Badgers gift guide: What to get University of Wisconsin sports fans

Fans of the University of Wisconsin Badgers have many gift options awaiting them. Check out these 12, from fashion to kitchen tools, garden goodies, and more.

Ask anyone walking down the street their favorite collegiate sports team (or, rather, teams), and they’re likely to say the University of Wisconsin Badgers. This wide appeal makes a lot of sense: The Badgers are not only hometown heroes, but they’re also ingrained in Wisconsin culture. You see, the use of the name Badgers for the university’s sports teams traces all the way back to the late 1800s, with the name collectively embodying Wisconsinites for decades before that. In the earlier half of the century, the term “badger” was used to signify how people survived Wisconsin’s bitter winters. Eventually, the term became more associated with the university, and the rest is history.

This rich history with the word “Badgers” makes it crystal clear why so many people identify with it today, whether they’re current students, alumni, or everyday Wisconsin citizens. This is also why we knew we needed to compile a list of the best Badgers gifts. Our picks will help you nail your next birthday party, holiday, reunion, or I-was-just-thinking-of-you present, and you may even support a small, locally owned business along the way. After all, who doesn’t love Wisconsin-made gifts?

1. The Badgers gift for someone who’s always cold

There’s a long-standing parley about whether Michigan or Wisconsin is the true mitten-shaped Midwest state, and if you’re a Wisconsinite who wants to show your loyalty to your state, you need the Bucky the Badger Mittens from Etsy seller WillowandWoolMN. These are the perfect Badgers gift for you or anyone you know who’s always cold—or, really, anyone since Wisconsin winters are notoriously frigid.

These mittens are adorable and feature Bucky stitched into the middle of them. They also come in five color options: light gray, charcoal gray, white, black, and red. Each pair will set you back $29.50, but supporting small businesses is always worth the extra few bucks, if you ask us. “Soo cute, super well made, and fast shipping. This made for the perfect gift,” one Etsy reviewer said after receiving their order. If Wisconsin has mittens as cute as these, that surely means we win the debate once and for all, right?

2. The Badgers gift for the fan of old-school art

Some people want to sport Badgers gear everywhere they go, but if that’s not how your recipient is, look no further than the Wisconsin Badgers “Marching Bucky” | Archival-Quality Wall Art Print by Etsy seller BrandonArtCo.

This print shows Bucky Badger in all of his glory, with the beautifully and intentionally smudged red-and-black backdrop looking like watercolors in the best way. What’s more, you can get this print in sizes that range from 5×7 to 44×60, meaning you can frame it for your fireplace mantle or make it a show-stopping statement on your living room wall. Of course, the bigger the print, the higher the cost. The price range for the print spans from $38 to $352, but this artist offers the opportunity to add a white, black, or gold frame at an additional cost.

“Good quality, looks just as advertised. Excited to hang it in my office,” one reviewer wrote. 

3. The Badgers gift for the dog owner

We and our loved ones deserve the best Badgers gifts, but why not extend that to cutesy courtesy to your furry friend, too? Adorning your puppy or dog with a Badgers-themed collar is the easiest way to show outward support for your favorite sports teams without overdoing it. Plus, when they’re as cute as the University of Wisconsin Badgers Dog Collar from Etsy seller CarolsDogCollars, they make fashion statements, too.

This particular collar is red, white, and black all over, featuring the iconic Bucky Badger in several spots. They also come in three sizes, which range in price from $14 to $16. “These collars are very well-made. They look fabulous,” one reviewer wrote. Need we say more?

4. The Badgers gift for the fashionista

While a clothing item with overt references to the University of Wisconsin might be the perfect Badgers gift for someone, it’s not for everyone. A fashionista might prefer something subtler, which is when the Fossil Brown Wisconsin Badgers Kinley Leather Small Crossbody Bag from the university’s official store comes in handy.

This purse is a stunning combination of light-tan, midnight-black, and chocolate shades, and it’s made from sturdy materials, giving it a higher price tag than you might initially expect. The bag normally retails for $225 but is on sale for $180 at the time of writing. This bag should last a lifetime, and it’s perfectly subtle with only a stamped “W” in the same hue of chocolate brown tying the purse back to the Badgers. It’s noticeable but not overwhelming, making it perfect for someone who carefully curates their wardrobe.

5. The Badgers gift for the professional in your life

The aforementioned purse isn’t the only subtle accessory that can upgrade your or a loved one’s wardrobe. No, the Men’s Wisconsin Badgers Brandish Belt from the university’s official store is a 100% leather option in a gorgeously rusty brown color that will complement any business-casual or professional outfit. Bucky the Badger makes quaint appearances on the belt, looking etched into the leather similarly to the “W” on the purse. This belt retails for $45, though it’s marked down to $36 at the time of writing, and sizes range from 32 to 44.

With both this belt and the above purse, consider your recipient’s lifestyle before ordering them this Badgers gift. For instance, folks who follow vegan practices don’t typically purchase leather for their wardrobes, and avoiding buying it for them can show that you care. Luckily, there are plenty of other options on this list for them to love!

