11 Ski Trip Gift Ideas for Loved Ones Hitting the Slopes This Season 🎿

Dig up your goggles and take your poles out of storage – the slopes are open for the season! Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie who’s always searching for a new double black diamond to conquer or your vibe is more sipping-hot-toddies-in-the-lodge, escaping to the mountains for a few days is pretty much a guaranteed good time.

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But how do you take a mountain getaway up a notch? If you want to help your loved ones build memories on this year’s winter trip, don’t worry – our gifting experts have put together the ultimate list of ski trip gift ideas for this year. 

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So let’s drop in ❄️

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1. Text a gift card for whatever they might need on the mountain

Skiing and snowboarding have a reputation for being an expensive hobby. People who have been at it for a while know that there are ways to make the hobby more affordable… if you know where to shop. And usually, that doesn’t include making emergency purchases at the gear shop at the resort, but when the strap on your goggle breaks mid-trip, what other options do you really have?

Point is, when you’re traveling, you’ve gotta be prepared for anything. Sending your loved ones on their ski trip with a traditional gift card won’t help them much, but when you send a GiftYa Select, they can use it on anything they might need during their stay.

Here’s how it works: you choose a dollar amount, add a message, and personalize it with a custom photo “wrapping paper” or choose from expert curated designs. Then it’s off to their text messages or email in seconds.

But the real magic is on the receiving end. Your recipient can choose from thousands of local and national brands in the GiftYa catalog to spend their balance, or choose another redemption method like cashing out with Zelle or regifting the balance. Which means whether they need a Visa gift card they can spend at the resort store, an AirBnB gift card to cover their lodgings because they can’t imagine heading home quite yet, or a gift card for the local pizza place when they’re craving a cheesy slice of comfort food after a long day on the slopes, your gift can get it for them. 

Learn more about GiftYa Select >>

2. Layers and layers and layers

Hot Chillys has been selling base layers since 1985, so they know a thing or two about what it takes to stay warm on the slopes. Check out the Micro-Elite Chamois Print Crew in Downhill Ski. 

Winter sports are tough to dress for. Temperatures can be frigid at high elevations, but when the sun comes out you might see skiers stripping down to their t-shirts and making their way down the hill bare-armed. Between unpredictable weather and your body temperature fluctuating as your activity gets more or less intense, dressing in layers is the key to being comfortable all day long.

So if you’re looking for a ski trip gift idea, layers make great options. There are plenty to choose from across all different price points. Here are a few of our favorites!

• Base layers like long underwear or athletic leggings and tops
• Ski socks, either performance options from brands like Bombas or whimsical ones with mountain-themed designs like these socks from Darn Tough
• Beanies and skull caps to keep their body from escaping through their helmet
• Waterproof ski gloves… and regular old knit gloves to wear underneath them

GiftYa Recommends: Text an REI gift card to complete the gift so they can stock up on everything they need before the trip

3. Boot bags to keep the slush out of their stuff

It can be easier to forget when you’re out on the slopes cutting through fresh powder that all that snow is actually water. Until, of course, you’re faced with packing up your soggy gear for the drive home.

That’s where boot bags come in. These specially designed bags have waterproof compartments to keep the slush from their wet boots, helmet, or whatever other gear off of their other belongings. 

They can be a little pricey, but brands like Dakine and Kulkea that specialize in winter sport gear have great options. If you need a more budget-friendly option, you can find affordable ski boot bags on Amazon that still get great reviews. 

4. DIY a mountain themed gift mug or rocks glass 

Mugs and glasses make great souvenirs, but they make great gifts too. It can be as simple or complicated as you want. You can order a mug customized with their names and destination, or just grab a cool-looking glass from your local homegoods store. From there, fill it with lots of little goodies that they might appreciate having on their getaway, like:

• Coffee or tea bags to go with a mug, or a bottle of their favorite spirit to go with a glass
• A couple pairs of handwarmers
• Hot cocoa bombs to enjoy in their room
• Ski wax 
• Skiing or snowboarding themed ornaments
• Their favorite chocolate or candy
• Power gels or hydration drink packets
• Mini skincare products like hand lotion or sheet masks

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There are so many possibilities. 

5. Cozy read for downtime at the lodge

There’s nothing quite like curling up by the fire with a good book. So why not pick up a cozy read for your favorite skier to fill any downtime they have in the lodge? You can go with a pulse-pounding mountaineering adventure story or a winter romance that’ll make them feel all warm and fuzzy, a non-fiction title about the mountain they’re skiing or the latest installment in their favorite book series.  

