Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Skiing gifts?

27 replies

Roundaboot · 30/11/2022 18:42

I'm getting a little stuck for gifts for 15 year old DS this year as all he seems to want is clothes!
He's going skiing with school next year so I was wondering if I could get something for that? Not clothes as I plan to hire the jacket and trousers and another family member is getting him socks and gloves but I thought maybe some gadget/essential ski item? I've never been skiing so have no clue what might be nive to have that's not on the school's kit list

OP posts:
LittleGreenDuck · 30/11/2022 18:44

Goggles? A snood? Are they hiring helmets as well?

StrawberryPi · 30/11/2022 18:48

Hell want thermals tops and leggings for under his gear! Also goggles, and a cool bobble hat is likely to be useful.

Small things like a little thingy to flip and lip balm to his jacket, hand warmers, a snood/buff could be good!

V1ckyCh1ck · 30/11/2022 18:49

You can get a strap which holds your skis together and you can carry them over your shoulder like a bag. You might have to Google it but I had one years ago and made carrying them a lot easier.

BreakfastClub80 · 30/11/2022 18:50

Depends when he’s going but a fleece, goggles, sunglasses. Lip balm/sun cream. Snood.

Roundaboot · 30/11/2022 18:53

Sorry should have said - it's April in Italy so shouldn't be too cold?
Helmets and goggles will be hired there.
Loving the ideas of a snood, hand warmers and ski strap!

OP posts:
SkylightSkylight · 30/11/2022 18:59

I think it's all been said already.

A cheap stocking type useful thing are Velcro ski straps they just strap the skis together, so they're one unit, they usually come in pairs (one for each end)

He'll need more than one pair is ski socks and proper ski socks make the wirkd if difference, but also some very fine wool socks to wear underneath and make a tiny boot adjustment with. I'm a right hand second sock fit 😬

Goggles or sun glasses - best to have both.

Hankies, proper ones, not tissues!! I use them mostly for my eyes as they water in the cold snd steam goggles up!

GOOD quality face sunscreen. I use Clarins, but I'm sure he'll prefer zinc based coloured stuff!

money for food/hot drinks!!

CountlessScreamingArgonauts · 30/11/2022 19:02

How about a phone saving strap? The snow under chair lifts is often littered with things people have dropped!

www.ski3up.co.uk/product/manbi-ninja-phone-bungee/

Clymene · 30/11/2022 19:08

Small backpack. If he's going in April, he's going to get hot so having somewhere to stuff the layers is good.

Silk inner gloves are also really useful.

jellybeanteaparty · 30/11/2022 19:15

Ski socks

pompei8309 · 30/11/2022 19:19

Whatever he needs for his ski trip are essentials that you must buy him anyway, why gift it to him for Christmas? makes no sense, in April at his age he won’t need a snood or thermals , the youngsters ski in fleeces and sweatshirts

torquewench · 30/11/2022 19:19

If he's going in April I'd get him his own helmet. I wouldn't fancy wearing one this been worn/crashed/dropped/sweated in all season and you'll have the peace of mind of knowing he has one that fits him properly and isn't damaged.
Failing that: Socks, gloves mask/goggles.

Roundaboot · 30/11/2022 19:36

pompei8309 · 30/11/2022 19:19

Whatever he needs for his ski trip are essentials that you must buy him anyway, why gift it to him for Christmas? makes no sense, in April at his age he won’t need a snood or thermals , the youngsters ski in fleeces and sweatshirts

Of course I'll make sure he has all the essentials! I was looking for ideas for gadgets and things that'll make his trip easier/more fun and I've had some great suggestions, like the ski strap and phone bungee - I had no clue they even existed!
Thanks to all for the suggestions, I think I'll make him up a little hamper.

OP posts:
goadyolddough · 30/11/2022 19:37

Some cool/fun ski socks?

superram · 30/11/2022 20:02

I second the stick sunscreen, not enough hands to be messing with cream and we find the stick gives better protection in snow. Get spf lip stuff too. I like a light snood-not fleecy. Unlikely to need a hat at Easter

NeedAHoliday2021 · 30/11/2022 20:08

@pompei8309 why on earth can he not have ski stuff as gifts? It’s not like essential stuff for life, a ski trip is a treat! My DD’s ski trip spending money is part of her birthday gift. I’ve spent £1,290 on the trip, £170 on extra equipment. Making some of it her gift isn’t mean 🙄

Spookywhale · 30/11/2022 20:20

We spend the whole of April in the alps (on the border with Italy) every year and comfortable spring skiing usually merits some different bits and pieces.

