The Best Gifts for Snowboarders
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While the best gift for the snowboarder in your life is likely 10 inches of fresh pow, that may be difficult to wrap. Snowboarders, however, are simple creatures and easy to please. A thoughtful gift that enhances their riding goes a long way, whether that’s a new setup, a pair of gloves, outerwear, or something to keep them warm during those chilly mornings chasing first chair.
Here at The Inertia, we’ve taken the time to curate this list based on the items that have brought us joy throughout seasons of winter riding. From a new pair of hardworking and affordable mittens to a fresh plank, avalanche safety gear or even stocking stuffers like eco-friendly rub-on wax, there’s something for any and every snowboarder on this list.
And if you don’t find the perfect gift here, we’re confident you will somewhere in The Inertia’s winter gear coverage!
REI Co-op Midweight Half-Zip Base Layer Top
The best gifts are the ones that people actually use, and this mid-weight half-zip is exactly that. A lot is demanded of a base layer– it should keep you warm when it’s chilly, cool when you’re working hard, and stay dry throughout it all.
Not all synthetic base layers are created equal. Some breathe but don’t retain heat. Some retain heat but feel claustrophobic when you work up a sweat. Some fit perfectly under your gear but lack true warmth. The REI Midweight Half-Zip Base Layer Top (Women’s, Men’s) strikes the right balance of midweight warmth and ideal layering thickness.
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Shop Womens Shop MensTitle Nine Crash Fleece Lined Barrel Pants
Made with moisture-wicking, abrasion-resistant Thermaplush tech, these Crash Fleece Lined Barrel Pants offer the comfort of sweats with the mobility of hiking pants. With a roomy barrel leg for optimal movement, these pants are perfect for winter hikes, lapping the skin track, or wearing as a base layer under snowpants at the resort.
They also come from a company worth rooting for. Title Nine was started in 1989 by Missy Park, a former college athlete who launched it out of a Berkeley garage after seeing how few options there were for women’s athletic gear. Today, Title Nine is still women-owned and women-led, stocking gear from a ton of great brands alongside its own in-house line, which includes rad pieces like these pants and its famous sports bras. If you’re shopping for the woman on your list who’s always up for an adventure, it’s a great place to start.
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Buy NowSeason Forma
Nothing is worse than being undergunned on a powder day. Watching your friends effortlessly float by while you struggle, stumble, and dig yourself out of pit after pit is a plight we wish on no one.
That’s why a proper powder board is essential for any serious rider. The Season Forma excels in deep snow with its classic swallow tail, full nose, and hybrid camber; it floats effortlessly in deep snow and carves easily on groomers. Check out more of our favorite boards here.
Buy NowSmith I/O Mag
Give the gift of clear vision with our favorite Goggles, the Smith I/O Mag. These goggles check all the boxes: premium ChromaPop lenses, a comfortable fit, and a reasonable price given the top-tier quality. They also come with an extra lens and a soft sock for storage.
Smith has led the charge in ski optics for decades. While the I/O Mag isn’t their most premium product, it punches well above its weight in quality for the price. The Smith I/O Mag is a no-brainer for the snowboarder in your life. Check out more of our favorite goggles here.
Buy NowFlylow Unicorn Mittens
Not every gift has to cost an arm and a leg. Fortunately, the Flylow Unicorn Mittens aren’t just budget-friendly; they’re stylish (all leather) and made to last. These mittens are pre-treated with a DWR and include a packet of Nikwax waterproofing for a little extra DIY protection down the road.
If you’re shopping on a budget, these mittens offer the most bang for your buck, and with proper care, they’ll last for years.
Snowboarders can be particular about their mittens, so if you’re looking for something else (perhaps your giftee prefers gauntlet-style mittens, or fully waterproof ones), we’ve compiled a list of our favorite mittens here.
Buy NowBurton [ak] Swash
The Burton [ak] Swash is in a league of its own for resort jackets. Burton’s legacy of design excellence clearly carries over to its AK apparel line with the Swash. The Swash blends warmth, breathability, and thoughtfully designed storage.
Durable 2-layer Gore-Tex construction with a tough 75-denier face fabric delivers complete waterproofing, keeping you dry on warm days when snow turns to rain. Sixty-g PrimaLoft Silver insulation provides versatile warmth without excessive bulk. Pit zips and a two-way front zipper keep you cool, while four exterior torso pockets, a sleeve pass pocket, two large interior drop pockets, and an insulated phone pocket give you nearly limitless storage.
Browse our favorite shells here.
Buy NowDarn Tough OTC Socks
Blisters from damp feet or slipping, sliding socks are a no-fly zone, which is why Darn Tough snowboard socks is one of the easiest gifts for the rider on your list. The OTC socks come in a bunch of fun graphics and designs, and they’re comfortable, durable, and stay dry and in place all day. There are other options out there, but these will never let you down.
We have opinions on socks – read them all in our guide to the Best Snowboard Socks.
