How to Prepare for Your Snow Tubing Trip

Here is everything you need to know for a successful, fun, snow tubing day!

Thank you to our readers who contributed their tips, and especially to one whose wit and experience formed the basis of this post. 

Snow tubing with the kids sounds like a blast-until someone’s yarmulka takes flight, their gloves vanish into the abyss, and they’re suddenly “starving” five minutes in. Fear not! With the right prep, you’ll slide through the day like a pro (or at least survive it).

Snow tubing is like skiing for dummies. A lot of the prep and gear overlaps. Here’s a rundown!

The Clothing and Gear

First, bundle them up like it’s a polar expedition.

Layers are your best friend here.

Sweaters, coats, snow pants-the works. All of the same layers you’d need for skiing, you will need for snow tubing (you can see our what-to-wear checklist here). 

The most important are:

• A base layer (thermals/warm leggings) under regular clothing. 

• Sweatshirt or sweater

• Winter coat (their regular puffer is fine. Ski coats are thinner while being very warm and allow for more mobility but it’s not necessary to invest for a one day trip).

• Snow pants (kids will be rolling around in the snow, and if they get wet, they’ll be uncomfortable and your day will end early). 

• Good quality waterproof gloves (not your regular knit winter gloves). Bring an extra pair! Someone will lose their gloves. Missing gloves lead to icy meltdowns faster than you can say “hot cocoa.” Take extra care with those hands and feet, they are so sensitive to cold and they will be in contact with snow. Glove liners are a plus. 

• Hat. The ears must be covered! Pull the hood of their coat snug around the hat (that’ll protect the ears and prevent hats and yarmulkes from getting lost). Alternatively, ski masks or ear muffs are great.

• Ski socks are recommended. Bring an extra pair.

• Snow boots. We don’t recommend using rain boots, even with an insert. Rain boots are slippery at the top of the hill and their feet will get cold–fast. Once hands or feet are frostbitten, your child will want to go back to the ski lodge and it will spell the end of their snow tubing adventure. It’s not worth it to invest all the effort in getting there to end up with cold hands and feet.

If it’s a warm day, then you need less layers,

but waterproof gloves and boots will still be essential.

If they waddle like penguins and can barely bend their arms, you’re off to a great start. 

Food

Speaking of survival, pack snacks. LOTS of snacks. Tubing burns energy-at least that’s what they’ll say when they’re begging for food halfway through.

• Granola bars,
• sandwiches, maybe even bribe-level candy.
• And don’t forget the #1 essential of snow days: a thermos of hot cocoa. It’s basically a peace treaty in liquid form.

Lots of these places will have seating areas with fires, so everyone can sit down and warm up at the end. 

Here’s a checklist that will help you enjoy your day.

• A hot meal or drink to enjoy afterwards is so key (hot cocoa powder and noodle soups are the go-tos here). Bring a small plug-in hot water pot. A thermos will work, but if you’re making noodle soups and hot cocoa for a whole family, you won’t be limited if you have your little pot.

• Kosher milk

• Sandwiches/string cheese

• Lots of snacks, i.e. granola bars, pretzels. 

Bonus Essential Tips

• Hotties. Don’t leave home without them.

• Don’t take your children snow tubing by yourself (unless they’re all teenagers). There will always be a child who has had enough / is scared / that wants to go back to the ski lodge. You either need to go with both parents or with another family/mother so one of you can stay behind.

• Bring activity books for the younger children who want to return to the ski lodge earlier than the other kids. They don’t take up a lot of space and you don’t want to end up with a bored, cranky child who wants to go home. Your younger children will be happy with their special activity while the older kids continue snow tubing.

• Bring tissues for kids to keep in their pockets. The cold can bring on runny noses. 

• If they’re wearing a scarf, tuck them into the coat so they don’t get caught.

• Give yourself enough time to enjoy. Expect it to take longer than you thought because going up to the top each time and getting settled in a tube takes time.

• Rent a locker if necessary (if you’re all snow tubing and no one is staying behind).

Finally, prepare for the ride home. They’ll be soggy, exhausted, and still somehow

“starving.”

Afterwards

• Bring a plastic bag to keep the wet clothing.

• Let them get cozy by changing into fresh, warm clothing…especially those dry socks!

• A little music and some more snacks will keep everyone from melting down before you make it back.

So gear up, snack up, and let the tubing adventure begin.

Just remember: the chaos is part of the fun!