Ski season is well underway in Europe, with a good couple of months of snow left for avid skiers, meaning even a half term break is possible this year. If you haven't already booked there is still time to grab a weekend or a full week of ski action before the season ends, and back in the UK there are plenty of dry slopes and indoor ski facilities to keep you going until the snow starts to fall again.

Most ski equipment lasts for several seasons, but with new fashions in ski clothing appearing every year there is always an opportunity to replace or upgrade your outerwear. A lot of skiing jackets are also great clothing for the very cold snaps we get over the winter, so your ski jacket may have seen quite a lot of use already, even if the snow has been scarce in the southern parts of the country. Salopettes are one item of ski-specific clothing that probably haven't seen much use off the piste, but ski socks are always a welcome addition to a winter wardrobe. Designed to warm the entire lower leg and provide a soft cushion against hard ski boots, these socks work brilliantly under wellies and walking boots alike, doing away with chilly ankles and shins.

Following Michael Schumacher's skiing accident in 2013, ski helmets have become a much more common sight on the slopes than they once were, and although he was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident it is believed that he would never have survived his injuries had he not been wearing one. When skiing abroad it is especially important to take extra safety precautions as medical care and returning to the UK after an accident can be tricky to organise, especially in the case of head injuries. We all know someone who has broken a bone while skiing, and that it is certainly a known risk, but wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries and lessen their severity should the unthinkable happen. With prices ranging from £70 to £200 it is a considerable cost, but the rule when it comes to choosing a helmet is that you spend as much as your brain is worth to you. On dry slopes, it is even more important to wear head protection, as there is no soft snow to cushion a fall.

Ski boots are another vitally important piece of equipment – you can't ski without them! Unlike socks and other clothing, they need to be fitted correctly, and can be modified to achieve a perfect fit, which allows you to enjoy your skiing holiday without unnecessary pain caused by ill-fitting footwear. Poorly fitting ski boots can cause pain and problems with feet, ankles, knees and hips, and can even lead to back problems so it is imperative that these fit you as well as possible. Attwoolls offer a ski boot fitting service at our store near Gloucester, and we will even carry out modifications to the boots to get the best fit possible. This may take up to an hour, but this is time well invested when you consider that the boots will last for years and won't cause you any pain.

We also stock a wide range of skis, poles, goggles and luggage, so you can get all your kit in one place where there are expert advisors on hand to answer any questions you may have. We can even recommend products to suit you, so if it is your first time out on the piste be sure to take advantage of our knowledge and jet off on your holiday equipped with the right kit and the understanding of how it all works.