What To Pack For Colorado In Winter? Colorado Winter Outfits & Ski Wear

What to pack for Colorado? Winter outfits packing list

Going on a Colorado winter vacation and looking for what to pack for Colorado in winter?

Besides skiing Lake Tahoe, we have taken many ski trips to Colorado visiting ski resorts like Breckenridge, Beaver Creek our favorite ski town Vail. Over the years have acquired quite some ski trip packing experience.

In our Colorado Packing List Winter Edition you’ll find what to wear in Colorado in winter – for on and off the ski slopes!

This also includes general Colorado winter outfits that are suited for outdoor snow activities like snowshoeing, ice skating, and the like or visiting popular towns like Boulder and Denver for instance.

What To Wear In Colorado In Winter 2021

Table Of Contents

Colorado Winter Weather
What To Wear In Colorado In Winter
- Packing List Colorado Winter Outfits
What To Wear Skiing In Colorado
- Colorado Ski Trip Packing List
General Colorado Winter Essentials
- Colorado Winter Essentials Checklist
FAQ

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission when you use the links and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. We also run ads to keep this blog running. All opinions are always our own. Many thanks for supporting our website.

Wintertime turns Colorado into America’s most popular winter sports state. The Rocky Mountains offer incredible and vast winter sports opportunities accommodating every type of skier, snowboarder, and winter sports fanatic.

And even if you are not into winter sports at all, there are still plenty of things to do in Colorado in the winter that make visiting the state a great winter vacation.

Colorado Winter Weather

Ski slope at Vail Ski Resort in Colorado

The weather in Colorado in the winter is normally very cold with lots of snow.

During wintertime, the weather in Colorado can range from sunny and beautiful bluebird days with slightly “milder” temperatures to freezing cold days with a snowstorm hitting for example. So, if you visiting Colorado during winter, you must be ready for both weather conditions and be prepared should a snowstorm hit.

This means in particular, that if you drive to and around Colorado by car, you must bring snow chains and preferably drive a 4×4 / AWD vehicle.

In regards to winter clothing for Colorado, we recommend packing the warmest clothes you have and layering them up to be warm enough. It can get pretty cold, especially at that high altitude. You can always shed them if needed.

What To Pack For Colorado In Winter

For ease of use of our Colorado Winter Packing Guide we split up this post into three sections:

First, we’ll start out with snow and winter outfits for Colorado, followed by what to wear for skiing in Colorado, and lastly, we’ll get to useful Colorado winter essentials.

Jump to either section you are interested in or keep on scrolling for the entire post!

What To Wear In Colorado In Winter

Colorado Winter Outfits

Wondering how to dress for winter in Colorado?

When visiting the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the winter, it normally gets pretty cold and snowy. We recommend packing lots of warm and snow suitable clothes for Colorado when visiting during the winter season.

Colorado Winter Clothes To Wear

It’s always best to start out wearing multiple layers that you can later take off should it get too warm. We recommend wearing very warm winter coats and winter boots that are suitable for the snow.

For any outdoor winter activities in Colorado, we recommend wearing thermal ski underwear as a first layer in order to keep you warm, even if you don’t ski. Wearing warm and thick wool socks keeps your feet nice and cozy.

When it gets super cold, we usually wear a lightweight puffy jacket underneath our winter coat or ski jacket as an extra layer to shield us from the cold.

For those really nice and sunny winter days in the Rockies in Colorado, don’t forget to bring your sunglasses.

Find our recommended Colorado winter outfits here:

Best Coats For Colorado Winter

Hooded Winter Parkas

When deciding for winter coats for Colorado look for longer coats or parkas with possibly a hood to keep you as warm as possible. Here are our suggestions for Colorado winter coats:


Hooded & Fleeced Winter Coat	Alpine North Vegan Down Parka

Insulated Puffer Coats

If you are into puffy coats here are some lightweight puffer Colorado winter coats that keep you super warm:


Puffer Coat Removable Hood	The North Face Insulated Parka

Best Jackets For Colorado Winter

First Layer Puffer Jackets

Lightweight puffer jackets are the perfect jackets for Colorado weather. You can either wear them as a standalone lightweight jacket for milder days or underneath a winter coat when temperatures drop below freezing.


