Ho, ho, ho! And a holy smokes, where did the time go. Christmas is right around the corner and we at GearGuide find ourselves scrambling for some last minute gift ideas. Here are our 2013 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.
Socks
At GearGuide, one of our traditions is to stuff Christmas stockings with stockings. Odd, I know. But hey, you can never have enough socks. Two brands that came to our attention recently include Swiftwick, a company that makes great performance-oriented products from Merino wool, and Darn Tough, the Vermont company with the killer unconditional lifetime guarantee. We dig the Darn Tough Hike/Trek and Swiftwick Pursuit Seven. You can find Darn Tough at
REI. And Swiftwick is available at Amazon.
ID Bracelet
Safety, man, safety. What better gift to give than safety. We run in the wee hours of the morning, ride roads spotted with distracted drivers, and have kids that are increasingly independent. Making sure we and they are safe should something unexpected happen is where the ID bracelet comes in. One of the newer entries is MyID and using an easily scan-able QR code located on the back of the product, first responders can find out more about you in an emergency. We like the MyID Sleek which is available at Amazon.
Hoodies
Not too long ago, my brother asked me for gift ideas for his niece and nephew. I replied “hoodies for everyone.” I’m sure he thought I wasn’t serious, but he complied nonetheless. Several months later, those hoodies remain favorites and almost daily go-to clothing items as the temp drops. For a more adult version, check out the super-cool Chrome Cobra. This full-zip all Merino wool version might just be one of the most luxurious hoodies I’ve seen. It’s thick, warm and hard wearing. Find it at
Jensen USA.
Multitool
What can I say? I love the multitool. And year after year, I tend to pick up a few favorites for stocking stuffers. This year, tops on my list are those from Serfas. The company recently rolled out one of the most comprehensive biking multitool lines on the market. They’re beautifully made, with an almost jewel-like quality to them thanks to the black, stainless and gold color scheme. They also come in a range of sizes and feature built-in inflation. They can be found at Amazon.
Softshell Jacket
Softshell jacket, you say? I can’t afford to give one of those as a gift. Think again. With Free Country, you can afford to give the gift of softshell goodness to everyone on your list. For around $45 (today’s price on Amazon), you can purchase a top-notch softshell jacket from Free Country. That’s about 30 percent of the cost of one from say The North Face. There are certainly a few compromises but in my judgement, they’re not substantial. Find them at Amazon.
