2023 Gift Guide: 41 Best Gifts For Skiers
PRESENTS FOR SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS, ACCORDING TO SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS
Published November 7, 2023
Treeline Review writer Dani Reyes-Acosta and other Treeline Review snow sport enthusiasts share their favorite gear items of the season in this gift guide. Photo courtesy Dani Reyes-Acosta
As the winter season approaches, finding the perfect gift for the skier or snowboarder in your life can be a rewarding yet challenging task. In this comprehensive gift guide, we'll help you discover a multitude of thoughtful presents tailored to the needs and desires of skiing enthusiasts.
Skiing and snowboarding are more than just winter sports; they’re passions, lifestyles, and thrilling adventures. With their ever-growing popularity and a global community of dedicated skiers and snowboarders, it's no wonder that gifting for this winter pursuit has become increasingly exciting.
But this guide isn’t just for skiers and snowboarders; snowshoers and anyone who spends time in the outdoors will enjoy many of the items in this gift guide.
Whether your loved one is a seasoned alpine expert, a backcountry enthusiast, or a novice eager to hit the slopes, this guide covers a diverse range of gift ideas to cater to their unique preferences, ensuring that your gift will be both cherished and practical.
Looking for more gift ideas? See our guide to Best Gifts for Runners.
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what to consider BEFORE BUYING A GIFT
Before diving into our curated selection of gifts for skiers and snowboarders, it's essential to consider a few key factors that will help you make the right choice:
Skill level
Take into account the recipient's skiing proficiency, as this will influence the type of gear or accessories they need.
Personal style
Think about the individual's personal taste when it comes to clothing and accessories to ensure they'll love and use your gift.
Safety and comfort
Safety gear and equipment that enhance comfort and performance on the slopes should not be overlooked.
Budget
Determine how much you're willing to spend, as there are options available for various price ranges.
Brand and quality
Research reputable ski gear brands and opt for quality products that will stand the test of time.
With these considerations in mind, let's explore the best gifts for skiers, ensuring your present will bring joy and enhance their skiing experience.
ESSENTIAL GEAR GIFTS
Whether someone is a seasoned winter sports fanatic or looking to get into skiing for the first time, these are some of our favorite essential gear items sure to make anyone who hits the slopes happy.
THE ORIGINAL INDO BOARD
We all know that person who can’t get enough movement during the day. The Original Indo Board is one of my favorite ways to stay connected to skiing and snowboarding in the off-season or Apres when I don’t get enough runs in.
It is a super fun balance trainer with endless creative potential for training and working on balance skills or learning new tricks; this makes a great gift for the skier or snowboarder who already has everything.
APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES
Nothing can ruin time outdoors like not being dressed for the weather. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite clothing and clothing accessories to make winter weather even more fun.
ARC’TERYX ALPHA SV
Maybe holiday gift-giving isn’t about a hundred small gifts—maybe your beloved outdoor enthusiast would be blown away by a singular gift that will keep them protected, no matter what adventure they’re on. The men’s and women’s Arc’teryx Alpha SV Shell is no budget item, and there are plenty of other great, more affordable options in the shell department.
The SV part of the name stands for “severe weather conditions.” We tested it on one prolonged medevac with the Alaskan Coast Guard. Even with 40 mph winds hurling rain and ocean spray into the EMTs’ faces on the tarmac, the author kept warm and dry.
The Alpha SV blew us away with its versatility across seasons. In this gear writer’s opinion, it was the best Christmas present she could have bought herself.
ARC’TERYX CERIUM HOODY
We skiers dream of living in the white room all winter long, and as much as it would be nice to give the gift of a few feet of fresh powder, warmth on and off the hill is maybe the next best thing. Don’t just opt for any puffy, though. Treat someone to the crème de la crème of puffers that’s durable (my old one keeps going after a decade of use), versatile, subtly stylish, and of course toasty warm. The Cerium is warm enough to layer under a shell for icy chairlift rides, light enough to pack for big winter backcountry missions, and sleek enough to wear out for a bevy after you’re done hot lapping cold powder.
