Father’s Day is right around the corner. And GearGuide plans to celebrate in the Sierras while camping, fly fishing and hiking. We suggest you do the same, get out there with your Dad and enjoy the day. Whatever outdoor activity you plan on doing, don’t forget to bring along a little something to show the old man how much you care. Here’s a few ideas to consider.
The Aerobie Sprint Ring
Year after year of searching for that perfect gift and watching Dad’s reaction led me to a conclusion recently – one of the best gifts is often something to toss around the backyard. GearGuide was recently re-acquainted with the Aerobie. You’ll probably remember it as an infomercial sensation that started in the 1980s. But its lightweight and soft-sided construction makes it one of the best flying discs around, easier to throw and catch than a Frisbee.
Find the Aerobie at REI.
Merino Wool Socks from Lorpen
We normally wouldn’t suggest socks as a Father’s Day gift. But merino wool blends have started to take over the GearGuide sock drawer these days – and for good reason. They’re naturally breathable and odor resistant. They’re comfortable and hard-wearing. And you can find them for just about any sport or activity, from the low-cut runners to nearly to the knee ski socks. We tried the Lorpen Comfort Life products recently and really liked them.
Find Lorpen at Sierra Trading Post.
MFC River Camo Fly Box
There’s a trend in the fly fishing industry probably best described as “river camo.” It’s the art – literally – of transforming regular old fly fishing gear into beautifully painted sculptures. We first noticed the trend in reels from a range of manufacturers costing hundreds of dollars. But now you can find it on products of almost any type, from nippers to water bottles, forceps to sunglasses. One of the coolest we’ve seen is the River Camo Fly Box from Montana Fly Company.
Find MFC at American Fly Fishing.
Quick Drying Ex Officio Shorts
Nothing beats a cargo short for a day of wet wading a summer trout stream. Ex Officio makes one of the best. Their Nio Amphi shorts are extremely lightweight and boast a ton of fishing-specific features including five pockets for holding everything from fly boxes to wading staffs. The rear pocket is zippered to make sure your wallet doesn’t float away when wading deep or disappear when hiking through the underbrush. Nice touch.
Find the Ex Officio Nio Amphi Short at Backcountry.com
Breathable Columbia Airgill Shirt
Columbia continues to innovate in a range of areas including fabric technology. One of their recent offerings is the Omni-Freeze ICE fabric. When it gets wet, the temperature of the fabric drops helping to keep you cool on a hot summer day. Columbia recently sent GearGuide their Airgill Chill Long Sleeve Shirt to try. It’s such a cool looking product – with venting down the side and back, zippered pockets and a rod-holder tab – that we’d buy it for those features alone.
Find the Columbia Airgill Chill Shirt at Altrec.
Good luck on your search for an outdoor-oriented gift for your Dad.
Happy Father’s Day!