The Ultimate 2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Men’s Winter Sports Gear

Published on 11/17/2023 · 9 min readGet ahead of the winter chill with our comprehensive 2023 guide to men's winter sports gear—perfect for gifting the adventure seeker in your life!
Gaelen Mast, Snowboarding Expert
By Snowboarding Expert Gaelen Mast

Photo by Jag CZ

With winter in full swing and the holidays approaching, now is the time to start shopping! We’ve done our research and compiled our top picks for the best gifts for those ski and snowboard enthusiasts in your life. These gifts range in price, so there is something for everyone no matter your budget!

Gifts Under $50

Coal Uniform Beanie — $19.93

The Overview: In a world of infinite headwear possibilities, Coal Headwear’s Uniform Beanie keeps it simple. It’s as stylish as it is warm!

The Breakdown: This one-size-fits-all knit beanie will provide warmth on your walks to and from the resort, and its acrylic material will help the beanie retain its shape and size.

Best For: The friend who appreciates a minimalistic beanie!

Smartwool Snowboard Full Cushion Iguchi Pattern OTC Socks — $23.20

The Overview: Unbeatable durability? Yes! Plenty of cushioning? You know it! Warm feet all winter long? Check!!! Not all socks are built the same, and these outshine the rest for winter sports performance.

The Breakdown: Smartwool ski socks are second to none for durability and can last you multiple seasons with ease. They are also fully cushioned, so they provide a more comfortable and warmer experience than your average sock.

Best For: The shredder who runs cold and has sore feet for days after skiing. This is a very practical gift that would make an excellent stocking stuffer.

Blackstrap Hood Balaclava — $34.95

The Overview: Not all balaclavas are built the same, and most certainly aren’t as comfortable or convenient as this Balaclava from Blackstrap. Specifically designed to keep you warm and dry in all weather, it comes in dozens of different colors and styles.

The Breakdown: This one-size-fits-all balaclava features a tri-blend fabric that is breathable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and quick-drying, making it ideal for any day on the slopes. It also has a helmet-friendly ergonomic fit to comfortably go under your helmet.

Best For: The person who wants a quality face covering to stay warm and comfortable no matter what the weather is doing!

Flylow Tough Guy Gloves — $49.95

The Overview: Choosing the right glove doesn’t have to be hard. The Flylow Tough Guy Gloves are a budget-oriented option that is incredibly durable and will keep your hands warm, dry, and comfortable all season long.

The Breakdown: These gloves are made of leather, so they’ll outlast nearly every other pair of gloves you could buy at this price point. They also have synthetic insulation and are entirely waterproof.

Best For: The casual skier or snowboarder who needs a glove that can withstand the cold as well as moderate wear and tear.

Expert note: For those of us who need extra protection from the cold, here’s a list of snow gloves with superior insulation.

Gifts Under $150

Dakine Men's Scout Mittens — $59.95

The Overview: High-tech mittens don’t have to come at a high price. These mittens feature all the basics to keep your hands warm and dry and a couple more goodies — all at a great deal!

The Breakdown: Where do we start? The shell of this mitten is built with a tough nylon and polyester blend and a Rubbertec palm for extra durability and grip. This is followed by a waterproof yet breathable layer, and it’s rounded out with a touchscreen-compatible liner, a nose-wipe thumb panel, and a cuff cinch to stop snow from getting in.

Best For: Anyone looking for a traditional winter mitten with a few extra bonuses!

Icebreaker Men's 200 Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe — $105.00

Smartwool Men's Classic Thermal Merino Baselayer Pants — $59.93

The Overview: When it comes to staying warm on the mountain, a solid base-layer set is an essential building block, and this top and bottom are a great way to set yourself up for an amazing season!

The Breakdown: Both this top and bottom base layer are made from merino wool, which provides plenty of comfort and breathability. The pants also feature a flatlock seam to minimize chafing.

Best For: Your homie who usually wears jeans, sweatpants, or leggings to the mountain and complains about how they’re always cold or uncomfortable.

Db The Strøm 30L Backpack — $98.93

The Overview: The packing possibilities are infinite with this backpack! You could store your ski or snowboard boots, your gloves, extra socks, your pocket tool, your tuning kit, or anything else you may need for a day on the mountain.

The Breakdown: This bag contains a grand total of 30L (liters) of storage and provides plenty of protection for your gear with its hard rib cage structure.

Best For: The friend who haphazardly shoves all their gear in a bag and hauls it to the mountain.

Smith Squad Goggles — $119.95

The Overview: Goggles are one of the most undervalued pieces of gear, but anyone who has spent a day on the mountain when it’s extremely bright, cold, or heavily snowing will tell you that goggles are a game-changer, so why not go with the most popular option from one of the biggest goggle brands in the snowsports industry? At such a reasonable price, it’s hard to go wrong with the Smith Squads.

