I love to give gifts, especially to my loved ones. Choosing gifts for my family and friends lets me think about who they are, what they mean to me and why I love them.
And while it isn’t always easy to find the “perfect” gift for a loved one, I try to come up with something that I know they’ll use and which will dovetail with their passions.
Gifts for Skiing Families
Gear
It should go without saying that gear makes the perfect gift for any skier or rider. Skis, boots, more skis, different skis, new coat…you get it, I’m sure. Still here are a few ideas.
Baselayers: We love wool baselayers. Why? Because they don’t stink. We’ve found baselayers (and midlayers) from Icebreaker to be very comfortable and warm. And they come in kids’ sizes! If you don’t like wool, Columbia’s Omni-Heat baselayers are not only super cute and colorful, but super soft (and warm).
Beanies: Knit them yourself on a knitting loom (have your kids do it) for a handmade gift. Ski shops stock an endless rainbow of beanies in different styles. Can you have too many?
Glove Liners: Cheap, light and reusable, we love glove liners. While we sometimes still use disposable hand warmers, liners are often all we need.
Ski Boot Bags: Sick of schlepping your gear to the car, to the lodge, to the airport, through the airport? Two ski boot bags you should check out are the Transpack TRV Pro and the Skboot. Both bags will also hold your helmet, gloves and most everything else. Larger preteens and up will have no problem with the Transpack TRV Pro (which also comes in a junior size). If you don’t like to carry your gear on your back, the Skboot is a well-designed rolling bag.
Yodel: Is an iPhone application gear? I’m not sure, but for $.99 you can help keep you and your adventuring loved ones safe. A basic beacon, Yodel will notify family and friends if you fail to return on time, giving them your route information. The app also features a one-touch waypoint transmitter and an emergency SOS alert. I’ve tested it and while the GPS coordinates weren’t always perfect, they were close. This video does a great job of explaining the app.
Homemade
I have one son who loves to make gifts and one who doesn’t, but will. No matter, I love the gifts they make, from boxes of cookies to works of art. If you’re feeling creative, personal trading cards for the skiers and riders in your family are fun to make. Cut cardstock or thin cardboard into 2.5 x 3.5 inch rectangles. Pore through old ski magazines looking for small photos and make a collage that says something about the recipient.
Books
For the youngest skiers, Safely Ski From A to Z (click to read my review and enter a giveaway for this book. Winner will be chosen tomorrow), by Mary Stubbs Palmer is a good place to start. This good-natured, colorful book will teach your child the alphabet and a lot about skiing as you work together through the rhymes. Learning to Ski With Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen is a picture book for kids up to 2nd grade and features a dog, a moose, lots of snow and, of course, Mr. Magee on skis.
Surprisingly there are a lot of ski mysteries out there. Geared toward women, and not too tense, are Wendy Clinch’s two Ski Diva Mysteries, Double Black and Fade To White. Author Ridley Pearson offers up an edgier and grittier series of mysteries featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming and set in Sun Valley, Idaho. Mystery at the Ski Jump by Carolyn Keene is a timeless Nancy Drew mystery. Other skiing fiction I’ve enjoyed include the comedy of manners, L’Affaire by Diane Johnson and Powder Dreams by David Ward-Nanney.
As for nonfiction, the choices are many ranging from regional guides to skiing history. I haven’t yet read White Planet: A Mad Dash Through Global Ski Culture by Leslie Anthony but the reviews I’ve read are excellent. Kim Kircher’s The Next 15 Minutes offers a look inside the world of ski patrolling and personal crisis. A large format book which we turn to again and again is Ski the 14ers by Chris Davenport. Finally, The Ski House Cookbook by Sarah Pinneo and Tina Anderson is one of my faves.
Music
D-I-Y. There’s really no need to buy an “album” anymore. Choose some of your favorite songs for skiing and share them with your family and friends. They can either upload the music to their iPods or listen to it in the car on the way to the mountain.
Video
Without a doubt, Attack of La Niña by Matchstick Productions is my favorite ski movie of the year. I watched La Niña with a 12-year old boy, a 15-year old boy and my dad. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion, MSP rocks the best soundtrack in the business and has some of the best athletes. If you’ve got kids younger than 11 or 12 (or you’re looking for a G rating), go for anything by Warren Miller — the Real Warren Miller. Miller has not been involved with Warren Miller Entertainment since 2004. And while WME still makes a good film, you gotta get the real stuff.
Just for Fun (Giveaway)
Remember Swatch? Colorful, inexpensive, well-made watches? Now, think Modify. Modify watches start at $40 and are water-resistant, sturdy and stylish. What’s cool is that every watch face can be put into every strap, so they are also interchangeable. They’re cute, bright and fun and you can match them to your ski coat or your helmet. They also make great gifts. But don’t take my word for it. Leave a comment below for a chance to win a watch from Modify!
One winner will be chosen randomly on December 6, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. MST. Thank you to Modify Watches for donating this giveaway. Someday I hope to own one too! As always all opinions expressed in this post are my own and are exactly what I would tell my family and friends.
Looking for more gift ideas?
Try these great outdoor family blogs! We are all posting our gift guides today. Enjoy!
