If you’re anything like us, few presents are more exciting to find under the tree than new outdoor gear. Especially winter gear, because let’s be honest, getting a new kayak when it’s snowing is like receiving an envelope full of money you can’t spend for six months.
Now, if you’re not much of a winter sports enthusiast, you probably have no clue what will make a snow lover squeal with glee on Christmas morning. But we’re here to help! As two avid skiers with many, many powder days under our belt, this list of ski gifts is full of the gear we love and the stuff we’d love to receive.
These are items that any skier or snowboarder will be excited to get, and they’re things that most people probably don’t already have (or could actually use more of). If you have a snow bunny in your life, we hope this list of the best gifts for skiers and boarders will help you with your shopping this holiday season. And hey, if you happen to be getting ready for a ski trip, we won’t tell if you buy a few of these items for yourself!
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Table of Contents
Best Skiing Gifts at a Glance
Just need some quick skiing gift ideas? Here are our top picks for every type of skier!
Ski Gifts for Her: Down booties or Rechargeable handwarmers
Ski Gifts for Him: Ski sling or Ski pole beer holder
Gifts for a New Skier: Ski socks or Book about skiing
Gifts for an Experienced Skier: Boot dryer or Tuning kit
Budget Skiing Gifts: Ski hill playing cards or Christmas tree ornament
Luxury Skiing Gifts: Foot warmers or 360 action camera
Funny Skiing Gifts: Novelty ski pole baskets or Ski pole plunger
Winter Clothes for Skiers
Warm winter clothes make some of the best skiing gifts, because you know they’ll be needed on a regular basis. Besides, nothing says “I love you” like something to keep them warm and toasty.
Wool Baselayer: Men’s Top & Bottoms / Women’s Top & Bottoms
A good baselayer will do wonders for keeping the skier in your life comfortable. We like wool, because it’s super warm while still being lightweight, but also because it doesn’t harbor odor-causing bacteria like most synthetic fabrics.
Choosing wool means you’ll avoid giving your favorite skier clothes that perma-stink after just one season – which they (and the people around them) will be grateful for! These baselayers are made by Smartwool, easily one of the best brands for wool clothing.
Wool Ski Socks: Men’s & Women’s
Getting a pair of socks for Christmas is a well-worn movie trope, usually accompanied by the recipient’s barely-disguised look of disappointment.
Wool ski socks are a different story, though; rather than proving you had no idea what to get someone, you’re showing you know exactly what they need to have a good time on the slopes: warm, cushy socks that won’t smell bad, even if you forget to wash them between uses.
We’re big fans of Darn Tough, based out of Northfield, Vermont (our second-favorite state after Montana). Not only are their socks incredibly well-made, and they come in fun colors – but when they do eventually wear out, you can send them back for a new pair, free of charge, thanks to Darn Tough’s amazing lifetime guarantee.
Warm Hat: Men’s & Women’s
Any skier or snowboarder will already have a hat, but hats are easily lost, so most of us could use an extra. Plus, you can accessorize with them – if you have any fashion sense.
These hats from Skida are the perfect gift for a skier or boarder because unlike most hats, they actually fit under your helmet and are fleece-lined for maximum comfort. They’re also super cute, if that’s important to your giftee.
Skida is a great small company, too, founded by a woman in Burlington, Vermont (we really do love the Green Mountain State), and all of their Alpine line of hats are sewn right there in the state.
Down Booties: Men’s & Women’s
Described as “sleeping bags for your feet,” these are currently at the top of Jen’s skiing gifts wishlist. They’re great for lounging around at the lodge bar, an outdoor firepit, or a casual dinner spot near the mountain. After your favorite skier has had their feet trapped in those plastic prisons we call ski boots all day (snowboarders have it so much better!), they’ll love nothing more than to wrap them up in these fluffy clouds.
