It never really occurred to me, growing up, that there were other winter activities beyond ice hockey, which my three brothers played and and in whose name my parents flooded the backyard every winter to create a family skating rink. But maybe there’s someone on your holiday shopping list who has other ideas about snow sports:
Above: Snow shoes, for instance, are a civilized way to travel through a wintry landscape. Photo by Paul Kirtley via Flickr.
Above: A pair of Wooden Snowshoes, made of ash with hand-laced rawhide, are $276 from Kaufmann Mercantile.
Above: Sledding was also very popular, come to think of it, in the Chicago suburbs where I grew up. This winter activity is perhaps best enjoyed by families whose members aren’t exhausted from waking up every two hours between the hours of midnight and 6 am to go outdoors in subzero temperatures to spray another layer of water onto their home ice rinks. The Davos Toboggan is 206€ from Manufactum.
Above: You need to transport your gear in something roomy. A Herschel Little America Backpack, available in four colors, is fully lined and has a padded 15-inch computer sleeve pocket; $89 from Urban Outfitters.
Above: Now, these look familiar. My father, a speed skater in high school, had a similar pair. The Vintage Hockey Skates, mens’ size 8, are $30 via Shaving Kit Supplies on Etsy. And if you have brothers? Consider shopping for stocking stuffers at Puckshop, where a roll of Black Friction Hockey Tape is $3.50.
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