Travel Archives - WhoSki.com

A Women’s Guide to the Three Peaks Challenge

Thinking of signing up to the Three Peaks Challenge? You’re in luck. WhoSki.com’s Sally is freshly back with insider tips on conquering the UK’s three peaks in just 24 hours.

Read on for her women’s guide to the Three Peaks Challenge, with the low-down on those less-discussed issues you’re dying to know about but may feel a tad awkward in asking…

Sally writes: There were three topics that came up again and again among our eight-strong all-women group in the run-up to our Three Peaks Challenge:

Kit
Food
Loo stuff

Weirdly, these seemed to preoccupy us more than the training. Probably because they aren’t addressed on many blogs, which focus on how to prepare for the event through exercise, steps, hill walking and nutrition.

So here are my women-focused pointers for a Three Peaks Challenge newbie worried about what to wear and take, where you’re going to ‘go’ and what you need to eat to conquer a very challenging 2,957m of altitude over 26 miles in 24 hours.

Let’s start with kit

‘Pack light, don’t overthink it.’

Take walking poles and use them; you may sound like a clippy-clop horse on your gallop to the summit, but using them takes SOOOO much pressure off your knees. I borrowed walking poles from my sister and they were a godsend.
Pack a spare t-shirt and pair of knickers to change into for your final ascent. Simply swapping into a fresh top and pants was a massive mood and energy booster. Forget changing your trousers or shorts, though – it’s not necessary.
Carry some handy wipes (biodegradable, of course) and a small roll-on deodorant for a swift freshen-up during loo breaks.
Take a light blanket for the mini-bus. It was a hot weekend for our Three Peaks Challenge, so I pulled my blanket over my head to block out light while resting on the journey between ascents.
Glasses – a total pain in the backside. I kept misplacing mine on the dark minibus; take varifocals if possible and keep them in an easily accessible pocket.
If you want to take photos (bear in mind that if you’re taking your Three Peaks Challenge seriously, you won’t have time to stop during ascents and descents), keep your phone / camera in a pouch on your front so you can easily grab it for on-the-go photography.
Comfort is key when it comes to walking boots. Our final, relentless walk down Snowdon was the one that created the most foot problems – blisters on toes and bruised big toes (easily hidden using nail varnish). Socks are also so important: do not skimp on them.
Check your head torch at home before you set off on your Three Peaks Challenge. Wear it at night and in action to get the angle right to illuminate the path ahead of you.
Use a heel insert if you suffer any pain during training. I bought some Skechers Arch Fit trainers and wore them every day before the walk. They removed all my pain within 10 days, meaning the training played havoc with my feet, but the challenge didn’t!
Borrow kit or buy second-hand when you can – how often will you re-use walking poles or waterproof trousers? And clearly you should re-sell any kit after your event, if you’re not going to need them again. The WhoSki.com marketplace is a great place to do so!
We went with a Three Peaks Challenge company that provided a thorough kit list; make sure you take everything listed or you will not be allowed up those mountains.

food

I reckon I spent most of my time beforehand visualising what food I would be eating and when, and fretting about whether it would fit the mark to keep my blood sugar levels consistent. All our Three Peaks Challenge pre-meetings included long conversations about food.
Our guides provided snacks, but do supplement these with your own snack choices. Make sure they are easy to grab while you walk and avoid anything too dry as they will be hard to swallow. (My bag of Cheddars didn’t do it for me, as I discovered…)
The guides we went with didn’t supply bananas as they were concerned about the skins being discarded then decomposing too slowly and in the wrong place. I would have killed for a banana en route…
Experiment with different snacks before you set off. I visited Holland & Barrett for the first time in my life, and discovered that they had some great options for a non-nut eater like me.
Being unable to clean your teeth en route is horrid, especially with all that snacking. Chewing gum is the perfect mouth refresher during coach trips between peaks – also a good ice breaker to share with fellow walkers.
Disappointingly, there was no cup of tea or bacon butty for us at the end of the final mountain, so make sure you plan an early pit-stop on your journey home.

