Survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Still shopping for those special outdoor someones in your life? We have a few suggestions to make your holiday gift giving a little easier. These gift ideas should work for runners, bikers, skiers, fisherman, hikers and the otherwise outdoor inclined on your list. Expedited shipping is still available from most retailers so you can still get these delivered before time runs out.
Bike Locks
Keep your trusty steed safe with a good quality bike lock. One that came to our attention lightly is the Bordo Granit X Plus. Made by German manufacturer ABUS, this thing is designed for serious bike safety. The Bordo Granit weighs in at nearly four pounds. It’s made from 5.5 millimeter thick steel bars (much more difficult to cut than your typical cable or chain lock) and has a protected key cylinder to guard against picking. It also comes at a serious price. But if your special someone loves their ride, the Bordo Granit from ABUS will certainly show them you care.
Find them at Amazon. Under $200.
Bluetooth Earbuds
Bluetooth earbuds get better every year. They’ve gone from chunky and difficult to wear to barely there. Connections are more stable and audio quality improved as well. We tried a few different brands recently and found the JLab Epic Earbuds to be our favorites. Weight is just over half an ounce. Batteries last as long at 10 hours. Color options include standard black, blue and a white/gray. In the box there’s a smartphone case with belt clip, a USB cable and coupon for the Rock My Run app. Find them at Amazon. Under $100.
Hybrid Jackets
We’ve been fascinated of late with how jacket designers are combining and re-combining different fabrics to address the needs of outdoor activities. These hybrid jackets often combine insulation in areas where it’s needed and lighter weight fabrics where it’s not. We also like that several companies now hit price points that put these products in reach of more consumers. Case in point, the C9 Champion Premium Jacket. It combines an insulated core with stretch sleeves for an ideal outer or mid-layer for a range of activities. Find it at Target for under $50.
Underwear
As you may know, we have two gifting traditions at GearGuide HQ. The first GearGuide gift-giving tradition is underwear. We tend toward the outlandish and novelty type (think boxers emblazoned with large Woolly Buggers and cartoon reindeer). Kind of our version of the ugly sweater accept you can cover them up with a pair of your favorite jeans. Patagonia makes a silkweight version that we like. They’re both ugly and functional, made from moisture-wicking fabric. Find them at Moosejaw. About $30.
Socks
The second GearGuide tradition is we fill Christmas Stockings with, well, stockings (aka socks). This year, we’re smitten with some products from Showers Pass. This manufacturer went out of their way to improve the reflectivity of some of their products and unveiled the Reflective Torch socks. They employ 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material coating technology that boasts 500 candle power reflectivity. Four color combos are available. Find them at Campmor for about $20.
Half Buff
In the old days, I carried a bandanna (or tied one around my neck). Now my preferred option is the Buff. I wear one when skiing, bike riding, hiking, whatever. However, a standard Buff is often just too big. I’ve been tempted recently to cut my old ones in half and now I don’t have to. Buff now makes a Half Buff. Great to keep the sweat out of your eyes on a long ride. Or the sun off your neck on that next fishing trip. Find them at REI. About $15.