Organizational Gifts for Skiers
Skiers and boarders are notoriously messy people. But you can help them clean up that hellscape of a house or vehicle with one of these very practical ski gifts. Their family will be thanking you for years to come!
Boot Bag
A lot of skiers and snowboarders forgo a boot bag because they’re not totally necessary, when you can just carry boots by their laces or straps.
However, a dedicated boot bag makes lugging everything through the parking lot a whole lot more pleasant. Treat the people you love.
Ski Sling
Similarly, a ski sling is one of those items people forgo as a non-essential. But sometimes non-essential gear makes the best gifts for skiers because it’s something they wouldn’t buy for themselves, and a sling definitely falls into that category.
If you’ve ever seen (or been) a dad carrying four sets of skis through the parking lot, you know what a difference this will make. It makes getting from the car to the lodge so much easier, and the skier in your life will thank you every time they use it.
Magnetic Car-Side Ski Organizer
If you’re like us and have a smaller vehicle, getting everything organized in the hill’s parking lot is a challenge. You take the skis out of the trunk, but where do you put them? On the ground? Where someone will surely trip over them? Lean them against the car? They’re definitely going to tip over.
This magnetic organizer solves that problem, creating a rack on the side of your vehicle. It’s unlikely to scratch the vehicle’s paint, and definitely isn’t as risky as those razor-sharp skis sliding across it.
Gravity Grabber Storage
My gear closet is a mess – skis tipping over, poles askew, bags littering the floor. I know it doesn’t have to be that way, but who wants to spend time decluttering when there’s a blanket of snow outside?
The simplest solution to my mess would be these Gravity Grabbers. Just a couple screws in the wall and you have a clean mount for your ski or snowboard. If you want to be a real Christmas hero, bring a drill to the family gathering and get them hung before the leftovers have even been packed up.
Techy Skiing Accessories
Buying tech for the powder enthusiast in your life is a tricky deal. Most electronics these days come with a litany of features, and you probably don’t know your giftee’s exact preferences. So be sure to save the receipts and let them know there are no hard feelings if they need to do an exchange.
Foot Warmers
The old-school method of throwing a chemical handwarmer in your boot really isn’t a viable solution if your boots fit properly. But what if the skier in your life is prone to cold toes?
Electric bootwarmers are the solution. They’re basically little foot-shaped heating pads that slide under the boots’ insoles and connect to a battery pack. They’re ridiculously expensive (admittedly one of the priciest skiing gifts on this whole list), but can you really put a price on your loved one’s comfort?
Rechargeable Handwarmers
And what about the person who always has cold hands? Spare both them and yourself the misery of complaints on the lift by gifting them a pair of these electronic hand warmers – or just buy a pair to stash in your pocket, and whip them out during the inevitable “My hands are freezing” conversation.
These handwarmers are small enough to slide inside most gloves or mittens. They last around eight hours on the low setting, which is usually plenty of heat when they’re trapped in an insulated glove and don’t have to fight the wind chill.
Definitely beats the old lighter fluid-filled hand warmers I grew up with, that always smelled like you were starting a BBQ.
360 Action Camera
As a photographer, I would normally caution against buying someone a camera as a gift. It’s a big purchase, and only they know the features they actually want – but when you’re looking for gifts for ski lovers, I’ll make an exception for the GoPro Max.
As a 360-degree camera, it has wide-angle lenses on both the front and back, eliminating the need for photography techniques like… framing a shot. Instead, it captures all the action, and you edit it down to the awesome parts later. Maybe you’ll jumpstart their career as a YouTube star!
Helmet Speakers
I’m not ashamed to admit it: I ski with music or podcasts, pretty much all the time. partially to create a soundtrack for my runs, but also to shut down any awkward lift conversation.
Now, you could stuff some AirPods under your helmet, but good luck keeping them in during a crash (and even better luck finding a single white earpod in two feet of fresh snow). Plus, they’ll be pressing uncomfortably on your ears all day long. These helmet-specific headphones, on the other hand, fit perfectly in the foam cutouts of your helmet’s earflaps, and your favorite skier will never have to worry about losing them.
