Gifts for Snow Lovers

By Carson Bennett, 12-15-08

Most of my friends and family are snow enthusiasts and I’d like to get all of them something for Christmas. I’m not a very wealthy guy these days (and, I’ll be honest, I’m trying to save up for some AT bindings), so I did some research and found ten great gifts for snow lovers, all under twenty bucks. Some are useful. Some are corny. None of them will break the bank.

SmartWool liner gloves
$15.00
Anyone who has been out snowshoeing, skiing, boarding, or just scraping the windshield on a windy winter morning knows that it sucks to have your skin exposed, even for a second. SmartWool glove liners are thin enough to fit under almost any glove or mitten, so when you pull off the shell to adjust bindings or de-ice windshield wipers, your hands won’t ice up in the process.

Planter’s Trail Mix
$2.69 at Walgreens
It’s cheap, delicious, and full of calories – the perfect winter sport energy boost.

Thorlo Ski Socks
$18.99
You can never have enough ski socks. And they’re not just for skiing. Warm, thin ski socks are great for any winter activity – hiking, sledding, reading a book in front of the fire, whatever.

Ski Boot Coffee Mug
$13.95
Okay, it’s totally corny, but I think I would use it. Especially for a little après-ski hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Yum.

“Propaganda, White Knuckle Extreme”
$2.56-$12.48 on amazon.com
My best ski buddy describes this film as “a sick-ass ski movie about cool-ass guys doing crazy-ass s***.” Check out the trailer here.

Hand/Foot warmers
2 pack for $1.50
They’re cheap and nice to have around. I’ll usually toss a couple in my pack if I’m out in the cold all day. Maybe I’m a cheater, but if I have the choice between losing digits and indulging in an exothermic iron oxidization glove sauna, I’ll choose the latter.

“Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills, 7th Edition” edited by Steven M. Cox and Kris Fulsaas
$4.00-$20.00 on amazon.com
This book isn’t specifically about snow sports, but the info in chapters 26 and 27 on Mountain Weather and the Cycle of Snow is critical for anyone spending time in the winter backcountry. Also, chances are if your friend or family member spends time outdoors in the winter they spend time outdoors year-round, and this book is full of fundamental outdoors skills.

Seirus Thermax Balaclava
$16.00
I don’t leave home without this little beauty. It’s thin enough to fit under a ski or bike helmet, warm enough to wear alone while running or snowshoeing, and a necessity when the temp drops below freezing.

Volcom Multi Tool Bottle Opener
$17.94
A tool that can tighten bindings one minute and open a bottle the next? Sick.

“Better Off Dead”
$7.61-$9.99 on amazon.com
This film is a classic. John Cusack drops into the infamous “K-12” on one ski to win the heart of a curly-haired French foreign-exchange student. His best friend, played by Curtis Armstrong, offers the best skiing advice I’ve ever heard: “Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.”