toilet stuff: we all have to do it…

If you are an all-women team, expect to queue. You literally cannot take a quick pee anywhere, on any of the mountains: there are basically ZERO trees and bushes to squat behind. Then, after you and everyone’s auntie have saved it up for hours, you will descend en masse for the paltry three public toilets – cross your legs, it can take a while.
Being on your period during your Three Peaks Challenge would be really tough. You may have to go for up to five hours without access to a loo. It is worth investigating whether there is any way you can manipulate your menstrual cycle to avoid having your period while you are walking. At the foot of Snowdon, our final peak, we ended up in a car park so early in the morning that no loos were open.
Farting: yes you will fart. You will all fart and you’ll smell other people’s farts. But you won’t care. The snacks play havoc with your gut as does the sleep deprivation, the altitude and the lack of sanitary arrangements on demand (see above). We all talked a lot about farting. Just make sure it’s not the only topic of conversation. We all do it but that doesn’t mean we all want to talk about it the whole time…
Pooing – make sure you carry your own loo roll as the car park loos are often lacking paper or the dispensers don’t work (as I found out. Big shout-out to my Three Peaks teamies who responded to my pleas for help…).

team spirit

I was lucky to be walking in a super-supportive Three Peaks Challenge group of women I regularly exercise with through FitState. We took it seriously, but not TOO seriously and felt able to admit ‘I could have thrown in the towel walking down Ben Nevis’ – ie our first peak – and still be picked up again by companions. Support and logistics would have been pretty difficult without doing the Three Peaks Challenge as part of an organised group.

The rest times en route between mountains really do re-energise you. Even when you pile onto the bus after a tough peak and think you can’t take another step, you’ll be surprised by how the journey puts things into perspective.

Lastly, I 100% recommend you share private transport – we had a mini-bus – on the way home. You’ll stink, be knackered and the public probably won’t want to be near you. But you can stop for a McDonald’s or a Greggs and not feel bad about it. And you can laugh to your heart’s content at your AMAZING shared experiences, however gruelling they felt at the time.

Now I’m back home, our achievement is still slowly sinking in – what we went through and how far we travelled together, with joyous flashbacks to some hilarious situations and memories of awe-inspiring scenery.

That will stay with me for a long, long time.

Sally walked the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of teenage mental health, raising money for WhoSki.com’s charity partner stem4. Visit her Just Giving page here if you wish to donate. We give a proportion of our commission on every sale via the WhoSki.com marketplace to stem4.

Hey AI, what’s my walking style?

Here’s what we learned about walking styles when we asked the AI chatbot ChatGPT to explain the difference between walking, hiking, rambling, trekking and forest bathing…

Walking: a low-intensity activity

ChatGPT says: Walking is generally considered to be a low-intensity form of exercise or activity that involves moving at a leisurely pace on flat or even ground. Walking can be done almost anywhere and at any time, and it can be a great way to get some fresh air, clear your mind, or simply get from point A to point B.

We say: get yourself a decent pair of socks, however short your walk. Your feet will thank you for it whether in wellies, trainers or walking boots.

Hiking: a more strenuous activity

ChatGPT says: Hiking is a more strenuous and challenging activity that involves walking on uneven terrain, often through wilderness areas or natural settings. Hiking can involve climbing steep hills, navigating rocky trails, crossing streams or rivers, and even scrambling over boulders. Hiking can be a great way to explore the outdoors, challenge yourself physically, and enjoy beautiful scenery.

We say: every hiker needs a robust pair of hiking boots, waterproof for winter and breathable for summer.

Rambling: longer distance walking

ChatGPT says: Rambling is a more leisurely form of walking that is done for the purpose of exploring the outdoors and enjoying nature. It often involves hiking on trails or through countryside areas, and it may require more specialized equipment such as hiking boots and maps. Rambling can also involve more challenging terrain and longer distances than regular walking.

We say: invest in a comfortable backpack and tuck a thermal flask into a handy pocket, for a refreshing cuppa while you are out rambling.

Trekking: a multi-day hike

ChatGPT says: Trekking is a form of outdoor recreation that involves walking or hiking for an extended period of time, usually on trails or paths in natural environments such as mountains, forests, or wilderness areas. It often involves multi-day trips, with hikers carrying backpacks and camping gear to stay overnight in remote locations.

Trekking is typically more challenging than a simple day hike, and may involve steep inclines, rugged terrain, and exposure to the elements. It requires physical endurance, good planning, and adequate equipment to ensure safety and comfort during the trip.