Bring the Kids: Christmas Gift Ideas – The 5 Pieces of Gear We Take Everywhere
Cragmama: A Wishlist for Cragbabies
Mountain Mama Tales: Great Kids Gear (Adventuring For Christmas!)
Outside Mom: Gifts for Outdoor Families
Velomom: Family Holiday Gifts For Cyclists
The Modify Watch giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Bernice!
© 2011 – 2020, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.
Lindsey says
I might need one of those beanie looms, because not matter how many beanies I make, they still always end up slightly pointed at the top. And they would make a great gift, good call!
braveskimom says
Glad you liked it. We found ours — a set with 4 sizes at Michaels. I think it was around $15. Have fun!
Bring The Kids says
Maybe Santa will bring me an iphone so I can get that Yodel app. That looks sweet. Actually, I’ll probably want Santa to have one too, cuz he’s more of a no-show than I am! Thanks for sharing!
braveskimom says
Santa sometimes needs a beacon. It gets foggy and hard to find the trail at the North Pole. But don’t you hate that you have to buy an expensive phone to buy a 99 cent app? Crazy.
Amelia says
what a neat collage idea!
braveskimom says
They are really fun to make. They force you to focus on small images, which we often don’t do. There are a lot of great photos in the details of other photos.
Christy Fry says
The Modify watches are so cute! Love them.
braveskimom says
Which color do you want? Good luck!
Katie says
The modify watches look fun!!
Oh, and I ordered my Ski House cookbook!!
braveskimom says
I am sure you’ll enjoy it! Such yummy food. Now you just have to decide which color watch will go best with your ski helmet! Good luck!
Bernice says
Those colorful watches are groovy for the trendies out there young and old.
I was thinking of giving more prudent & practical gifts this year, like Tracfones and Tracfone phone cards. These gifts are value for money, the phones look modern and beautiful, and keep your monthly phone costs super low. There are qwerty keyboard phones, large touch screen phones with virtual keyboards and cheapy phones from $10, $15, etc.
I think it’s good to carry a cell phone when skiing in case of an emergency.
braveskimom says
Thanks Bernice! Great idea!
Vickie says
Wow what a great gift idea. I would love to also win one, then regift it 🙂
braveskimom says
No problem with that! Good luck.
John says
Thanks for the shopping ideas! I’ve been racking my brain all month trying to figure out what to get the family in time to for all the holiday sales. Also, good find on the Yodel app, definitely worth the $.99.
braveskimom says
I’m glad it helped. It was fun to cross-post with the other blogs too. Cheers!
Sarah P. / The Ski House Cookbook says
Great ideas! I somehow missed “Mr. Magee,” although we love Chris Van Deusen. I must check it out.
Modify–interesting!
Karen says
I am definitely going to check out those books!
braveskimom says
You’ll be glad you did! Books make great gifts!
Trish says
LOVE the watches. Both kids have been asking for new watches and these MODIFY watches look just right! Perfect timing on your blog!!! Thanks.
braveskimom says
Good luck!
Jenny yoakum says
My 13 year old would think I was the bomb dizzle if I gave one of those watches as a gift!
braveskimom says
You are the bomb dizzle! Good luck!
Sonya says
Love all of the ideas! Thanks a bunch 🙂
braveskimom says
So glad you like them! Good luck!
kjasus says
i’ve seen these watches around the blogsphere and they look so cool! a perfect gift for anyone
braveskimom says
Agreed! Good luck.
Laura B. says
I struggle with keeping my phone dry in our cold, damp climate… which is why I would need a watch to tell me the time when I’m on the trails! 🙂
braveskimom says
I think you’d love a Modify Watch. The only hard part of getting one is choosing which color!
Emilie Winters says
I love these watches and even if I don’t win one I will end up buying several for people on my list!! Thanks for the idea!
braveskimom says
You’re welcome! I think the are great gifts, too. Good luck!
Tamara says
I LOVE the Modify watch for my teenage daughter! She would love the colors and maybe she will be on time once in a while too. Not bad.
braveskimom says
I hope it helps! Good luck!
Elaine says
Cute watches – I love the white one!
braveskimom says
I like that one too! Actually, I like them all. Can’t decide on a fave! Good luck!
Jackie says
Those watches are great! Maybe if my husband had one he’d never be late to the slopes again!
braveskimom says
Good idea!
Brooke says
Love the creativity of Modify Watches. My son would love a yellow or orange one.
braveskimom says
I like the creativity too. Good luck!
Diane Sweeney says
Put me in the drawing for a Modify watch. Crossing my fingers.
braveskimom says
You’re in! Good luck!
Pam says
Fun blog and some good ideas. I downloaded the Yodel app and now need to get out and use it. As for the watches, they look like a good way to liven things up a bit.
braveskimom says
isn’t that true? It’s always fun to add some color to each day! Good luck!
braveskimom says
BTW, I think you’ll like Yodel. It’s dependent on cell coverage, so not for deep backcountry, but what a great way to keep in touch when you are out and about solo in the front or sidecountry. Cheers!
Adrienne says
If you want a great gift for your favorite skier for Valentine’s Day, check out our picture frames made out of recycled skis. We make all kinds of gifts from recycled winter sports equipment. Kids and adults alike love this stuff. Check us out at frameitinskis.com
braveskimom says
What a fun idea! Thank you for sharing! Cheers.