Getting Ready Before the First Snow Falls

There is a particular morning, sometime in September, when the air shifts. The temperature drops just enough. The season hasn't arrived yet, but it's making itself known. For those who live for winter: skiers, riders, families, commuters, that moment isn't a warning. It's an invitation.

Getting ready for winter isn't just a matter of pulling gear out of storage. It's an opportunity to take stock: what worked last season, what didn't, and what the year ahead actually calls for. Bodies change, routines evolve, and gear that served well two winters ago may not be the right fit anymore. A little time spent before the first storm, before the opening weekend rush, pays dividends all season long.

This checklist is built for the full breadth of a Canadian winter: long weekends on the mountain, school mornings, evening walks, and everything in between.

Regardless of winter activity, these are the essentials worth addressing before October.

Outerwear

Laying out last season's jackets and shells and assessing them honestly is a good place to begin. Parkas and insulated layers benefit from conditioning before the cold sets in, and waterproofing on all outer shells should be refreshed. Snow pants and mid-layers: fleece, down vests, and puffers should be inspected for wear and cleaned before they go back into rotation.

Footwear

Soles and waterproofing on winter boots wear down gradually and are easy to overlook until conditions demand them. Leather boots benefit from conditioning now, before cold weather makes it less effective. Shoulder-season footwear, waterproof runners and hikers, is worth checking as well, as they tend to carry a lot of the load in the weeks before deep winter arrives.

Baselayers

Merino wool and synthetic thermal sets should be inspected for holes, stretched elastics, or reduced insulating performance. Base layers work hardest against the skin; worn pieces are worth replacing before the season begins rather than discovering the issue mid-winter.

Gloves and Mitts

Torn liners, broken closures, and dried-out leather are all common after a season in storage. Leather conditioning takes minutes and extends the life of a glove considerably. A well-rounded kit covers everyday commuting gloves, insulated mitts for the coldest days, ski or snowboard gloves with removable liners, and lightweight liners for layering. For a full guide, refer to our Glove Care 101.

Winter Car Kit 

Ice scraper and snow brush, a compact shovel, a wool blanket or sleeping bag, a flashlight with fresh batteries, booster cables, and a spare set of mitts, a tuque, and hand warmers in the glove compartment.

September and October offer something valuable: time. The hills are quiet, service shops are unhurried, and there's no deadline pressing in.

Binding hardware loosens naturally during storage and should be re-tightened before the first run.

Children grow between seasons, often more than expected. Trying everything on before October avoids surprises when the first snow day arrive.

A well-prepared season rarely happens by accident. Taking the time to work through a checklist like this, category by category, at a comfortable pace,  is what separates a winter that flows from one that feels like it's always catching up.

This guide is here as a reference, something to return to each fall as routines shift and needs evolve. Every season looks a little different, and the checklist will too. The goal is simply to feel ready when that first cold morning arrives, and to make the most of everything that follows.

Here's to a great season ahead.