View the Men's Arc'teyrx Cerium Hoodie
View the Women's Arc'teryx Cerium Hoodie
STIO COLTER BOOTS
There’s nothing quite like slipping off your cold, plastic ski boots at the end of the day, and it’s that much better when you have something cozy to slip your feet into. A pair of fluffy slippers might seem like the ultimate option, but they’re not going to take you out on the town with your friends.
The Colter boots (available in men’s and women’s) are like a slipper on the inside, lined with a wool blend fabric that looks like your favorite fleece. On the outside, they’re made for trudging through the snow: waterproofed full-grain leather keeps your feet dry, and the beefy lugs grip on snow and ice far better than any slipper could. These have become my go-to for mountain town style and comfort in cold weather. And they’re the perfect gift for someone who loves the après almost as much as they do the skiing.
The Glerups wool slippers made it on our Outdoor Lover Gift Guide for three consecutive years because they’re just that good.
These warm, felted indoor-outdoor slippers are a joy for feet after a day of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or whatever winter activity one enjoys. That’s why the rubber-soled boot version wins Best Wool Slippers in our Best Women’s Winter Boots guide and our Best Men’s Winter Boots.
One of the nice perks about the Glerups wool slippers is that they’re available in some of the most inclusive sizes, from adorable baby-sized slippers, to a full kids’ line, to men’s size 17.
That means your entire family can match. If matching isn’t your thing, they come in 15 different colors!
-Treeline Review Team
STIO FERNOS KNICKER
Is there a skier in your life who always gets cold on the chairlift? They will love these cozy yet technical knickers from Stio. The men's and women's Fernos are the perfect mid layer for bell-to-bell resort laps on cold days.
I was gifted these last season and have worn them on almost every mid-winter resort ski day since.
These knickers will make your perpetually cold skier friend smile in cozy comfort.
KUIU SUPER DOWN LT PANTS
After a freezing day skiing some years ago, I told a friend I was going to buy a pair of down pants. She said she would mock me relentlessly. Back then, the only available were big expedition-style puffies. Aside from looking quite jolly, I suppose they would have been overkill.
But 2 years ago, I purchased a pair of Kuiu Super Down Ultra pants, and I've never looked back. I love my down pants!
No matter the day’s adventures, whether skiing, fishing, biking, backpacking, bikepacking, or camping on those cold shoulder season trips, I love slipping into my down pants in the evening. Chill be gone!
And my doubting friend? I bought her a pair for Christmas last year, and I don’t think she took them off all winter.
ICEBREAKER 200 ZONEKNIT LONG SLEEVE CREW NECK AND LEGGINGS KIT
You know the scene—curled up in front of a roaring woodstove in a rough-hewn cabin with the snow swirling outside and a hot mug in your hands?
Yeah, that one. Imagine that, but still cozy in the merino wool base layers you wore on a sweaty snowshoe up to that cabin, which are the same ones that you’ll wear to bed in your cozy down sleeping bag and will be the same ones you wear to ski back down to the car tomorrow?
When you unwrap your Icebreaker 200 ZoneKnit Crew Neck and Icebreaker 200 ZoneKnit Leggings, that’s exactly the motivating image that these base layers paint in your mind.
This author first tested out the ZoneKnit leggings 3 years ago, and they still hold strong—but an updated pair feels even more comfortable, for the record.
If you’re looking for a great gift to invest in your loved one’s warmth, comfort, and ability to stay outdoors longer, you’ve found the winner in Icebreaker’s ZoneKnit base layers.
View Men's Icebreaker ZoneKnit 200
View Women's Icebreaker ZoneKnit 200
BLACK DIAMOND SPARK MITTS
I have had the same Black Diamond Spark Johnny Mitts gloves since college, and not for nothing, we’re closing in on my 10-year reunion.
These mittens brought me through my first season of backcountry skiing in Colorado, were crammed into a bag and shipped to Southeast Alaska with me, skied all over British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, New England, and Japan with me, and dug many cars out of the snow with me, too.
They’re the mittens I now pull on when I race out of the ski patrol shack at the summit of Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire.
They’re the mittens I pack when I go to an extended search and rescue scene or need to hop on the snowmobile to access a patient deep in the snowy backcountry of Western Maine. Why? Because they’re easy to pull on, flexible enough to use, and warm enough to keep your fingers happy.
