We published this a few days ago. One more time at the top, with a few backcountry skiing items added. Please chime in with suggestions and…happy holidays from all of us at WildSnow!
Salmon jerky, a delicious treat that travels well. Pull this out of your pack at the top of a peak and your friends will love you for life.
A Snow Peak Titanium Flask — perfect for more casual ski tours or hut trips. Perhaps filled with peppermint schnapps for an exceptional cup of cocoa.
Shiny new thermos along with packets of chicken noodle soup.
An invite on a hut trip you’ve organized, no cost to your friend.
And our favorites:
It’s a good idea for each group of backcountry skiers to have an available emergency bivvy sack to protect an immobilized skier until rescue, only not all bivvy sacks are equal. What’s required is something super light, waterproof, but breathable. We like the SOL Escape Light.
Spot Satellite Messenger. They’ve gotten smaller and better. Still one-way communication but they’re proven to work. Always an excellent gift but check first to see if your giftee already has one — they’re somewhat ubiquitous.
Lou likes thin gloves with WPB membrain. He says “if you’re fit, you might find your hands sweat on the uphill if your gloves are too warm — but you get wet hands when taking off your skins while wearing thinner glove.” Key is thin gloves with something like Gore-Tex that’ll breath to some degree but hold back the wet. One of the better option is OR Warrant. They’re still a bit thick, but they’re bomber ice climbing gloves that definitely work for skiing. Hint: size large is actually an XL so try a medium for a snug fit if you normally wear a large glove.
Darntough Merino over-the-calf Ultra-light ski socks – made in U.S.A., guaranteed for life! Believe us, we’ve been testing wool socks for a while and these are superior.
Julbo is our favorite line of eyewear. Their photochromic ski goggles work in a wide range of light.
POC should also be listed here with some of our favorite goggles. Shop for IRIS X and you or your gift receiving loved ones will be happy skiers.
Does your giftee have a quiver of many skis but only have bindings for a few? Or did she make the mistake of mounting some kludgy frame binding on a beautiful pair of planks? In our opinion, Dynafit Speed Radical is the sweet spot in the Dynafit binding lineup for “real” backcountry skiers. Drill those new boards, or rip off those frame bindings and swap something that works. Get a set. They’re like some sort of jewelry sitting there in their white on white packaging just waiting to be installed on that ultimate uphilling ski.
Ibex wool Aire mittens are light and surprisingly warm.
K2 Shovel Ice Axe, yes Louie Dawson helped design this during a summer at K2 so of course we’re pumping it. ISPO liked it too and awarded Gold. You’ll like how it lightens your pack and makes it more likely you’ll have an ice axe when you need it.
A Boot Press: for the tinkerers on your list and they’ll make almost anything fit better — from ski boots to yoga slippers.
Love coupon to unload the car at the end of a long ski day while your honey goes in to take a hot bath. For added points, fill the washer with Nikwax Baselayer and everyone can have fresh ski clothes in the morning.
A brand new pair of skis is perhaps the crown gift of all. Pick out of the WildSnow Ultimate Quiver and you can’t go wrong.
We like the SPOT/Globalstar satphones. They’re smaller than Iridium and cost less. Catch is they’re not great for use in Alaska, but they work fine in lower-48. Shop here.
Comments on. Bring us your gift ideas!
Oh, and don’t forget our previous year gift lists. We looked back through and you’ll still find dozens of good ideas.
While most of the WildSnow backcountry skiing blog posts are best attributed to a single author, some work well as done by the group.
