Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the outdoor enthusiast? Here are some suggestions for the runners, hikers, bikers, campers, fishermen and skiers on your list – gifts and stocking stuffers that range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred.
Under $15
Hoo Rag Seamless Bandana – Looking for a less expensive alternative for the tried-and-true Buff, well here you have it. Hoo Rag is based down in Florida and makes a whole range of seamless bandanas for just about every sport. And prices start at roughly 20 percent less than alternatives. Find them at www.hoorag.com.
Under $20
Road ID Slim – With the Wrist ID Slim, the Road ID enters the world of all day, everyday wear. It’s the width of a cause band that you see on arms everywhere. The Wrist ID wraps the band with a stainless surgical steel ID plate that can contain five lines of information. We’ve been wearing them for years and you should too. Find them at www.roadid.com.
Polar Bottle Ergo – Help someone on your list dump store-bought water and start packing their own in a reusable bottle. We reviewed the original Polar Bottle earlier this year, and the new Ergo was an instant hit at GearGuide keeping beverages icy cold for a very long time. Find them at Amazon.
Under $25
Lorpen Tri Layer Ski Sock – Based in the Spanish Basque country, Lorpen is focused on producing “the best technical socks for serious outdoor activities.” They use man-made fibers and natural Merino wool in their Tri Layer Ski Sock for comfort, warmth and moisture control. They can be found at Sierra Trading Post.
Under $70
Tifosi Slip Sunglasses – Just about all Tifosi products come with interchangeable lenses for virtually every sport and every condition. There are no fewer than 10 color options plus polarization and photo-sensitive treatments available. The Slips are one of our favorites for running with the high-speed red lens. They can be found at REI.
Under $150
LifeProof nuud Case for iPad – We love our gadgets at GearGuide. Chief among them, the iPad, which we use for navigation, blue-lining small streams, and a whole lot more. We’ve looked at a lot of protective case options in the past year and one of the best we’ve found for outdoors is the LifeProof nuud case. It protects the iPad from dust, dirt, water and shock. Find them at Amazon.
Under $250
Sierra Designs DriDown Gnar Lite Jacket – Waterproof down is sure to be one of the hottest tickets this winter. Sierra Designs makes one of the best in their DriDown Gnar Lite Jacket. It uses 800-fill-power down and delivers lightweight warmth when you need it, even when wet. Find it at Altrec and REI.
Under $500
Suunto Ambit Sport Watch – The Ambit represents one of the newest adds to the Finnish compass and watch manufacturer Suunto’s product line. We reviewed the Ambit earlier this year and found it to be one of the most ambitious, combining both the features of a GPS-powered training watch with advanced navigation. Think of it as a training watch on steroids or an ABC watch on, well, steroids. They can be found at Eastern Mountain Sports and REI