Welcome to our 4th Annual Backcountry Skiing Canada Holiday Gift Guide. We're going to start things off easy with the under $50 category, then build up speed to the $50-$100 range, followed by the $100-$200 gifts before we culminate with the $200+ gift ideas. No matter what price range your spending preferences land in we're sure you'll find the perfect gift for that adventurer on your holiday gift list.
Top Gifts Under $50
This is the second of two instalments of the Best Gifts under $50 so if your budget is limited have a look here to see what works. To look at the first batch of gifts under $50 we recommended, simply click on over here. We’re sure you’ll find something that won’t break the bank and that will make them super happy.
GSI Outdoors Escape HS 2 Litre Collapsible Camping Cooking Pot
GSI Outdoors has perfected the hybrid silicone collapsable pot with their Escape HS 2 Litre Collapsible Camping Cooking Pot. It saves 53% more space in your pack, cooks 30% faster and saves 30% more fuel than a traditional metal pot. The Garnet-hard, non-reactive, hard anodized, heat sink base is responsible for the faster cooking times while the Teflon with Radiance Technology provides a non-stick, even-heating scratch and abrasion resistance cooking experience. The lightweight, crushproof, strainer lid has built-in silicone thumbpads and dual bail to lock the lid in place when travelling. High-tech cook wear for the Gordon Ramsay’s on your holiday gift list.
Price: $49.95CAN / US
Weight: 512g / 1.13lb
Materials: Hard Anodized Aluminum, Nylon, Silicone
Includes: 2 L Collapsible Pot, Folding Handles, Strainer Lid
Dimensions: 25 x 22 x 5.3cm / 10 x 8.8 x 2.1”
SAXX
Underwear has come a long way as of late and the big innovators in this realm is SAXX with their BallPark Pouch, Three-D Fit and Flat Out Seams. The big news was the BallPark Pouch which keeps your gear in place and comfy, once you try it you’ll never go back to regular boxers or briefs. SAXX has several styles to choose from but we’d recommend the Platinum which is their softest style to date as it uses premium Modal, Blacksheep which uses merino for optimal moisture control, temperature regulation and anti-microbial performance, and Kinetic with their semi-compression fit and 4-way stretch micro-mesh material.
Price: Platinum - $37CAN / $35US; Blacksheep - $47CAN / $45US; Kinetic - $38CAN / $40US
Fabrics: Platinum - Modal and spandex; Blacksheep - 95% merino wool and 5% spandex; Kinetic - Nylon and spandex
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Sherpa Adventure Gear Tarcho Organic Cotton Short Sleeve
This hypoallergenic 100% organic cotton T-shirt is soft and breathable. It features set-in sleeves and prayer flag reinforcement tape lining on the neck along with the prayer flag design on the chest. This is the gift from Sherpa Adventure Gear that says you get out there to adventure but don’t always have to dress like a guide. The Tarcho Organic Cotton Short Sleeve, perfect for you or that adventure obsessed person on your gift list.
Price: $44.94CAN / $29.95US
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Potala Red, Kharani, Rathee Blue, Mewa Green, Raja Blue
Fabric: 100% organic cotton
Weight: 400g / 14.11oz
Nuun Sport, Nuun Immunity & Nuun Endurance
Nuun has a few new products out including Nuun Sport which is a tasty & hydrating blend of electrolytes and minerals that provides complete hydration on-the-go. Their new Immunity tablets are a tasty blend of botanicals and electrolytes for ongoing immune health support and there's Nuun Endurance powder which is a blend of electrolytes and carbohydrates for long or intense workouts. Simply mix a tablet or scoop with 500ml of water, drink and go!
Nuun Sport
Price: $10CAN / $7US
Tube: 10 tablets
Weight: 55g / 1.95oz
Flavours: Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Tri-Berry, Watermelon, Tropical Fruit, Orange, Grape, Citrus Fruit, Mango Orange W/ caffeine, Cherry Limeade W/ caffeine, Fresh Lime W/ caffeine, Wild Berry w/ caffeine.
Ingredients: Citric Acid, Dextrose, Natural Flavours, Beet Powder Colour, Rice Extract Blend, Stevia Leaf Extract, Avocado Oil, Malic Acid.
Material: 100% recycled polyester and nylon plain weave
Nuun Immunity
Price: $10 CAN / $7US
Tube=10 tablets
Weight: 55g / 1.95oz
Flavours: Orange Citrus, Blueberry Tangerine
Ingredients: Dextrose, Citric Acid, Natural Flavours, Stevia Leaf Extract, Avocado Oil, Rice Concentrate.
Nuun Endurance
Price: $32CAN / $20US
Canister=16 servings/~19g
Weight: 304g / 12oz
Flavours: Mixed Berry, Citrus Mango, Lemon Lime
Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Organic Natural Flavours, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Citrate, Calcium Citrate
Sea To Summit Travelling Light Eyeshades
Travelling over the holidays? Ease the challenge of trying to get some shut-eye on with Sea To Summit’s Travelling Light Eyeshades. They come in a host of fun colours and are made with a Delicate, contoured microfibre lining for sleeping comfort. They pack down small and are ultra-light as well as being washable and reusable. Sea To Summit even throughs in a pair of earplugs. Bonus!
