PlanetSKI’s Christmas Stocking Fillers

11th November 2026 | Alf Alderson - Gear & Equipment Editor

Check out the first of our Christmas Gift guides – Eleven stocking fillers for the skier in your life (or yourself). NEW

OSPREY DAYLITE PACKING CUBES £30 www.osprey.com

If like me your packing tends to be, shall we say, a bit random, Osprey’s Packing Cube Set could be a game changer.

You get three cubes (2-litres, 4-litres and 9-litres) constructed of breathable, see-through fabric which allow you to organise and compartmentalise your belongings, from gear to shoes to accessories such as USB cables and chargers.

Each one has a J-zip opening easy access, see-through, breathable mesh panels so you can see what’s inside them and a webbing grab handle.

VERDICT: A simple but effective way of keeping your packing organised, neat and tidy.

Osprey Daylite Packing Cubes £30 www.osprey.com – image © Osprey

DARN TOUGH EDGE OVER-THE-CALF MIDWEIGHT SKI SOCKS £37 www.darntough.uk

Made with Merino wool which is odour resistant and wicks away moisture, the Darn Tough Edge has a performance fit to prevent slipping and/or bunching inside your ski boots.

They feature warm terry loops underfoot and a special shin pad designed to protect legs from boot pressure, which can often be an issue on your first few days back on skis.

The Edge gives coverage to just below the knee (they measure 43cm from heel to cuff if you want to be really precise) and should keep your feet warm and dry in everything from midwinter powder to spring slush.

VERDICT: Ski socks – what else do you get a skier for Christmas?!

Darn Tough Edge Over-the-calf Midweight Ski Socks £37 www.darntough.uk – image © darntoughuk

SEA TO SUMMIT MERIDIAN 25 L WATERPROOF TOTE PACK £95 www.seatosummit.co.uk

The Meridian is a cleverly designed tote bag that can quickly and easily be adapted to be carried by hand, over your shoulder or as a backpack (the latter for urban use and general travel – you’d be unlikely to want to use it for skiing, hiking and the like).

It comes with a roll-top dry-bag closure, fully-taped seams and rugged 10,000mm fabric to ensure whatever you have stashed away in it remains dry in pretty much any conditions.

You can keep wet or bulky items separate from everything else thanks to an adjustable top strap which allows quick tote closure and secures bulky or wet items on top when the dry bag is sealed.

Built with recycled materials and ReSHIELD laminate, the Meridian is ideal for travellers looking for dependable protection for their kit whilst on the move.

VERDICT: A tough, waterproof and adaptable travel bag

Sea To Summit Meridian 25 L WATERPROOF TOTE PACK £95 www.seatosummit.co.uk – image © seatosummit

NIKWAX VISOR PROOF SPRAY-ON £14.99 www.nikwax.com

Easy-to-use spray-on snow and water repellent for visors and goggles, which will provide approximately 30 applications; and if you ride a motor bike you can also use it for your helmet visor.

Nikwax Visor Proof Spray-On £14.99 www.nikwax.com – image © Nikwax

DIDRIKSONS RIVER BEANIE £40 www.didriksons.com

Dirdriksons’ River beanie is a versatile, understated item that works perfectly well on the slopes or around town.

It’s made from ribbed soft cotton yarn for a warm, snug fit, with a turned-up edge that provides extra warmth and style.

VERDICT: If you want to get ahead, get a hat – or a River beanie.

Didriksons River Beanie £40 www.didriksons.com – image © didriksons

DIDRIKSONS RIVER HEADBAND £20 www.didriksons.com

A soft, warm headband is a versatile accessory to have tucked in your pack or pocket, and Didriksons’ River fits the bill.

Designed and made in Sweden, it’s ideal for everything from ski touring to hiking and will keep your ears warm without overheating as well as looking pretty cool too.

VERDICT: Warm ears guaranteed with the River headband.

Didriksons River Headband £20 www.didriksons.com – image © didriksons

XERO PAGOSA COZY SLIPPERS £75 www.xeroshoes.co.uk

Slipping your feet into a pair of slippers is one of life’s little luxuries, and the appropriately named Cozy provides the perfect mix of warmth and comfort, as well as being so light (around 275 g) and packable you can travel with them easily.

The Cozy is designed to be worn two ways – step on the heel to wear it like a slide when you’re relaxing around the house or ski chalet, or wear it with the heel up for a more secure
fit.

With the 6.5mm rubber sole you can even wear them outdoors although not in deep snow, obvs).

The Cozy has a synthetic wool upper and faux shearling lining.

It features a wider, foot-shaped toe box that lets your toes spread and relax, a non-elevated ‘zero drop’ heel for proper posture, low-to-the-ground design for perfect balance and agility.