We say: sounds like a DofE expedition? Buy and sell the kit your kids need via WhoSki.com.

Forest bathing: a mindful wander

ChatGPT says: Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a practice that originated in Japan and involves spending time in a forest or other natural environment to improve one’s health and wellbeing.

During forest bathing, individuals typically take a slow, leisurely walk in a forest or other natural setting, focusing on their senses and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the environment. This can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve mood, and boost the immune system.

Forest bathing is not a strenuous activity and does not involve hiking or exercise. Instead, it is a form of mindfulness meditation that encourages people to slow down, disconnect from technology, and connect with nature. Many people find that forest bathing helps them feel more relaxed and centred, and can be a useful tool for managing stress and improving mental and physical health.

We say: leave the electronics at home and breathe in that sweet forest air. Gorgeous!

Go properly equipped

Whatever your walking style, equipping yourself with the right kit, whether it’s a waterproof jacket, hiking boots, Nordic walking poles or a thermal tea flask, will help keep you safe and comfortable on the trails.

Boost your sustainability credentials by thinking secondhand before you buy new outdoor kit for your next trip. WhoSki.com: the secondhand marketplace for all kinds of outdoor clothing and equipment.

Images by Freepix

Huski delivers – the perfect NY’s Eve

Thinking about trying a Huski food delivery for your ski stay? WhoSki’s Sally reviews the Huski food ordering service for her New Year’s Eve arrival.

The worst thing about self-catering on a ski trip? Being tied to the kitchen every evening.

Arriving at your apartment after a long journey and immediately having to head for the supermarket (along with every other skier who’s just landed – this is arrival day, remember) can be a real downer to the beginning of your ski week.

So this year, we decided for the first time ever to go easy on ourselves and placed an order with Huski to cover our family of four for food on arrival night. Here’s how we got on.

PRE-DEPARTURE:

Huski’s website is easy to use, with plenty of options for all needs. My veggie son had ample choice, my other son chose Chicken Tikka Masala while we went for a more traditional French option of pork and rabbit. Click and order: simple. You can add wine and a range of puddings to your order for a 100% guarantee that whatever time you arrive, you’ll be catered for. We took our own rice to go with the meals.

We added details of our ski apartment provider and received swift confirmation from Huski that meals would be waiting for us on arrival, ready to cook – so no worries if we were delayed.

ON ARRIVAL:

A bit of congestion and far too many loo stops meant we arrived later than expected. We just about had time to drop our luggage and make a dash to the ski hire shop. It was New Year’s Eve, and we hadn’t booked a restaurant in advance so a freezer full of Huski goodies, exactly as detailed in the confirmation message we’d received earlier, meant we could relax and watch La Plagne’s New Year’s Eve firework display from our balcony in comfort.

THE FOOD:

All dishes were labelled with cooking times; we simply turned the oven on, opened a bottle of wine and played a game of cards. All the Huski food was really good and tasted like home cooking. I made one slip up with a pudding – my bad – from not reading the instructions properly, but we ate it anyway! Delicious.

VERDICT:

Huski offers a great selection of food including for vegetarians. High quality. Easy to choose and really easy to organise. Some portions were slightly small for my tall, ravenous teenage boys – but tbh that applies to almost every meal placed in front of them. Communications were clear, regular and reassuring, in fact far more so than the company we rented our apartment from. Containers were all recycled after we finished.

Would I use Huski again? Yes, definitely – and would also love a first night firework display every time I go skiing, if they can organise that too?

My Huski meal was ordered and paid for as a regular customer.

WhoSki.com has since negotiated an exclusive discount code WhoSki5 with Huski – use it for your next trip.

Survive the Drive: tips on driving to the ski slopes

With 15 years’ experience of driving to the Alps, WhoSki founders Sally and Nicola share their top tips to ease your next car journey to the ski slopes.

Motoring Essentials:

Paperwork: Take copies of your insurance and vehicle registration documents and an up-to-date driving licence.

In the car: In France, you’ll need reflective jackets for everyone / warning triangle in case of breakdown / replacement headlamp bulb.

For the mountains: Snow chains, plus a tough pair of gloves for fitting them. Check WhoSki.com for secondhand snow chains before you buy new, then sell them on after your trip. Or try renting them out via KitUp.

