Gifts to Give the Outdoor Adventurer in Your Life
Items for that person in your life who’s looking to take the next step outside, or to venture, as Samwise Gamgee would say, “the farthest from home I’ve ever been.”
Courtesy of Sea to Summit
Get geared up for off-the-grid adventure
The urge to get out into the great outdoors is unquestionably more prevalent than ever, as a public eager to escape the myriad restrictions that have become the norm in a COVID-era world (thankfully) looks for stimulating outlets beyond the couch and screens that for too long were our norm.
Of course, oncoming cold may deter some casual explorers who’ve been enjoying their first forays into the wild, but that’s no reason to shut things down for the season. Instead, this winter presents outdoor enthusiasts with the opportunity to change up routines, step outside of comfort zones, and immerse into surroundings like never before.
After all, overflowing campgrounds and public lands have compelled more seasoned campers to turn their eyes toward the backcountry, a shift confirmed earlier this year by officials at Montana’s Glacier National Park, where permit requests flooded inboxes in record numbers.
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Venturing into off-the-grid camping territory, however, can be intimidating. Uncertainties surround whether you have the proper gear, whether you’ll be warm enough, dry enough, safe enough.
Let’s get started on quieting at least some of those concerns. Below is a handful of gift ideas to buy that person in your life—or yourself—who’s looking to take that next step outside, or to venture, as Samwise Gamgee would say, “the farthest from home I’ve ever been.”
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Good-to-Go Meals
Good-To-Go’s dehydrated meals can meet the needs of the outdoors enthusiast, whether chasing summits or alpine lakes (or even looking for a quick meal at home). Each chef-inspired meal is handmade, gluten- and preservative-free, and low in sodium. Numerous vegan and vegetarian options are also available. All you need is boiling water. Check out Good-to-Go’s extensive list of dishes here.
Chuck Box Camp Kitchen
On the subject of camp cooking: The Chuck Box Camp Kitchen is a portable, durable, do-it-all storage box that will keep any camp space tidy. Compartments conveniently organize supplies, a detachable lid doubles as a kitchen sink, and a flat base area provides ideal space for brewing a morning pot of coffee coffee or using cookware. There may be nothing overtly flashy about the Chuck Box Camp Kitchen, but that’s exactly what I love about it.
Mammut Trion Spine 50
For heavy loads and mountaineering, Mammut’s Trion Spine 50 is one of the best. Flexibility, weight distribution, and a height-adjustable system allow users to tailor the pack to a comfortable fit. At 50 liters, space is abundant, and thanks to multiple access points, fishing out items is a breeze. Storage compartments are available to stow a hydration system, ropes, ice axes, and even skis, and a gear loop on the hip belt ensures critical equipment is never out of reach.
BioLite AlpenGlow Lantern
The BioLite AlpenGlow Lantern is great for providing a little camp ambience or illuminating task-oriented endeavors in the backcountry. The portable, rechargeable source comes in both 250 and 500 lumens and features color palettes inspired by mountain sunrises and sunsets. (And it keeps ticking in the rain, too.) A built-in rechargeable battery is capable of running for five hours on high and 200 hours on the lowest setting. Added features include a USB port to charge or connect phones or other equipment, and a nesting hook that makes hanging the lanterns easy. Pick up the 250-lumen variant for $69.95 or the 500 edition for $79.95.
Rumpl Blanket
Northern Cheyenne artist and Bay Area native Jordan Ann Craig partnered with Rumpl’s Artist Division to produce a series of Native American art-inspired camping blankets, with a portion of every sale donated to the First Peoples Fund. Craig hopes to use her platform to shine a light on the oft-neglected issue of violence against Native American women, which you can learn more about via the Indian Law Resource Center and the Safe Women, Strong Nations initiative.
Sea to Summit X-Set Kettle & Mugs
Packing for outdoor adventure is infinitely easier thanks to this collapsible cookware set. No longer will camping packing space have to be sacrificed to ensure a cup of coffee in the morning. The X-Set contains two collapsible mugs and kettle constructed with an aluminum base and silicone sides that flatten nicely to save space. Want more? Add the X-Brew Coffee Dripper that can collapse and fit into this set.
Klymit Drift Camp Pillow
There is nothing fun about forgetting a decent head rest while sleeping under the stars. No amount of clothes balled up ever seems to suffice. Thanks to Klymit, there is the Drift Pillow, a travel-friendly, water-resistant, easy-to-clean camping pillow that you can compress thanks to its memory foam construction. Additionally, its removable outer shell covers a soft cotton exterior that can be used in any situation. Sweet dreams!
Somewear Global Hotspot
Getting lost in the backcountry is never something we anticipate, but it can happen to the best of us. The Somewear Global Hotspot helps by pairing with any smartphone to maintain connectivity whenever cellular service drops. Tracking and SOS search-and-rescue software provide location data in real time so the important people in your life can breathe easier knowing where you are and if—knock on wood—there is an emergency.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Sleeping Bag
Backcountry adventures require a reliable sleeping bag that can tackle the cold and keep space and weight in mind. The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 does all that. A goose down fill keeps things toasty on the coldest alpine ascents, and a shape-shifting, water-repellant nylon shell and accompanying compression sack ensure it won’t take up much-needed space. Insulation is never an issue here, and thanks to a reflective, glow-in-the-dark zipper, neither is visibility.
Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka
The Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka will keep things warm and dry in just about any setting. Patagonia rarely disappoints, and that standard is on display here with this Fair Trade-certified, 3-in-1 down design that can oscillate between a breathable shell for wet days, a casual jacket when there’s a chill in the air, or a heavy parka ready to withstand a blustery mountain outing. Check out men’s and women’s options.
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