It offers a flexible sole and secure fit so you can bend, move and flex without them slipping off.

VERDICT: Versatile, snug and good-looking slippers, albeit quite pricey.

Xero Pagosa Cozy Slippers £75 www.xeroshoes.co.uk – image © xeroshoes

IMBRACE KNEE HIGH SPORT & FLIGHT SOCK £34 www.imbrace.com

More socks for Christmas, but Imbrace’s sport and flight socks don’t just keep your toes warm, they’re also designed to aid blood flow and reduce swelling and fatigue in your lower leg.

As such can be used on flights as well as on the mountain (particularly long-haul flights, where there’s more chance that you’ll suffer from swelling).

You can feel the extra support as soon as you slip them on, but not so much that they’re at all restrictive.

The soft, smooth fabric feels great against your skin, whilst a soft, absorbent footbed adds to the comfort, as does the fact that they’re designed specifically for your left or right foot.

Given the fact that they cost no more than other high end ski socks and you get the added benefit of improved blood flow and reduced swelling they’re well worth checking out.

VERDICT: Soft, comfy and versatile, just as socks should be

Imbrace Knee High Sport & Flight Sock £34 www.imbrace.com – image © imbrace

NIKWAX OUTDOOR COMPLETE PROTECTION KIT £27.90 www.nikwax.com

Ski gear doesn’t come cheap so it makes sense to look after it – that way it will last longer, work better and keep you more comfortable in the extreme conditions that it’s designed for.

Step forward Nikwax’ Complete Protection Kit, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

The kit consists of cleaning and waterproofing for outdoor shoes and clothes in the form of Nikwax Tech Wash wash-in cleaner (300ml), Nikwax IX.

Direct wash-in waterproofer (300ml), Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel (125ml) and Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof spray (125ml) along with a footwear brush and a 10-litre roll-top dry bag.

All of the cleaning products will also revitalise the breathability of wet weather clothing and footwear as well as cleaning and waterproofing them.

VERDICT: a convenient and good value way of keeping your kit in tip-top condition.

Nikwax Outdoor Complete Protection Kit £27.90 www.nikwax.com – image © nikwax

2027 WILD NATURE DIARY £18 www.wild-nature.co.uk

This lovely desktop diary has been published and edited by renowned photographer John Beatty in partnership with the John Muir Trust.

It features a wide selection of superb wildlife and landscape photographs from around the British Isles, from the far North West Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the rugged sea cliffs of Cornwall.

There’s an image for every week of the year along with information of the work of the John Muir Trust and a foreword by wildlife photographer and TV personality Hamza Tassin.

It’s a great stocking filler for anyone who loves nature and the outdoors.

VERDICT: A practical gift that’s also a delight to use.

FROZEN UNDERGROUND CENTRAL NETWORK SKI MAP From £22 www.frozenunderground.com

Time to bring out that old cliché ‘the perfect gift for any skier’ but this really is.

Frozen Underground’s new and updated Central Network ski map is based, as the name suggests, on the famous Underground tube map, only in this case stations are replaced by 192 famous ski resorts (and not so famous – Weardale, Poiana Brasov…) from around the world.

The artwork is by Anton Vamplew, an English astronomer, author, lecturer and media presenter, best known for his appearances as the ‘Blue Peter Astronomer’.

The map available in three editions: Classic, Discovery and Gallery.

Each edition features the complete network, with different sizes and levels of detail:

Classic (£22): A3, featuring the complete 192-resort network in its original format.
Discovery (£52): A2 on art paper, with additional icons highlighting mountain railways, night skiing and cross-border skiing.
Gallery (£180): 80 x 60cm on aluminium, with the Discovery icons plus cross-border ski-area names and selected information on mountain railways, skiing records, historical milestones, firsts and notable descents.

Anton said: “I wanted to give people different ways to explore the same ski world.

I hope they’ll find a resort they know, remember where they’ve skied and then notice something they hadn’t seen before.”

All three options make a colourful addition to your wall as well as being a great talking point, particularly with fellow skiers.

The map is designed to be explored over time, whether looking for familiar resorts, tracing routes between countries or looking ahead to future ski trips.

VERDICT: A unique and colourful way to remember and/or plan your ski trips.

Get some more inspiration for Christmas Gifts from our Gear & Equipment Editor Alf Alderson. Read Alf’s Gear Reviews from earlier in 2026 on our links below.

PlanetSKI 2025/26 Gear Reviews:

Stocking Fillers headline image 2026

Resort Reviews/Experiences:

* Gear Tests from Winter 2025/26

New for the 2026/27 Ski Season

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