On the car: Headlamp beam converters if your vehicle doesn’t auto-adjust / UK sticker displayed on your vehicle / a Crit’Air vignette if you will be entering a clean-air city or area.

Speed things up: A windscreen TAG to fast-track your way through auto-route toll gates.

Family Essentials:

Set off with full water bottles and plenty of snacks.

Pre-pack name-coded bags of goodies for each passenger. If your kids are old enough to manage their own food intake, this will save considerable hassle for whoever is in the front passenger seat – as well as time and money at service stations en route.

Tuck a sick bag into seat-back pockets: zig-zag mountain roads can cause havoc with little tummies.

A blanket and a pillow never go amiss on a long car journey.

Keep snowboots accessible – you will need them if you have to stop and fit snowchains, plus you may need them when you arrive in resort.

The Overnight Stop:

Pack an overnight grab bag to avoid unloading the car. Make sure you’ve eaten before you check in – or take food to eat in your accommodation. Looking for somewhere to eat late at night when you’ve got a car full of tired travellers is predictably awful.

If driving at February half-term, set off on the second leg of your journey as early as you can bear. Hitting the road at 5am rather than 6.30am can make the difference between arriving in your ski resort in time for lunch – or just about making it for a bad-tempered supper after a long, slow slog up the mountain in a traffic jam.

Let the kids travel in their pyjamas and pack everyone their own ‘breakfast grab bag’ to stave off hunger until your driver needs a coffee and a croissant stop.

Tips for an Easier Journey:

Print out / download all your arrival details in advance so you know where you’re staying / how to get there / where to park. WiFi can be annoyingly sporadic in the mountains so don’t rely on Google Maps to help you out.

Toilet stop required? Aim for one of the simpler ‘aire de repos’ picnic areas rather than a service station to avoid queues for the toilet.

Get the kids to download a heap of TV shows / movies to their devices in advance. A long car journey is not the time to get fussy about screen-time limits. Invest in dual chargers to avoid anyone running out of juice.

Last-Minute Planning:

FOOD on arrival: If you’re self catering, ordering a meal for the day you arrive is a no-brainer. The convenience of not having to shoot off to the supermarket the minute you ‘land’ cannot be underestimated, and leaves you more time to pick up your ski equipment from the hire shop.

Huski delivers throughout the French Alps, with plenty of tasty choices for all needs (veggie, vegan, gluten-free etc). Let them know where you’re staying and they will deliver in advance right into the freezer of your ski apartment. Sally can confirm: the food is great.
Use our Huski discount code WhoSki5 for money off your order.

THE auto-route TAG: If you haven’t already got one (mentioned above), you can order a speedy delivery windscreen TAG to fast-track your way through auto-route toll gates. It is seriously worth it.

Driving Home:

The journey home is much easier to do in one go if you can share the driving. Always take breaks and do not drive if tired. Overnight accommodation on the way home can make for a more relaxing experience, though the time difference is in your favour for getting it over with in one go.

Cutting carbon impact with the support of Ski Line

Welcoming specialist wintersports travel agent Ski Line as a new WhoSki.com partner – you may have spotted their logo on our Partners Page.

We have teamed up with them because of their commitment to sustainability. As the company explains: “Ski Line promises to highlight green initiatives being undertaken by our featured ski resorts”. They also promote more eco-friendly travel options like taking the train. Bravo!

So this is a quick welcome and well done to Ski Line as our latest partner in the #SkiGreen movement, plus a shout out to the 15,000 plus skiers that will be travelling with them this winter.

If just a fraction of those skiers think pre-loved ski clothing this season, we will be keeping A LOT of extra wintersports clothing in active usage and out of landfill. Which is of course what WhoSki.com is all about.

Read the WhoSki.com guest blog on the Ski Line website

University ski trip survival tips

Signed up for the university ski trip? We got a bunch of student ski trip veterans to share their survival tips…

Travel: sURVIVE the bus trip

“It’s pretty brutal but I would highly recommend it for your first ski trip as it’s part of the experience. Lots of students choose to get the bus out but fly home at the end of the week.”

“Although flying is definitely the nicer option, as a first year student, taking the coach with everyone else is really fun and hypes you up for the trip. You have to do it once!”

TIP: Take a travel pillow… “30 hours on the bus without one IS NOT fun”

Be sure to pack…

A Bluetooth speaker. “Essential for pre- après in your room, on the slopes, on the bus.”

