It’s that time again. Here’s our annual guide to cool gifts for skiers on your holiday list.
Skier Gifts $100+
Give-r 4-Season Leather Gloves $119
We are big advocates of leather ski gloves, and it’s hard to beat the simplicity, durability and price of Give’r Gloves. They’ve got several glove and mitten options, but if you just want one pair of gloves to cover you in a wide range of weather and uses, the Give’r 4-Season Gloves are the ones. They’re insulated, waterproof and feature a comfy knit cuff that seals out snow and cold. They add up to warmer, drier hands in cold, wet weather. The 4-Season makes a great glove for descents, ski hill days and general winter weather chore duty. It’s a little warm for the uptrack, but it offers good dexterity for managing buckles and zippers once it’s broken in a bit. Check out the Give’r 4 Season leather ski gloves. You can even get them customized with initials.
Happy Norwegian Ski Tuning Stand – Mr. Grippy – $119
Waxing your skis is easy when you have a solid setup. If the skier on your list likes to wax and tune (or aspires to), Mr. Grippy is a simple, solid and portable setup for waxing and tuning at home or while traveling. The stands make a great home set up, especially if your workbench space is limited. Set up is as simple as placing them on the bench or counter and clean up is as easy as stacking them up and putting them away. It’s the best portable ski waxing and tuning solution we’ve ever used. It works almost anywhere you have space for a ski, hotel room floor, kitchen counter, work bench, garage, you name it. Read our full Mr. Grippy review or just trust us, and treat your favorite skier to the Happy Norwegian ski stands
100% Norg Snow Goggles $250
If you think that all goggles are created equal, think again. Quality optics can be had on many top brands, but there’s a bit of a tech race going on when it comes to lens change technology, and the 100% Norg Snow Goggles have set a high bar with their Gravit8 magnetic lens system. It uses eight magnetic touch-points to provide a secure fit while making for easy lens changing. There’s no levers or tricky keyhole tech, just a clean and simple magnetic interface that makes changing lenses a snap. And they include a bonus spare lens for low light conditions.
Skier Gifts Under $100
Black Diamond Binding Buddy Tool $11
Who doesn’t love a nice little multi-tool? When it comes to basic binding and boot adjustments, it’s hard to beat the simplicity of the Black Diamond Binding Buddy. This basic screwdriver packs small and gives you all the basic bits you need to adjust bindings and manage gear in the field or in your garage. The ratchet design makes for quick adjustments and it comes with five bits ranging from the all-important post-drive bit to an 1/8″ allen and basic slotted options. The bits stow in the handle, so you always have what you need. And it’s only $11!
Black Diamond Skin Wax – $15
Sticky skins are no fun. Now’s the time to build that backcountry kit with a little skin wax to keep those hides gliding smoothly. There are a couple of choices. You can go with rub-on skin wax. It’s proven and is the only real option for application in the field. Or you can go with spray-on skin glide wax. It’s best for home and hut use, as it requires drying before you put skins to snow. Why not get both? Rub-on for the backcountry emergency kit, and spray-on for workshop application.
MountainFLOW Eco-Wax Kit $99
Give the gift of glide! Waxed skis are happy skis, and choosing mountainFLOW eco-wax is a no-brainer. Thus stuff is 100% plant-based and environmentally safe, not to mention it works great. It’s petroleum-free wax and works just like good ski wax should. Choose from a universal temperature wax or one of the temperature-specific or performance-focused formulas. If the skier on your list needs the full hot wax kit to kickstart their hoe waxing program, mountainFLOW has a nice one with a dedicated wax iron, wire brush, ski scraper, brakes retention straps and a sweet carry case — mountainFLOW eco-wax Kit
DeFunkify Detergent – $16
You know the drill. Pull a shirt out of your bag, drawer or off the pile on the floor, and see if it passes the sniff test to wear another day. It seems like the older the layer, the lower the chance it will pass the test, regardless when it was last washed. Nothing develops it’s own special funk quite like a synthetic baselayer. Well, It’s time to help your favorite ski partner smell better! Defunkify is the skier gift that keeps on giving. Defunkify detergent is an enzyme-based detergent that removes odor-causing bacteria down to the microscopic level. And it works! Defunkify Laundry Detergent
Nikwax Tech Wash and DWR Renewal – $10-$20
You know how the water doesn’t bead up on your favorite ski jacket or pants quite as nicely as it did when it was brand new? Well, there’s an easy solution. Nikwax makes specialized detergents and water-repellency renewal solutions that bring back the durable water repellency (DWR) of well-worn outerwear. They’ve got multiple products depending on your needs, and they are easy to use and effective. Do the skier in your life a favor, and set them up with a Nikwax care package.
