‘Tis the gift to be simple
‘Tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
It will be in the valley of love and delight
~Traditional Shaker Hymn
Life can be complicated and busy, especially as we near the holidays.
So this year, I’m focusing on simple, traditional, fun and useful gifts that will make the both the receiver and the giver feel good.
Books
Is there any gift more fundamental than a good book?
We’ve got eight recommendations, four for kids and four for adults. Read our reviews of these Best Books About Skiing for Kids and Best Books About Skiing for Adults, here.
The Night Before the Snow Day, Natasha Wing, Paperback, $4.54
Squirrels on Skis, an “I Can Read It All By Myself” book, J. Hamilton Ray, Hardcover, $8.19
Curious George in the Snow, in the style of H.A. Rey and Margaret Rey, Hardcover, $6.99
Ollie’s Ski Trip, Elsa Beskow, Hardcover, $8.45
Freedom Found: My Life Story, Warren Miller, Hardcover, $20.36
Ski, Inc., Chris Diamond, Kindle, $9.99
Shut Up and Ski, Edie Thys Morgan, Paperback, $14.95
Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery, Steph Jagger, Hardcover, $14.84
Toys
Because nothing is more fun than something the kids can play with immediately.
Lego Friends Snow Resort Kits: Ski Lift, Chalet, Ice Rink and Off-Roader
I included the Lego Friends Snow Resort Ski Lift ($57.99) in a post this fall and overall, the reception on social media was positive. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t want to build a Lego chairlift?
The Ski Lift is one of just four kits available in the U.S. (the U.K. sets include a Hot Chocolate Van).
The other U.S. Lego Friends Snow Resort Kits are the Snow Resort Chalet, ($38.77), Snow Resort Ice Rink ($28.47)and the Snow Resort Off-Roader, ($14.54).
In addition, this year’s Lego Friends Advent Calendar is also snow-themed.
The Lego Friends line of building kits is definitely geared toward girls. Each of the kits comes with Lego Friends characters, but only the ice rink comes with a male figure.
I know this is disappointing for boys and I’ve reached out to Lego suggesting they produce a gender neutral chairlift kit. I urge you to do the same.
Just for fun, check out this short video Lego released in late October.
While I was disappointed to see that the ski mom wasn’t wearing a helmet, the five tips aren’t bad and the animation is cute.
Playmobil Alpine Cable Car Playset
Here is the answer for boys (and girls) who yearn to build a chairlift, or in this case, a gondola in the living room. The Playmobil Alpine Cable Car Playset has 80 pieces and is totally gender neutral. It can be hard to find, except from third-party sellers. I found a set this fall at Scholar’s Choice, a Canadian homeschooling retailer. It was a fair price. Otherwise, your best bet is probably checking Amazon.com (prices vary).
In addition to the gondola set (which comes with nearly 80 inches (200 cm) of cable for the cable car!), you may be able to track down additional alpine themed Playmobil, including the Alpine Lodge Playset and the Alpine Festival Procession Playset.
Another kit that is fun for outdoor families is the Backpacker Family at Mountain Springs Playset, $23.95.
Puzzles
Among the simple pleasures of life, puzzles rank high.
This year, we’re featuring two 1000-piece puzzles from White Mountain Puzzles, both priced at less than $20.
White Mountain Puzzles Ski Posters, $18.25
White Mountain Puzzles Ski Badges, $16.99
Mittens
Think of good mittens as an investment in happiness.
Last winter, Oyuki sent me samples of their top-of-the-line mitts for toddlers, kids and women. I shared these with friends. You can read their glowing reviews of the Bado, Rippa and Chika mitts, here.
The Bado Mitt for Toddlers: Smart design, easy to put on and take off. Available in sizes 2, 4 and 6, in black, blue or raspberry, $35.00.
The Rippa Mitt for Kids: Warm and not bulky, these mitts made our tester happy because they made it easy to grip her poles. Available in sizes 6, 8, 10 and 12, in black, navy or oxblood (burgundy), $88.00.
The Chika Mitt for Women: This is a high-performance, full-leather mitten with Gore-Tex lining, Primaloft insulation, a fitted neoprene cuff and wrist loops. It’s a serious mitt for women who seriously want their hands to stay warm. Available in sizes XS – L, in black and white, $135.00.
Oyuki is based in Niseko, Japan. If you’ve got a few minutes, watch this amazing video of their sponsored athletes ripping the amazing Japanese terrain and powder. Inspiring!
Bags
Our choices are bags to help you eliminate plastic and paper waste from your life and bags that will make your ski days easier.
Help the Planet with Zoetica
Colorado-based Zoetica offers individual items and curated kits to help us kick the convenience waste habit.
A small attractive pouch or cross-body purse preloaded with unbleached cotton produce bags and lightweight, high-volume shopping bags.
Zoetica estimates that using a grocery kit can eliminate up to 20 single use plastic bags with every grocery run. We’ve used these bags everywhere and not just for groceries. They are attractive enough to take to the toniest boutique.
