Holiday Gear Guide: 11 Perfect Gifts for the Mountain Folks in Your Life
Jessica Peterson
Gift ideas for the skier in your life:
For us, the beginning of ski season is reason enough to celebrate, but since it also coincides with the traditional holiday season – what better way to show a loved one you care than gifting them with mountain gear?
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’ve put together some of our favorite items for the season that will make perfect presents for everyone in your life who loves spending time on the mountain this winter. Check out our gift guide below if you need some inspiration and are searching for a gift that they’ll love and use during our favorite season of the year.
Baron Mitts by Dakine are on Ski.com’s recommended gift list this holiday season.
Know someone whose hands are always cold on the slopes? These mittens were made for them. This best-seller is made with Gore-Tex and comes with Gore-grip technology so no matter the weather, or how deep the pow, your hands will be staying toasty. The PrimaLoft insulation and wool lining keep things cozy while buckling bindings and ski boots is no sweat thanks to the 4-way stretch exterior. Browse colors and styles to find the perfect pair for whoever you’re gifting.
Dakine’s Boundary Ski Roller bag is a recommended gift for those planning a big ski trip this year.
Looking to convince your pals to book that out-of-state ski trip with you this season? Dakine’s Boundary Ski roller bag makes traveling with skis a breeze and is essential for anybody planning on trying out new mountains this year they’ll need to hop on a plane to get to. The bag has 360-degree padded ski protection, holds two pairs of skis, one pair of boots and outerwear plus has a handle that pairs it with rolling luggage, making it effortless to navigate through airports and train stations with just one hand. This bag also comes with removable storage bags for boots and outer gear, perfect for storing after a day on the mountain. This bag will keep your buddies from dragging their feet when it comes to booking your next ski adventure, send one their way so you can both send it later this season.
Ski.com suggest this Split Roller Bag by Dakine for the heavy packer in your life.
This piece of luggage is just what the jet setter in your life needs. Described as a “traveling locker room that you can live out of on the road,” the split-level design of this bag makes storing everything you’ll need for your next adventure as simple as possible. The mesh dividers keep everything packed visible and neoprene outer panels give it the stretch it needs for fitting it all, even when you’re overpacked. An interior compartment can keep your dirty gear or boots separate from your clean clothes and the extra-durable wheels and zippers make transporting the bag a breeze and ensure multiple years of use. Treat your favorite traveler to this bag to help inspire even more adventuring in the coming year.
Give the gift of safe skiing with Giro’s Tor helmet.
The first of Giro’s two new helmet releases this season has a breathable, Wikipro Grid Fleece lining to pair with the adjustable ventilation controls making it easy to balance the perfect temp on the slopes. The Tor comes in matte colors of black, blue, graphite and green, and utilizes spherical technology to redirect rotational energy away from the brain for more comprehensive protection when on the mountain.
A warmer version of the Tor helmet, the Tenaya helmet by Giro is a great option for someone who’s always a little too cold on the slopes.
Like its Tor counterpart, the Tenaya helmet differs in its interior with a Plush Max lining to prioritize comfort and warmth. The same spherical technology is present along with adjustable vents for temperature control and the In Form 2 Fit system (also present in the Tor helmet) for tightening and loosening as needed. Instead of green, there’s a white option of this helmet to choose from for styling the on-mountain look.
Contour goggle by Giro for improved visibility on the mountain.
Arguably one of the most important pieces of gear, give someone an upgrade on their goggles this holiday season. The Contour goggle by Giro utilizes a new frame design for an unparalleled peripheral vision for more confidence, control and overall safety when on the mountain. In addition to the enhanced view with the frameless style, the Evak Vent technology minimizes the chance of fogging up while also maintaining a barrier from the elements. You can choose from a large variety of colors and utilize the quick-swap, magnetic feature for interchanging lenses based on the conditions of the day.
The Contour RS Goggle is a slightly smaller version of its Contour goggle counterpart by Giro.
With all the same features of the Contour goggle, Contour RS features smaller sizes ensuring the perfect fit. If you know someone who runs into the issue of having goggles that are too big, this pair is a great match. As a bonus, it comes with two vivid lenses with optics by Zeiss, one for sun and all conditions and the other for low-light making each turn on the slopes a little more effortless.
Namuk designed this snow overall with kids in mind.
If you’re shopping for the next-gen of powder hounds, a piece of outerwear by Namuk is without a doubt a worthwhile investment. Each piece of clothing is designed with kids’ needs in mind and features one-of-a-kind designs since the prints used are hand-drawn, all of which help make the little one you’re shopping for feel special and more comfortable while on the mountain. These Quest snow overalls are 15,000g when it comes to waterproofing and 10,000g for windproofing, meaning kids will stay smiling even if they catch an edge since they’ll be both warm and dry. An integrated zipper, suspenders and a toilet zipper feature, which allows the kiddo to use the restroom without having to take the whole kit off, add to what sets this piece apart. All of these features contribute to spending more time doing what they love and less time fussing over their gear. Plus, rocking this overall they’ll be one of the coolest kids out there, and easy to spot with the memorable design.
This jacket not only works for young skiers, but kids who love being outside all year round. The reversible pattern offers two different looks in one jacket and the warming, fast-drying features will keep kids warm as an in-between layer during the winter season and an outer jacket for the rest of the year. The shape of the jacket’s cut is designed to maximize movement and fun when kids are playing outside, plus there are reflective threads woven throughout for an added safety measure when play takes place at dusk or into the evening. Snag the outdoorsy kid in your life this jacket for plenty of comfort, warmth and style all four seasons of the year.
Strafe:
Alpha Shirt JacketWomen’s Basecamp Hoodie
For this brand, who are neighbors and share our respective headquarters based in Aspen, we’ve highlighted two items that can be incorporated into mountain looks for the season.
If you’re looking to gift for men, check out the Alpha Shirt Jacket. A redesigned version of the long-time favorite, the new Alpha Shirt Jacket offers high-performance Polartec® Alpha insulation combined for a casual street look. With 100% recycled quick-drying insulation for breathable warmth, a mock-neck collar, open hand pockets, and YKK® snap buttons, this gift will become a well-used favorite.
As far as gifts for women go, take a look at the new Women’s Basecamp Hoodie. Inspired by the popular men’s version, the W’s Basecamp features a lightweight and quick-drying Polartec® Power Grid fleece. Worn as a base layer or over a tech tee for cold weather layering performance, or simply as a comfortable hoodie, the Basecamp will be a holiday favorite.
Strafe prides itself in creating durable, air-permeable gear to keep you warm and comfortable no matter the conditions of the day on the slopes. Consider your loved ones’ gear setup, where they could use an upgrade and snag one or more of these items, or their high-quality outerwear pieces, to up their outdoor getup both in terms of comfort and style this season. To receive items by Christmas, Strafe advises placing orders by Dec. 13.
No matter which holiday festivities you partake in, we hope this gift guide has ideas to help you navigate your gift-giving this year and, of course, contribute towards you and your loved ones heading To The Mountains as often as possible.