Books For Backcountry Skiers
Training for the Uphill Athlete $35
Whether you are planning a week-long ski tour, a backcountry hut trip or looking to broaden your trail running horizons, your experience depends on your fitness. And whether you are looking to be competitive or simply enjoy the rewards of an extra run thanks to feeling strong, training is your ticket to improved strength and performance. You don’t need to be a world-class athlete or even interested in competing to appreciate or benefit from Training for the Uphill Athlete. It’s a book for any runner, backcountry skier or mountaineer interested in better understanding what makes the body perform. And if you are looking to get more disciplined with your fitness, it will help you craft a training plan, so you have the energy to make that extra run or push yourself to make the summit. Train smarter.
The Art of Shralpinism – $30
Building backcountry ski skills is a life-long pursuit, and it’s always good to listen to the best. Jeremey Jones, backcountry snowboarder extraordinaire, has been pioneering snowboard alpinism for multiple decades. From the early rise of snowboarding to modern big mountain descents, Jones has been along for the ride. His book, The Art of Shralpinism is loaded with tales from his years of adventure with plenty of wisdom. The Art of Shralpinism is equal parts memoir, skills guide and motivation to get out there and explore the mountains. It’s also full of great illustrations and imagery. Jones is a pro, and this book is as interesting as it is informative.
Avalanche Essentials – $16
There’s no shortage of books on avalanche safety, and every backcountry skier needs at least one in his or her library. Avalanche Essentials by Utah Avalanche Center Director Bruce Tremper is one of the best. It’s a readable, first-person approach to avalanche safety. Rather than focusing on snow science and the technical aspects of slide dynamics, Avalanche Essentials offers a more accessible approach by asking broader questions like: How dangerous is the brain? How dangerous is the terrain? How dangerous is the snowpack?
Wall of White – $17
That’s right, before it was a movie, A Wall of White was a riveting read. In 1982, an unforeseeable confluence of natural events created the conditions for an unimaginable disaster at the Alpine Meadows ski resort near Lake Tahoe. A massive and historic avalanche cycle hit the base area and parking lot, engulfing unsuspecting vacationers as well as resort employees. The slide killed seven and left one victim buried alive under the snow. Wall of White sets the stage with the weather and snowpack details plus the human backstory that lead up to the event and chaotic days that followed.
Oh, The Mountains You’ll Ski – $10
For the young skiers on your holiday list, Oh, the Mountains You’ll Ski coloring book is a great way to spend the apres-ski hours or wile away the road trip journey dreaming about skiing. Dr. Chutes, the author, practices an unlicensed form of alternative medicine called “Ski Therapy” that nurtures the spirit, soul, mind, and body. It’s loaded with fun, hand-drawn illustrations ready for filling with your pens, pencils or crayons of choice.
Ollie’s Ski Trip – $20
If you’ve got future skiers who love a good story, Ollie’s Ski Trip is a classic kids story book worthy of many a read, night after night to help inspire future explorers. The woods are blanketed in snow and Ollie sets off for a day of fun, where he meets cheerful Jack Frost and troublesome Mrs Thaw and visits King Winter’s palace. Immerse yourself and you kids into winter with this classic from the Swedish author Elsa Beskow.
Using our product links helps support offpistemag.com. While the website is partially funded through affiliate sales, we only review and promote products that we actually test and believe merit being highlighted.