Columbia Hooded Jacket	Thermoball North Face Jacket

Warm Base Layer Jacket


Columbia Full Zip Fleece Jacket	Sherpa Lined Zip Up Hoodie

Additional Winter Attire For Colorado

Best Snow Boots For Colorado

When shopping for winter boots for Colorado, make sure to go for water and snowproof shoes that are well insulated to keep your feet warm and dry. Find some of the most popular and best boots to wear in Colorado here:


SOREL Winter Boot Waterproof	Sorel Boot Light Snow & Rain

Sorel Explorer Joan	SOREL Winter Waterproof Boot

Knit Hats


Beanie Hat With Faux Fur	Slouchy Knit Beanie Fleece Lined

Gloves


Touchscreen Knit Gloves	Knit Anti-Slip Gloves

Scarfs


Oversized Warm Winter Scarf	Knit Fleece Lined Loop Scarf

Warm Wool Winter Socks


Warm Thermal Winter Socks	Warm Thick Wool Socks

Sunglasses

Packing List For Colorado Winter Clothes

Colorado Winter Outfits Packing List

What To Wear Skiing In Colorado

How to dress for skiing in Colorado?

The weather in Colorado can be really cold and snowy but on the other hand, it can also be really sunny and mild.

We have experienced all kinds of weather conditions in Colorado. From freezing cold snowstorms to picture-perfect bluebird sunny skies.

Suitable Ski Clothes For Colorado

We recommend dressing up in layers when skiing and always check the weather forecast before hitting the slopes.

Find what ski wear to pack for a Colorado ski trip here:

Colorado Winter Jackets For Skiing & Snowboarding

Ski Jacket


Women’s 3-in-1 Heated Ski Jacket	Obermeyer Women’s Jacket

Snowboard Jacket


Snowboard Jacket Burton	Burton Women’s Prowess Jacket

Essential Winter Clothes For Colorado Skiing

Snow Pants


Burton Ivy Over-Boot Pant	The North Face Snow Pants

Fleece Long Sleeve 2nd Layer


Columbia Full Zip Soft Fleece Jacket	Under Armour Men’s Fleece

Thermal Underwear


100% Merino Wool Base Layer Set 200g	100% Merino Wool Thermal Underwear Set

Merino Wool Ski Socks


Merino Wool Ski Socks	Merino Wool Ski Socks US Made

Snow Gloves / Mittens


Hestra Leather Glove	Hestra Mittens	Hestra Leather Mittens

Neck Warmer


Turtle Fur Fleece Neck Warmer	Merino Wool Neck Gaiter

Gear To Pack For Skiing In Colorado

Helmet


Smith Snow Helmet	WildHorn Ski Helmet

Snow Goggles


Smith I/O MAG Snow Goggles	Oakley Snow Goggle

Ski Carrier

Ski and boot bag to fit all your ski gear and skiing essentials when traveling to Colorado by air and even by car.

A ski strap & pole carrier makes carrying your skis around the bigger ski resorts like Vail and Breckenridge a lot easier.


Dakine Ski Roller Travel Bag	Ski Strap and Pole Carrier

What To Pack For Skiing In Colorado

Colorado Ski Trip Checklist

Printable Colorado Ski Trip Packing List

Here’s our printable packing list for skiing in Colorado that you can print out or download on your phone to help with the packing for a ski trip to Colorado.

Colorado ski trip packing list printable — Printable Packing list for Colorado ski trip

Colorado Winter Essentials

Breckenridge Ski Resort in the USA — Colorado winter

What To Pack For Colorado In Winter

Snow Chains & Ice Scraper

You shouldn’t drive to or around the mountainous area in Colorado during wintertime without snow chains. When a snowstorm hits you will not be able to get anywhere without snow chains unless you have a 4×4 or AWD and winter tires.


Snow Chains 2 Piece Set	Snow Brush & Ice Scraper

Rechargeable Hand Warmer

A rechargeable hand warmer is one of the best things to take to Colorado for skiing when it’s really cold. It’s also great for when you are in general just outside on a freezing cold winter day.

Rechargeable Electric Pocket Warmer

Sunscreen & Lip Balm

On the other side, when it’s a really sunny day in the Rocky mountains, packing sunscreen and lip balm with SPF is key when spending the time outdoors!

Being at a high altitude in Colorado and being surrounded by the snow-covered white landscape reflecting the sun, will make you get burned a lot more easily than normal.


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 100	Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15

Insulated Thermos

For really any outdoor winter activity in Colorado, we recommend packing a thermos to carry a hot beverage of your choice with you.

We always bring a hot beverage with us, be it on the slopes or for snowshoeing and the like. It’s the perfect way to warm up and hydrate.

YETI Rambler 18oz

Colorado Essentials Packing List

Colorado Winter Checklist

Birds of Prey at Beaver Ski Resort in the United States — Skiing in Colorado in February

FAQ

What To Wear In Colorado In November

The weather in Colorado in November can be quite mixed. It changes from Fall to Winter.

There is usually not much snowfall in November and only a few ski resorts are already open. The ones that are open run a few lifts only and rely on snowmaking.

