It’s the eternal holiday dilemma: you want to get great gifts for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, but you can’t afford much beyond homemade cookies and a trail map. Fear not my friend, our annual Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide has got you covered with a list of prime gear gifts. Each rings in at $50 or less, and is guaranteed to stoke some serious holiday spirit.
Gerber Gear Spine & Vertebrae
Every adventurer knows that life in the outdoors is full of little problems. From shaving down kindling to fending off rogue squirrels; from forging shelter to tackling unexpected emergencies, being prepared with the right equipment is a necessity. So giving the gift of a quality fixed blade is a no brainer – carrying the Spine or Vertebrae not only demonstrates big holiday love, but they are an indicator that sweet experience has taught you how to give a truly kick ass gift. These new fixed blade designs from Gerber Gear ensure a sturdy, full tang blade, rubberized grip for all weather conditions, and rugged glass-filled nylon sheath for safe storage and transport. Even better, at $40 and $31 they won’t break the Christmas bank.
gerbergear.com; MSRP $40 & $31
FITS Socks
We know… socks may not seem like the most exciting gift in the world, but we promise that putting these socks in their stocking will illicit great tidings of holiday joy. Created by third and fourth generation textile manufacturers who set out to develop the absolute best fitting & most durable socks available, FITS has an array of options from lifestyle to running to skiing. With proprietary engineering and technology used to create the most comfortable, best fitting socks in the world we promise that once they put them on, they’ll never take them off.
fitssock.com; MSRP Varies by Size and Style.
STANLEY Master Series Flask
The STANLEY Master Series is quite literally the toughest of tough. These unrivaled beauties are made with 1.0 18/8 Stainless steel and QuadVac Insulation. Durable yet bad-ass, the Master Series mugs and bottles can handle any drink, hot or cold, anywhere. But for a stellar stocking stuffer, you can’t go wrong with the Master Series Flask. Cold-rolled steel, finished in the perfect Foundry black powdercoat (or go with the traditional STANLEY green). Its tool-styled finished cap was crafted with internal threads for a smooth lip land with every swig. Simply put, this flask offers a modern spin on a timeless design that you can carry with you from the wilderness to the city.
stanley-pmi.com; MSRP $35
LifeStraw
Got a family member that loves trail or travel life? If you answered YES, then the innovative LifeStraw might just be the definitive stocking stuffer gift. Whether it’s the original LifeStraw, the LifeStraw Flex, or the LifeStraw Universal, you’ll be giving a gift that’s capable of purifying up to 100 liters of water. LifeStraw delivers fresh clean water by crushing 99.9999% of nasty bacteria and gut-wrenching protozoa from tainted water sources. Even better, thanks to the Follow the Liters program, each LifeStraw product purchased provides one school child in a developing country with safe drinking water for an entire school year.
LifeStraw.com; MSRP $19.95 and $34.95 respectively.
Turtle Fur Beanie & Tubes
Fact: You can never go wrong with a quality beanie to keep noggins warm when the mercury drops and you’re looking for comfy warmth. And if you’re going to give the gift of a beanie, then you might as well make sure it’s one of the best options available. Enter Turtle Fur. Whether its the uber comfy Slater Ragg, the artisan wool knit Bholi Pom Beanie or any style in between, rest assured you’ll be getting a beanie they’ll want to wear year round. Super warm, lightweight and soft beyond belief, these beanies set the standard for winter lounging warmth.
Beanies aren’t their thing? Then go with one of the multi-functional Tubular Bandanas. What’s a Tubular Bandana you ask? It’s a scarf, a handkerchief, a neckerchief, a headband, a hairband, a wristband, a bandana, and a cap; it’s jack of all trades and the master of a few more. Simply put, it’s a gift they will love.
turtlefur.com; MRSP $23.99-$35.99
Hydro Flask 12 oz Coffee Mug
Whether their drink of choice is tea, coffee, chai, or apple juice, the Hydro Flask 12oz Coffee Mug is the perfect beverage vessel for your morning routine. These insulated mugs provide the tactile experience of their favorite morning cup with the insulation and dependability of their favorite Hydro Flask. However it gets used, the 18/8 Pro-Grade Stainless Steel construction with TempShield™ insulation keeps beverages cold or hot for hours.
hydroflask.com; MSRP $29.95
Princeton Tec SNAP
Determining what to get for the jack of all outdoor trades on your list? Go with the multitalented, hard-working and adventurous SNAP from Princeton Tec. SNAP is a one stop tool for any and all of their lighting needs: headlamp, flashlight, bike light, safety flasher, lantern and magnetic area light. The SNAP starts as a straightforward headlamp with additional focus on modular, adaptable design. SNAP’s head unit is removable from the headlamp bracket for handheld operation and use with the included accessories, snapping into place with a strong magnet.
Princetontec.com; MSRP $39.99
Klymit X Pillows
So you’ve got an outdoorsy family member that has every doodad and gadget under the sun. Sure, you can take the easy road and fill their stocking with Gu and Energy Bites… or you can fill their stocking with big love by putting one of the Klymit X Pillows in there. Supportive and comfortable at a weight they won’t even notice, the Klymit X Large and Klymit X Pillow are a backcountry sleep necessity. A self-centering X-design positions and cradles your head for stable comfort.
Klymit.com; MSRP $29.95 & $24.95
Hero Clip
Some of life’s most fulfilling adventures require lugging a lot of stuff – which is exactly what makes the Hero Clip a perfect stocking stuffer. The Hero Clip, a modified carabiner with a rotating, folding hook, hangs or rests just about anywhere and is designed to free your hands so that you can do more in your life. Precision-machined from lightweight, aircraft grade aluminum, the Hero Clip comes in an array of dazzling anodized finishes and now comes in three different sizes.
myheroclip.com; MSRP $19.95
One Eleven Adventure Watch
Okay… you caught us. We opened up by noting that everything in this guide was under $50. But sometimes you want to go a little above and beyond in your gift giving. And let’s be honest, a quality crafted watch is one heck of an impressive stocking stuffer. The heart of every One Eleven solar watch starts with a high quality, solar powered movement that continually charges in both natural and artificial light. This eliminates the need to replace a battery, reducing the toxic waste that goes back into our planet. A beautiful marriage of vintage and modern design, One Eleven watches offer a timeless look, while ensuring an incredible durability that your Grandpappy never had.
111watches.com; MSRP $125
Eagle Creek Pack-It Active Cubes
Stock their stockings with Pack-It Active and give the gift of fresh organizational sanity this year. Whether they are an active traveler, or weekend warrior, Pack-It™ answers two ever present questions:
1. How will I get all of this into my bag?
2. Where did I pack my underwear?
Packing Cubes, Sacs and Folders keep clothes organized, clean and relatively wrinkle free. Anti-Microbial treatment keeps the stink in (or out). Ideal for wet/sweaty/dirty socks, bathing suits, dirty laundry, anything you might actually use while traveling.
eaglecreek.com; MSRP $14.95