Holiday Gift Guide
Buying gifts for the outdoors lover in your life can be daunting. With new brands and categories seemingly arriving daily, the line between utility and “I’m never using that thing” is getting pretty, pretty blurry.
But don’t despair! We’ve created the non-hiker’s guide to holiday shopping. Gift ideas are sorted by price, but don’t feel obligated to spend big bucks- some of our favorite pieces of gear cost $50 or less. We hope this guide will make navigating holiday shopping a bit easier, and bring lots of (real) smiles to your loved ones. Happy hunting.
Note: we encourage supporting small businesses whenever possible. Links are provided as a courtesy and in this case, an endorsement of these outstanding companies.
The list:
Gifts under $25
Many of the items at this price are among the most forgotten in campers’ packs every year. A good pair of lightweight gloves is useful not just in the winter, but on summer trips in the mountains or far north. One of our favorites is this liner glove from Smartwool. Smartwool makes some of our favorite base layers and- of course- socks. Made from super soft and durable Merino wool, these gloves feel fantastic even after multiple seasons.
Speaking of forgotten items, have you ever tried to drink coffee or hot chocolate from a plastic water bottle? And then had water from it the next day? Yuck! This mug from GSI hits the hiker’s trifecta: cheap, durable, and lightweight. Ours have traveled from Patagonia to Mount Rainier over the last 6 years and are still going strong.
Camp coffee presents a conundrum: keep it simple (and gross) and go for the instant stuff? Dirty your cookware with cowboy coffee? Or should we add weight to the pack and carry a separate apparatus? For the coffee lover in your life, GSI once again comes to the rescue with the collapsible JavaDrip. Java junkies can enjoy fresh pour over coffee without adding weight to the pack.
Gifts under $75
Ok, so it’s technically not a camping item, but yoga has been a part of our maintenance routine for a long, long time. Keep those bodies durable with an Introduction to Yoga for Beginners with Element Yoga and Ayurveda. This six week series will help build a solid foundation for establishing or continuing practice.
Weight matters when considering items to add to the backpack. Warmth also matters, which is why we love the Thermolite Reactor Extreme Liner from Sea to Summit. Weighing only 14 oz, this liner adds up to 15 degrees (F) to the temperature range of your sleeping bag. Additionally, it can be used alone in milder temperatures.
A good headlamp is a necessity, not a luxury. There are seemingly infinite choices in this category, but we love the tried and true Spot 400 from Black Diamond. This lamp is lightweight, durable, water resistant, and a bargain at $45.
For car campers, a good chair is a must. Helinox is king of the category here, and we love their Rocking Feet chair for those nights around the campfire. It’s not the lightest item on the list, so it won’t be carried into the backcountry, but you’ll be the envy of everyone at the campfire sing- along.
Is it a teapot? Is it a bowl? A large mug? A small saucepan? At a scant 4.2 oz, the MSR Titan Kettle does it all. We’ve used it as our only pot on solo trips and as an accessory on big group trips. It is lightweight, durable, and serves multiple purposes.
Gifts under $150
A great insulating mid-layer is like a security blanket. The Teca Fleece Hooded Half-Zip from Cotopaxi has a hood and hand warmer pockets just like your favorite hooded pullover. Unlike that old cotton thing, this pullover is constructed of camp- appropriate recycled fleece and repurposed polyester.
What do you get the person who has everything? We think the Helio LX Pressure Shower is a pretty safe bet. Never again will we have to bring the dirty remnants of our hike, climb, or ride into the tent with us. We were skeptical right up to the time we were able to have a riverside warm shower after an early spring paddle trip. Luxury!
The gold standard in canister stoves for the last 20 years is the Jetboil Flash. This system combines the burner and pot in one super efficient unit, sized perfectly to house together with a small fuel canister. A small canister has lasted an entire 3-day weekend trip for 2 in the mountains. Now that’s efficient!
Of course, no list from us is complete without a bit of shameless self promotion. A gift card from Crooked Trail Adventures, available in $100 denominations, is a great way to encourage the adventurous spirit in your loved ones. Our gift cards are valid for any program and have no expiration. Send someone to camp this year!