Although also: “Be quiet after 10:30ish in your room, the French police are far from friendly and there have been horror stories of confiscated speakers or phones controlling those speakers thrown from balconies. It might be tempting to keep the après going but hit the bar and save yourself a nightmare.”

Alcohol. “Take a bottle of spirits with you: MUCH cheaper than buying in a resort. Plus a small flask to sneak into après.”

“I definitely recommend taking caffeinated painkillers with you because waking up hungover, running on no sleep, with sore legs from the day before… these will resurrect you! You also may not be able to find them in the resort, so keep them handy.”

Ski clothing essentials (as well as the obvious…)

A roomy onesie to wear over your ski gear. “It’s really fun and also makes you and your friends easier to spot on the piste, in the lift queues etc”

Extra socks: “Bring way more socks than you think you’ll need (they always become disgusting and changing before après is an unlikely pleasure)”

“If you want to have style, bring a vintage ski suit with you. Also bring a backpack, ideally one that is older, because it will take a beating.”

“Customise your helmet! At après they all get dumped on the floor, you don’t want to be that guy who goes home empty-handed because of a helmet mix-up. Who doesn’t love a cool sticker?”

On the piste

“Try to go with / make a friend who’s at the same level as you. In my friendship groups we tend to split up into those who can ski well and those who can’t and then meet up for après.”

Lessons: “Everyone I know who did them recommended them. My advice: go in the afternoon if you can. There’s no way you’ll make a 9am ski lesson every day of the week after going out every night.”

“If you’re worried about safety have a buddy ski down with you after the après on the slopes because sometimes people get lost on the way home.”

survive the après

Comfy shoes for going out: “Snowboots are waaay too hot to wear in clubs / bars at night. Something like Converse/Van -style shoes have been the best compromise for me.”

“Try to drink tons of water. Also, try and drink alcohol in your room to save money. Watch yourself in the clubs, because it’s so easy to spend all your money. Don’t take it too far the first few days, it’s all about stamina!”

“No matter how bad the hangover, aim to be on the slopes as early as you can most days. Being at the top of the mountain almost cures the hangover & you can do a week of drinking for free at home, don’t waste the experience.”

“Unless you’re made of stronger stuff than I am, give yourself one pass for the week not to go out drinking (it’s pretty much impossible to ski every day and make après and every night out)”

save money on your ski kit

“On the Uni ski trip, they offer a clothing rental service, but with the prices on WhoSki – it’s cheaper to buy secondhand than rent. Bonus: you get to keep them! For next time or to re-sell after. Genius!”

Read more: Be a sustainable student skier

Join us at The National Snow Show – for FREE

Here’s the deal. We’ve got FREE tickets to give away (limited supply!) so you can join us at The National Snow Show at the NEC, Birmingham, in October.

And when you get there: make sure you pass by the WhoSki.com stand E70 to say hello.

OK, the popping into our stand is not actually compulsory. But we are giving away free tickets. See below for how to get yours.

Perhaps you visited The National Snow Show last year? This year’s show, 15-16 October 2022, promises to be even bigger and better, so we reckon it’s definitely worth a trip.

The organisers are big supporters of the #SkiGreen message so expect a host of eco-ideas to inspire your next ski or snowboard holiday. Plus we are planning to have a rack of pre-loved clothing at the WhoSki.com stand to show off how ‘good-as-new’ is the new ‘new’. But of course, you knew that already.

Do pass by stand E70 and say hello – we always love to hear your feedback.

Get your free ticket to The National Snow Show using code WHOSKI. Offer closes midnight Sept 7, 2022.

Halsbury backs WhoSki.com to drive the #SkiGreen agenda

The importance of climate change to the younger generation is among the reasons why school ski trip operator Halsbury Ski is now working with WhoSki.com to manage and reduce the carbon footprint of its activities.

When your young clients are among the most enthusiastic supporters of the sustainability movement – and those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change – acting on their concerns makes good business sense. Call it the Greta Thunberg effect.

“Working together is a sustainability gain”

Halsbury’s Managing Director Hugues Raulet says: “Working with WhoSki.com is an instant sustainability gain. Encouraging our clients to purchase and dispose responsibly of the clothing they need for an enjoyable trip to the slopes with Halsbury is an important step on the way to reducing the carbon footprint of our activities.”