In this winter lover’s humble opinion, they’re the best mittens on the mountain. The only reason they didn’t win an award in our Best Ski Gloves story is because Black Diamond seems to be moving away from the design slowly—so get yours while you can!
DARN TOUGH SKI SOCKS
It seems like every year, we always recommend Darn Tough socks in our gift guides because they’re that perfect.
These plush, perfectly fitting socks are made in the US (Northfield, VT), come in fun colors and patterns, and feel incredibly comfortable and cozy on the feet. They come in all sizes and all levels of cushioning—from lightweight OTC to midweight and heavyweight ski mountaineering.
They’re also made using only 100% Responsible Wool Standard merino wool. Darn Tough socks won our Best for Ski Touring and Best Synthetic Socks awards in our Best Ski Socks guide.
Best yet—Darn Tough socks have a lifetime guarantee. If you don’t love them or they get holes, Darn Tough has the best warranty in the outdoor industry.
So if you want a no-brainer gift for the outdoors person in your life, grab them some Darn Tough socks. You’ll be surprised at just how thrilled they might be about receiving a pair.
-Co-founders Liz Thomas and Naomi Hudetz, and pretty much everyone on the Treeline Review team
Winter is cold; your head and face don’t have to be. The Burton Burke Hood is my favorite way to accessorize functionally in winter months. The Burke hood is a thick fleece oversized hood in two sizes with a built-in face gaiter. The combination of hood and face gaiter keep me nice and toasty and pair with any jacket, hooded or not.
This hood is a great gift for anyone who spends time outside in winter or is always saying they are too cold. I love that the thick, soft fleece doesn't impact my hearing like a hardshell hood in winter; you know, those swish swish sounds.
I take one running on snowstorm days, and it can easily be removed when it gets too hot and stashed in a mini-pack. It is great for anyone, and they have so many color options.
ORTOVOX 3L RAVINE SHELL JACKET/PANTS
If you have a skier in your life who wants to do it all, this is the perfect kit for them. This jacket and matching pants can go in the backcountry, the resort, and are attractive enough for après.
I love that this shell system allows for layering up or down, so I can wear them all season from storm to bluebird days. If you are flying where space is at a premium, this jacket rolls up so small it can fit inside your ski boots in your bag. I love the thoughtful placement of pockets–there are chest pockets which allow for full freedom of movement, no matter how you twist or squat. There is also a fleece lined cell phone pocket to keep your battery from freezing, which is another thoughtful detail.
This is really the only kit that you need. It can do it all and it is PFC free and Climate Neutral so you can feel good about buying it. I know it is pricey, but this does the work of several jackets – saving you space in a closet and eventually money from having to buy multiple jackets.
Men's Ortovox Ravine
Women's Orotovox Ravine
Skida is a small, woman-owned brand based in Vermont. The founder started by sewing hats for friends on her ski team, and the brand has since grown to make accessories of all sorts, from balaclavas to bucket hats.
My favorite piece for winter skiing (and just about any aerobic cold-weather activity) is the Nordic Headband. It’s a thin synthetic headband that offers just enough warmth and protection to keep your ears toasty while you’re out working up a sweat mid-winter.
The silky synthetic fabric is perfect for high-output activities and sits flat for a sleek and comfortable fit. We love the variety of patterns it comes in (you can even get a matching neck warmer). For outdoors people often out on the fringes of daylight, Skida makes a super bright and reflective option, too.
The Bern Watts 2.0 helmet is a multi-sport helmet that flexes between biking and skiing or snowboarding by swapping out the summer lining for a winter one. For the person who wants one helmet that does it all, the Watts 2.0 will keep them warm, comfortable, and protected on the ski hill and year-round.
It’s lightweight and slick-looking, the compass fit allows the wearer to easily customize the fit, and there’s a spot for an integrated light. It also incorporates MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) safety technology, providing extra protection against rotational impact. In my household, it’s the helmet we grab if we’re spontaneously heading out for adventure, whether that’s biking, skiing, a river paddle, or meeting friends for some mellow climbing because it’s comfortable and capable in every scenario.
