Holiday Gift Guide 2023

From art and accessories to a relief-providing massage tool, here’s our pick of items to give your favorite Nordic skiers this season. “Sprint Final” Print Graphic designer Chris Schmidt is also an avid cross country skier (and bike racer) who lives on northern Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. His work—through his firm, Studio 13— includes bold prints,… Read More »Holiday Gift Guide 2023

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From art and accessories to a relief-providing massage tool, here’s our pick of items to give your favorite Nordic skiers this season.

“Sprint Final” Print

Graphic designer Chris Schmidt is also an avid cross country skier (and bike racer) who lives on northern Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. His work—through his firm, Studio 13— includes bold prints, like this one, that showcase Nordic skiing. Each 13-inch by 19-inch print is reproduced on archival-quality paper and ready for framing. $30, xmaticdesign.com

Oboz x Skida Whakata Puffy

Skida, the Vermont-based hat company with roots in the Nordic world, frequently collaborates with other brands, putting its vibrant prints on everything from cycling bibs to gear fix-it patches. One of our favorites: a new partnership with Montana footwear company Oboz. Available in low (shown here) or mid heights, the Whakata (for women or men) is perfect for commuting to the trails and wearing après ski, with insulated uppers and a slip-resistant sole. The print pays tribute to Montana’s state flower, the bitterroot. $105 (low)/$115 (mid), obozfootwear.com

“All Out to the Finish Line” Ring

Minnesota jeweler Larissa Loden caters to an unabashedly independent clientele, so—no surprise—she has a collab with Jessie Diggins that includes earrings, a necklace and this inspirational ring. The message etched inside the band is recreated in Diggins’s handwriting. Bonus: 50 percent of the proceeds goes to Protect Our Winters. $295 (10K gold)/$120 (sterling silver), larissaloden.com

Delaine Vintage-Style Sweater

Celebrate the wool ski sweaters of old with one of Delaine & Co.’s modern retro styles for men and women, all knit in the U.S. from domestically sourced merino wool. The women’s full-zip in natural ivory, shown here, has rib stitching on the yoke and cuffs for a little extra panache and Lycra in the bottom for shape retention. $270, skidelaine.com

KAVU Herschel Beanie and Moonwalk Socks

This cuffed acrylic beanie with pom-pom, in the print called Ski Line, is a fun way to celebrate Nordic style around town. Pair it with these comfy calf-height crew socks, also in the Ski Line print. $30, hat/$25, socks, kavu.com

Roll Recovery R1 Percussion Massager

At a fraction of the cost of other massage tools, the R1 does a great job of loosening up sore quads and calves and melting away stubborn knots. Designed with input from pro athletes, the tool comes with four attachment heads and operates—fairly quietly—at four speeds. The body’s made of aircraft-grade anodized aluminum, which holds up well, and it’s small enough to easily fit in a travel bag. The rechargeable battery lasts for at least seven hours, and the massager shuts itself off after 15 minutes of non-use to maximize the charge. $129, rollrecovery.com

OuterU FaceGlove Flex

OuterU’s original FaceGlove is used by guides on Everest and other high peaks to protect their noses and cheeks from cold, wind and sun. Nordic skiers will appreciate a lighter version, the FaceGlove Flex, on bitter cold or blustery days. It’s made of a wind- and water-resistant softshell fabric that’s breathable, and it has a wire-molded nosepiece. $30, outeru.com 

Skiandsnowboard.live Subscription

Give the gift of watching World Cup racing with a subscription for viewing Nordic events abroad. All international races can be viewed live and also on demand at skiandsnowboard.live. (The World Cup races in Minneapolis can be viewed for free on Outside Watch.) $70, all-access pass (all ski disciplines)/$16 monthly (all disciplines)/$9 monthly (only Nordic races and events), skiandsnowboard.live

Bivo Water Bottle 

Designed by a former cross country racer and her small Vermont team, this stainless-steel bottle stays put in a hip belt thanks to its shape and an anti-slip silicone coating. And the water flow is exceptional, coming through an innovative valve designed by an ex-NASA engineer. Read our full review of the bottle for more details. $39–$49, drinkbivo.com

Ornot Handlebar Bag Mini

Chances are you have a skier on your list who’s also into biking. Cycling brand Ornot took inspiration for its latest line of clothing and accessories from a Nordic classic: Salomon’s brightly colored 811 combi boots from 1992 (if you know, you know). Read more about the full line in our upcoming review. This strap-on handlebar bag provides easy access to snacks and a phone—and stuffs easily into a stocking. $44, ornotbike.com

Sauce Fleece N Swift Toque

This Montana-based headwear brand was founded by Shayla Swanson, who raced on the Canadian national cross country team. The Fleece N Swift is fleece lined at the bottom and light and breathable up top. Available in 13 patterns, we love it in this “Silence” print by Canadian artist Sarah Angst. $34, sauceactive.com

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