The Breakdown: The Smith Squad has a cylindrical lens that gives their users a wide field of vision; Chromapop, which helps provide more contrast and color for better vision; and an anti-fog treatment so that your view stays unobstructed all season long. Additionally, these come with a bonus lens and a goggle sock to keep your goggles safe when not in use.

Best For: The person who appreciates a good balance of quality and affordability.

Smith Mission MIPS Helmet — $140.00

The Overview: With state-of-the-art safety and a ton of adjustable features, it only makes sense that this helmet is one of the most recommended helmets by experts here on Curated.

The Breakdown: This helmet comes with MIPS, a multi-directional impact system that is considered to be the safest technology you can buy today. It also comes with multiple vents that can be adjusted to keep your head comfortable all season long. Finally, there’s a dial in the back of the helmet that adjusts the liner, ensuring a perfect fit no matter your head shape and size.

Best For: The rider who wants a safe and comfortable helmet — perhaps someone who currently has a poorly fitting helmet.

Gifts Under $250

Smith Code MIPS Helmet — $209.95

The Overview: The Smith Code is what you get when you combine style, comfort, and safety.

The Breakdown: Let’s break down the three parts of what makes this helmet so good, style first. It’s got a low-profile fit so you don’t look like a bobblehead out on the hill, as well as removable padding to customize the style to your liking. For comfort, it features Smith’s patented Aerocore construction, which brings in fresh air and removes warm air to keep your head cool and your goggles from fogging. It also has a BOA dial to make micro-sizing adjustments. For safety, it has MIPS technology to keep your brain nice and safe just in case.

Best For: Anyone who has issues with overheating while skiing — the construction and ventilation of this helmet will do wonders for them.

Smith Wildcat Sunglasses — $218.93

The Overview: Ask anyone who has lived in a mountain town, and they’ll tell you that good sunglasses are not just a convenience but an essential. Not only will the Smith Wildcat sunglasses protect your eyes from the glare of the sun, but they’ll also keep you looking sleek.

The Breakdown: This one-size-fits-all pair of sunglasses from Smith features some of the same technologies you’ll find in their goggle line-up, such as ChromaPop for the best color contrast possible, as well as an interchangeable bonus lens for those days that it's not so sunny.

Best For: The friend who opts for shades instead of goggles on warm sunny days.

Smith Squad MAG Goggles — $239.95

The Overview: As if the Smith Squads mentioned earlier in this article didn’t sound enticing enough, Smith decided to make them even easier by adding a magnetic system to make switching out lenses lightning quick, keeping you ready for whatever weather conditions come your way.

The Breakdown: The Smith Squad MAGs are based on the winning formula of the Smith Squad with the addition of six magnetic connection points that hold your lens tightly in place when needed and allow you to swap out for a different lens with the simple pull of a lever (well, two levers). This makes switching from your bright lenses to your low-light lenses an incredibly quick and easy process that can be done virtually anywhere. Just like the regular Squads, these also come with a bonus lens and a goggle sock to keep your goggles safe when not in use.

Best For: The rider or skier who wants one pair of goggles that will cover their bases no matter the weather, and those who value convenience will love the quick lens-swapping process.

Quiksilver Men's Fairbanks Jacket — $219.95

The Overview: If you’re looking for a ski jacket that can work in any situation, look no further. Whether you’re riding in-bounds or in the backcountry, on a powder day, or during spring, this jacket is one of the best for any winter adventure.

The Breakdown: Not only is this jacket insulated and waterproof (10k waterproofing), but it also has plenty of zipper pockets on the inside and outside of the jacket, a helmet-compatible hood, and underarm zippable vents for climate control.

Best For: The guy who values storage space within their jacket.

Let Our Experts Help You Find the Perfect Gift!

Photo by Dmitry Molchanov

Hopefully, this gift guide has given you some great ideas, but if you’re feeling a little unsure that’s totally okay. Here at Curated we have dedicated Ski and Snowboard Gear Experts standing by to help recommend products, find you the best deals, or just answer any last-minute questions before you purchase a gift for the holidays. In fact, connecting with an expert is the easiest way to get all your holiday shopping done, so be sure to send us a message today — let’s make this the best winter ever!

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get personalized recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!

Shop Apparel on Curated

Coal Uniform Recycled Knit Cuff Beanie
$10.38$25.95
BlackStrap Solid Hood Balaclava
$28.46$37.95

Browse more Apparel

Flylow Tough Guy Gloves
$24.98$49.95
Dakine Men's Scout Mittens
$44.96$59.95
Icebreaker Men's 200 Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe Thermal Top
$62.97$104.95
Smartwool Men's Classic Thermal Merino Baselayer Bottoms
$74.75$115.00
Db The Strøm 30L Backpack
$98.93$229.00
Smith Squad Goggles
$100.00$125.00
Smith Mission MIPS Helmet
$116.00$145.00

Browse more Apparel

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