WhoSki.com Co-Founder Nicola Davenport explains: “Halsbury approached us with a view to working together. Lockdown delayed active collaboration, but we are so pleased that Halsbury will be recommending WhoSki.com as a source of good-as-new clothing for parents when they sign up their children for a Halsbury ski trip.

“By buying and selling through WhoSki.com, you are helping keep hard-to-recycle wintersports clothing in circulation and out of landfill.”

Halsbury: thinking green

Halsbury has sustainability strongly on its radar. It has installed solar panels and electric vehicle charging points at its offices. Electric bikes are provided for staff who want to use them to get to work.

MD Hugues Raulet is an eco-pioneer whose ventures outside Halsbury have included establishing a B Corp-certified recycling business in Argentina, researching and raising awareness about alternative sustainable fuels. He has ambitions for Halsbury to continually reduce its carbon footprint.

Hugues explains: “Our partnership with WhoSki.com is a proactive way to progress our sustainability journey. This is a positive step towards a greener business. We are doing the things that we can with a vision and an ambition to extend and expand our sustainability agenda.”

Student ski clothing: perfect for re-sale

Halsbury will include information about WhoSki.com to parents and students via the schools packs it provides for clients.

Children’s ski clothing is among the best sellers at the WhoSki.com online marketplace – remember – we donate 25% of our commission on every sale to the teen mental health charity stem4.

Cross-country ski clothing essentials

I am freshly back from my first ever cross-country ski experience, three days on the tracks in Kvitfjell, Norway, brilliantly organised by SkiSafari.com.

It was a short, try-out visit, but required an almost complete overhaul of my piste wardrobe. Ski clothing rental is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to our friends at ecoski.co.uk. However, cross-country, aka Nordic skiing, is still a minority interest for UK skiers. That meant no chance of hiring clothing for this ski mini-break.

Luckily, my husband and I both absolutely loved the sport and can’t wait to return, so our kit will be going back in the cupboard until we can get back to the trails.

Buy pre-loved if you can

I am certain that in future it will be possible to buy pre-loved cross-country ski clothes here at WhoSki.com, but these are early days for our peer-to-peer marketplace, so on this occasion, off to the (online) shops we went.

For downhill skiing, clothing needs to both breathe and keep you warm on ski lifts. The way most of us ski makes for short periods of extreme exertion followed by longer stretches of trying to avoid getting cold hands, feet etc.

In contrast, cross-country skiing is physically much tougher, especially for a beginner with poor technique. Bear in mind that you are likely to work up a sweat pretty quickly, so you would roast in your downhill ski jacket and pants. You do, however, need to stay warm while stopped or in bad weather. Yup: we are talking layers.

Lower body

Go for two layers on your legs: a pair of thermals with over-trousers on top. The thickness of your thermal base layer will depend on the outside temperature: thick for colder winter weather, thinner for spring-like temperatures. In late spring you might even drop the thermal layer, or choose a shorter three-quarter-length / Capri style pair of tights or thermals. These will allow more air to circulate and help prevent you from over-heating.

I wore the same thin base layer leggings which I also wear under my usual downhill ski pants, and they were just fine.

If you’re looking for a higher-intensity cross-country ski workout, ski tights alone – similar to running leggings – will suit. Those aiming for gentler touring on skis will also need a pair of shell-type Nordic ski pants to wear over your base layer.

I bought mine from Daehlie, a well-known Norwegian brand, and was very pleased with their performance; wind-resistant micro-fibre material at the front and stretch material at back with tailored legs, elasticated ankles and a small zip pocket. Warm and cool and comfortable.

Upper body

Think three layers, with a thin base layer next to your skin that will wick away sweat, a fleece on top of that and a lightweight over-jacket designed specifically for cross-country skiing. Odds are the fleece will come off as soon as you start working harder on an uphill stretch, so it’s as well to wear a small backpack for your trip out on the trails.

Your over-jacket needs to be windproof, and you might appreciate having a micro-down jacket that weighs light and packs small in your backpack too. You can slip this on for extra warmth on a cold day if you find yourself taking a chairlift or stopping for a prolonged rest.

