Top ten things to buy a snowboarder this winter

If you’re reading this you’re probably either a snowboarder or you’ve been sent this link by a snowboarder you know.

There are lots of things you can give snow fans for Christmas that will make them very happy and we've put together a list of some options to make your life a little easier this winter.

If you're not familiar with the sport, don't worry - we’re not asking you to get to grips with any detailed snowboarding technical equipment. There are lots of things you can buy a snowboarder that won’t tax your brain or wallet too much and which we reckon will make you one very popular friend, relative or loved one on December 25.

Look out for our upcoming gift guides to specific items we like but, for now, here are our suggestions of the main areas where you really can't go wrong...

1. Undercover!

Snowboarding is a chilly business and thermal underwear is essential to keep the cold out and the warmth in. Long-sleeve thermal tops and thermal long pants are genius and we love them. You can get them from snowboard stores and from general sports shops and department stores – look out for brands like Helly Hansen, Chillys, Burton and Bonfire. Look out for the word ‘wicking’ on the packaging – this means the product will help keep us dry and move the sweaty stuff away from our bodies. That's a good thing – we like wicking.

2. Sock it to me

You can never have enough snowboard socks so please buy us some. We like proper snowboard socks. They’re different from ski socks and definitely different from those cheap luminous tube socks you used to get for skiing when you were a kid. Head to a snowboard store and make sure you know roughly what shoe size we are. Look out for brands like Bonfire, Burton, Falke and ThirtyTwo.

3. Skin deep

Being out in the cold, wind and snow batters our skin something rotten. We need all the help we can get after a day on the slopes to soothe our red faces. We love rich moisturisers and products specifically for stressed faces and skin that has been exposed to the elements.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and its related products are fantastic. Dermologica also make a great Climate Control range of products for skin that has suffered from weather exposure.

Just ask at your local beauty counter and they’ll be sure to have something that’ll fit the bill. And if you’re buying for male snowboarders, they might pretend they don’t like a bit of man moisturiser but they’ll be slapping it on their cheeks the minute you’re out the door…

4. Muscle mania

Snowboarding hurts. Even when you’re not falling over, you can still end the day feeling like you’ve done ten rounds with Mike Tyson (minus the ear munching).  We love a nice hot bath or getting someone to rub our aching bits better. Therefore some muscle-soothing bubble bath, muscle rub or anything similar will go down well with those of us who might suffer at little at the end of a day on the slopes.

5. Sunny side up

Bright sunshine plus white reflective snow equals sunburn. It’s an easy equation and one we don’t like. We all need sunscreen and lip balms containing sun protection. Buy us some – especially formulas with a minimum of 25 SPF that are small enough to fit in our jacket pockets - and we’ll love you forever.

6. Traveltastic

Board, boots, bindings, butt pads, bonce protection (ie helmet), books – phew. That’s just a tiny portion of our packing list for our travels – which doesn’t leave much space for huge bottles of shampoo, hairdryers etc. So anything travel-size is good with us – toiletries, gadget chargers, luggage tags, travel games and anything else which makes carrying our luggage to the airport or the journey itself less torturous will make us very happy.

7. Mad about magazines

When we’re not on the snow we love to read about it and look at it. There is a plethora of snowboard magazines available these days. As well as providing lovely pictures and great travel stories, they often come with free snowboard movies and other good stuff that we love. Magazine subscriptions for these would be most welcome. The magazines generally publish from October until around March or April so if you get us a subscription for Christmas, we’ll get the last few issues of the season plus the first few of next season. Might be worth checking (subtly) which mags we already get before splashing out on this one. You can get them online easily - just have a nosey round the web to find the best options for your country.

8. Fitness fans

Most of us agree that a little time prepping your body in advance makes your days on the mountain soooo much better. So it’s pretty likely your snowboarder will be familiar with their local gym, yoga class, swimming pool or workout DVD. These all require equipment and clothing – so some lovely gear to make us look good while we’re working up a sweat would be most welcome.
 

9. Excited about eco

Spending lots of time in the mountains makes you appreciate the world around you – and the challenges we face protecting it. So you’ll find snowboarders are keen to do their bit so gifts with an eco angle are fabulous. Many snow and outdoor brands have ranges with impressive eco credentials, while many cosmetic companies produce lovely things that won’t harm the planet as they soothe our skin. Also look out for fun eco gadgets like solar powered chargers for phones and iPods.

10. Voucher virtues

An easy way to make sure your recipient gets something they want. You could buy the snowboarder in your life some vouchers from a bricks and mortar or online snowboard store. You don’t need to spend a fortune – there are plenty of things we like that don’t cost too much (gloves, wax, movies, hats, tees etc) so don’t worry about us struggling to spend them!

And if you’re still in doubt then you can’t go wrong with Amazon or its local equivalent. We always want new books, tunes and DVDs for our snow trips – and this is a great place to get em.

We hope that gives you a helping hand in making your snowboarder smile this Christmas. And if you've got any other suggestions to add to the mix please leave a comment below.