If the best parts of skiing and snowboarding are the wonderful memories you make, the worst part might be the chill your bones get when savoring those last laughs in the parking lot as the sun dips down below the horizon. Whether changing out of gear or not, I’ve started to count on the VOITED fleece pillow blanket (which also buttons into a sleeping bag and poncho!) for every moment I’m not actively moving. Made from 100% recycled plastic (courtesy the Repreve process, which upcycles plastic bottles into polyester), this is warmth—with a conscience.
SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE
Hitting the slopes is a lot more fun with both the gear and the body are at their best. These items help maintain the functionality of the equipment and the health of the body so your skier or snowboarder can have even more fun and last longer.
ROLL RECOVERY R1 PERCUSSION MASSAGE GUN
After skiing all day and feeling so fatigued, the last thing I want to do is have to struggle with a giant foam roller to get the knots out. That’s why percussion massagers have been hot over the last year. I like the Roll Recovery R1, which is more affordably priced and portable than other models on the market.
The R1 is a nice gift because it isn’t something that someone will necessarily know that they need, but it is something that they will end up using daily. Bonus: the packaging is really meant for gifting (they come in one of those sturdy boxes that will have you saying, “This is a nice box, I should keep this box”).
DPS PHANTOM GLIDE SKI AND SNOWBOARD PERMANENT BASE WAXLESS TREATMENT
Whether skiing or boarding in the backcountry, the DPS Phantom Glide permanent waxless base treatment is a treat and will make an excellent gift for your favorite shredder whether you get them the home kit or a gift certificate to a shop that can apply it, like Evo's brick-and-mortar repair shops.
We’ve also been using it for years and have found it’s still providing great glide with a bit of maintenance here and there. It’s been out for a number of years now and is still garnering great reviews.
While it provides excellent glide on all sorts of snow, if someone wants the absolute best performance, they can still apply a quick coat of condition-specific wax, like the line of plant-based Quick Wax from mountainFLOW eco-wax.
While you can buy the DIY kit and cure it in the sunlight, we recommend having a certified store apply it since they have a UV curing station designed to ensure it cures properly. In the past, some people haven’t had the best luck curing it in the often low-light conditions of winter.
Find a Phantom Dealer shop here. National chains, like REI’s ski and snowboard shop services and Evo's ski and snowboard shops, offer in-house treatment, but you’ll have to reach out to them about it. According to Evo’s website, their shops will apply it in Seattle, Denver, Portland, Whistle, Salt Lake City, Snoqualmie Pass, and Hood River.
Or, if they have the skills to apply Phandom DPS themselves, get them the Do-It-Yourself kit. It takes about 20 minutes with 6 hours of dry time.
Call me over-prepared, but I don’t go out on any adventure without a medical kit. (Being a guide, volunteer firefighter, and W-EMT will do that to you.) I used to overpack a 10-liter dry bag with everything from a syringe to dozens of types of bandages and gauze to a SAM splint on a 2-hour hike or front country climbing adventure. After getting the Adventure Medical Kit — I don’t pack anything more than this.
This medical kit is compact, waterproof, and easily fits into the brain of a backpack or tucked inside a small dry bag. It holds all of the necessary items—wound care, bandages, medications, moleskin, duct tape, tweezers—in a silnylon pouch that all weighs a mere eight ounces. My raft guides, ski partners, and climbing buddies will all be getting this for Christmas. Who doesn’t want to be prepared?
-Josette Deschambeault, Contributing Writer
Read more about outdoor gear that can double as your Home Emergency Kit.
My feet are always cramped after a long day skiing or snowboarding and I can’t seem to find the right way to massage them out. I wish I had the Roll Recovery R3 back when I was a pro ski patroller. After eight hours in ski boots my feet were always so cramped and stiff. With different points of pressure depending on the direction of the roller, you get a really nice foot massage.
In the past, I used pokey balls to roll out my feet but there is a learning curve to get the pressure points just right and to keep the massage even. The R3 is easy to use right out of the box. It’s well balanced and just the right size to be portable (it is a little larger than a soda can). I am even rolling my feet right now as I sit and type this for you.
This little powerhouse can also work as a replacement to a foam roller, or tennis ball. You can use it for your calves, triceps, hamstrings and hips and get a nice massage and work out the knots after skiing or riding all day. With this little roller I don’t find myself reaching for my cumbersome foam roller anymore.