A travel kit for people on the move. It is TSA compliant and includes food containers, utensils, a straw, a napkin, several bags and a cup. Keep it handy in your car, or in your carry-on, and substitute long-lasting reusable utensils and containers for throw-away plastic and paper.
Simplify with a Multi-Sport Lightweight Backpack from Kulkea
Ready to stop over-gearing and packing for every possible contingency? Check out Kulkea’s Micro Pack, a low-profile super lightweight ski backpack. It’s well-designed to carry just the essentials. (Read our full review of the Kulkea Micro Pack here.)
Made for action, it’s got room for snacks and water bottles. Use it to carry lunch or stash an extra layer. Only 3″ deep, it’s unlikely to protrude on the lift or throw you off-balance on the snow. Use it skiing, hiking or biking. It’s a multi-sport, multi-tasking wonder. $99.95
Transpack Ski and Boot Bags
Make your life easy by giving every member of the family their own ski boot and gear bag.
Our family favorite pack is the Transpack TRV Pro, $139.95. We love this pack because we can stuff it full with all of our ski clothes, boots, helmets, mittens and more for travel. Other options from Transpack include theEdge Junior ski boot backpacks for younger kids, XT1 and XTW for larger kids and adults and the Heated Boot Pro and Heated Boot Pro XL.
Stocking Stuffer Alert! The Ski Bat
My friend Sarah calls the Ski Bat a “game changer.” It’s a nifty one-piece device that clips over junior skis in front of the bindings and behind the bindings, holding them securely together. Snap your child’s skis poles into the Ski Bat horizontally and presto! The Ski Bat is a quick and easy way to carry skis from the car to the base area.
Bonus: Our Favorite DIY Christmas Ornaments
Display your family’s passion for skiing and turn your old ski passes and RFID tickets into Christmas ornaments. All you need are old passes, a hole punch and ribbon.
And, yes, a Christmas Tree!
Enjoy.
And Happy Holidays to each of you, my friends.
Brave Ski Mom Holiday Gift Guide Archive
- The Brave Ski Mom Holiday Gift Guide, 2016
- The 2015 BSM Holiday Gift Guide for Skiers and Snowboarders
- The 2014 Holiday Gift Guide for Women Who Love Ski Fashion
- The 2014 Holiday Gift Guide for Ski Moms and Their Skiing Families
- A Skiing Family’s Letter to Santa: Gift Ideas and a Giveaway
- Christmas Gifts for Skiing Families
- ‘Tis the Gift Giving Season: Suggestions for Skiing Families
More Holiday Gift Ideas from My Favorite Outdoor Families
- Play Outside Guide – 2017 Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaways
- Our Hundred Acre Wood – Holiday Gift Guide: 2017 Family Biking Edition
- Mountain Mom and Tots – 40+ Gift Ideas for Family Hiking, Biking, Camping and Skiing + GIVEAWAY
- Go Adventure Mom – 2017 Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaways
- Rain or Shine Mamma – Holiday Gift Guide for Outdoorsy Kids + Giveaways
- Born to be Adventurous – Holiday Gift Guide for the Outdoor Family
- Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies – A Ski Family’s Holiday Gift Guide
- Backwoods Mama – Holiday Gift Guide for Canadian Outdoor Families
- Little Family Adventure – The Ultimate Family Guide to Outdoor and Camping Gifts
- The Kid Project – Useful Outdoor Gifts For Your Family
- Tales of a Mountain Mama – 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Families
- Outdoor Family Magazine – The Ultimate Gift Guide for Outdoor Families
- RockiesGirl – The Under $30 Gift Guide for Outdoor Families
- Nomads With A Purpose – Holiday Gift Guide for the Want-To-Be Adventurer
© 2017 – 2020, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.
fair says
Love all the Christmas gift ideas. Thank you. Think I’d like the Legos…the chairlift is adorable.
braveskimom says
It is!
Gwen says
I love your blog, and all the ideas! What great Christmas ideas! I want the Lego’s for my Grandkids!
braveskimom says
I am sure your grandkids would love them!
borntobeadventurous says
What a gra at idea for the ski passes!
braveskimom says
Thanks!
Misty G. says
Love these ideas, will definitely be using some of them for gifts.. and cute idea for using old ski passes, rounding our all up tonight..
braveskimom says
You know the best part about the ski Pass ornaments is that even my sons like them! And they’re “old” and jaded!
sarah geiger says
I love these ideas!
braveskimom says
So happy to hear that! Thanks!
Laura Grace Andry says
This is such a fun list. My 8 year old is on a ski team and my 6 year old just joined this year too. This is a great list. We are hoping that in the next few years all the kids will be skiing. 🙂
braveskimom says
Have a terrific ski season with your racers! How fun!
Laura Gall says
Great gift ideas, love to get new fun ideas! Love to win!
braveskimom says
Thanks for entering!
Julie says
Great ideas – thank you! I hadn’t heard of Zoetica so excited to check out their offerings.
braveskimom says
You will Love Zoetica. I’m using the bag of bags all the time and recently traveled by air substituting as many throwaway items as I could with the Wayfarer kit. It all comes in so handy and looks fab!
