Dubbed “The Snurfer,” the original snowboard was created by Sherman Poppen when he bolted two skis together back in 1965.
Today, there are over 2 million active snowboarders in the US. If one of them happens to be someone you love, you might be wondering what makes a great birthday gift for a snowboarder.
All you really need to snowboard is a snowboard, boots, and bindings. But to really make the slopes enjoyable there’s tons of additional equipment to be had.
The perfect gifts for snowboarders are upgrades to any of these pieces of equipment. Keep reading to learn why.
5 Gnarly Gifts For Snowboarders
Keep the snowboarder in your life warmer, dryer, and safer with any one of these gifts.
1. Base Layer
Beyond what you need to get you down the hill (i.e. your board, bindings, and boots), snowboarding also requires a snowsuit, some headwear and a pair of warm socks. But having a great base layer is just as important to plan a day on the hills as any of those pieces.
A base layer is the item of clothing that lays directly on the skin, so it plays an important role in warmth. But a good base layer can also correct body temperature and wick the moisture away from the skin to keep you dry. It should be comfortable enough to fit under other layers without feeling too bulky.
2. Goggles
Racing down the hill without goggles makes your eyes well up in tears and reduces visibility to nothing. To enable your snowboarder to see every bump in their way, look for goggles with anti-fog lenses. You can also purchase different lens tints according to the conditions they’re most used to boarding in.
3. Balaclava
When it comes to keeping your head, face, and neck warm on the slopes, you have two options. First, you can wear a face mask, skull cap, and neck warmer. Or, you can choose a balaclava.
The former is a lot of moving pieces to keep in place. If they move around while you race down the hill (and they will) your skin is easily exposed to the freezing air of the backcountry. A balaclava, on the other hand, offers all that protection in one, streamlined piece.
The best types of balaclavas are those that keep your head warm with a fleece-type material and a neoprene-type material around the face. The neoprene should help move the moisture from your breath away from your face and not absorb it. It protects your snowboarder from both the wind and cold and makes their ride more efficient.
4. Gloves
Not just any pair of gloves or mittens will do for the snowboarder in your life. Their gloves should be designed specifically for snowboarding. They’re created for dryness, warmth, and other features that one might need for a day riding down the side of a mountain.
5. Lock
The cost of a halfway decent board, boots, and binding setup is exorbitant. It’s not something you’d want accidentally taken or, even worse, stolen while you’re enjoying your lunch in the chalet. Nothing could be worse than having to return to your snowmass lodging because your gear has been stolen.
To prevent theft, a snowboarding lock will secure a snowboard to the racks. It provides peace of mind that your stuff isn’t mixed up with someone else’s and also acts as a deterrent to would-be thieves.
More Gift Ideas
The potential gifts for snowboarders are endless when you consider all the equipment that they need. Get them something that tells them you’re thinking of their comfort, and you’re sure to make them happy.
And for other great gift ideas when you’re stuck, check out all our party and gift ideas here.