”BuyOrtovox Focus Voice Avalanche Transceiver
You can’t put a price on safety. Quality avalanche safety gear is paramount when operating in the backcountry, and wearing a beacon in-bounds on powder days is becoming more and more common. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line beacon, look no further. The Ortovox Focus Voice Avalanche Transceiver features voice navigation for ease of use in critical situations.
Beyond the voice tech, this beacon has one of the widest search strips on the market (80 m), allowing efficient searching in any conditions. You hope never to use an avalanche rescue beacon beyond practice reps, but you’ll be damn glad to have state-of-the-art tech on your side if you need it.
Buy NowKarakoram Nomad + Split Interface Splitboard Bindings
We were first drawn to the Karakoram Nomad Splitboard Binding for its utility, lightweight design, durability, and robust construction. What blew us away, and made us lifelong fans of the Karakoram brand, however, was their Quiver Connector baseplates, which let riders move bindings freely across their entire quiver. Pack one pair of bindings for a whole trip, with as many decks as you have the Quiver Connectors installed on. That means you can seamlessly install your Karakoram Nomad Splitboard Bindings on your resort board during a trip. Less gear to haul around, same quality construction and lightweight design.
Check out more of our favorite bindings here.
Giro Owen Spherical
Not all helmets are created equal, and you don’t want to find out you have sub-par cranium protection after a nasty fall. Helmets also actually have an expiration date and should be replaced regularly. The Giro Owen Spherical offers a magnetic buckle closure, a rear dial for a snug fit, and ear pads that cup the ear without blocking ambient noise, and it takes MIPS tech to the next level.
With Giro’s Spherical Technology, which the brand developed with MIPS, the helmet uses two separate liners in a ball-and-socket design to manage impact. The system also uses EPP foam, which is more resilient than EPS foam in a crash. Read more about our favorite helmets here.
Buy NowDakine Poacher RAS Vest
Part backpack, part avi vest, the Dakine Poacher RAS Vest combines a slim design that fits easily under a shell with optimal storage for rescue gear and accessories.
With four front pockets and dedicated safety-gear storage, this vest has everything you need for the backcountry. It’s even compatible with the Mammut Removable Airbag System 3.0.
Buy NowRocky Talkie Mountain Radio
There’s nothing worse than hitting the bottom of a run and realizing your crew took a different line. A good set of walkie-talkies fixes that, makes riding with a big group way easier, and adds a fun layer to every lap. Rocky Talkie Mountain Radios are some of the most rugged, snow-ready radios we’ve tested.
With long battery life, a splashproof build, and solid range, they’re just as useful on a powder day at the resort as they are in the backcountry, which makes them an easy pick for the rider who’s always the first one waiting at the chairlift.
Black Diamond Storm+ Headlamp
Headlamp tech has come a long way, packing more lumens into smaller, longer-lasting packages, and rechargeable models mean a quick top-up before heading out gets you a reliable light source every time.
The new Black Diamond Storm+ is our pick for the rider on your list. It puts out 750 lumens, charges over USB-C, and has a waterproof, dust-resistant build that can handle whatever a snowy morning throws at it. Don’t need that many lumens? The new Storm is a solid step-down option with 550 lumens output and a lower price. And if you really want to get crazy, the new Megawatt puts out up to 3,000 lumens, perfect for dawn patrol and night laps, but you’ll be paying a pretty penny for that one.
Buy NowMountain Hardwear Big Grid Hoody
Fleece with this much personality is hard to come by. For the trend-setter in your crew, check out the Big Grid Hoody from Mountain Hardwear. The chunky, oversized grid pattern is the whole deal here, and it looks just as good in the lodge as it does on the lift.
The relaxed, roomy fit gives it that perfectly slouchy, throw-it-on-and-go vibe, and the cinch scuba hood and kangaroo pocket make it the cozy layer you’ll never want to take off. It’s an easy pick for the rider who’s always dressed better than the rest of the crew at the après spot, or the one who could use another stylish piece or two…
Buy NowSunski Tera Sunglasses
Part slope-ready shredder, part stylish everyday sunnies. The removable side shields add extra protection from sun and snow on the mountain, and when you pop them off, you’ve got a classic round-lens pair that works just as well at the aprés spot or around town.
The polarized lenses do a solid job of cutting glare, and at $98, it’s about half the price of the fancier lens-tech options. That makes the Sunski Tera an easy gift for the rider who wants one pair for everything. Bonus points for being a sustainability minded brand, so it’s a feel-good purchase, too.
”BuymountainFLOW Quick Wax
Everyone has that buddy who swears they’ll wax their board “this weekend,” and this is the stocking stuffer for them. The mountainFLOW Quick Wax is a rub-on wax that goes on in minutes with nothing more than the included applicator sponge, so there’s no iron or waxing bench required. It’s easy enough to do in the parking lot, or even while waiting in the lift line.
The Warm version is made for 25 to 40°F, which covers those sunny spring-ish days when your base starts to feel sticky, and you need that extra glide the most. It works on skis and snowboards; it’s plant-based and petroleum-free (a huge plus), and at $16, it’s an easy add-on to any gift.
Buy NowEditor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here
