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Give gifts that enhance the outdoor experience and relish the fact that your loved one will carry your gift along on great adventures.
All items listed here are things we’ve personally tested or brands that we love. From a tent to hiking boots, we’ve got you covered.
Pelican Dayventure Backpack Cooler: $250
Fill it, chill it, and never leave home without it. The Pelican Dayventure Backpack Cooler is a rugged, lightweight, and comfortable backpack that features dual-insulated compartments. The bottom is a dedicated cooler, complete with a leak-resistant zipper and enough room for a six-pack.
The insulated upper compartment provides excellent storage for dry goods, supplies, and more, and features a wide roll-top opening for easy access. Regardless of what you carry, you can rest assured knowing it will be safe in this durable, waterproof, tear-resistant pack.
Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit: $100
Bring fire to the backcountry without leaving a trace. The Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit sets up in a minute, burns fast, and generates about 80 percent less smoke that a typical fire pit. Best of all, it won’t scorch the earth beneath — all thanks to its “Fire Mesh” design, which allows air to draw in from below.
The result is a more efficient fire that complies with both BLM and National Forest Service regulations. Great for rafters and adventures by land where low impact is a must, the Pop-Up Fire Pit weighs 8 pounds and can hold up to 125 pounds of firewood. Best of all, it cools to the touch within minutes of snuffing the flame. We’ve tried it and are impressed.
Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Fleece Hoodie — Women’s & Men’s: $145
Want to get in on what might be the next big brand? Appalachian Gear Company (AGC) uses 100-percent alpaca fiber with “no harsh chemical processing,” no synthetic fibers, and all U.S. manufacturing. The result: AGC’s trademark All-Paca material — a warm, soft, stretchy alternative to merino.
We’ve worn these hoodies through fall and winter and can attest to their comfort, whether on a chilly walk, in a drafty gear cave, or snuggling up at home at the end of an epic day. This Charlotte, North Carolina-based brand launched on Kickstarter late last year and is just now making a name for itself.
L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Hooded Down Jacket — Men’s & Women’s: $249
Give the gift of versatile, sustainable warmth with the Ultralight 850 Hooded Down Jacket. The DownTek PFC-free insulation stays dry longer, which means excellent warmth no matter the conditions. Elasticized cuffs and drawcord hem keep the cold wind out. And the internal zippered pocket keeps essentials handy.
Whether heading to the mountains or relaxing in town, this durable, sustainable, and packable jacket is an everyday essential. With plenty of styles, lengths, and colors, you’re bound to find the perfect fit.
Leatherman FREE P2: $120
A Leatherman is never a bad gift, but this year the brand gave gear lovers something to really lust for. The FREE series, new for 2019, uses magnets to rethink how we use multitools. Most notably, the pliers-based FREE P2 sports one-handed operation — flick your wrist, and the tool butterflies open with a flourish.
Plus, DIYers can access all the implements with a simple thumbroll, sure to save more than a few fingernails. We reviewed the FREE P2 and the FREE K Series pocket knife. We love them. Maybe buy two — you’re sure to want want for yourself.
REI Co-op Big Haul 40 Duffel: $90
This duffel is undeniably cool. It doesn’t just look rugged, it is rugged. We took it across the U.S.-Mexico border last year for a multiday bikepacking trip. Not only that, but since then we’ve dropped it, kicked it, strapped it down, and stuffed it in overhead bins, and it shows zero signs of fatigue.
With some cleverly designed carry options — backpack straps, shoulder sling, and suitcase carry — and not too many features, the REI Big Haul Duffel 40L wins our praise. Compression straps, ballistic nylon construction, and daisy chains make this a versatile and durable bag.
And at 40 L, it’s small enough to bring almost anywhere but big enough to bring almost anything.
Western Rise Evolution Pant — Men’s: $149
Functionally stylish but with a little give in the weave, the Evolution is a great slim pant and among our favorite men’s travel pants. The material has a durable weave that mimics denim. And the DWR coating is outstanding and even kept us dry while standing in a downpour.
