Best Ski Accessories: 12 Must-Haves That Fix Real Ski-Day Problems

The best ski accessories are the small things that decide whether a ski day is great or miserable: warm hands, dry boots, a charged phone, coffee that's still hot at noon. Skis and boots get all the attention, but accessories are where most skiers have gaps. Below are 12 must-have ski accessories we sell (plus three new rechargeable warmers for cold feet and hands), grouped by the problem they solve, plus a short list of things you should buy at a ski shop instead. For gift ideas beyond accessories, see our Ski & Snowboard Gift Guide 2026.

Ski accessories for warmth

Heated ski gloves

If one accessory changes a cold day, it's heat in the hands. Our heated ski and snowboard gloves have three heat settings that warm all five fingers and the back of the hand, a waterproof and windproof shell, and a touchscreen fingertip so you can answer a text on the lift. The battery is rated for up to 7 hours depending on the setting. $69.99 with a 5000mAh battery, $85.99 with a 6000mAh battery. Skiers who get cold fingers should pick the bigger battery; everyone else can save the $16. Not sure they're worth it? Read are heated ski gloves worth it.

Neck gaiter

A neck gaiter does the job of a scarf without the loose ends. Our ski neck gaiter with drawstring is a fleece-like polyester and spandex tube, 17.5 by 9.5 inches, that pulls up over your nose on a windy chair and cinches with a drawstring. $26, one size fits most adults.

Heated insoles or heated socks

Cold toes are the other half of the problem. Our rechargeable heated insoles go inside the boot, have three heat levels and a small remote so you can change the setting without unbuckling, and cut to fit. $87, and they ship free in the US. If you'd rather heat the whole foot, the rechargeable heated socks have a 5000mAh battery and three heat levels: $49 with app control or $45 without. Insoles stay in the ski boot; socks go wherever you go, from the lift line to a winter walk.

Rechargeable hand warmers

The magnetic hand warmers split into two halves, one for each jacket pocket, with three heat levels (about 113°F to 140°F) and USB-C charging. $35, and no more disposable heat packs from the lodge shop. Order by November 20 if it's a Christmas gift.

Accessories for your eyes

Polarized sunglasses for sunny days

Every skier needs goggles, and goggles should be tried on with your helmet, so buy those in person. What most people forget is a second pair for sunny afternoons, lunch on the deck and the drive home with snow glare. Our UV400 polarized ski sunglasses cost $24.99 and come in five lens colors. Keep them in a jacket pocket for spring skiing.

Ski gadgets that solve real problems

Boot dryer

Wet boots are cold boots. Liners soak up sweat and snowmelt, and they rarely dry overnight on their own in a cold condo. Our foldable boot dryer with UV light is a 180W dryer with a timer, so you can set it and go to dinner, plus a UV light for odor. It also dries gloves and folds flat for the ski bag. $39.99 with a US plug, $49.99 for EU or UK plugs if you ski in Europe.

UV phone sanitizer and wireless charger

Cold drains phone batteries fast, and your phone is your lift ticket, trail map and camera. The UV phone sanitizer and wireless charger is a 2-in-1 box with a skier design: drop your phone in for a quick UV-C cleaning cycle, or charge it on the 5W wireless pad. It's a bedside or condo-counter gadget, not something to carry on the hill. $65. For the phone itself, see our guide to the best phone case for skiing.

Heated knee massager brace

Plenty of skiers feel it in their knees by the afternoon. Our heated knee massager brace combines three heat levels (104°F to 158°F), three vibration levels and an adjustable compression fit in a cordless wrap that fits under ski pants. The battery runs 2 to 3 hours per charge. It's built for warmth and comfort on a cold lift or after the last run, not as a medical brace, and we explain the difference in our guide to the best knee brace for skiing. $76.

Accessories for the ski trip

Ski suitcase

The ski-inspired suitcase is regular luggage (not a bag for skis) with 360-degree spinner wheels and a bold ski print you'll spot on any carousel. Small $239, medium $279, large $299. Pair it with a ski bag for the skis themselves.

Luggage tag

Ski bags all look alike at baggage claim. The On My Way ski luggage tag is a 2.4 by 4 inch acrylic tag with a leather strap and a slot for a business card. $24.99.

Small accessory pouch

Lip balm, sunscreen, hand warmers, a spare charging cable, the car key: they all end up loose in the bottom of a ski bag. The T-bottom accessory pouch keeps them together. It's polyester with a laminated lining, stands up on a shelf and zips shut. $26 in black or white zipper.

Toiletry pouch

The T-bottom toiletry bag is the same design in a larger size for skincare and toiletries, with a lining that keeps a leaky sunscreen from ruining everything else. $26 small or $28 large.

Après-ski accessories

Insulated travel mug

The stainless steel thermos cup gift set is a 17 oz vacuum-insulated mug that comes in a gift box. Fill it before you leave for the hill and it's still warm on the drive home. Six colors, $34.99.

Portable coffee maker

For condos with a bad coffee machine (most of them). The cordless travel coffee maker brews from small or large capsules or ground coffee and charges by USB-C. $58.

What to buy at a ski shop instead

Some accessories need a fitting, and no online gift guide can do that for you. We don't sell these, and we'd send you to a local ski shop for them:

• Helmet. Fit matters more than brand. Try it on with your goggles.
• Goggles. They need to sit flush with your helmet with no gap at the forehead.
• Ski socks. Thin wool or synthetic ski socks, not thick cotton ones. Thick socks make boots fit worse and feet colder.
• Tuning and binding checks. Have a shop set your bindings to your height, weight and ability.

How to choose ski accessories

Start with whatever ruined your last ski day. Cold hands: heated gloves. Cold feet: heated insoles. Wet, smelly boots: a boot dryer. Dead phone: charge it overnight and keep it in an inside pocket. Sore knees: the heated knee brace for the lift and the evening. Then add the travel pieces if you fly to the mountain; our guide to gifts for frequent travelers covers the airport side of the trip. Shopping for a skier? Our ski gifts for him guide sorts gifts by where he'll use them. You can see every product in the ski & snowboard collection and the mountain trips collection, and more ideas by budget are in the 2026 ski gift guide.

FAQ

What accessories do you need for skiing?

The essentials are a helmet, goggles, ski socks, waterproof gloves and a neck gaiter or face cover. After that, the accessories that make the biggest difference are a boot dryer, heated gloves for cold days and sunglasses for sunny ones.

What are the best ski gadgets?

A boot dryer with a timer, heated gloves and a way to keep your phone charged. Ski gadgets are worth it when they fix a daily problem; skip the ones you'll use once.

Are boot dryers good for ski boots?

Yes, as long as the heat is gentle and there's a timer. Dry liners are warmer and less smelly. Pull the liners out if they're soaked, and don't put boots on a radiator or fireplace.

Do you need sunglasses for skiing if you have goggles?

You don't need them, but most skiers end up wanting a pair for sunny spring afternoons, lunch outside and driving with snow glare. Goggles stay the main eye protection on the hill.

What are good ski accessories as gifts?

Pick accessories that don't need a fitting: heated gloves, a boot dryer, a neck gaiter, a luggage tag or an insulated mug. Leave helmets, goggles and boots to the skier.