The Roll Recovery R3 is a gift that doesn't break the bank. You can use this roller beyond ski season too – it has a place in your backpack or gear bag year round. I am gifting one to a few people on my list.
Blisters suck. It’s bad enough when your $60-$150 hiking shoes create hot spots that lead to blisters. (Perhaps you’ll just buy another pair that fits better and donate the old ones to a good cause.)
But for the backcountry enthusiast who laid out $600-$800 or more for a pair of high-end backcountry boots, there aren’t usually too many options to fix blisters.
That’s where the Engo Blister Patches come in. They’re a cheap, effective, and nearly permanent fix that will make a practical gift for power pals complaining about blisters after a long day in the backcountry.
We turned to them after getting quarter-sized edge blisters on both insteps after a six-mile uphill skin to a hut. We tested them by applying them to only one boot and noticed a remarkable difference in hot spots and blisters afterward on numerous outings. Engo has videos on how to apply the patches to best reduce blisters’ causes.
ULTRALIGHT WINTER TRAVEL BY JUSTIN LICHTER AND SHAWN FORRY
I originally gifted Ultralight Winter Travel to myself for backpacking, seeking more knowledge of cold-weather travel from one of the most reputable author duos, Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry. Now it’s become an invaluable tool for maintaining my lightweight, efficiency-above-all ethos as I take on a new backcountry activity and transition into backcountry skiing.
Justin and Shawn are the only people on record to successfully travel the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail during winter from BC, Canada, to the border of California and Mexico. This book, as Shawn has explained, is their effort to get more people outdoors during the “forgotten hiking season.”
In Ultralight Winter Travel, Shawn and Justin go beyond the marketing jargon and dive into lightweight-oriented ski, binding, and boot selection fundamentals. They also explore the science of layering clothing, shelter selection, making snow camps, staying dry, and gear modification, among much more.
This book is not a substitute for personal mentorship, avalanche education courses, or the fitness and practice required to manage the variables in the high country for comfortable-ish winter travel. However, it’s an accessible resource for facilitating such endeavors and one that’s earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.
When their outdoor activity of choice takes you into cold weather, having a way to warm your hands and toes can be a big mood booster. Luckily, humans have invented ways to have instant warmth lasting eight hours.
Whether the people you're giving gifts to are skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, bikers, or into winter camping, hand and toe warmers can stave off frostbite (or at least make your hands and feet a lot happier). We’ve known thru-hikers to carry these for cold nights in the desert. Anyone with Raynaud’s will appreciate the extra heat. Plus, if you’ve got a few stockings to stuff, you can buy these in bulk and split them up over several gifts.
If you’re looking for other gifts for the cold-handed people in your life, check out our guides to The Best Ski Gloves and The Best Winter Gloves for Running, Hiking, and Cycling.
-Treeline Review Team
Send a subtle message: time to wash your gear! Bonus if you live with the person: you won’t have to smell their gear anymore. We’d recommend Nikwax Tech Wash, which also comes with a DWR coating.
Unlike harsh detergents or everyday Tide, you can use Tech Wash and Down Washes on performance fabrics. Technical apparel is made with materials that have membranes that “breathe” water vapor, which makes washing them in water different from ordinary clothing.
-Treeline Review Team
Sometimes the best gift is the one that also benefits the gift-giver. If you live, work, or spend your holidays with a skier, chances are you know the smell of wet base layers, ski socks, or gear that never seem to get clean—no matter how many times they’re washed.
Although sports detergent is a relatively inexpensive gift, it’s one of those things we bought that significantly improved our daily existence. (Turns out that hiker clothes from perpetually smelly to only-stinky-after-use is a real mood booster.) While we identified several effective odor-removing sports detergents in our Best Sports Detergent story, if they need extreme odor removal of their skiing base layers, give them the Hex Detergent.
While it may seem like a backhanded gift to give a skier sports detergent, trust us—they’ll be stoked. Finding a good sports detergent that actually works takes trial and error. They’ll be overjoyed to receive one that actually works.
