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Organizing ALL the gear?!

tothetrail

Certified Ski Diva
I really like these Thule wall organizers. They just hang from gromets or they also have a strap that can wrap around something. It's way easier to be able to see everything, rather than use bags. When I got them, they had a couple of different versions. One has more smaller pockets, and one has less larger pockets. The ones in the foreground and middle have less pockets and are big enough for helmets and shoes. The one in the rear has more pockets and those hold all the spare items, and stuff for brushing/cleaning skis, for installing tire chains, etc.

Nice thing is the top flap rolls down and zips up, so they can be loaded up and transported like a duffel, but then you can hang it up and can see everything. And less chance of forgetting something; The one in the middle has all the accessories needed for the ski day, so it should be full before leaving home, and should be empty before leaving for skiing in the morning.

Also perfect for all the mountain bike gear for those trips.


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slow_biscuits

Certified Ski Diva
We drive to ski (a lot). Family of 4 and use a 5.11 SOMS rolling duffel. EVERYTHING except boots, skis and poles fits in that thing with room to spare. Even the helmets. It keeps all the stuff organized in the cargo area of the car. The four of us did fine with that bag in the cargo area of the Subaru outback for years. Skis and poles and (half) the boots fit into the XL Thule box on top. Skis in padded Dakine bags. Everything else all in one bag left room for a cooler in the back too.

Now that the kids are bigger and starting to do organized snow sports, I’m planning to switch them over to boot bags next season. That way they can also be more responsible for their gear. Though a little worried switching to multiple bags is going to make it cramped for space with four of us.
 

Trailside Trixie

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I don't drive much to ski but love my Kulkea trekker bag for everything. My SO has the Kulkea Thermal treker he loves. Both store all gloves, hats, helmets, goggles, etc.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Now that the kids are bigger and starting to do organized snow sports, I’m planning to switch them over to boot bags next season. That way they can also be more responsible for their gear. Though a little worried switching to multiple bags is going to make it cramped for space with four of us.
A few times for the 4-hour drive to my home mountain with kids, it's been a bit tight on space. Especially after I switched from a minivan to a RAV4. What I've done a few times after the passengers all had a boot bag as the kids got older was to take out boots and helmet from one boot bag. Then the bag with the rest of the stuff could be put on top of other things. What takes extra space is the cooler and bags of food for cooking meals during holiday weekends since we always stay in a condo with a kitchen. So much easier than taking kids out to eat.

I do the same when traveling with adults. Usually my boots and helmet because I have a SideKick boot backpack where they aren't inside. So the backpack even fits under an airplane seat without boots and the helmet loose and tucked on the side. I fly with boots in a 2-wheel boot suitcase. Unfortunately Transpack doesn't make either any more.
 

santacruz skier

Angel Diva
I don't drive much to ski but love my Kulkea trekker bag for everything. My SO has the Kulkea Thermal treker he loves. Both store all gloves, hats, helmets, goggles, etc.
I have the Kulkea Trekker bag and do not travel with it. It's great for storing all my ski stuff and good for road trips. That's it though. One nice feature is the compartment for goggles and lenses. Once traveled with it and it took 3 of us to get it in the overhead. Now use Sportube rolling boot bag for travel.
 

Trailside Trixie

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I have the Kulkea Trekker bag and do not travel with it. It's great for storing all my ski stuff and good for road trips. That's it though. One nice feature is the compartment for goggles and lenses. Once traveled with it and it took 3 of us to get it in the overhead. Now use Sportube rolling boot bag for travel.

I use my roller bag for skis and some clothes. My kulkea bag is indeed huge, it almost always gets checked in which is fine with me since it counts as one item with ski bag anyway.
 

Basil

Certified Ski Diva
Once my kids were big enough to (somewhat) keep track of their gear, I purchased a ski boot bag for each of us. I have Amazon basics cause they were cheap, but it's mainly storage and organizing so it didn't have to be high in quality. We store boots, helmets, goggles, gloves, and ski pants in there (basically all non laundry items). Each of us also has a duffle bag that we store base layers, socks, fleeces, etc. (things that need to be laundered). The contents of the duffle go right back into the duffle after their trip through the laundry, that way they don't get mixed in with other clothes.

It's easier for me to keep track of what was worn or clean when it's separate from the outerwear. I agree it takes up more space to have multiple bags, but really helps me with organizing. A lot of stuff gets passed down from kid to kid so it's not always super obvious whose base layer pants are whose!
 

Ms Mia

Angel Diva
My kids are 9 and 11. We do a lot of day/weekend trips in CO and one long trip. Here is what I do. First, my kids have a ski trip checklist that is laminated. They adjust the # of long underwear, socks, etc. needed for the # of days we are skiing. This really helps all of us. In terms of organization, I pack all ski base layers, socks, and outer layers in a giant Patagonia black hole. Kids pack change of clothes in a small backpack along with entertainment for the car. Gloves, goggles, boots, balaklavas, and helmets go in the ski boot bag. The balaklavas get washed and then go straight back in. Skis go on top of the car, poles in the back, and I always count before I leave to ensure the # of skis and poles matches the # of people in the car. I also lay out all gear in order from closest to furthest from skin to ensure nothing has been missed. I am not very organized so I really have to double check everything. Finally I always ensure the pass is in the pocket before I pack the coat in the bag.
Sounds like you are super organised! I love the laminated checklist - I am going to copy this for ski as well as camping trips!
 

Ms Mia

Angel Diva
I honestly haven't tried travelling with skis and family yet. For now, it's just about me being able to get my 6 yo daughter and myself and all our gear, both our skis and my poles from the car park to the change room, and also everything back to our condo which is up two flights of stairs. She likes carrying her own skis a certain distance, but not up or down steps. We live really close to the resort, but I found I was doing this "simple" trip on my own with her more than once a week and struggling. I recently purchased a boot bag that's big enough to fit my boots and her boots when stacked right (it's only made for one pair, but I make it work!). It's a cheap Amazon purchase, as this is not for long travel, but I'm impressed with the zips and the sturdy handles. It won't do in a couple of years once her boots are bigger, but I will probably get her her own small boot bag then.

I can strap her skis to the sides of the boot bag, it fits any spare clothes, snacks, water bottles. She wears her helmet and carries my poles, leaving me only to carry my skis and a single bag with everything. I love it! Boots go back in the bag as soon as they're dry, as do the small things that can get forgotten, so it's all there.

We're still in the stages where a bad half hour can ruin the day, leading to tears or refusal, so I'm all about making it as easy as possible to get to the slopes for the fun to start! And home as easy as possible when we are tired. Once she's bigger and less prone to exhaustion meltdowns I'll get her to carry more of her own stuff.
 

Amplify

Certified Ski Diva
Hi! I see MarzNC mentioned this earlier, but I just wanted to throw out a personal recommendation for this ski pack, for once you are at a stage where your daughter is carrying her own skis! We have had these for four years now and I adore them. My 10-year old is just now in his last year before he needs to size up to the Large, but the packs themselves have lasted through four years of heavy use and abuse without any durability issues. I have a pack for myself as well. They are lightweight enough that I can stuff them in a jacket pocket if I want to keep them with me, though usually I just nest them all inside one and hang them on an out-of-the-way rack somewhere for the day.

These packs are a huge part of how I have (so far) managed to stay sane while usually being the only adult taking my two kids skiing, lol.
 

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