Wondering what to get your skiing friends or family this Christmas? Here’s our guide to festive shopping for skiers and snowboarders young and old. For more possible Christmas ski gifts, see our guide to The High Tech Wearables For Skiing. Postage or shipping prices are extra and not included here.
Pretty as a Picture
Picture Shoes 2.0 Bag is a great all-round boot bag for lugging your gear up to the resort. It features a large main compartment that can accommodate all but the largest of ski/snowboard boots and a smaller front pocket for your accessories, and it’s also roomy enough to fit in your helmet. All of this is packaged in a recycled polyester shell.
Picture Organic Clothing – Shoes 2.0 Ski/Snowboard Boot Bag £31.95, from Absolute Snow.
After-Ski Rehydration
The Institut Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Mask is a highly concentrated mask with high levels of Hyaluronic® that moisturize to instantly target severe dehydration. It also helps fill the lines and wrinkles by hydrating the superficial layers and immediately plumps the skin.
Institut Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Mask 75ml £31, from Institute Esthederm.
Light and Tough
The compact version of Bon Air is the ideal sized hand luggage to fit the standard Ryanair and easyJet dimensions. This four-wheeled bag has a TSA lock and is super light and extra tough, and its clever design lets you pack in lots of stuff whilst still remaining compact.
The bag comes in nine tasty colours, including the Porcelain blue shown here. American Tourister Bon Air – Spinner £99, from American Tourister.
Look No Wax
British-based company, Look No Wax, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help promote its unique eco-friendly alternative to ski wax, Juice Infinity. Juice’s patent-pending solution is a one-time spray application that forever eliminates the need for waxing skis and snowboards. Not only is it extremely easy to apply, but it also permanently improves skis and snowboard performance all year round, whilst being 100% environmentally friendly. Juice Infinity is available to buy directly through the Kickstarter campaign, with a special $30 offer.
Beastly Helmet Cover
Jazz up, spice up, pimp your helmet…whether it’s for skiing, snowboarding, rollerblading, ice hockey, or cycling. They certainly offer plenty of different ways to dress up your hat, from the zany to the demure. The lion, pictured here, is one of 32 different animals you can choose from – ranging from rhino and octopus to bat and butterfly. Coolcasc helmet cover £24.95, from Manbi.
Dragon Designer Goggles
Dragon Alliance have just launched a collaboration with Asymbol, whereby legendary snowboarders Bryan Iguchi and Jamie Lynn together with artists Scoph and Iuna Tinta have designed two limited edition goggles. The ones shown here are in Iuna’s signature style and feature Dragon’s latest lens technology, LUMALENS. Dragon Alliance – X2s Asymbol Iuna Tinta goggles £185, from Dragon Alliance.
Ski Mouse
Each Sew Heart Felt Mouse is skilfully crafted by needle-felting teeny layers of loose wool fibres, creating a sculptured little animal. Every mouse has a character of its own and is a truly artisan piece: made with organic woollen felt and coloured with eco-friendly dyes. The mouse is approximately 9cm tall.
Sew Heart Felt Mouse £15.95, from Not on The High Street.
Sherpa Hat
Hand-knitted in small women co-ops in the ancient city of Bhaktapur right outside Kathmandu, this cosy lambswool hat is naturally warm but also durable. It’s lined with soft, moisture-wicking Polarfleece® to provide breathability while ensuring optimum insulation.
Sherpa Kertipur Hat – Bagmati Sand £25, from Sherpa Adventure Gear.
Clear Case for Packing
Happybags has produced some versatile travel cosmetic cases, with the Liquidcase having a 1 litre capacity and the Takeoff a 1.5 litre capacity. Both of the bags are made from a high quality clear plastic, making them perfect for using in your hand luggage – whilst giving the relevant authorities a clear view of the contents. As well as being used whilst flying, both bags make excellent everyday cosmetic or wash bags. The Liquidcase is £8.95 and the Takeoff Case £12, from Happybags.
Mini Skis and Poles
This is a handmade piece of silver-plated jewellery, which can be personalised with your initial and has a genuine Swarkovski crystal on it – as well as a pair of miniature skis and poles. You can choose between a 40cm chain or a 61cm one.
Personalised skiing necklace £6.50, from Etsy.
Cheerful Earful
These cheerful yellow and black faux fur muffs will keep little ears warm walking around the resort after skiing. They are one-size only and made from 85% acrylic/15% polyester.
Barts Candy Earmuffs £23, from Snow + Rock.
Snow Cross-Cross Snow
Inside the box you’ll find a course winding down a steep slope, down which you are propelled by the throw of the dice relative to that of your opponent. There are jumps and bump to overcome whilst avoiding collisions with your opponent, or tumbles after a poorly negotiated jump.