-Treeline Review Team
Something I always need? Lip balm with SPF. Something I never think to buy for myself until I’m in the elements, lips cracking? Lip balm with SPF. There are lots of lip balm options out there with various active ingredients, but I’ve learned to love the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. It goes on smooth and keeps my lips happy when the sun’s reflecting off water and snow, as well as on top of windy summits.
For chemical-sensitive buyers, the organic formula for this balm incorporates shea butter and avocado oil for an extra moisturizing, liquid texture—no chunks of beeswax hanging out on your face.
And since sharing lip balm is not exactly in the interest of public health these days, having a few extras kicking around in day packs and dry bags ensures I can dig around and not be left empty-handed on my next outdoor adventure.
BOX OF ASSORTED ENERGY BARS AND GELS
Almost every hiker goes ga-ga to try new flavors of bars, gels, and performance drinks. Everyone is always trying to find the best-tasting new bar or next interesting flavor.
Here are 12 of the most popular energy foods this season:
ProBar Meal Bars, including Superberry & Greens or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Powder (one of our most popular items at Treeline!)
Honey Stinger Energy Waffles (also available in Gluten-Free)
Kate’s Real Food Bivy Bar, including Lemon Coconut Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
Tip: If you’re giving Performance Food Gift Sets to several people as a stocking stuffer or office/hiking group presents, you can get items like Nuun tubes or GU 24-Pack in bulk to save even more. Plus, REI runs a deal where you save 10% if you purchase 10 or more performance foods.
For more stocking-stuffer ideas like this, take a look through our guide to The Best Electrolyte Powders.
-Treeline Review Team
NOSO PATCHES: A FUN WAY TO REPAIR GEAR
Every skier gets holes, abrasion, and rips in their favorite gear items, but Noso Patches can save the day—and look so cool, you’ll actually want to show it off. Featured in our Eco-friendly Gear Swaps guide, Noso Patches are an especially great gift for the environmentally-conscious skier in your life.
Noso patches have fun designs that bring color and life to the repair process. They work with artists through their ArtFix program to make designs for every kind of outdoors person. Whether it’s a partnership with Skida, ArtFix artists, zodiacs, food, wildlife, or your favorite national park or state—they’ve got you covered.
Noso Patches come in fun colors and shapes like bears, mountains, and even a National Park-themed patches (very useful if your skier has a brush with some branches). We love the Joshua Tree National Park and Zion patches in particular.
-Treeline Review Team
KULA CLOTH: UPGRADED BATHROOM EXPERIENCE
Whether you’re worried about hygiene, Leave No Trace, or simply want to save money on toilet paper, the Kula Cloth is the answer to all your pee prayers. An antimicrobial, discrete, quick-drying cloth that reduces mess and waste while improving your quality of life, my Kula replaces handkerchiefs, leaves, and drip-drying (which never really worked anyway).
A Kula Cloth features silver-infused, highly-absorbent black fabric with a waterproof backing—meaning the cloth is completely odor-proof, and my hands never touch the residual liquid. Manufactured and milled in the USA, the Kula Cloth is hypoallergenic, mostly organic, and the best new piece of gear I’ve found in years. Starting at $20, you can’t go wrong with a Kula Cloth. It will change everything about how you (or your loved ones that also squat to pee) experience the outdoors.
The pStyle is not your usual gift, but hear me out. Anyone who regularly squats to pee outside or is close friends with someone who does knows how inconvenient it can be. I discovered the pStyle on a section hike of the PCT in 2017 and haven’t skied or traveled without one since then.
The pStyle is a Female Urinary Device (FUD) is basically a funnel that allows women to stay clothed and stand up to pee. The pStyle makes going more discreet, easier, and faster.
This thoughtful gift that can make a difference in how your friend enjoys being outside – skiing, hiking, traveling, or even going to festivals.
If you don’t have one already, you might want to gift yourself one for the next time you are on a road trip; it is worth it to avoid questionable gas station toilet seats!
GADGETS AND TECHNOLOGY
The best part of gifting someone gadgets and technology gear is they’re often items people don’t buy themselves. These items are not only fun and exciting, but they often make time outdoors safer and more enjoyable. And the gift of safety is a gift for you, as well!