Gifts for Skiers Who Like to DIY
For anyone who’s been hitting the slopes for a while, knowing how your gear works and how to maintain it is part of the fun. When Thanksgiving rolls around, I actually get excited to finally whip out the wax and prep my skis. It’s not a chore; it’s a ritual that commemorates the start of the season. So give the gift of self-sufficiency, and let the skier or snowboarder in your life know you respect their independent spirit.
Tuning Vise: Ski & Snowboard
When it comes to waxing and sharpening skis or a board, sure, you can balance them on a couple of sawhorses, hoping they don’t slip as you run a hot iron over them or a sharpener along the edge. It works… sort of, but wouldn’t the experience be more enjoyable if they, maybe, stayed in place (and you didn’t risk scalding your hand with an iron)?
Enter the ski or board vise, which avoids scratching up your gear, and makes taking care of your skis or board easier, and prevents you from swearing up a storm in the garage.
This is one of those things most people put off buying for themselves. They’re admittedly overpriced for what is really just a chunk of metal with some rubber pads on it. But honestly, that’s kind of what makes a vise a great gift for skiers or boarders, so treat that special someone to something they wouldn’t get for themselves.
Tuning Kit
When it comes to maintenance, some skiers and boarders never touch their own gear. Sure, there are free waxing events, and it’s not that expensive to have it done at your local hill. But how much nicer is it knowing your gear is ready to shred when you get to the mountain?
Help the skier in your life get started with this handy tuning kit. It has everything you could need for taking care of skis or a board – scrapers, p-tex, files, a waxing iron – all in a convenient carrying case. Plus, you’ll be giving them the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing a mid-week waxing and tuning.
Boot Dryer
Whether it’s from sweat or snow, ski and snowboard boots usually end up wet after a day on the slopes. And since they’re not the least bit breathable, they tend to stay that way. A wet boot is a smelly boot, and it’s one that likely won’t last long. So the #1 rule after a day on the slopes: get those boots dry.
Avid skiers and boarders know to skip the blast-furnace dryers at the lodge. Those crank out way too much heat and deform the heat-molded liners you paid good money to have custom-fitted to your foot.
Slow and steady is the only way to protect your boots. But that means having your own set-up that can run at home or in a hotel room, preferably overnight – and that’s something many skiers don’t have. Fortunately, that’s why this boot dryer makes such a great gift – and it even has a whisper-quiet motor, so it can run all night and not disturb anyone’s beauty rest.
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Ski Decor & Home Goods
All but the most dedicated ski bums must eventually get off the mountain and return to a home. That home should remind you of the things you love – like deep powder and gnarly lines. These home goods and decor items are some of the best gifts for skiers and snowboarders to spruce up their home and keep them dreaming of powder days all year long.
Montana Ski Hill Map
For a state with just over a million residents, there are a very respectable 15 ski hills in Montana (not including the one that’s open in the summer!). We’re proud of all that we have here, but you’d be hard-pressed to get most residents to name every hill. Most Montanans stick to the one or two that are closest to home, and in doing so, we’re really missing out.
Maps are definitely my favorite piece of home decor, and double so if it gets me to think of future travel. This beautiful wooden map of Montana, labeled with all 15 ski hills, is sure to inspire that wanderlust, whether you’re a local or just a lover of all things Big Sky Country.
Scratch-Off Ski Resort Map
Again, I love maps and completing lists – so much so that I’m a bit disappointed this scratch-off has only 50 hills (Big Sky, Bridger Bowl, and Whitefish Mountain are included for Montana). I shouldn’t be the only one concerned with checking Bear Paw Ski Bowl off their bucket list!
In any case, getting one of these will certainly inspire your recipient to take at least a few big ski trips this year (or one per year for the next 50!
