Skiing with Kids: Getting all your gear there!

• By bringthekids
• 10 January, 2013
• 3 Comments

Hands down, the hardest parts of skiing with kids happen away from the hill.  Packing up all the gear, getting everyone from the car to the lodge, getting everyone dressed in all their gear, hauling kids over to the lift.  Honestly, just thinking about it is making me tired.

So with all of that hassle, why do I keep going skiing, week after week, with my kids?  Simply put, cruising down the mountain with them makes it all worth it.  Once we’re out on the snow all of the frustration and hassle it takes to get them there suddenly melt away.

When we take the kids skiing, we ALWAYS try to go to a resort with a lodge where we can hang out with the non-skiing kids (which is especially true this year with baby Jimmy).  Now that we have 3 kids, not only is it impractical to carry everyone’s gear for them, it’s downright impossible.  Problem is, it’s hard to get kids to carry much when they’re bundled up, walking on snow/ice, and usually cold.  Fortunately, here are a few easy devices that are turning this impossible situation possible.

PortaSki:  Imagine putting wheels on the back of your skis so that instead of constantly fumbling and trying to balance them, you could just pull them behind you.  Well, PortaSki has done just that.  By attaching their simple device to the tails of your skis, and a handle to the tips you can pull your skis behind you as easily as carry-on luggage.  Simply adjust the velcro to fit your skis, and you’re off.  PortaSki is perfect for people who are hauling their skis a long way from their car to the lodge.  Because it is a little bigger, it wouldn’t comfortably fit into your pocket so we’d recommend leaving it in the lodge.

The ULTIMATE TEST…is if PortaSki can help kids carry their skis easier.  YES!  We had Mason (5) try it out and it was no problem for him.  Since the wheels take a lot of the weight away, he could easily pull his own skis (100cm) or my skis (160 cm).  This is a great tool to get kids helping out while avoiding the frustrations that can accompany carrying skis in your arms.  Why didn’t I think of this?

SKBoot Rolling Bag:  The SKBoot bag is a rolling luggage type of bag is specially designed to fit your ski boots and helmet.  I’ll be honest, the thought of using a special bag just for our boots seemed a little frivolous to me, but I’m SOLD on it.  You see, with 4 skiers and one baby, we take A LOT of gear.  We typically use our large duffel bag and strategically pack every inch of it to fit all of our gear.  The biggest and hardest pieces to pack are helmets and boots.  This bag solves that problem for us.

In the medium SKboot, I can fit 2 pairs of boots (1 adult + 1 kid or 2 kid) and 2 kids helmets.  Honestly, that’s a TON of bulk that’s freed up by taking this bag.

Oh, and my favorite part about it is that it’s so easy to use that even a 3 year-old can do it.  More specifically, Chloe has now deemed this bag hers and insists on being the one to roll it into the lodge every day (yes, even with all that weight it really is super easy to roll).  SUCCESS!

Another reason that we’re really lovin’ SKBoot  around here is for their new helmet covers.  Instead of Mason sporting his typical black helmet (cuz you know they’re the most practical to pass on to lots of kids) he’s skiing in style with his SKBob helmet glove.  Looking good!  Not only do these helmet covers give some fun style for kids (whose practical mothers would never buy a helmet like this), but they are SO EASY to put on and they stay on tight!  If you happen to see Mason on the hill this winter I guarantee he will point out his helmet to you – he looks good and he knows it!

We would like to thank SKBoot and PortaSki for providing the gear for this review.  As always, these reviews are honest and are in no way influenced by getting this gear.  

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