Hailey says
Such great simple ideas for making skiing with young kids easier. Year 2 on 2 planks for our littles this year. Learning as we go and blogs like this are so helpful.
braveskimom says
I am so happy that my site is helpful to you! Enjoy every moment!
Will G says
Thanks!
braveskimom says
Of course!
Laura says
Those legos are the best!
braveskimom says
They are!
Rachel says
These are great ideas. I struggle with coming up with what to give people every year so I’m so happy I came across this post!
braveskimom says
Good to hear!
Carolyn Ramirez says
So many great gift ideas. My kids would love the Legos and I just learned about the book, “Squirrels on Skis”. Thanks again for your fun post!!
braveskimom says
You’re welcome!
Petra says
Great gitt ideas thanks
braveskimom says
Thank you.
Kelly D says
These are great gift ideas.
braveskimom says
Thank you Kelly!
Lisa T says
The ski lego sets are on my daughter’s wish list. Let it snow!
braveskimom says
Let it snow! I agree!
Stacy Finnbogason says
Such fantastic ideas! Thank you so much for sharing. Might have to buy the lego sets and put them away until the little is old enough!
braveskimom says
Good idea. Once Lego sets are retired they are hard to find and double in cost. That’s no fun.
Diane Richards says
Thanks for the cool gift recommendations! Much appreciated 🙂
braveskimom says
Cheers!
Laurel says
I love the Lego idea.
braveskimom says
One never goes wrong with Lego!
carol clark says
great ideas great books overall i loved reading this post
braveskimom says
Thank you Carol!
sarah sindell says
we just moved to mammoth lakes california this year and can’t wait to get our 3 year old out on skis! thanks for all the great ideas!
braveskimom says
You have moved to one of our favorite spots, winter or summer! Enjoy and have fun with your young skier!
Steve says
Love the ornament idea. We’ve got so many old passes laying around that we could do this with.
braveskimom says
Right? And I find them hard to throw away!
Yvonne says
Great ideas, thanks!
braveskimom says
Thanks for entering!
Karen Ung (@playoutsidegal) says
Awesome collection of gift ideas! The ski lego is rad!
braveskimom says
I love Lego!
Annalisse says
We might well end up going with the nicer gloves for our toddler this year. She keeps complaining about cold fingers with our current cheap-o pair.
braveskimom says
Good gloves and mittens can really help everyone have more fun!
Rivka says
Am I the only one who wants to play with the Lego myself? Really great gift guide.
braveskimom says
Thanks Rivka. And no, you are not the only one! I want to play and build, too!
Lindsay says
Love all the great book ideas for all ages!
braveskimom says
Books are such good gifts, at least that’s what we think!
Kristi F says
Love the idea, thanks!
braveskimom says
You’re welcome Kristi!
Matthew R Sawyer says
Love the gift Ideas for those skiers in your family. I know one who would love the Lego Cable Car.
braveskimom says
You? Just kidding! Although I’ve found adults like building kits as much as kids!
Kyle says
Oooo! Those mittens look nice and warm. I think you just helped me find one of my wife’s presents this year. Thanks!
braveskimom says
She will LOVE them!
amanda whitley says
love the ideas. this is the perfect list for my daughter since she gets to go on a ski/snowmobile trip each year
braveskimom says
Your lucky daughter! Enjoy!
Tonya Mcminn says
Love the ideas will deffinitely be using some of these for the ones I’m unsure what to gift them.
braveskimom says
Happy to help!
Lisa Bourlier says
Kids can be so hard to buy for these days! Some great ideas thanks!
braveskimom says
Glad you found some ideas!
Laura says
So many good gift ideas! Love the Wayfarer!
braveskimom says
Just traveled with it to the UK. Came in very handy!
Nicole Martin says
Such an awesome giveaway!!!
braveskimom says
Thanks Nicole!
Nicole Flynn says
It really is, I love Columbia’s fleece, so soft and warm.
Nicole Flynn says
These are great items and I live the 100 piece puzzles, those take some time, it’s fun to complete with family.
braveskimom says
I’m glad you wrote that! I love doing puzzles with my family. Nice way to spend time together!
Terry says
There are so many great gifts here but especially love the Ski Bat
braveskimom says
It’s a surprisingly little lifesaver!
laura bernard says
Oh i love it!
braveskimom says
So glad! Good luck!
halfpinthikes says
Thanks for all the ideas! My niece wants the Lego Chalet
braveskimom says
Isn’t it great?
susitravl says
I want the fleece, and the puzzles and the Wayfarer, and the…
braveskimom says
Right? You’ve got a good list for Santa!
kateality says
Oh, the Ski Bat seems brilliant.
braveskimom says
I think it just might be!
Michelle B says
Great gift guide! It’s so hard to find gifts for some of my family but I think you might have helped inspire me! Thanks!
braveskimom says
I hope so! Thanks!
Missy says
Wow! This is fantastic!