Hydro Flask Cooler Cup: $25
It’s a koozie when you want it, a cup when you need it. Hydro Flask’s unassuming Cooler Cup has an ingenious design: The silicone lid that holds a can in place doubles as a nonslip base for the 12-ounce vessel. We’ve tried it and love it — it’s easy to use, insulated, and very packable. Great for frequent and year-round campers.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Backpack: $220
Mountainsmith’s Zerk 40 pack is short for “Berzerk,” and that’s exactly who the brand tapped to help design it. With design input and testing by the one and only Real Hiking Viking (a.k.a. thru-hiker Tom Gathman), Mountainsmith developed a pack built for fast and long pursuits on trail.
Add or remove bungees and straps as you see fit on this semi-customizable pack, all to add comfort and carry options, or drop weight. The primary concept behind the pack, Gathman told us, is to make all hiking essentials stowable and accessible on the go.
Want a full breakdown? Check out the video review we did with The Real Hiking Viking.
Ombraz No-Arm Sunglasses: $140
Doubt that drawcord sunglasses are more comfortable? We did too — until we tried them. Ombraz sunglasses offer a whole new look on shades, and we’re here for them. The armless sunglasses are easy to put on and take off, provide surprising comfort, and resist falling off your head like traditional frames. Still not sure? Check out our review here.
Vasque Clarion ’88 GTX Mid Hiking Boot — Men’s & Women’s: $160
Look cool, stay dry. Vasque relaunches the heritage Clarion ’88 boot, now with waterproof suede leather and a GORE-TEX membrane. Available in color-splashed or monochrome men’s and women’s styles, the Clarion ’88 looks like a hand-me-down boot from the days of Magnum P.I. and “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”
We’ve been wearing these on summer camp trips, fall hikes, and even early-season blizzards in Denver. The boots live up to the GORE-TEX reputation, keeping our feet dry and warm through a variety of conditions.
BioLite SolarHome 620 Lights, Charger and Radio: $150
Had it with the city life? BioLite’s Solar Home 620 kit turns any dwelling into an off-grid sanctuary. Be it your campsite, cabin, or car, the Solar Home 620 adds illumination and entertainment — powered by the sun.
The kit includes a 6W solar panel, MP3/FM radio, and three hanging lights — each putting out 100 lumens. This makes a great gift for car campers, van lifers, and doomsday preppers.
Sea to Summit Ascent (Unisex) & Flame (Women’s) Sleeping Bags: $299-549
What were our favorite sleeping bags this year? Sea to Summit swept the top spots for both men and women. The unisex Ascent 15-degree was the male tester’s favorite, while the ultralight women’s Flame bag won over our female tester.
The Ascent scored big for cushy warmth, strong construction, and an ability to accommodate numerous sleep positions. As for the Flame, it provides great loft, high packability, and simple but comfortable construction.
Want to learn more about our favorite sleeping bags? Check out GearJunkie’s “Best Sleeping Bags.”
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack: $170
Anyone who travels often will appreciate this versatile carry-on. It’s sleek, durable, able to fit an incredible amount of stuff in a small space, and won the top spot in our article “The Best Travel Backpacks of 2019.”
You can completely tuck away the backpack straps and carry like a briefcase. Or wear it comfortably as a backpack. We’ve stuffed this pack to the gills countless times and have never had a problem with the zippers.
Kammok Mantis All-In-One Hammock Tent: $229
The hammock craze is here to stay, and all-in-one hammock systems could be the next big thing. Kammok’s Mantis All-In-One Hammock Tent offers a lightweight base, bug net, and rainfly tarp. So with the Mantis, you can hang in virtually any element — rain, bugs, or clear, starry night.
The whole shebang weighs in at 2 pounds 12 ounces and comes with a lifetime Kammok warranty. Plus, our tester tried it out this year and loved it. And if you’re looking for an ultralight version, check out the Mantis UL ($259), the same setup in a 2-pound 3-ounce package.
