Stay warmStart here4 sources
Winter Storm Gifts: Practical Ideas by Person and Moment
Practical winter storm gifts sorted by the person: shovels for a new homeowner, a car kit for a commuter, ice cleats for a dog walker and a weather radio.
We earn from qualifying purchases through links on this page. How we make money.
Quick reference4 facts
| Outage gear | Works on battery, hand crank or no power at all |
|---|---|
| Weather radio (NWS) | Tone alarm, SAME county coding and battery backup |
| CO alarm as a gift (CPSC) | Battery or battery backup, on every level and outside sleeping areas |
| Battery-powered gear | Buy new, and search the model on cpsc.gov for recalls |
On this page (4 sections)
The best winter storm gift matches the person’s winter: a car kit for a long-distance commuter, ice cleats for a dog walker, a heated vest for someone who works outdoors and a NOAA weather radio for a rural home that loses power. Pick gear that works without power and fits where they will use it.
Our winter storm gifts guide has the full list, sorted by person and by moment, from the first snowfall to holiday travel.
What makes a storm gift useful
A storm gift only helps if it is ready when the storm arrives. Outage gear should run on batteries, a hand crank or no power at all. It should fit where it will be used: a glove box, a coat pocket or a mudroom hook. Heated apparel and snow pants run by maker-specific size charts, so ask or include a gift receipt. Buy battery-powered gear new, and search the model on cpsc.gov for recalls before you wrap it.
| Person | Gift ideas |
|---|---|
| New homeowner with a driveway | Ergonomic shovel or pusher, ice melt, roof rake |
| Long-commute driver | Car kit, ice scraper with brush, heated gloves |
| Dog walker on icy sidewalks | Ice cleats, pet-friendlier ice melt |
| Someone who is always cold | Heated vest, hot water bottle |
| Rural household that loses power | NOAA weather radio, lanterns, CO alarm |
Gifts for a home that loses power
For a household that loses power every winter, outage gear is the most useful present. The National Weather Service’s receiver guide says to look for a weather radio with a tone alarm, SAME coding that limits alerts to chosen counties, and battery backup. A carbon monoxide alarm suits any home that runs a generator or fuel-burning heat: CPSC says to install battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
NOAA weather radios with tone alert
Live listings, shown by eBay
Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.
Gifts for the road and the first snow
Before a long drive home for the holidays, a compact car kit with blankets and a phone charger makes sense for a student or a commuter. NHTSA also suggests letting others know your route and expected arrival time, which costs nothing. The first real snow is when people discover what they lack: a snow brush, a pair of ice cleats or a bag of ice melt left on the porch arrives at the right time.
Gift ideas by person
The new homeownerA pusher or ergonomic shovel, ice melt and a roof rake.
The early commuterA car kit, a scraper with a brush and heated gloves.
Someone always coldA heated vest or gloves, or a hot water bottle at home.For gear the whole household needs, start with the prepare section.
Sources
- NWR ReceiversNational Weather Service
- As Winter Storms Threaten Millions in the U.S., CPSC Issues Safety Tips to Help Families Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and FiresU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Winter Weather Driving TipsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Build A KitReady.gov (FEMA)
Filed under Stay warm