Ski Hill Playing Cards
It’s always good to have a deck of cards to break out when there’s not much else going on. They’re great for bringing the family together the night before a ski trip. They’re a way to pass the time between when the lifts stop spinning and your ride is ready to head home. They’re an even better way to lose track of time during a late-night drinking game.
Why settle for a boring deck, though, when you could have one featuring 54 of America’s most awesome ski hills? Each card has the standard numbers and suits, but also stats like vertical drop, average snowfall, and number of runs at that hill.
Feel free to come up with your own house rules for poker and drinking games (five hills from the same state counts as a flush, lowest vertical drop has to drink, draw a Montana card and you get to create a new rule?).
Ski Passport
If you’re shopping for someone who’s into journaling and scrapbooking, I don’t think you’ll find any better skiing gifts than this one. This unique journal is a place for them to capture experiences and collect stickers as they travel to all their new ski hills.
Each section of the journal provides a list of ski hills in the region and plenty of blank pages for stamps, stickers, and musings about snowy adventures. It’s the perfect gift for the gallivanting ski bum.
Montana Ski Hill Stickers
Speaking of ski hill memorabilia, if you know someone who wants to show off their Montana ski cred (a recent transplant to Bozeman, maybe?), this sticker set from the nine largest hills in the state is a great way to start their collection. They’ll be able to cover their helmet, water bottle, or car window to declare their Montana pride.
It’s missing a few (sorry, Showdown and Teton Pass), but it’s a killer deal compared to buying them individually.
Book about Skiing
Literary taste is hard to account for, but Heather Hansman’s critically-acclaimed Powder Days is part memoir, part history of skiing, and part commentary on the sport’s future, with a little something for everybody. It’s also shockingly short for how much it covers, and could easily be read cover to cover on a cross-country flight (like one from the East Coast to Aspen).
Christmas Tree Ornament
We have a pretty eclectic Christmas ornament collection because, while we don’t bring home a lot of souvenirs from our travels, the one exception is Christmas ornaments. So we fully support picking up ornaments from every hill you travel to.
But for an that makes a great skiing gift, we love these hand-painted glass globes. They have a timeless beauty to them, and a look that blends into the tree while still showcasing the recipient’s love for powder.
Funny Gifts for Skiers
Not all gifts for skiers need to be super useful or particularly expensive. It’s the thought that counts, and if your thought is that you want to make them laugh, one of these gifts will be perfect.
Novelty Ski Pole Baskets
Snowboards can accessorize with custom stomp pads, but how are skiers supposed to show their flare beyond a few stickers on their helmet? Enter the novelty pole baskets.
These bear claw-shaped baskets will give your favorite skier the strength and courage of a grizzly and something to talk about with strangers in the lift line. They’re easy to attach and will still keep poles afloat in deep powder. What’s even more fun? They can be used on a backcountry ski trip, and those following behind will think they’re chasing a medium-sized animal. If you’re looking for funny skiing gifts, I don’t think you can do better than these.
Nordic Ski Bottle Openers
As a millennial, I have a strong appreciation for both overly-hoppy IPAs and the retro stylings of the three-pin cross-country ski binding (they’re just better for backcountry touring!). That’s why this wall-mounted bottle opener might be one of the best skiing gifts for millennials.
Ski Pole Beer Holder
I love gag gigs, but if ever there were a terrible place to put a cup holder, it’s on a ski pole. If the cans were open, think of the spillage! If they’re unopened, think of the foaming! That’s why the double beer helmet was such an ingenious invention – your head stays relatively stable – and why this ski pole beer holder is such a fantastic gag gift.
But if your friend hands you a beer mid-run, make sure to point it away from your face.
Ski Pole Plunger
Another great gag gift (well, is it really a “gag gift” if it actually works?) that’ll add some whimsy to the problem of unclogging a toilet – and I can pretty much guarantee this is something they won’t already have!
