Gifts for skiers and snowboarders have one big advantage: the season starts right after the holidays, so a good gift gets used within weeks. The catch is that snow gear is personal. Boots, bindings and skis are fitted to the rider, and a wrong guess ends up back in the box. The safest wins are the things every skier or snowboarder needs but rarely buys for themselves: tuning gear, small comfort upgrades and a proper place to store skis and boards between trips. Here are 15 ideas sorted by budget, plus the gifts to skip.
Skier or snowboarder: what changes
Most gifts work for both, but storage and tuning are not the same. Check which camp they are in before you buy.
- Skiers carry a pair plus poles. Their skis are stored base to base, and a wall mount must clear the brakes and the toe piece.
- Snowboarders ride one board with the bindings usually left on. A wall mount has to leave room for the highbacks.
- Both need their edges dry and their bases waxed over the summer, or rust and a dry base wait for them next season.
The gift that lasts: a ski or snowboard wall mount
A wall mount takes skis and boards out of the corner of the garage and keeps them dry, off the floor and ready for the first trip. It also turns a pair of vintage skis or a board with a great topsheet into wall decor.
Our vertical ski wall mount in solid oak holds a pair base to base, edges clear of the wall, for €49. The vertical snowboard wall mount in oak costs €49 too and takes the board with the bindings on. For a horizontal display, the oak boardsport racks hold one, two or three boards for €59, €75 and €95, and the spruce 3-ply 5-board rack (€89) suits a family with a snowboard and several skateboards. The oak models are handmade in Gironde, France. See our ski wall mounts and our snowboard wall mounts.
Small snow gifts under 30
- A bar of all-temperature wax and a scraper: the basics for waxing at home between services.
- A pocket edge tuner: it takes burrs off the edges after an icy day.
- Ski straps or a snowboard leash strap: skis stay together in the car, a board stays put on the lift.
- A neck warmer or merino liner gloves: comfort they feel on every chairlift.
- A lens cloth and anti-fog spray: clear goggles on flat-light days.
Snow gifts from 30 to 100
- A home wax kit: iron, scraper, brushes and wax for skis or a snowboard.
- A boot dryer: warm, dry boots every morning of the trip.
- Goggles with a low-light lens: only if you know their helmet, since the strap and frame must fit.
- A ski bag or a snowboard bag: check the length first, in centimetres.
- A ski or snowboard wall mount: €49 in solid oak, see above.
Experiences and bigger gifts
- A day pass or a contribution to the season pass: the gift every skier and snowboarder says yes to.
- A full ski or board service: base grind, edges and hot wax before the first trip.
- A private lesson: off-piste, freestyle or carving, depending on where they want to progress.
- An avalanche safety course: a smart gift for anyone moving into ski touring or freeride.
- A wall that holds the whole family's gear: several ski mounts in a row, or a ski mount next to a snowboard mount in the hallway.
Snow gifts to skip
- Skis, boots or bindings as a surprise: length, flex and fit are personal, and boots need a fitting.
- A helmet bought without trying it on: a helmet that moves does not protect.
- Cheap wax and tools in a plastic kit: one good bar of wax and a sharp scraper beat a full set that falls apart.
In short
The best gifts for skiers and snowboarders are the ones they use this season: tuning gear, warm and dry comfort, and a place to keep skis and boards safe. Under 30, go for wax, an edge tuner or straps. Between 30 and 100, a wax kit, a boot dryer or a bag. And for a gift that lasts, give their gear a spot on the wall. Our guides on storing skis after the season and summer snowboard storage explain why it matters.
Ready to wrap it? Discover our ski wall mounts and snowboard wall mounts in solid oak, from €49. Shipping is free over €100.
