Top Christmas Gifts for Skiers and Snowboarders in 2015

It’s that time of the year again when you need a gift for one of your friends or family who ski or snowboard, but have no idea what to get them.
We pick out some of our favourite items that we have used and tested from the more expensive to the easier on the wallet.

Peak Performance men’s 2L Heli Gravity ski jacket – £460 (as worn by Snow.Guide team)

Peak Performance 2L heli gravity ski jacket
OK, so you would have to really like someone to buy them this for a Christmas present, but if you do really like them, then this is one sure way to get them to like you back. The Heli 2L Gravity jacket from Peak Performance is one of the very best freeride garments available on the market – it’s extremely well made, highly durable and it looks great too. The Gore-Tex outer is waterproof and breathable and there’s ThermoCool insulation to keep you nice and warm on those high-altitude slopes Chamonix, Verbier, Alaska……

Snowandrock.com

 

TomTom Bandit Action Camera – £299.95 (as used by Snow.Guide Editors)

A solid alternative to GoPro that makes video editing really easy and quick with its special app that connects instantly with the camera so you can see your footage and make an edit whilst sipping your cappuccino in a mountain restaurant. The TomTom Bandit shoots in full HD or can also take 16MB still pictures too – it comes with mounts for your helmet, obviously.

Action from November trip to Val Thorens using the TomTom Bandit Action Camera

wiggle.co.uk

Ski-Mojo – £399.00 (as tested by Snow.Guide Ski Editor)

If you’re a keen skier then you’ll understand how frustrating it must be if you had to give it up because the legs just can’t take it any longer. Well the Ski-Mojo solves the problem for people with knee or hip issues or who simply get tired legs by the end of the day and need some extra help. Even strong skiers can benefit from a little extra sometimes and the ‘Mojo’ can certainly provide you with more power in the turns on steeper and trickier terrain. Many people now swear by it and our opinion is that if it means people can carry on skiing then we are all for it.

Ski~Mojo skier

Our ski editor testing out the Ski~Mojo

skimojo.com

SkiA Ski Trainer – £45.00 (as used by Snow.Guide Ski Editor)

The ultimate gadget for ski enthusiasts who want to keep on practising in their living rooms. It might look like a simple piece of kit, but it’s actually a very clever design – there’s 4 different coloured blocks of varying widths that challenge your balancing skills at different levels from green, blue, red and black. The trick is to practice often, not necessarily for long periods, and this will fundamentally alter your central nervous system, programming it to remember precisely where the balance ‘sweetspot’ is over your skis….neat.

GB ski cross athlete Emily Sarsfield demonstrates how to use the SkiA Sweetspot Trainer

skia.com

Big Balls Beanies – £25.00 (tested by Snow.Guide Ski Editor)

Big Balls Beanie Hat
Best for your under 35 year’s old friends who can pull off these ethically sourced, sustainable, organic and recycled material beanies with a style that’s influenced from snowboard, skate, ski and surf culture. They really do have a nice feel and would make an excellent gift for the skier/snowboarder who has it all.

bigballscollective.com

 

Wigwam Ultimax Snow Moto Pro socks – £20.99 (tested by Snow.Guide Ski Editor)

Wigwam Sock
These Merino wool ski socks are really comfortable to wear and warm, despite the fact they feel light and slim. They would suit skiers of all levels including experts and instructors who want to get a good few days out of a sock before washing them. You can’t go wrong with a good pair of socks as a Christmas present for anyone who likes to ski or snowboard – you can never have too many of them.

countryside.co.uk

 

Durand Polar Winter Walking Boots Men’s from Keen – £170 (worn by Snow.Guide Ski Editor in Val Thorens)

Keen polar boot
If you want someone to stay warm and cosy after your skiing has finished this winter then these rugged yet comfortable walking boots will certainly do the job. Not only will they carry you through deep snow, they also look smart when back in the bar later on too. High quality manufacturing and a good pedigree from American company Keen who produce these boots in Europe using the best materials – a perfect gift for someone wanting a serious boot that can easily pass for a casual shoe later on in the day. The women’s version is available with some extra fur to add a little style to the function too.

keenfootwear.com

 

Happy Christmas!