Skiing is a gear-intensive sport. Not only do you need lots of stuff, you also need the right stuff. Making sure you have items suited for you—warm gloves, a jacket that’ll stay dry, goggles that won’t fog, skis that match your ability—will help you have a good time.

You can always start by renting gear if you’re not ready to purchase your own. Most ski resorts have an on-site rental shop, where staff will set you up with proper skis, boots, and poles. Rental shops work fine for novice skiers spending the day on beginner terrain (trails identified by a green circle). But if you’ve got some ski days under your belt and you’re looking to advance to more intermediate-level slopes, you might want a higher-end ski, so look for a demo shop at the base area that will carry a wider variety of all-mountain skis suited for intermediate to advanced skiers.

A lot of rental shops also loan out helmets, and a select few rent apparel like outerwear and gloves (ask before you head to the hill if you don’t have those items). Some ski shops also offer season-long rentals, so if you’re planning on skiing frequently, ask about renting a pair of planks for the entire winter.

Or let’s say you’ve done the rental thing and you’re ready to invest in your own setup. Good for you. We’ve curated a list of all the items you’ll need.

Read the full story on Outside Online and check out the Outside Guide to Skiing.