6. The Badgers gift for the cornhole lover

We all know a cornhole lover. Some people fell in love with cornhole at vacation bible school, while others first encountered it at frat parties. In any case, it’s a quintessentially Midwestern game that’s perfect on sunny spring and summer days, cold beer in hand. And would you look at that: AllAmericanTailgate has the perfect Badgers gift for this type of person in the form of its University of Wisconsin “Bucky” Cornhole Bags.

This a pricier gift option, ranging from $200 to $400 depending how many accessories and add-ons you want to indulge in. You can even get fully themed boards in addition to the bags. The cornhole bags are really cute in distinct red and black colors to differentiate between the two playing teams, but both feature Bucky Badger on them.

“I’ve had several corn hole bags before but these are extremely well made. The seams are very durable, the colors are vibrant, and the size is regulation size. Awesome bags!” one Etsy reviewer shared. Now, that’s anything but corny!

7. The Badgers gift for the gardener

Gardeners can never have enough pairs of shears or sturdy trowels, but when it comes to the best Badgers gift, they really need Wisconsin’s take on the garden gnome: the Wisconsin Badgers Mascot Garden Statue from College Logo Stuff. This statue is nearly two feet tall, and it perfectly captures Bucky, red sweater with a white “W” emblazoned on it and all.

It retails for $370 and is perfect for gardens, front or back yards, porches, and anywhere else you want to sprinkle a little bit of Badgers magic. Moreover, if this one’s a little much, you can opt for the Wisconsin Badgers Vintage Mascot Garden Statue, which is solely stone-colored and $100 cheaper at $270. Both statues are “made to order” and “made to last,” according to College Logo Stuff. 

8. The Badgers gift for someone with a big garden or yard

We’re not done dawdling in the garden just yet. College Logo Stuff has another fantastic, albeit expensive, garden or yard item that we couldn’t pass up: the Wisconsin Badgers Cast Iron Garden Bench. This bench is back, as you’d expect from a cast-iron item, and it’s just over four feet wide, so it can comfortably fit two adults. The back of the bench features a “W” cutout with a Bucky Badger cutout on either side of it, and the retailer notes that it’s “highly rust resistant” and has “hand painted gold highlights.”

Coming in hot at $583, this is an expensive Badger gift, but it’s one that will leave a lasting memory for generations to come. 

9. The Badgers gift for the doll collector

Barbie, Bratz, and American Girl, oh my! We all know someone who’s collected dolls, whether as a child or as a found hobby in adulthood, but did you know that you can get them University of Wisconsin-themed doll clothes as the perfect Badgers gift?

Yes, you read that right! Etsy seller BlueCowDesigns creates and offers the University of Wisconsin BADGERS 18-inch Doll Clothes, which are made by hand and only cost $12. The outfit includes a red T-shirt with Bucky Badger on it and pants that feature plenty of UW iconography, from the mascot to big “W”s.

“Well made outfit- looks adorable on the doll. My great niece [now has] matching Wisconsin ‘cheering outfits’ w/ her doll and her parents loved it too,” one pleased reviewer wrote after gifting this adorable set. 

10. The Badgers gift for your loved one with flower power

Hoodies and other clothing items with sports logos on them can get tired quickly, which is why we were happy to see a fresh take on them in Etsy seller Wiscostateofmind’s shop. Rather than shoving Bucky Badger in your face, the UW Madison Sweatshirt boasts a large “W” made out of small red flowers on its chest. It’s a floral dream and generally a unique take on college gear.

If it weren’t cute enough on its own, it’s also customizable, coming in four colors: ash, dark heather, sand, and white. Just note that all sweatshirt colors feature red flowers. Meanwhile, it comes in sizes small through 3X, with prices ranging from $33 to $40. “I got this for my friend and she loves it! Very soft and the print is beautiful,” wrote one gifter in a glowing review. 

11. The Badgers gift for the one who loves to host

Your friend or family member who loves to cook and host people at their home can only store so many bottles of gifted wine, so why not give the Wisconsin Badgers Concerto Bamboo Cutting Board from College Logo a go for their next birthday? This multifaceted board can be used to cut food, but we’d argue that it’s better served as a serving board.

The board features the university’s logo and comes with both a detachable glass surface and tools with which to cut fancy cheeses for your recipient’s next charcuterie night. The glass surface can act as an additional serving area, or it can stay on the board to protect it. This board goes for $106, but it’s another Badgers gift that’s essentially an investment piece for your loved one.

12. The Badgers gift for the homesteader 

Old-school weathervanes are so “The Wizard of Oz,” but you won’t be thinking that when you see the Hand Made University of Wisconsin Badgers Bucky Weathervane from Etsy seller Swenproducts. This copper-colored weathervane is as elegant as they come. It features an arrow hovering over the four directions, with Bucky Badger standing atop the arrow in his own sealed-off circle (not that dissimilar from Glinda, if we’re continuing down the Oz route). The weathervane is made from real steel and actually works in addition to being a stunning décor piece.

Its price ranges from $31 to $68, depending on what type of attachment mechanism you need, and the product’s reviews seem like it’s worth every penny. “Bought this for my husband who received his degree in meteorology from UW years ago. He absolutely loved it! The quality is sturdy [and] very easy to put together and mount,” wrote one person who purchased it.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.