The short list: for a teenage skier, the gifts that get used every day of the trip are the ones that fix a real annoyance: music and calls with their friends under a helmet, sore shins in hire boots, fogged goggles and a cold chairlift. Here's what to buy, what it costs and how to get the size right.
For the one who skis with their mates: the Tunes Band
Tunes Band, £35, or two for £59.50 (the Pair). A soft Bluetooth headband with flat speakers and a built-in mic that sits under a ski helmet. It plays music from their phone and carries WhatsApp, Discord or phone group calls, so a group can talk on the lift and on the way down wherever their phones have signal. There's no app: it pairs like any headphones. The manufacturer rates it at up to 6 hours of music.
Buy two if they ski with a sibling or a best friend: a call needs two people, and the Pair saves 15%. One comment on our TikTok, word for word: "My dad just bough me them for my birthday thanks they work well".
For school trips and hire boots: Shin Bang Pads
Shin Bang Pads, £30 a pair. Stretch sleeves with honeycomb padding that cushion the shin against the boot tongue, a common cause of sore shins in stiff, new or rental boots. They're slim enough to wear under ski socks. Sizes run XS to XL: XS and S suit slimmer calves and junior skiers. Measure around the widest part of the calf, and if they're between sizes, size up. Our shin bang guide explains why shins hurt.
For clear days and flat light: goggles
Ski goggles, £45. A spherical, double-layer anti-fog lens in six colours, with a wide strap that fits over most ski helmets. Let them pick the colour; every lens is the same spec and the same price. Our guide to stopping goggles fogging is worth sending with them.
For the one who feels the cold: a balaclava
Ski balaclava, £25. Windproof face and neck cover that sits under a helmet and goggles, in three lengths, as a lighter All-Season version or fleece-lined Winter Thermal.
Stocking fillers and bigger surprises
- Ski carry strap, £15. Locks a pair of skis together for the walk to the lift and rolls into a pocket. Four colours, so nobody grabs the wrong skis.
- Snow skates, £130. Short mini skis that strap onto winter boots (EU sizes 35 to 47) for spins and slides on snowy slopes. For confident riders: ride within your ability and wear a helmet.
Buying for more than one
Everything counts toward the multi-buy: any 2 items save 15%, 3 save 20% and 4 or more save 25%, applied automatically at checkout. Mix products and colours, which makes kitting out siblings, a friend group or a whole school trip cheaper.
Before the trip
- Check the trip's rules. Some school and club trips set rules about phones and headphones on the slopes; check before packing the Tunes Band.
- Talk about volume. Music and calls should stay low enough to hear instructors, lift staff and other skiers. More in Is it safe to wear headphones while skiing?
- Charge the night before. Cold drains every battery faster, phones included.
Delivery and Christmas
Delivery is free and tracked on every order. Orders arrive in 2 to 4 business days across the UK and Europe, so order early for a birthday or Christmas. We'll confirm last order dates for Christmas delivery in early December.
FAQ
What's the best ski gift for a teenager who skis with friends?
The Tunes Band Pair: one band each, so they can talk to a friend or sibling on the mountain through a phone group call, and play music between calls.
Will the shin pads fit a junior skier?
XS and S suit slimmer calves and junior skiers. Measure around the widest part of the calf and size up if between sizes.
Do the goggles fit over a helmet?
Yes, the wide strap adjusts to sit over most ski helmets.
See every gift in one place: ski gifts.
