Top Gifts for Backcountry Skiers

Skier Gift Ideas

Make your gift search easy. Check out our curated list of gift ideas for backcountry skiers. We’re talking real gear picks by real people. And it’s all stuff we actually use and endorse.

Black Diamond Tour Pro Ski Gloves – $130

Ski gloves are not as glamorous as a new down puffy or a pair of skis, but having a great touring glove makes for smoother transitions and less fussing and gear changing between laps. The Black Diamond Tour Pro Gloves strike the right balance between durable work-glove dexterity, extended ski-glove coverage and light insulation.

The supple leather build includes a softshell cuff gauntlet and a fixed lightweight wool lining. They’re dexterous enough to handle zippers, buckles and offer a tactile pole grip. They are warm enough to keep your digits comfy in modest winter temps, but lightweight enough to wear while breaking trail and climbing for another lap.

Little details like clip loops, touchscreen finger tips and a strap-free exterior extend their utility. While not waterproof (which means they breathe better), they can be easily sealed with the included Nikwax to shed water. On many a day tour, the Tour Pro is the only glove you need. Treat your fave skier to gloves purpose-built for the rigours of ski touring. Black Diamond Tour Pro Ski Gloves – $130

Smith Optics Squad Pro Photochromic Goggles $159

Many skiers focus on the latest lens-swapping tech when choosing new goggles. And sure, it’s nice to be able to change lenses. But what if you didn’t have to change lenses? I’m talking about photochromic lenses designed for cold-weather winter use that adapt to the light, so you don’t need to change lenses ever.

Once unreliable and slow to change in cold weather, photochromic lenses have come a long way in recent years. The latest photochromic lenses from Smith Optics raise the bar with a wider visible-light transmission (VLT) range and faster activation. They are designed specifically for winter temps and adapt to a wide range of light levels, from dark and stormy to bright and sunny.

To raise the bar even higher, Smith Optics successfully combined the photochromic tech wth their definition-boosting ChromaPop™ tech. The result is a photochromic ChromaPop lens. The result is photochromic lenses with the tint and look of traditional mirror-finish ski goggles. The new tech is available in some of Smith’s mid-priced goggles, too, namely the Smith Squad Pro with a red or blue mirror lens, as well as their high-end 4D MAG. Smith Squad Pro Photochromic $159

 

Fleece-Lined XTRATUF Deck Boots – $125

Slip-on shoes make for easy transitions at the trailhead or in the ski resort parking lot. Since we discovered XTRATUF deck boots, they have become our go-to for any ski day. The fleece-lined ankle-height boots are ideal for slipping into after a ski tour. They offer a comfy and 100% waterproof refuge for tired feet. They’re much easier to slip into than a pair of Blundstones, and they fully seal out snow, rain and slush to keep your feet dry and warm.

Given their modest ankle height, they don’t feel like overkill for après-ski social hour. No more clunking around in your big winter boots. They are especially great in the damp Northwest climate and are sure to become your go-to for grocery runs and general wet-weather wear. Treat your or your favorite skier’s feet to practical, fun après-ski comfort. Available for men, women and kids! Fleece-lined XTRATUF Deck Boots $125

Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool – $90

For gram-counting minimalists, the Leatherman Skeletool is the skier’s multi-tool of choice. It’s bare bones (ha!), but it offers the essentials for turning screws and cutting stuff, plus the utility of pliers in a lightweight five-ounce package. Combined with a Leatherman bit extender, it offers essential functionality for backcountry skiers

Tool selection is limited to a multi-use plier, a partially serrated blade, a bottle opener and the all-important bit driver. But the reality is that it offers the essentials for doing emergency repairs and adjustments on modest-length adventures.

What really boosts its functionality is the addition of the Leatherman bit extender. It lets you reach the screws on boots and bindings with a small multi-tool. Without the extension, you’ll find yourself in tight quarters, using the tool at odd angles, wishing you had the extension.

To complete the extension, add a couple of Torx bits, a #3 Posi-Drive, and standard Philips and flathead bits. The Skeletool, plus the bit driver and a few bits, is the low-profile tool every skier should carry — all for about a hundred bucks. For more emergency repair ideas, check out our DIY backcountry repair kit. Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool – $90  and  Leatherman Bit Driver Extension – $27

Black Hole Gear Tote Bag – $119

A tote bag, you say? Don’t laugh. Totes are awesome for hauling gear to and from the car on day trips. The Patagonia Black Hole 61-liter Gear Tote keeps your gear tidy in the car, and the wide opening makes it easy to access gear, food, drinks, etc. We like the 61-liter size for ski season, but the 25-liter tote bag ($79) is pretty handy in summer for bike or trail-running gear. If you haven’t used a tote bag, get ready to be a convert. It’s all about easy access. Patagonia Black Hole Tote Bag $79-$119

Gear Aid Tenacious Tape – $6 – $20

What do tree branches, ski edges, hot wood stoves and bonfires have in common? Each one can put a hole in your all-too-expensive GORE-TEX ski jacket or down puffy. Duct tape sounds like a good idea for fixing rips, punctures and holes in your favorite outdoor gear. But when it starts to peel off and leave a sticky mess, you’ll discover why it’s not a good fix. Enter Gear Aid Tenacious Tape. Short of a professional repair, this stuff is great. And it makes an affordable ski gift that everyone can appreciate. You can get a small roll of Tenacious tape, assorted pre-cut shapes, pre-cut animal shapes (including sasquatch) and specialty GORE-TEX gear patches.   Gear Aid Tenacious Tape – $6 – $20

Infarred Waxer – $249

Like to wax your skis? Mountain Flow’s IR waxer sets you up for more efficient waxing. Sure, it’s a ski tuning tool for high-level ski nerds. But get this, it eliminates the need for scraping and saves big time on wax use.

The process is simple.
1. Rub or “crayon” the wax onto the ski base.
2. Move the IR waxer over the ski base to melt the wax into the ski base.
3. Brush out the bases. No scraping and limited clean-up required.
4. Go skiing . . .

The infarred waxer heats the ski and the wax, improving wax absorption while using significantly less wax than a traditional hot-wax ironing method. Because there’s no scraping, there’s less mess, too. MountainFlow Infarred Waxer $249

North Drinkware Hand-Blown Glasses – $59

Honor your local mountain or dream about a distant peak while you enjoy an après-ski drink. North Drinkware makes handblown glassware with 3D mountains formed into the base. Handmade in Portland, OR, these things are rad. They even have unbreakable plastic outdoor versions. Available directly from North Drinkware $59.