This is a portable game with simple rules for one or two skiers or boarders at a time. Snow Cross-Cross Snow board game £7.50, from Amazon.
Bug Light
The cool little torch looks just like a bug. Its body is a powerful mini LED torch, which has four lighting modes, and its legs are flexible Nite Ize Gear Ties, which can be bent, wrapped or twisted to give different types of lighting.
Nite Ize BugLit £12.99, from Ellis Brigham.
Cocooned in a Blanket
This extremely luxurious travel blanket is made from the softest blend of Merino-silk. It has excellent breathability, natural temperature regulation, and moisture wicking in a wide range of temperatures. And it’s just as good for taking on long drives to the Alps as for long-haul flights.
Cocoon Travel Blanket £69.95, from First Ascent.
Love Mountains
This limited edition T-shirt has a design created from an original paper-cut artwork that you won’t find anywhere else. Lots of different colours are available and the T-shirt is made from 100% cotton.
Love Mountains T-shirt £20, from Etsy.
Foxy Mittens
These kids’ mittens make a fun winter accessory. They have a durable outer with elasticated cuffs, textured palms and soft polyester padding to keep little hands protected on the slopes. There’s a choice between an orange fox or a blue shark.
£9.99, from Mountain Warehouse.
Eco Dryer
Drysure Extreme is an eco-friendly boot drier and is said to dry footwear 12 times faster than traditional air-drying. There’s no need for batteries or electricity and they can be reused multiple times, so is great for the environment too.
There’s a second design available for running, cycling and golf shoes, as well as walking boots. Drysure Extreme £30 per pair, from Drysure Extreme.
Fairisle Socks
Much too good to hide under your trousers, here are some socks that are perfect for wearing around the chalet or apartment. These traditional Fair Isle pattern socks are made in the UK from a soft combed cotton yarn. When you buy three pairs you save £10.
Finisterre Fairisle socks £12 per pair, from Finisterre.
All-Singing All-Dancing Wristband
The Tread could well become some people’s lifetime companion. Worn around the wrist, it features 29 tools positioned on stainless steel links, making them easily accessible. Whether you need a wrench, screwdriver or simply a bottle opener, the Tread has them at your fingertips. It comes with a 25-year warranty, too.
Leatherman Tread £169.99, from Ellis Brigham.
Panda Goggles for Panda Eyes
These great looking Panda-themed goggles have a mirrored UV400+ polarised lens and feature a magnetic lens changing technology. Changing lenses in different weather conditions is one of the most annoying things for skiers and snowboarders – but with these goggles you are are said to be able to pull off and snap on the the free HD low light lens in under five seconds. £109, from Panda Optics.
Ski Game
SKI RUN is an action-packed race across the mountain where you try to be the first player back to the resort for apres-ski. Pick your route across the piste map board by riding up lifts and racing down runs, whilst trying not to wipe out. Will you take the easy blue, the medium red or the direct but difficult black run? Watch out for ice, whiteouts, and jumps, whilst hopefully avoiding getting lost or colliding with your friends. Chase the yeti to find his shortcuts and hire snowmobiles or helicopters to catch up. Keep your eye out for opportunities to jump the queues or follow your guide. The lead changes constantly in this dynamic game for two to five players aged nine to 100. SKI RUN board game £24.99, from Amazon.
Bamboo Socks
No, these aren’t for skiing, but – like the other socks in this post – they’re stylish enough to wear around the chalet or apartment. BAM socks are made from bamboo and they’re incredibly soft and comfy – we know it for a fact, as we’ve tried them! Added to this, the socks wick moisture away from your feet so they’ll keep your tootsies nice and warm in winter (and cool in summer).
BAM Dartmouth socks £18.50 for a pack of four pairs, from BAM.
Luci Lights
These lights are solar-powered, waterproof, and bright – and they don’t need batteries. They will provide hours of free light by solar charging, and come in a rugged, yet compact and lightweight package.
Great for adding light during an outdoor apres-ski drink, or perhaps for taking into an igloo or even a snow hotel! Luci Lights £20, from First Ascent.
Your Very Own Piste
The 15cm wooden piste signs are made in the UK and you can specify any resort, piste number and piste name you like. Or if you want to be creative, you can have a piste marker made with your own information. The 30cm size is smaller than the real thing, but if you want the actual size then it can be made as well. All the signs are hand-made and hand-painted, so they will vary a little.
Wooden piste sign £24.45, from Snow Shepherd.
Packing Cube
Made from burly Black Hole fabric, this durable two litre cube can handle the rough and tumble of life on the move. From a wash kit to a tool bag, it’s a versatile organiser that can be strapped onto the rest of your luggage using the daisy chain links. It comes in navy, paintbrush red, and strait blue (shown here).
Patagonia Black Hole Cube £29.99 from Ellis Brigham.
What foundation concellar and mascara would you recommend for the slopes