Black Friday is not really my thing. The marketing, the countdown timers, all of it feels a bit ridiculous. But cheap gear is cheap gear, and this is one of the only early season sales where you can pick up the latest ski and snowboard equipment. I’ve pulled together the deals that are actually worth checking out. These are the best ski and snowboard Black Friday deals (without getting sucked into the circus).
Top Black Friday Sales
Black Friday Ski and Snowboard Sales
1. Smith Optics Best Goggles & Helmets
- Known for: High quality goggles and helmets
- Why now: Big Black Friday goggle sale
- Best grab: ChromaPop lens goggles and a matching lid
- Good for: Riders who care about clarity and fit
- Category: Best premium goggle brand
Smith are my go to for goggles and helmets most seasons. Lenses are clear, swapping is easy and the fit is dialed once you find the right frame. Their Black Friday goggle deal is kind of ridiculous (40% off), so if you need a new lens for storm days or a full upgrade, this is where I would start.
2. OutdoorMaster Best Budget Gear
- Known for: Budget goggles, helmets and accessories
- Why now: Black Friday pricing plus extra code
- Code: Extra 20% with code CHASERS20
- Good for: New riders and families on a budget
- Category: Best value snow gear brand
OutdoorMaster is where I send people who want solid gear without paying flagship prices. Their goggles, helmets and bags punch way above what you would expect for the money. With our additional OutdoorMaster discount code (CHASERS20) stacked on top, it gets silly. Perfect if you want to kit out a family or grab a backup setup.
3. Backcountry Best Retailer
- Known for: Huge range of ski and snowboard gear
- Why now: Big Black Friday discounts on hardgoods
- Best grab: Boards, boots and bindings from major brands
- Note: Past legal drama aside, the deals are real
- Category: Best storewide gear sales
Backcountry always run big ski and snowboard hardware sales over Black Friday. Boards, boots, bindings, outerwear, the lot. I am still not in love with how they handled that infamous (or petty) legal fight over the word backcountry, but a deal is a deal and their discounts on real brands are hard to ignore.
4. Demon United Best Tuning Kits & Protective Gear
- Known for: Spine protectors, padded shorts and pads
- Why now: Black Friday deals on full protection kits
- Best grab: All in one tuning kits and impact shorts
- Good for: Park riders and anyone pushing it on steeps
- Category: Best protection and tuning gear
Demon make some of my favourite protective gear. Spine protectors, knee pads, impact shorts, all the stuff that actually keeps you riding after a big slam. Their waxing and tuning kits are also some of the best bang for buck if you want to wax and tune at home instead of paying a shop every time.
5. Gravity Grabber Best Wall Racks
- Known for: Clean wall mounts for skis and boards
- Why now: Great Black Friday bundle and gift deals
- Best grab: Multi rack setups for quivers
- Good for: Garages, gear rooms and tiny apartments
- Category: Best wall rack and storage gift
Gravity Grabber make one of the cleanest wall mounts for skis and snowboards I have used. Boards and skis sit secure, look good on the wall and are easy to grab on the way out the door. If you want a simple gift for a skier or rider that actually gets used, this is a good shout.
6. Amazon Best Last Minute Deals
- Known for: Fast shipping and endless small items
- Why now: Black Friday deals on wax, tools and socks
- Best grab: Wax, brushes, tools and small gifts
- Good for: Last minute stocking stuffers
- Category: Best small item deals
Amazon is not exactly the soul of skiing and snowboarding, but sometimes you just want cheap wax, socks, brushes or a tool to arrive in a day. For small items and stocking stuffers, their Black Friday deals can make sense. I still buy most hardware from proper local shops, but I do raid Amazon for the little things.
Black Friday Buyer’s Guide
Black Friday is a weird mix of genuine deals and absolute nonsense. Half the internet is trying to convince you that 8 percent off a jacket is a “must grab” and the other half is marking gear up on Tuesday so they can “slash” it on Friday. Here’s the short version of how to not get played.
Don’t buy old gear at new gear prices
A two or three season old board should never be priced like it just came out of the mold. Same with goggles. Same with outerwear. If they are pushing “huge savings” but it’s still barely cheaper than current year gear, keep moving.
Don’t fall for fake markdowns
If the price is magically higher the week before Black Friday, skip it. Hardgoods like boards and bindings should drop properly during this week. If something is only a tiny bit off, that’s probably the normal sale dressed up as a party.
Don’t assume everything is actually on sale
Some brands barely participate and others pretend to participate. Stick to the ones that consistently run real Black Friday campaigns. Smith, OutdoorMaster, Backcountry and Demon usually do. Plenty of others don’t.
Don’t panic buy
If you would not buy it on a normal day, don’t buy it because the product page is screaming at you with a red countdown timer. Ski and snowboard gear does not suddenly become “once in a lifetime” on November 29.
Don’t forget shipping and returns
Free returns matter. Especially with boots, goggles and helmets. If a shop charges return fees, factor it into the “deal”.
What is worth grabbing
Boards, bindings, boots, goggles, avalanche gear, tuning kits and outerwear from reputable sites or brands that actually discount properly. Small accessories on Amazon can also be fine because the discounts stack quickly.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday is messy, but it is one of the only times you can upgrade your ski or snowboard kit without watching your bank account evaporate. I’m not a fan of the hype, the countdown timers or the fake urgency, but real deals do exist if you know where to look.
If you stick to the brands that actually discount their gear and avoid the fake markups, you can walk away with proper savings on goggles, boots, tuning kits and the rest of the stuff you actually use every day. Grab what you need, ignore the noise and keep it simple. The best snowboard Black Friday deals are the ones for gear you trust and were planning to buy anyway. Not the ones with the loudest graphics and the biggest sale banner.