ORTOVOX DIRACT VOICE AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER
Have you got a loved one just getting into the backcountry? Give them the gift of safety with the Ortovox Diract Voice Avalanche Transceiver. The award-winning transceiver won an IPSO Product of the Year Award and an Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award, among others—and is the first to use voice commands to help rescuers find avalanche victims.
Avalanche experts have told us that the voice commands help with the most important things during an avalanche situation. It helps searchers keep calm and give clear directions on what to do next, for example: “Keep right” or “Go down to the snow surface.” As such, it’s an ideal beacon for those just getting into the backcountry.
GARMIN INREACH MINI 2
The Garmin inReach Mini 2 may be the best present you can get a loved one who spends time outdoors–because it’s actually a present for yourself!
On almost a weekly basis, a worried parent or spouse emails me about what to do about their solo backpacking or adventuring family member. Since the invention of the inReach Mini, my answer has become simple: get one.
At only 3.5 ounces, even the most minimalist backpacker won’t grumble at the weight. It seemed that nearly every thru-hiker our staff saw on trail this year wore a Mini on their pack strap as part of their uniform. See our in-depth review for more details about the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
GARMIN FENIX 7 SAPPHIRE SOLO MULTISPORT GPS WATCH
Nothing could be more classic than giving a watch as a holiday gift. The most desired GPS Sport watch among outdoors people is the newly released Garmin fenix 7 Solar.
This full-color touchscreen watch is built to survive adventure with a scratch and water-resistant face, long battery life, and highly accurate GPS and mapping capabilities.
Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, or running, cycling, or hiking, the Fenix can help with intelligent pace planning, preloaded topo maps, and ski maps for 2,000 ski resorts worldwide.
In addition to streaming and storing music, taking phone calls, and email, it also measures heart rate, oxygen levels, altitude, and barometric pressure – and tracks that data in a handy app.
See our detailed review of the fenix for why we think it is the best Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass Watch you can give. You can also learn more in our Best GPS Hiking Watch guide.
-Treeline Review Team
Outdoorspeople are tougher than most people on their electronics. I’ve personally destroyed three cameras and several phones. The result is that I don’t have photos of many of my most epic adventures, a loss I lament on a near-daily basis.
When I bought the Olympus Tough Camera, not only was I unable to destroy it (I dropped it more times than I can count), but it captured some of the most important moments on the mountain.
Usually, snow and cold weather are times to put away your electronics. With the waterproof TG-6, I’ve been able to take photos in some of the worst weather conditions (aka, “Type 2 Fun” or parts that are miserable at the time but make great stories later).
This camera is so bomb-proof that it will likely outlast all other technology. See what our camera nerd has to say about the Olympus Tough Cameras in our Best Waterproof Camera guide.
As I ate my hot meal on the summit, I couldn’t help but look at the other hikers eating their energy bars and think, “Suckers!” As I ate my hot soup, I schemed how all my future winter adventures could involve hot food.
If your loved one does any ski touring, cross country, or anything in the winter where the resort’s restaurant is not a run away, the Hydro Flask Food Jar is a game-changer. I’ve been taking my Food Jar on alpine ascents this November and December. While I thought it’d be a nifty novelty to have hot chili on the top of a snow-covered peak, I could not have predicted how life-changingly pleasant the experience would be.
Unlike other insulated food jars, the Hydroflask Food Flask is shaped like a bowl instead of a bottle, so I can actually eat chunky stews with a short-handled spoon.
They also come in an assortment of colors and boast a Lifetime Warranty. While it’s perfect for outdoors people, I suppose it comes in handy for lunchtime in “real life,” too.
GIFT CARDS AND EXPERIENCES
Gifting someone the autonomy to buy what they want or need themselves, or gifting them an experience rather than a thing, is something many folks appreciate. Here are some of our favorite places to give gift cards for.
A GUIDED SKI TRIP IN DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
A guided ski trip in Svalbard in the northern coast of Norway near the North Pole. Photo by 57Hours.
If the skiers in your life have always dreamed about skiing in another country or a scenic destination but would feel comfortable going with someone who speaks the language who is a certified guide, 57Hours makes it easy to find a guide for any destination and any sport.
