Clothing and Accessories

Affinity Sports offers a great selection of ski clothing to rent. They can provide you with everything you need to stay warm and dry while on the mountains. They also stock all the equipment you might want to make sure you stay safe and secure.

Ideally you should have a good quality ski jacket and pants. Next, you will need one, or even two pairs of warm, waterproof ski gloves. It is also a good idea to have a pair of warm, waterproof boots, for walking around the village. Ski goggles are a must, even in spring, as Whistler can still get snow storms and/or high winds at any time of year. Additionally, we recommend you wear safety equipment such as a helmet. These are the kinds of items available to rent. You will be presented with an option to rent clothing and accessories at Stage Two of the reservation process.

Some items cannot be rented, and must be purchased, either at home, or here in Whistler. To give you an idea of what sort of clothing you will want, here is a basic guide. Dressing in layers is recommended, this means a base layer (thermal), merino wool ones are best, but synthetic base layers are also fine. Then you will want a 'mid-layer' - lightwieght, wicking shirts are the best to have. A good example of this is the range of clothing from Icebreaker. On top of this, you will want a 'warmth' layer, which will vary depending on how much insultaion your ski jacket has. At a minimum, I recommend a fleece, preferably a few fleeces, of varying thicknesses to give you some choices. Some people also like to have 'down' vests and similar, but this is only for people who either have shell jackets (no insulation) or are very susceptible to the cold.

Don't forget skiing can be a VERY energetic sport, and most likely you will be sweating from exertion. Too much clothing, and you will sweat a lot, and then freeze on the chairlifts as the moisture cools down. This is why breathable materials are recommended, so your body can regulate a comfortable temperature by allowing that moisture to escape.