Skiing in April you’re unlikely to need a snood or hand warmers. Some cool socks would be good- I like stance ones and think there are loads than a teenage boy would like. A pair of two of good quality socks are well worth it, stance also makes skater style socks and are pretty cool.

A ski hoody would be good as a larger present- it will probably be really warm and it’s a lot of effort to learn so it’s likely the ski coat will be to hot really quickly. I would recommend dope snow/planks/ montec. They are usually a soft shell material and water resistant. It gets pretty wet and slushy in the spring.

Would also recommend some thin “pipe gloves”. He will prob ditch big thick gloves in April as your hands are literally steaming. I recently picked up a brand new pair on Vinted for £15.

Sunglasses are a must, I would recommend having a couple of pairs. It’s unbelievably bright and he will want a pair in his jacket (risk of falling on them), it’s expensive to buy a back up pair in resort so 2 pairs are worth it!

Sun cream and moisturiser (for after) is a must, as well as some lip balm. The sun is really strong as well as cold and wind on your skin.

No real need for base layer leggings but could to have a wicking base layer as he’s likely to get hot!

PuttingDownRoots · 30/11/2022 21:41

Crocs or sliders...basically some slip on footwear for wearing from the boot room to your own room in accommodation.

CaptainMerica · 30/11/2022 22:22

Since you said gadgets, I loved using my garmin running watch on ski holidays, to track my miles and try to beat my top speed.

Also, a go-pro is good for getting action footage. Or if he already has one, then e.g. a helmet mount for the go-pro might be handy.

Both are things that might be used for other activities too?

Also, a piste map holder, that clips to your inside pocket. Or I found a website once that printed piste maps of any resort onto a lense cloth, for cleaning your goggles.

pompei8309 · 30/11/2022 22:48

NeedAHoliday2021 · 30/11/2022 20:08

@pompei8309 why on earth can he not have ski stuff as gifts? It’s not like essential stuff for life, a ski trip is a treat! My DD’s ski trip spending money is part of her birthday gift. I’ve spent £1,290 on the trip, £170 on extra equipment. Making some of it her gift isn’t mean 🙄

It’s a school trip , if the parents have agreed to let him go they need to provide everything he needs for it. Is like buying toothpaste for Christmas.
If he never skied before he doesn’t need any gadgets , they’ll end up on the slope being thought how to put their skis on and take them off , followed by the baby runs if they manage to stay up, is more of a fun trip rather than skiing
PuttingDownRoots - had the best idea along with sunscreen and lip balm and instead of buying unnecessary things that he’ll probably never use again ( skis strap etc) , give him few extra euros so he can enjoy himself, ski resorts are very expensive

NeedAHoliday2021 · 30/11/2022 23:04

Sending a child on a ski trip - presumably because the child wants to go rather than forced - is not like tooth paste. It’s an amazing school trip opportunity that many families can’t afford so no I disagree, it’s a luxury and part of that luxury being a Christmas gift is totally reasonable. That said, many wealthy families give practical gifts. It’s fine you wouldn’t do it but don’t make others feel guilty for something that’s totally normal to other families.

Mbear · 30/11/2022 23:20

Oooo my son is going on a school ski trip in April to Italy! Anyhoo we are getting him some bits and pieces for Christmas. But glad I found this thread re the warmth in april. Assumed sunny, so will get some goggles (he already has sunglasses).

Will get a battery pack for the coach journey as well.

Mbear · 30/11/2022 23:22

Oh and maybe a day at an indoor ski centre to at least be on something like snow before he goes.

Overoptimistix · 01/12/2022 16:09

Im following this thread for ideas as my DD has a ski trip in Feb and will be getting ski bits from family. Thanks for the great tips!

Just piping up to say that my kids always have toothpaste in their stockings 😂. We have a tiny baby this year so he will probably get lots of baby wipes etc to pad his out 😱

Roundaboot · 01/12/2022 18:02

@Spookywhale thanks very much! It's so helpful to hear what it'll actually be like in April. To be unexperienced mind, skiing=cold so really good to be reminded that it won't be in April and that different gear will be needed.

OP posts:
Spookywhale · 01/12/2022 18:14

You’re welcome!

There can be the odd cold day/bad weather/snowfall but majority of the time it gets pretty warm. You’re more likely to be too hot rather than too cold!

Having lots of thinner layers is good so you can have more control over your temperature. If you’ve never been it’s hard to know what to take! Especially in April it can trip you up.

Majority of the time I’m in a base layer and soft shell hoody only from mid March onwards and we live in a high altitude resort.

Hope your son has a wonderful trip!