Price: 19.95CAN / $17.95US
Colours: Lime, Berry, Grey, Pacific Blue
Weight: 23g / 0.8oz
Dimensions: 19.25 x 7.75cm / 7.6 x 3.1”
FITS Light Ski ‘BrewSki’ Socks
Who wouldn’t want a fun pair of ‘BrewSki’ Socks from FITS? These high-performance hybrid ski socks are an over-the-calf style which features cushioning in the toe box, shin and heel. They’re ideal for the skier looking for extra padding in all of the right places. Made with a good portion of Merino Wool, they naturally wick moisture while the Nylon and Poly increase durability and Lycra gives them stretch and compression qualities. Keep your tootsies warm and cosy and have a little fun this winter with FITS Light Ski ‘BrewSki’ Socks.
Price: $33.14CAN / 24.99US
Fabric: Merino Wool66%, Nylon 26%, Polyester 8%, Lycra 2%
Colours: Nacvy, Light Grey
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Hangtime Koala
No one wants to drop there $1,000 phone in the snow or from the chairlift so consider the Hangtime Koala the ultimate insurance policy. The Koala is a rugged smartphone leash that’s simple to use, secure, and the compact camera-friendly design slips over any phone, with or without a case. The tether is tightly coiled but extends to an impressive 4 ft in length, so it’s selfie-friendly. The perfect gift for that klutz on your gift list.
Price: $33CAN / $25US
Weight: 38g / 1.34oz
Colours: Deepwater Blue, Hops Yellow, Sunset Red, Campfire Grey
Luci EMRG
The Luci EMRG is a pocket-sized lantern, flashlight, and emergency light all-in-one. When inflated it’s large and bright, packed down its one quarter the size so it takes up no room in your pack. Charged by the sun this solar-powered light is also waterproof, lightweight, and extremely durable. A cool yet affordable tech gift for those adventurers out there.
Price: $22CAN / $14.95US
Dimensions: Diameter - 10.2cm / 4”; Height - 10.2cm / 4”; Collapsed - 2.5cm / 1”
Weight: 72g / 2.5oz
Brightness: 25 lumens
Nikwax
Nikwax has a variety of reasonably priced gift ideas to help keep waterproof gear in tip-top shape. The Hardshell DUO-Pack will clean and waterproof hardshell fabrics that have lost their DWR coating. A clean hardshell is one that can breath and repels water better so be sure to use tech wash often and then re-coat with the TX.Direct Wash in waterproofing. Your climbing skins need a little love as well, apply Nikwax Skin Proof to ensure they repel water, ice and continue to perform reliably. The same goes for your gloves. Nikwax’s Glove proof will keep your leather protected, breathable and grippy.
Prices:
Hardshell DUO-Pack: $28.99CAN / $20.75US
Ski Skin Proof: $13.00 CAN / $8.25US
Glove Proof: $11.99 CAN / $8.25US
Volumes:
Hardshell DUO-Pack: 125ml each
Ski Skin Proof: 125ml
Glove Proof: 125ml
Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug
Stanley offers their Trigger-Action Travel Mugs in two sizes, 16 and 20 ounces and they feature 18/8 stainless steel construction which is BPA-free with double-wall vacuum insulation. The solid design means they are leakproof with a push-button lid that is easy to use and clean by popping it in the dishwasher. The Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug is also car cup compatible—of course. The ideal low price/high appreciation gift.
Prices: 16oz - $37CAN / $25US; 20oz $34CAN / $23US
Colours: Wine Red, Nightfall, Polar, Hammertone Green, Matte Black
Sizes: 16oz, 20oz
Weight: 16oz - 162g / .36lb; 20oz - 177g / .39lb
Heat retention: 16oz - 7 hours; 20oz - 9 hours
Cool retention: 16oz - 10 hours; 20oz - 12 hours
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Shoe Sac
Packing shoes next to your isn’t a problem when the shoes are clean but after a serious hike or trail run you need to ensure they stay separated from everything else. Enter the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Shoe Sac, its large front zip makes it easy to use and it can accommodate a pair of shoes up to size 13 or two pairs of sandals. Because it’s water repellant it also keeps your shoes dry if they have to endure light rain. A simple solution to every traveller’s dilemma and an ideal gift for the worldly person on your gift list.
Price: $21.95CAN / $18.95US
Colours: White/Strobe, Strobe Green, Brilliant Blue, Volcano Red
Dimensions: 41 x 23cm / 16 x 9"
Weight: 28.4g / 1oz
Material: 30D Silnylon Ripstop
Bottle Bright
You know that funk all water bottles and water bladders get after a period of use. That funk that you just can’t seem to clean out due to those hard to reach nooks and crannies. Yeah, that funk. That’s what Bottle Bright is designed to get rid of. It’s a natural, safe, non-toxic, biodegradable & chlorine-free solution to funk and grime build up in reusable beverage container and water holders of all kinds. They’re tablets that you simply drop into warm water and let the bubble and fizz do all the work. After you don’t even have to rinse out the bottle as there is no residue, film or weird taste left behind. The new way to clean, Bottle Bright.
Price: 12 for $8US, 36 tablets $22US, 144 tablets $80US
Check out the first batch of “The Best Gifts Under $50" by clicking here. If your budgets are a little bigger then check out the best gifts we've found in the $50-$100 price range. If you want to spend more then there is always the $100-$200 price range and over $200 Part 1 and Part 2 price ranges as well. Happy Shopping.