I found a half-zipped base layer was perfect under my jacket: the zip allowed for extra air circulation when working hard on climbs. It’s the same top I use when downhill skiing, so that was one less item to buy.

Day one began with me wearing a mid-layer fleece – which came off very quickly – and I only wore it again to keep the wind off when we took a chair-lift to the start of a more distant trail. My Halti soft shell jacket also performed beautifully and looked good.

Accessories

Many cross-country skiers wear a headband/ buff to keep their ears warm yet allow heat to escape – a thick hat will be too hot for most of us. However, a thin beanie or cap with ear-flaps that fold up will also suffice.

Your downhill ski gloves are likely to be far too thick / insulated for cross-country skiing, so you might want to invest in specific cross-country touring gloves. Thicker running gloves would also do the job on warmer days. Mittens are recommended for those who suffer from cold hands. I do, but suffered no chills in my new cross-country gloves on this trip (bright spring sunshine, temperatures hovering around zero).

Regarding socks, alpine ski socks are fine although of course you don’t really need the padding or length. My husband was happy in good quality woollen socks. Cross-country ski boots are light yet warm and windproof – and so easy to walk in compared with their alpine equivalents. Heavenly.

As for all skiing, good quality sunglasses are essential (not goggles – too hot for cross-country) as snow glare can cause optical damage.

Make sure you carry a water bottle – cross-country skiing is energetic work. And the little Nordic ski straps provided by our hire shop were genius for holding together the skis when carrying them (which is a joy – they are so light).

Get in Touch

If you’re thinking about trying out cross-country skiing, do drop us a message on social media : @WeWhoSki on Twitter and Instagram. I’d be happy to share tips from our experience.
Nicola

What to pack for your family ski holidays

Most of us heading for the slopes this winter / spring will be seasoned skiers / snowboarders, but if you’re a ski holidays first timer, what ski wear essentials should be in your suitcase?

No one wants to (a) over-pack OR (b) be under-prepared. If you’re not a ski parent, however, it can be hard to know what’s a must-have, and what you can cross off the shopping list. Here’s the children’s ski wear I recommend, after two decades of skiing with children (from age 0 upwards):

SKI WEAR MUST-HAVES:

warm, waterproof ski jackets and trousers or ski suit. You cannot ‘make do’ with non-specialist equipment here: waterproofing, flexible movement, pockets and padding will make for an all-round better ski experience.
mid-layer. This can be a simple fleece, but make sure it has a zip so the wearer can open and close according to weather and exertion.
ski goggles. More protective than sunglasses, less easy to lose, warmer for the face on a cold day or when it is snowing.
ski gloves. Absolutely essential as it’s miserable to have cold hands, oft expressed by highly vocal wailing. You might also want to throw in a pair of thin glove liners. Mittens are warmer and perfect for little ones. Kids’ gloves tend to get drenched on a daily basis and they are slow to dry, so taking a spare pair is recommended.
ski socks. Longer than normal socks with heat-retaining qualities and the right padding in the right places, two pairs of ski socks for a week’s trip will be enough, provided they go on the radiator to dry between wears.
snowboots. No child or adult should ever go to the mountains without a chunky pair of cosy, waterproof snowboots. They mean kids can play in the snow without getting frostbite of the toes, and adults can walk to the bar/supermarket/ski school pick-up point without slipping over. Wear them on the journey to cut down on luggage weight
slippers/Crocs. Aka footwear you can wear between bootroom and chalet/hotel room. The first sign you will see at the entrance to your accommodation will be: no outdoor footwear. Without slippers (ideally, something robust with a sturdy sole) your socks will quickly be soggy. Yuck.
Lip balm and high SPF sunscreen. Take a few small tubes of suncream with you and slip into pockets so you can top up throughout the day. Ditto for lip balms, which are easily lost.

SKI WEAR NICE-TO-HAVES:

handwarmers. Keeping one of these in your pocket for those super-cold ski days can make a big difference, although there will be years when you don’t need them at all. Good news though: they don’t go off, so save them for next season if unused.
sunglasses. I would never go skiing without a pair in my pocket, but my kids have been known to stick with goggles whatever the weather. One less thing to lose, too.
thermal underwear. I always made sure my young kids wore thermals – and sometimes that was all they needed under their ski suits – but for teens, not essential.
helmet. Essential to wear, but easy to rent. You only really need to own one if you’re a habitual skier. For children, make sure there’s a clip at the back to prevent goggles from pinging off. As with cycling and motorcycling, never buy a secondhand helmet: you don’t know what it’s been through, plus build technology has improved year on year so modern styles are safer than ever.
ski boots. As above: wait to buy them until your child’s feet have stopped growing/you move to the Alps/you’ve got the ski bug.
multi-packs of a favourite sweet snack. Slipping a packet of Haribos or a chocolate bar into a child’s ski jacket pocket provides a welcome energy boost for little ones between runs.