You can search all the guided backcountry ski trips, but here are a few that stuck out:
Snow, Sushi, and Hot Springs: A Backcountry Journey Through Japan
Backcountry Skiing Svalbard, the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole
There are also lots of great options domestically, including:
There is always the super popular adventure gift card. The gift card covers classes like avalanche education, as well as guided trips in destinations around the world.
-Treeline Review Team
AN AVALANCHE SAFETY CLASS
Taking an avalanche safety class every year—even if its a short refresher course—is an essential for all backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Photo by 57Hours.
Skiing is a sport that only gets better and safer with more education. Every backcountry skier benefits by refreshing their skills and certifications often. Taking a class is the best way to learn new activities and ways of engaging in the snow.
You can search all the avalanche and backcountry winter ski courses by destination, but here are a few that stuck out:
There are also mountaineering courses you can take, including:
There is always the super popular adventure gift card.
-Treeline Review Team
NATIONAL PARKS PASS: UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS
Whether they ski backcountry, ski mountaineer, or cross-country ski, the National Parks Pass is a little card that gets you FREE ADMISSION into every National Park and most other public land with entrance fees. It’s an essential item for outdoors people, and REI donates 10% of the sale to the National Parks Foundation.
When you get this online at REI, it’s the same price (actually, a penny less) than if you were to purchase it directly at a national park entrance station (plus, with this pass, rangers let you skip the line to enter the park).
Technically called the “America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass,” the pass will also get you free admission to National Monuments and waived recreation fees at US Fish & Wildlife Refuges, Forest Service forests and grasslands, and Bureau of Land Management sites.
For example, Treeline Review editor Liz Thomas uses it as a parking pass at trailheads in Southern California in lieu of the Adventure Pass (which costs $5 per hike at trailheads).
Since the Interagency Pass only lasts a year–and is a near-essential item for every outdoors person–it’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything.
-Treeline Review Team
SUBSCRIPTION TO INDEPENDENT PRINT MAGS
Independent Print Magazines: Mountain Gazette and Ski Journal
Outdoor media has seen some significant changes in recent years. We skiers have seen some beloved titles disappear, but the good news is that independent ski media is alive and well, and print is far from dead. For the skier in your life who loves a good read, a subscription to one of these mags makes the perfect gift.
Mountain Gazette: This is not your average zine. When I first got this beautiful, biannual behemoth in the mail, I had to scour my living room and office for a logical place to keep it. I mean this in a good way. The 11x17” size of Mountain Gazette stands out.
Photos look spectacular printed in this large format, and when your face is buried behind the XL pages, you feel fully immersed in the stories. There is no fluff to be found here; long reads combine thoughtful reporting, beautiful writing, and captivating photography. While skiing is at its core, it's also worth noting that this mag covers a little bit of everything for the adventurous soul.
The Ski Journal: This one is for the die-hards. Cover-to-cover, The Ski Journal’s pages are saturated with stories and photos from every corner of the industry. Throughout four issues each year, you’ll find unique destination reads and insightful profiles and flip through pages of stunning photography that’ll make you want to get out the door in search of powder stashes, big lines, and urban features.
The Ski Journal also has a sister title, The Snowboarder’s Journal, for the one-plankers out there.
A GIFT TO A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THEIR NAME
To keep playing outdoors, we need to conserve the nature that we have and create the next generation of responsible skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts.
Our writers and editors included a few of their favorites:
Protect Our Winters: a favorite of former ski patroller and competitive snowboarder, Sara Kruglinski, Treeline Review’s Partnerships Coordinator
Wild Diversity: a favorite of Treeline Review developmental editor Amanda Jameson and contributing writer Bri Dostie.
She Jumps: a favorite of Treeline Review writer Gabaccia Moreno.
-Treeline Review Team
Want to give an experience rather than a thing? REI has classes and events across the country covering various activities and interests–including snow sports. Bonus - they’re reasonably priced.
Here’s a (tiny) sampling, but you can search through all Snow Sports for a class and location near you:
-Treeline Review Team
Still not sure what to get a friend or family member? Do what my family does and give the REI Gift Card. Even if you’ve got an excellent grasp on what a person likes, sometimes it can be tricky knowing what gear they already own. REI Gift cards never expire and can be used on any item.
-Treeline Review Team