Bontrager Specter WaveCel Bike Helmet: $150
Looking for a new kind of bicycle helmet? Bontrager made waves (literally) in the cycling world this year with its line of WaveCel helmets. The brand claims its “flex, crumple, and glide” pleats outperform standard EPS foam helmets when it comes to preventing concussions in common bike accidents.
The claims are controversial, but in our riding tests, the helmets proved comfortable and offered peace of mind. And at $150, it’s nowhere near as expensive as some high-performance options.
NEMO Hornet Elite 2-Person 3-Season Tent: $500
Freestanding, lightweight, and sturdy in foul weather, the NEMO Hornet has proved itself time and again among GearJunkie testers. Mostly, we love how much this tent saves both weight and pack space. The NEMO Hornet Elite weighs a scant 2 pounds 1 ounce.
Ditch some stakes and the stuff sack for a minimum trail weight of 1 pound 11 ounces. And it uses a clever three-pole design, mesh interior, and integrated rainfly for a tent that keeps out bugs, rain, and wind.
tasc Performance Carrollton T-Shirt — Men’s: $38
Looking for the ultimate do-all shirt? Then it’s time you met tasc Performance. Made from a blend of organic cotton and bamboo (with a touch of spandex), this T-shirt is unbelievably comfortable. Plus, it has an antimicrobial treatment to prevent odor build up and four-way stretch for full range of movement.
The Carrollton is also available in a long-sleeve and hoodie. For women, check out these great options.
DemerBox Bluetooth Speaker: $299
Add more tunes to your life. This rugged speaker will keep the music flowing for 40 hours on a single charge. It’s waterproof, portable, and you can even pair speakers for a full-on party. It’s become our favorite go-to speaker and is the ultimate gift for anyone who likes to spend time outdoors with their favorite songs pumping.
You can choose from a variety of colors, or surprise your favorite angler with the limited-edition Fly Box DB2.
Black Diamond Solution Harness — Men’s & Women’s: $70
Slender, lightweight, and super inexpensive: Black Diamond’s Solution harness offers a whole lot of bang for not a lot of buck. We tested this harness and were impressed with its comfort, construction, and value. It’s a great choice for logging hours at the gym this winter or as an all-around go-to harness.
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Rohan Nordic Jeans — Men’s & Women’s: $140
Go ahead, ski in jeans! Rohan’s Nordic Jeans look and feel like everyday denim, thanks to THERMOLITE PRO — tiny ceramic pigments that transfer infrared rays from the sun into heat that keeps your legs warm. No bulky lining means more range of motion but all the benefits of cold-weather pants.
We’ve been wearing a pair through an early-season cold snap and can attest they work like a charm. They’re not waterproof, so they won’t replace your actual ski bibs — but they’re great as stylish trousers when the mercury dips.
Wave Tools Therapy Myofascial Release Massager: $50
Trigger it, scrape it, rub it, and massage that pain away with the simple but versatile Wave tool. The Wave boasts eight different surfaces for various myofascial release and soft tissue manipulation.
The brand advertises it for treating adhesions, scar tissue, fibrosis, trigger points, myofascial restriction, pain, and cellulite. We use it for post-climb/ride/hike muscle relief.
Pocketalk Language Translator: $249-299
Add a layer of confidence to your travels with a pocket-size translation device. Pocketalk knows conversational speech patterns in 74 languages and works like a walkie-talkie. Set your input and output languages, then hold down the left button to speak. When you’re done recording up to 30 seconds of speech, let go and Pocketalk plays back in the output language almost instantly.
Developer Sourcenext claims its cloud-based translation outperforms Google Translate and in our use, the Pocketalk caught virtually all idioms and turns of phrase. Plus, Pocketalk utilizes noise-canceling speakers to make it easer to hear in busy, noisy public places. The device alone costs $249 to work off your phone’s data or Wi-Fi.
But for $299, comes with 2 years of unlimited use and a global SIM card that works in 126 countries.
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