Luggage Tags
Skis and boards usually have flashy graphics, but if you’re standing at the luggage carousel in Denver or Salt Lake, they’re just a mass of black bags.
Help your skier or boarder find their gear as soon as possible with these aluminum luggage tags. They’re tough as nails, and if you want to give your giftee a little bit of a ribbing, get them the green circle one. Hey, nobody will ever make the mistake of snatching the beginner’s gear.
Wrapping Paper
This technically isn’t a gift, but honestly, I’m already excited enough by this unique wrapping paper that I wouldn’t even care what’s inside. All skiing-themed gifts should be wrapped in it.
Gift Cards for Skiers & Boarders
What do you buy for the person who already has everything? Obviously more time on the hill and the opportunity to visit more of them. These gift cards are perfect for the skier or snowboarder who loves to travel.
Epic Day Pass or Ikon Session Pass
Multi-resort season passes are incredibly expensive, and unless your gift recipient has fully embraced the ski bum lifestyle, they’ll have a hard time getting the full value from one. However, the Epic and Ikon day passes are the perfect gift for someone who wants to hit the road and try out some new hills.
Both of these passes are customizable to include 2-7 days of skiing or snowboarding. The Epic Pass offers even more flexibility, letting you exclude some of the big-name resorts in exchange for a lower price tag.
Airbnb Gift Card
We love traveling, but accommodation prices in ski towns really cut into the fun of exploring new terrain. With the gift of Airbnb credit, your recipient can stay in a cozy, unique home instead of at the local Motel 6.
REI Gift Card
Even the best-made gear breaks sometimes, and everyone wants to upgrade occasionally. An REI gift card in their wallet ensures they’ll have the money when the next great thing catches their eye.
We chose REI because, out of all the brick-and-mortar outdoor stores, they usually have the best customer service, and they’re the only ones we’ve ever seen do a decent boot fitting. Plus, the avid skier or boarder on your list is likely already a member of the REI Co-op.
5 Skiing Gifts NOT to Give
Every gift is a good gift, at least if it’s given with good intentions, right? Sure, that’s a nice sentiment, but a bad gift can make a person feel uncomfortable or even a little resentful. These are a few things I’d caution against buying for the skier or snowboarder on your Christmas list.
Skis or a Snowboard: Unless Santa is working with a very detailed list, new skis or a board should be off the table. Most people use this kind of gear for several years, and they should be riding on exactly the model they wanted. However, a gift certificate for the cost of them would probably be much appreciated.
Boots: Getting fitted for boots is an involved process, which usually results in many pairs being rejected before you stumble upon the right ones. If you’re giving the gift of ski or snowboard boots, make a pre-Christmas trip to the store with your giftee, let them pick out a pair that fits, and then wrap them up and put them under the tree. This is the only way to make boots a good gift.
Jackets: I might catch some flak for this one, because winter jackets are incredibly expensive. But that’s the whole hang-up. It’s too much money to spend on something where people have strong preferences, both in terms of functionality and style.
Ski Goggles: While not nearly as expensive as a jacket, no two people see the world the same way, and that’s doubly true when they’re seeing it through a layer of colored plastic. Everyone has different preferences for tint level, lens shape, and fit, so don’t try to pick out goggles for someone else.
Season Pass: I’m sure many people would love to find a season pass under the tree, but I don’t think it’s a good gift for three reasons:
1) If your giftee lives near multiple hills, they may not want to spend their entire season at just one of them.
2) If they get injured, sick, or have anything else that prevents them from spending every weekend on the slopes, they might feel guilty about how much money you spent on them.
3) By Christmas, ski season is already in full swing. If they wanted a season pass, they’d have one by now.
Obviously, these are all great and even essential items to have, so if you’re sure you know exactly what the skier or boarder in your life is looking for, then go for it. Otherwise, I strongly recommend choosing one of the other skiing gifts on this list instead, to be sure they’ll be delighted come Christmas morning!
What ski gifts are you giving this year?
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