Skip the heart-shape boxes, chocolates, and flowers. Instead, try one of these gifts for your outdoorsy Valentine. —Amy Oberbroeckling
Full Suspension Off Road Carbon Tandem from Calfee-Ellsworth — $8,295
Nothing says, “I love you” like a singletrack sesh with your sweetie. The Witness is a full-suspension, carbon tandem bike handbuilt by Calfee Design and Ellswoth bikes in the USA. This off-road-ready ride is available as a 650b or as a 29er for a $500 up-charge.
Bula Melanie Beanie —$30 A soft, well made hat is a wonderful treat this time of year. Bula hats are manufactured in Canada and built to last. This one is made of merino wool, but the brand has lots of styles to fit a loved-one’s taste.
Ibex Men’s Woolies 150 Crew— $80 Soft, warm, non-stinky — merino base layers were just made for cuddling. Many brands (SmartWool, Icebreaker and Ibex, to name a few) make quality merino base layers. We like the original weight (150 g/m2) crew from Ibex. It handles duties as a base layer through the worst conditions year-round, and it looks good doing it.
Clark Jungle Vertex with Weathershield — $599 Clark built in plenty of space with this design so that both people can sleep separately, each side with its own independent stability (as well as building enough room into each of the two beds so couples can snuggle if so desired). A center storage compartment separates the hammock beds ensuring valuables are within hands reach.
Bamboo Face Wipes from Ursa Major — $24 These individually-wrapped wipes are made from bamboo fiber and are perfect for freshening up after a long day. Plus they come in great scents like orange, fir, and lavender.
Snow Peak Mini Hozuki Lantern with Candle Mode — $39 These lanterns give off the flicker of fire with the convenience of an on/off switch and L.E.D. light. With three brightness settings, the lantern can run up to 70 hours on its AAA batteries.
GSI Glacier Nesting Stainless Wineglasses — $15 What better way to toast to your Valentine than nesting stainless steel wine glasses at a favorite campsite (or even your backyard)?
PlatyPreserve From Platypus —$10 You’ll need some wine to fill those glasses. Leave the bottle at home with this $10 reusable, resealable bag. Pour your favorite wine into the PlatyPreserve, squeeze the air out, seal the cap, and you’re ready for the trail.
The Handful Sports Bra — $22 to $42 A supportive gesture for your sport loving partner, the Handful sports bra got a great review last year from contributor Chelsey Magness, who put the garment through the rigors of the Patagonian Expedition Race in Chile.
Wigwam Snow Powder Pro Socks — $22 Everyone loves a great pair of socks, and for the loved one who spends a lot of time in the outdoors, dry, warm feet are something to cherish. The Wigwam Snow Powder Pro are made of a nice mix of nylon, merino wool, and “Dri-release” polyester-cotton. We’ve used them and love these socks for all sorts of winter activities.
Gerber Shard — $7 ?This is one handy little keychain gizmo. It has seven “tools”: bottle opener, pry bar, wire stripper/puller, small and large flat head screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, and cross driver. Made of stainless steel and coated with matte black titanium nitride, it’s a sharp and inexpensive gift.
Himalaya Boot from Ahnu — $68 Give her something cozy to slip into. These Moccasin-inspired boots are lined with faux-sherling so they’re warm, but they also look good, too. I’ve been wearing them this winter in snowy Minnesota and my feet have stayed dry and warm, no problem.
Sport-Utility Robe — $300 Perfect for snuggle time, this robe combines the function of technical outerwear with the comfort of a bathrobe. Yep, for real. Designed for use both in and out of home, and made from organic bamboo/cotton fleece with brushed nylon panels and four large pockets. Handcrafted in California, to boot.
