the end of the day.
Get sorted before you go
You can tick off every one of these at Racers Edge, 99 Ardmore Street, where our Gear Guides will point you to the right gloves, socks and layers for our conditions – and sort your rentals and tuning while you’re at it. New to the whole thing? Our 2026 Wānaka ski season guide covers where to ride, rent and après. Or shop snow clothing and accessories to knock out your list before the first lift.