While there may not be much snow, it may get really cold already. However, the weather in November can also be surprisingly mild. It’s pretty hard to plan for that month as the temperatures during November can be quite extreme to either end of the thermometer spectrum.

So if you are wondering what to wear in Colorado in November, we suggest being prepared for both, mild and cold weather conditions.

In the shoulder months, we usually wear insulated puffer jackets with layers underneath. Our recommendation would therefore be to wear a lighter winter jacket or puffy jacket and multiple layers so you can adapt.

What To Wear In Colorado In December

By December the weather in Colorado has already changed to winter weather. It will most likely have snowed quite a bit already, even though the peak of snow dumps is yet to come.

For skiing in Colorado and other winter activities in the Rocky Mountains, we recommend wearing full-on snow and ski clothes.

What To Wear In Colorado In February

In February to the ski season in Colorado is in full swing. It’s a great time to visit the United States‘ most renowned winter sports state. The weather in Colorado in February is usually the perfect winter weather you dream of.

In regards to what to wear in Colorado in February, bring a proper ski or snowboard outfit and pack multiple layers to keep you warm. The same goes for other outdoor activities. Wear warm boots, thermal underwear, thick wool socks, get proper snow gloves to keep your hands warm. Maybe even get a rechargeable hand warmer.

What To Wear In Colorado In March

Like November, the weather in Colorado in March starts to change again. Slowly shifting from winter to spring.

March is the month for spring skiing and is one of the busiest months in Colorado! There is still plenty of good snow, in fact, it can snow quite a lot in March actually. Though, the climate starts to get milder again moving away from the freezing cold winter temperatures. You will have sunny and blue sky days making March one of our favorite months for skiing in Colorado.

What To Wear Skiing In Colorado In March

In regards to what to wear skiing in Colorado in March, for a nice and sunny day we recommend a lighter ski jacket with layers underneath. Using sunscreen is key in March!

For snowy days, wear a warmer ski jacket again and thermal underwear to keep you warm.

Always check the weather forecast before you hit the mountains, as March can be quite an extreme month too. Just like November, March is a shoulder month and everything is possible! There have been years, where Colorado has received its biggest snow dumps in March.

What To Pack For Vail In Winter

Vail is one of the top ski resorts in Colorado and our favorite as skiing and snowboarding there is just amazing and Vail Village looks like a Bavarian ski town in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

If you are wondering what to pack and what to wear in Vail Colorado in winter refer to our Colorado winter packing list and winter outfits for Colorado at the beginning of this post.

What To Wear In Breckenridge Colorado?

Breckenridge Ski Resort has the highest ski lift in North America and in general skiing in Breckenridge is at a higher altitude than other ski resorts.

The rule of thumb is that, the higher the altitude is the lower the temperatures get. Therefore, we recommend to really layer up when skiing in Breckenridge on cold winter days.

On sunny ski days in Breckenridge, don’t forget to bring sun screen and lip balm with SPF to protect your skin from the strong sun at this high altitude.

What To Wear Aspen Winter

Aspen is arguably the poshest ski resort in the US, comparable to famous ritzy ski towns in Europe like St. Moritz in Switzerland or Chamonix Mount Blanc in France and the like.

Aspen, Colorado Attire

While lots of people dress up in luxury winter clothing brands in Aspen with lots of fur especially, we wouldn’t recommend doing so. Wear what you are comfortable with and what you can afford and own it! There is no set dress code in Aspen!

Regarding the fur part, we have a strong opinion against it. It is a personal choice and ours is not to wear animal fur for the sake of just fashion. If you want to wear fur, there are plenty of faux fur options, which look great and are warm too.

Packing For Denver In Winter

Visiting Denver in winter and wondering what to pack and what to wear in Denver in the winter?

While you may not need ski clothes in Colorado’s Mile High City we recommend to pack the warmest winter clothes for Denver that you have.

What To Wear In Denver In January?

Especially if you visit Denver around January/ February you should layer up. Just like in the mountains the bordering winter months are the mildest. But, once you hit the peak winter months around December to February it also gets pretty cold and snowy in Denver itself. So be prepared!

Check out our non-ski winter outfits at the beginning of this post for the right Denver winter clothes to wear.

Colorado Winter Packing List

What To Wear In Colorado In Winter

We hope you found our Colorado Winter Packing List Guide helpful and now know what to pack for Colorado in winter.

No matter if you are going skiing, snowshoeing, or just visiting the Rocky Mountains for some relaxation time, have fun on your well-deserved Colorado winter vacation!

If it’s your first time skiing and you are looking for good but cheap ski clothes that don’t break the bank, check out our Affordable Ski Outfits Guide to find really cheap snow clothes and ski gear.

Affordable Ski Outfits & Inexpensive Ski Gear

Julia & Felipe

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier