Collection: Gifts for Skiers and Snowboarders

What to Gift a Skier or Snowboarder

Anyone who skis or rides regularly owns the big items already. The gifts that land are the ones they use every day on the hill and replace more often than they would like: gloves, layers, and the outerwear that takes the most abuse. The sections below sort the collection that way.

Gloves and mitts

Insulated GORE-TEX gloves and GORE-TEX mitts are the waterproof standards for cold resort and touring days. A three-finger glove splits the difference, keeping most of a mitt’s warmth with enough dexterity for buckles and zippers. The collection carries waterproof GORE-TEX gloves and mitts at more than one price point, so the same cold, wet conditions are covered at a lower price as well. Gloves also avoid the sizing problem that comes with gifting outerwear.

Jackets, bibs, and pants

For someone replacing outerwear, a three-layer GORE-TEX jacket with matching bibs is the setup for deep days and touring. Resort jackets and pants are built for lift-served riding, and everyday snow jackets, pants, and down jackets cover regular days on the hill. Bibs are worth considering as a gift for anyone who rides powder, since they keep snow out on deep days in a way pants cannot.

Gifts for snowboarders

The kit overlaps heavily with skiing, and everything in this collection works for both. Two things matter more for riders. Mitts get more use, since riders spend more time with hands in the snow and less time managing poles, and insulated GORE-TEX mitts suit that. Outerwear cut for movement also matters on a board, which the collection’s three-layer shells and resort jackets and pants both provide.

Small gifts and layers

If the budget is modest or the rider has the large pieces covered, look at what sits under the shell. Base layers, fleece, beanies, and neck gaiters get used every single day on the hill and are rarely replaced until they fail. These are also the pieces most skiers will not buy for themselves, which is what makes them work as gifts. Every piece is backed by the Infinite Guarantee.

Shopping for someone else on your list? Shop the full gift collection.

FAQs

What do you get a skier who has everything?

Look at what they use every day rather than what they own. Gloves, base layers, and beanies take the most abuse and get replaced least often, so a current version of any of them lands well. The other reliable angle is a step up in technical quality, like a three-layer GORE-TEX shell or a glove built for touring, which is the kind of upgrade people put off buying for themselves.

What is the difference between a gift for a resort skier and a backcountry skier?

Resort days are about warmth and weather protection over long lift-served hours, which favours insulated jackets, pants, and warm gloves. Backcountry days are about moving uphill without overheating, which favours three-layer shells, lighter gloves, and layers that manage sweat. If you are not sure which they do more of, outerwear built for both, like a three-layer jacket, covers either.

Should you buy ski pants or bibs as a gift?

Bibs for anyone who rides powder or spends time in deep snow, since the higher cut keeps snow out when they fall or sit down. Pants for anyone who skis mostly groomed runs and wants easier layering and bathroom breaks. Both are available in this collection, and the choice is personal enough that it is worth knowing their preference before buying.

What are good gifts for someone learning to ski or snowboard?

Warm hands and a warm head, because new skiers spend more time stopped, on the ground, and cold than experienced ones. A quality glove or mitt, a beanie, and a neck gaiter make the early days considerably more pleasant. Save the outerwear until they know whether they are sticking with it and which sport they prefer.