Got children’s ski wear that no longer fits? Pass it on via our preloved ski clothing marketplace. Looking for ski clothes for your family? Browse our peer-to-peer marketplace for high quality secondhand ski gear.

Hurry to WhoSki.com for half-term ski trip essentials

Half-term ski trip booked: CHECK
Boxes of wintersports clothing retrieved from the loft: CHECK

Like so many others, it’s two years since I last enjoyed a ski holiday (thanks for nothing, pandemic), and – predictably – half the family’s winter wardrobe doesn’t fit.

Sounds familiar? With just a fortnight until thousands of us hit the slopes, there is no chance that any ski or snowboard clothing donated to the charity shop will be sorted and on sale in time to help out another family this season.

But there is still time to shake down your good-as-new clothes, upload them to WhoSki.com (using our new, super-simple marketplace tech) and see them go to a good home.

FIXED-PRICE INSTANT SALES MEAN THERE’S STILL TIME TO SELL – and buy

So if you’re also having a ski kit clear-out, why not sell on your unwanted good-as-new clothing before you head off? And browse our re-launched WhoSki.com marketplace (new items being added all the time) to fill the gaps in your family’s ski and snowboard wardrobe.

Sales via our website are fixed-price so you don’t have to wait for an auction to come to an end, with transactions handled safely by trusted provider Stripe. Find out more about how to buy and sell via WhoSki.com here.

It’s free to register at WhoSki.com, and we donate 25% of our commission to teen mental health charity stem4 on every sale.

Clear out your wardrobe, prevent still useable ski clothing from going to landfill AND do some good: what are you waiting for?

Remember, too, to save putting away the stuff you won’t use again by posting it for sale on WhoSki.com when you return. It’s so simple to use our new upload system, you could do it from your phone while hanging around at the airport or in the car on the way home. Simply register, upload pics and details and click POST LISTING. It is literally that easy.

You’ll be helping people who ski later in the season (at Easter, for example) as well as the environment. Did you know that around 75% of clothing donated to charity shops fails to find a home?

Boom time for UK’s indoor snow centres?

Anyone else resigned to another DNS ski season? Like us, you probably have wintersports pals who have abandoned trying to pre-plan a ski trip. Maybe you’ve held back from the Eurotunnel crossing in favour of the increasingly common ‘wait and see’ approach – particularly if you’ve got school-age kids.

The complications of daily testing in resort, the risks of possibly racking up a Covid19 positive before starting the journey home and the dread of forcing children to miss yet more schooling through self-isolation on their return, make a pre-booked ski trip simply not feasible for many families.

Disappointing for us – but good news for the UK’s indoor real snow slopes that look set to mop up the thousands who are not going to make it to the mountains this winter.

The fact is that not being able to get to the Alps or Dolomites doesn’t mean you and the kids have to miss out on your piste time. This could be a bumper season for indoor snow centres as, to be frank, there really isn’t much in the way of outdoor skiing infra unless you’ve got Glencoe on your doorstep.

If you want your fix of the white stuff, you’re probably going to have to ski and snowboard indoors this winter.

Snow centres have come a long way since the Tamworth Snowdome opened back in 1994. Now there’s a growing network of indoor ski and snowboard centres across the UK. Check out the Ski Club of Great Britain info page here for the full range of real snow and dry ski slopes across GB.

A word of advice: get your sessions booked NOW – we predict high demand this winter, with so many families disappointed by not being able to get their mountain fix. Why not take the opportunity to learn the basics on a snowboard, grab a few lessons to spruce up your technique or even take your Level 1 instructor exams (could be the perfect Christmas present for an older teen…)?

And fingers’ crossed that the health climate improves enough between now and Easter to allow that long-awaited trip to our favourite pistes before the season is through.