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorite books for reading in the lodge.

• Two Planks and a Passion: The Dramatic History of Skiing by Roland Huntford: A tale that traces the history of skiing from 20,000 years ago to the modern world and how the emergency of skiing is tied up with the emergence of the world we live in today
• The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest by Mark Synott: Recounts a veteran climbers ascent to the treacherous summit of Mount Everest in search of evidence that a pair of climbers made it to the roof of the world in 1924, nearly 30 years before Sir Edmund Hilary and Tensing Norgay did in 1953
• The Shining by Stephen King: Terrifying tale of a family who is snowed in at an idyllic mountain resort to care for it over the winter… only to discover something sinister lurks on its isolated grounds
• Epic Snow Adventures of the World by Lonely Planet: Collection of breathtaking photos and stories of winter adventure destinations from around the globe 
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London: A St.Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck must learn the ways of the wilderness to survive his new life as a sled dog in Alaska
• The Man Behind the Maps by James Niehues: Coffee table book featuring the work and stories of legendary ski map artist James Niehues
• Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton: The classic story of a tragic love triangle that plays out against the frozen backdrop of a harsh New England winter
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: Four siblings step through a wardrobe and into the magical land of Narnia, which they must free from an eternal winter
• One Day in December by Josie Silver: Heartwarming love story about a woman searching for a missed connection she saw one snowy winter day
• Never Lie by Freida McFadden: Page-turning thriller about a couple who sets out for a viewing of what they believe is their dream house only to get snowed in as a nightmare unfolds instead

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GiftYa Recommends: Text a Barnes & Noble gift card so they can snag something from their TBR before they set out for the slopes

6. Snag them some cool new snow goggles

Snow goggles can quickly get expensive – lots of high-end brands can cost a couple hundred dollars or more. That’s why Knockaround snow goggles are getting so much buzz – they’re stylish, durable, and comfortable… and at roughly $90 a pair (case and cleaning rag included) they won’t break the bank.

Think of all the features you could want in your ski goggles – anti-fog and anti-glare coating, 100% UV protection, helmet compatibility – and Knockaround’s got’em. Plus they come in bright, on-trend colors and fun collabs with brands like South Park, Hello Kitty, the NHL, and more.  

7. Travel journal to track their adventures

Skiers and snowboarders make tracks, and not just down the hill. Even if they’ve got a local spot pretty close to home, lots of winter sports enthusiasts travel for the hobby, hitting world-class ski destinations like Sun Valley, ID or Aspen, CO or Big Sky, MT. 

Help them preserve their memories with a beautiful travel journal like this evergreen-inspired one from Papier. 

8. Cold weather camera to capture all the action

Forget sharing vacation pics – take their game up a notch with a helmet-mounted camera like the GoPro Hero. It’s rugged, lightweight, and waterproof, making it the perfect option for skiers and snowboarders. Plus, their apres-trip Instagram posts are going to be out of this world. 

GiftYa Recommends: Buy a Best Buy gift card so they can make any tech upgrades to their setup before they set out

9. Hand warmers 

The ski trip gift that needs no explanation. 

Help them keep their hands and feet warm all trip long. Don’t worry, even if they already packed some – you can never have enough. Or upgrade them to rechargeable electric handwarmers. 

10. Phone leash to keep them connected (literally)

Nobody wants to lose their phone in the snow. Keep their device tethered to them so they won’t be chasing it down the slope later.

11. Travel boot dryer to keep their tootsies warm and dry

For a multi-day ski trip, having the right tools to take care of your gear is essential. Instead of sliding their warm, dry socks into boots that are still damp from the day before, these travel boot dryers will set them up for comfortable feet all day long. 

Not only are wet boots less comfortable, they can also keep your extremities dangerously cold – which is not that chill when frostbite is a real risk! 

So don’t let soggy boots damp-en (ha!) their trip. Grab them a pair of handy boot dryers instead.

That’s a wrap on our best ski trip gift ideas for the season. 

We hope you found the perfect present for the skier or snowboarder in your life that’s making their way to the slopes. Got any other great ski trip gift ideas? Drop us a line – we always love to hear from you. And don’t forget to check out the GiftYa catalog – with thousands of local and national brands, there’s sure to be something that will make their ski trip extra special. Have fun out there!