The 11 best, most affordable gifts for snowboarders you won’t want to miss
As a snowboarder, I’ve helped many friends and family find affordable, and cool gifts for the snowboarders in their lives, including myself! Let’s be real, as an outsider looking in on ANY activity we don’t do ourselves, finding the perfect gift can end up feeling like a stressful task. Suddenly, the joy of giving doesn’t feel so joyful after all. That’s why I’ve compiled a guide to this year’s best gifts for snowboarders.
All of the products listed have been personally used and recommended by me. Over the last 15 years, I’ve found the most functional, stylish, and affordable gifts for snowboarders. Whether they’re just starting out, or a seasoned rider, I’ve got the perfect thing for them. As a bonus, all of these ideas come at an affordable price. Your gift doesn’t need to break the bank to be appreciated.
A good rule of thumb to follow when giving a gift of any kind is to pay attention to the recipient’s needs, interests, and style. By keeping these in mind, we can guarantee our gift stays as unique to them as possible.
If you want some extra guidance on what works best for snowboarding apparel check out this post: What to Wear Snowboarding. If you did want to go above and beyond and gift a snowboard here’s the Best Women’s Snowboards.
Note: This blog is supported by readers like you, some products displayed may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
SnoStrip
Apres-ski literally means “after ski,” and it’s a heavy part of the mountain culture. Music, tailgating, food, bonfires, and general stoke are all things you can find in your local ski-resorts parking lots. Typically, we all just set our boards on the side of our cars and hope they don’t slide off, scratching the paint and potentially damaging the board. Inevitably, this happens, and it happens a lot.
Here to help curb this problem is RigStrips! They’ve created magnetic snowboard holder strips with perfect slots for snowboards, skis, and even fishing poles, guns, and more.
Don’t let the day be ruined before it even begins with a cracked snowboard. Grab a SnoStrip and be the hero your shredder deserves.
Thermal Phone Case
This gift is great even if you’re not a snowboarder! A thermal phone case helps protect your phone’s battery by keeping it away from extreme temperatures, hot or cold. There’s nothing worse on the slopes than when you’re trying to get a cool picture only to find out your phone has already died two runs in. This case is also waterproof, just for those accidental times the phone ends up in the snow.
Snowboard Beanie
Not only is a beanie a great way to help stay warm on the hill, but it’s also a style statement. In the snowboarding community, style is everything. From the way a trick is done, to the color and brand they are wearing, to the stickers on their snowboard, style is everything. Grab them a fresh pack of 3 Burton beanies.
Pair these with some snowboarding stickers to create the perfect gift.
Waterproof Slippers
I’ve shown you a couple of items that are great for on the slopes, but what about after the day is over?
Often, the parking lots at ski resorts are packed with icy snow or mud in the springtime. Snowboarding boots are impractical to walk around in for very long and restrict movement critical to loading gear in and out of the car.
That’s why my favorite item on this guide is hands down the North Face Thermoball Traction Mules. A water-resistant, insulated, memory foam slipper.
Snowboard Tool
Let’s talk about safety. There are many dangers that come with snowboarding. A small thing we can do for the snowboarders in our lives is to give them a tool to keep their binding securely attached to their board.
A pocket tool, specifically designed for snowboarders is an awesome piece of equipment. The Dakine BC Tool is the perfect option. Made with steel, and able to fit in a pocket, and packed with several screw heads and a bottle opener to boot, you can’t beat this clever gadget. Oh did we mention it comes with a scraper for those times the border misses a spot of wax on their board? This is an absolute must-have.
Snowboard Socks
Socks as a gift never seem like a good idea… That is unless you’re giving them to a snowboarder! No one knows better than a border that socks can truly make or break a day on the hill.
The perfect option are Stance socks, most specifically the Stance snowboard socks. These come in many different styles and Stance is constantly collabing with artists to come out with new designs. They also come in several different materials to help achieve the perfect warmth and comfort level. Having been wearing these exclusively for the past 5 years, I can promise they are the most comfortable socks for all day riding.
Walkie Talkies
Now, we’ve discussed phones dying because of temperature before. On top of phones dying, resorts can have spotty cell service.
When riding with friends, the last thing you want to do is get lost, or lose someone else. To avoid this, walkie-talkies made for snowboarding make the perfect solution for this potential problem. Take out the inconvenience of fumbling with a phone in gloves and give your border a one-touch option to stay in contact with their shred buddies.
Snowboard Mittens
Being out on the mountain even just for a few minutes can leave you with frozen fingers. It is essential for every snowboarder to have a good pair of waterproof and warm mittens. Mittens keep your fingers close and allow them to keep each other warm.
Things to consider when choosing a great pair of snowboarding mittens are waterproofing, insulation rating, and how easy they are to slip on. You don’t have to do all the searching though, becuase I’ve been wearing the perfect pair for nearly a decade now. The best mittens I can recommend are the Volcom V. Snow Over Ski Mitt.
Goggles
A good pair of goggles can be hard to find. They need to be able to fit your face comfortably, have several options for different lenses, be stylish, and won’t fog up.
Deft Optics, a local Idaho brand makes the perfect, affordable and dependable goggles. Deft sells goggle kits, making the lens and strap switching super easy and customizable.
Snowboard Layers
Keeping on the topic of layers, when it comes to dressing to stay warm, comfortable, and dry, they play a key role. With so many options to choose from, it can be confusing to know what makes a good base layer vs. a not-so-good one. A good rule of thumb here is to look for layers made of wool and more specifically merino wool. This is a super lightweight, moisture-wicking material, perfect for winter athletes who need to stay warm without limiting mobility or comfort.
Now, onto the next problem to consider when choosing base layers; snow up the back. Snowboarders, even the most experienced ones, are bound to fall every now and again, and with that often comes snow. The perfect solution for this is a merino wool ninja suit. Not only are they super comfortable, they come in an array of patterns and colors, sure to make a super rad gift.
Snowboard Butt Pads
Ever thought about how much it might hurt to fall on hard packed snow? I’ll tell you from experience, it hurts a lot. I’ve bruised my tailbone more times than I can count. That was, until I found the answer to my prayers; butt pads. This sounds silly, I know but I promise it’s a gift every snowboarder can appreciate, especially new ones.
The trick here is to find pads that aren’t super bulky, making them a seamless addition to the base layers. A super affordable option is the Bodyprox shorts. When it comes to outdoor recreation, there is nothing more important than safety. Help the snowboarder you’re gifting feel confident and secure in these inconspicuous shorts.
Bonus: Best gift on a time crunch
Gift Card
Like I said in the beginning, I’ve helped a lot of people find the right gifts for the snowboarders in their lives. Still, it can be a challenge getting the exact style and size. The best gift for a snowboarder then might be just a simple gift card. To avoid any hassle, and to help you stick to your budget, a gift card will do the trick.
Really, any gift card will do, but you can make it a little more personable by adding a letter, or purchasing a gift card from a shop they love that sells snow gear specifically like Evo.com, Amazon or REI.