Dermatone Lip Balm.
Dermatone Lip Balm.

Skiing is an expensive sport, there’s no arguing that. The gear, the passes, the lodging, and even the transportation to the mountain, are all quite costly. Taking the ski experience to the next level without breaking the bank is difficult, but there are a few ways you can do so for quite cheap.

If you’re looking to buy yourself a ski-related gift for very cheap, or if you’re seeking out a last-minute present for someone you know, consider these accessories that’ll cost you under $10.

1. Dermatone Medicated Lip Balm SPF30 ($3.99 for 1, $9.99 for a 3 pack)

Protecting your lips from both the sun and the wind is essential to enjoying your day on the mountain, or at least the evening after your day on the mountain. Heading to your favorite après bar with brutally chapped lips is never a fun move, so make sure you protect your lips with a good SPF lip balm. Plenty of SPF lip balms will work and likely be under $10, Dermatone just happens to be my personal favorite. Plus, in a pinch, a good SPF lip balm can help protect your nose or other parts of your face from the cold.

2. Skigee (~$3)

Skigees are incredibly useful pieces of equipment if you live in an area where your goggles tend to get iced over. Skiing in New England, these seemed to happen every day. Skiing in Colorado, I’ve never once had the problem. But still, for just $3, this little rubber wiper can be a life saver to remove ice and snow from your goggles without scratching the lenses. They’re often sold in ski shops, but you can buy them at plenty of places online, too.  

3. Retractable Ski Pass Holder ($3.49)

These days most ski resorts scan passes through RFID gates, so you don’t necessarily have to remove your pass from a pocket to get onto the lift. But there are still resorts that prefer to scan your pass, and sometimes finding a pocket that works with the RFID gates can be a pain. With a retractable ski pass holder, you can keep your pass close and easily accessible when you need to display it or scan it against a gate. If you don’t need it for your ski pass, it can be useful for plenty of other things (like a skigee, for example).

4. Phone Tether ($9.89)

The last person you want to be is the skier/snowboarder digging around in the snow because you dropped your phone while on the lift or while riding. With this inexpensive phone tether, you can be pretty certain that your phone isn’t going anywhere far. Just attach it to a zipper or pocket, and use your phone on the lift without the fear of watching it fall into the snowy abyss below.

5. Clif Bar (~$1.59 per bar)

Any preferred snack can easily fit onto this list, but Clif Bars are among our personal favorites. The fact is, when you’re spending the day working out, getting food into your system is an absolute necessity. Clif Bars provide fuel, some have a little boost of caffeine, they taste great, and you can easily fit multiple into your pocket. When it comes to pocket snacks, Clif Bars are a top go-to.

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