Selecting gifts for gear-rich adventurists can be tough. Most outdoor enthusiasts prefer to select their own core gear and already have the stuff they need.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of accessories and secondary gear that will make any gear head happy. We’ve dug through this year’s offerings and found some great gift ideas sure to please this holiday season.
OR Juneau Sherpa Fleece jacket
The Juneau Fleece jackets from Outdoor Research – OR – represent a modern take on the classic fleece layer. Offered in both men’s and women’s stylings, the Juneau line-up presents a stylish look in a highly functional layer. Our test team was especially happy with the women’s Juneau Sherpa Fleece Jacket. The relaxed fit makes it comfortable as a stand-alone top layer or as a mid-layer under a shell. The high-pile Sherpa fleece provides great insulation with a downy-soft feel. The Juneau line-up also includes a men’s jacket and a hoody version.
$129. Buy Now
OR Feedback Shirt Jacket
The cozy comfort of a soft, well-worn flannel shirt is hard to beat, so when OR a looking for an even warmer alternative, they didn’t try to beat it – they improved on it. The Feedback Shirt Jacket starts with the classic OR Feedback Flannel shirt and adds an inner liner for extra insulation. The body of the Shirt Jacket features a fluffy, soft Sherpa Fleece liner for warmth and comfort. The sleeves, though, gained a nylon-faced layer of synthetic insulation OR dubs VerticalX Eco Insulation. This insulation boasts 85% recycled content, while the slick nylon face allows the jacket arms to be easily slide on over base or mid-layers. The Feedback Shirt Jacket can serve as a styling stand-alone outer layer or layered under a shell for warmth. $149. Buy Now
ORCA Hydra 22 beverage bottle
The plethora of insulated beverage bottles today makes picking one a matter of personal preference, but the best offers a few key features everyone will appreciation. And the ORCA Hydra 22 features the best blend of bottle features we’ve seen this season. The double-walled stainless-steel construction provides durability and great insulation for keeping cold drinks cold, and hot drinks hot. A rugged powder coating on the exterior adds to the bottle’s durability and – with 18 color options – style. A food-grade silicon band around the lid’s rim gives users a firm, non-slip grip, with the flip-out “whale-tail” handle makes one-handed toting a breeze. The lid itself features a screw-top drinking port in addition to the full-opening cover. The bottle is fully dishwasher safe. $33. Buy Now.
MSR Reactor Stove 1.7Liter
Integrated cook systems have become standard equipment for many backpackers, and the ever-popular MSR Reactor Stove system stands as the best in the category. The 1.7-liter version serves as a work-force cooker for small camping groups. The integrated burn-and-cookpot set-up makes the stove an efficient cooker – we consistently had a full liter of boiling water in around 3 minutes, even in stormy Pacific Northwest conditions during autumn backpacking excursions. The Reactor’s fast boil time means less fuel is needed, saving hikers pack weight and money in the long run. $250. Buy Now.
Neft Vodka in shatter-proof barrels
In this age of craft distillers, it seems vodka producers can be found in nearly every mountain town. And while there are many good distillers, there aren’t a lot of great ones. One of the best we’ve found recently, though, is Neft. This Austrian brand uses four varieties of rye in their processes and an oxygen-rich spring water from the Alps to produce a clear, ultra-smooth vodka.
But the brand doesn’t stop with just a great beverage. Neft uses renewable energy for their primary power needs – and soon will be using 100-percent renewable energy. And when it comes to packaging their product, Neft ships their vodka not in glass bottles but in easily recyclable cans, uniquely shaped like 55-gallon drums. Available in individual sized 100 ml drums – perfect stocking-stuffer gifts – and large 750 ml drums, Neft Vodka sports a unique look and a premium taste. $32. Buy now.
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder
Rye whiskey is an American original and – because of the prevalence of rye grown in the area – was a beverage of choice for much of the mid-Atlantic region starting around the time of our nation’s War of Independence. Today, craft distiller Wyoming Whiskey offers a modern Rye-blend Whiskey they’ve dubbed their Outryder. This whiskey is distilled from a blended mash containing rye, corn, and malted barley. The result is a unique flavor profile with the best notes pulled from both traditional rye and a premium bourbon. The whiskey sports a smooth texture and a spicy, cinnamon-like finish. We found Wyoming Whiskey Outryder is best served neat or with just a touch of water to open up the profound flavors. $79. More Information.
10 Barrel Pray for POW Winter Stout
In the ski world, POW has double meaning. The term is an acronym for the non-profit group, Protect Our Winters. In this case, POW fights the climate change battle to ensure snow sport enthusiasts continue to have a healthy environment in which to enjoy our sports. The other use of POW is as an abbreviation for the most beloved of all snow: Fresh Powder!
10 Barrel Brewing offers a special release of a winter stout they’ve named Pray for POW, in other honor both definitions. A portion of sales of Pray for POW will be donated to the Protect Our Winters organization, and the brewers are certainly dreaming for untracked powder as they work on the brew. The rich stout sports strong notes of chocolate with a hunt of citrus. The beer is robust, but for a stout, remarkably light and refreshing. It makes a great après ski beverage – or just a good weeknight treat! $10/six-pack. More information.
Costa Santiago & Caleta sunglasses
Costa polarized sunglasses are widely recognized in the fishing world as some of the best eyewear for active anglers. Costa’s lenses offer precision optics, with no distortion so they can be worn all day on the water with no eye strain or fatigue. But the brand decided to do even more for the anglers – and all lovers of water. The new Santiago and Caleta glasses anchor Costas Untangled Collection. The glasses in this series boast frames made almost entirely from recycled fishing nets. More than 97-percent of the material used in the Caleta and Santiago frames is recycled net material.
The Caleta offers a clean design and stylish look for women, while the Santiago sports larger lenses and broader side panels to shield the broader faces of men. The frames include rubberized grips on the tips of the temple pieces to help hold the glasses comfortably in place, in the presence of sweat and water spray. Both models are available in a range of lens and frame colors. $226. Buy now.
Gregory Arrio 24 daypack
Gregory packs have a long, celebrated history among serious hikers. The brand has been produced top-quality packs for decades, the latest light daypack upholds the brand’s stellar reputation. The Gregory Arrio 24 serves a perfect fast and light pack for day hikers, as well as for adventure travel, jaunts around town, or even most trail runs or mountain biking excursions. The pack’s ventilated back panel lets sweat dry during use, as does the aerated foam padding the contoured shoulder straps. The pack body include a 24-liter main compartment, and slim zippered top pocket, and a pair of side pockets suitable for water bottles, cameras, or other gear you want easily reachable. Inside, the pack offers a hydration sleeve with a clip hanger to prevent ‘reservoir sag’. A slim hipbelt keeps the pack stable durable scrambles or bike rides but can be removed when not needed. All-in-all, the Arrio is a great do-it-all day pack! $99. Buy Now.
