It’s that time of year again. The flakes are falling, lifts are starting to spin and the annual holiday gift exchange is soon to commence. You may be thinking, “What in the world do I gift a skier?” and I’m here to say that most of us are likely easy to please. It doesn’t need to be an expensive new pair of planks or outerwear kit, it’s the little things that add up for us. To help tick off a few of the snow sliders on your list, we at FREESKIER have curated a list of 10 of the best gifts you can give a skier for under $100. Because let’s be real, none of us in this industry are made of money.
Ski wax
Sure, any ski wax can be a good gift, but might we suggest prioritizing eco-friendly wax? MountainFLOW Eco Wax and Purl Wax are two great and affordable options to stuff a stocking without leaving forever chemicals behind.
Booster Straps
Help make the skier in your life feel even better in their boots with a set of Booster Straps. Stock power straps hardly ever measure up to the demands of most skiers when it comes to cinching down the cuff of the boot. Booster Straps are a dynamic elastic strap that offer more control and comfort for the wearer.
Sunscreen
The sun is no joke in the winter and snow provides a reflection for harmful UV rays, creating a recipe for sunburn disaster. Help protect your skier-friends’ precious skin by gifting them a bottle of Dermatone Sunscreen. If you’ve got a friend who loves the funkier things in life, ZINKA offers a broad spectrum of SPF and crazy colors.
Balaclava
There is no such thing as having too many balaclavas but there is such a thing as not washing them enough. We can’t teach an old dog new habits, but we can help feed the face-blanket collection. We love Blackstrap and SKIDA for these kinds of things.
Ski poles
Like balaclavas, a skier can never have too many sets of ski poles. Someone always inevitably forgets them at home or loses a basket in the trees. For under $100, you can’t go wrong with the Zipline 14.0 Graphite Composite poles, which are on sale right now, or any of the options from Joystick.
Reusable snack bags
Pocket bacon is necessary sustenance while out on the mountain but let’s make snacktime a touch more eco-friendly by gifting reusable sandwich and snack bags. Stasher is available at REI and Bee’s Wrap utilizes bees wax and cute designs make the switch a desirable one.
Water bladder
You read that right. Water bottles are obtuse and clunky, heavy and hard to carry, which is why we love water bladders for ski season. The weight of a sandwich bag, water bladders save more space and weight as the liquid is consumed throughout the day. Obviously not recommended for hot liquids, Platypus is a great option cold and room-temperature beverages.
SPORTea
Generally speaking, it’s hard to stay hydrated while skiing when it’s cold outside and you only have cold fluids. SPORTea is a delicious, hydrating and energizing tea that is perfect for a mid-ski day pick-me-up. Full of B vitamins and electrolytes, SPORTea is decaf equivalent with no sugar.
Otterbox FRĒ Series Cases for MagSafe iPhone 14 & 15
The last thing you want when you’re shredding the hill is for your music to cut out and your phone battery dies due to the cold. Avoid the issue entirely with Otterbox’s new FRE Series Phone Cases. This durable and waterproof case will keep you phone protected for all your adventures out on the hill, and with the a built in screen protecter, these cases can let you rest easy when you’re picking up speed.
Joystick Goggles
It’s hard to find quality goggles that don’t cost an arm and a leg. If you’ve got a skier in your life who goes through at least one pair a season, give them a pair of Joystick goggles and save the frustration for if—or more likely, when—they go missing.
Refillable lighter
Whether it’s for a mid-day safety meeting at the secret stash or an emergency fire in the backcountry, lighters are an essential piece of equipment for every skier. Make this stocking stuffer a reusable one by gifting a Clipper lighter. From pocket lighters to utility lighters and replacements, Clipper has everything you need for another more eco-friendly gift alternative.
