It’s the gift-giving season and many of us have someone who engages in outdoor recreation on their gift list. Whether they hike, run, cycle, hunt, fish, ride horses, or whatever else you can dream of, finding a gift for the outdoor recreationist on your list can be a challenge.
Making things tougher is that the outdoorsy types tend to purchase what they need when they need it, and often know exactly what they want, leaving the shopper with few purchasing options. Ask my wife how tough I am to buy for…
Fortunately, there are already pre-made lists of gift ideas for you to consult.
For hikers, you can start with the American Hiking Society’s “Ten Essentials” for hiking. Many of the items on the list, such as a compass, multi-tool, flashlights (headlights are great) make good stocking stuffers. A space blanket is also a good stocking stuffer and satisfies the “extra layer” essential. Everyone tends to use GPS or our phones for navigating, but paper maps often save the day when you don’t have a signal, your device loses power, or you just don’t want to be tethered to another piece of technology. In the Pikes Peak region, Pocket Pals Trail Maps have the best locally produced and frequently updated maps. And, if you still want a map on your device, they offer theirs as digital versions, too.
Appropriate footwear is the first item in the Ten Essentials list, but getting the right pair of hiking boots for someone else is, well, virtually impossible. Socks, however, also count as footwear and every hiker needs new socks at some point. My favorite brands are Smartwool and Darn Tough, with Darn Tough’s lifetime warranty making them a great bargain.
If you’re looking for a more substantial gift, consider a smartwatch geared towards outdoor recreation, such as from Garmin or Suunto, or a GPS device, or a new backpack, or a tent or sleeping bag.
For the cyclist on your list, the Trails to Rails Conservancy has a list of fifteen essentials. Many are great stocking stuffers, such as patch kits, spare tubes, and multi-tools, while others are more substantial, such as helmets (please don’t ride without one), bags, trip computers and cycling shorts, and of course, a bike. Yeah, that can be pricey. Forget I mentioned it.
A lot of things carry over from both the hiking and cycling lists, such as maps, footwear, smartwatches, lighting, etc.
If all else fails, get a gift card from their favorite store. A gift card might sound impersonal, but they are a good choice for the really hard to please or hard to buy for.
And, remember to buy local!
If an item isn’t what you want to give, consider giving an experience instead. The new angler might like an outing with a fly-fishing guide, the hiker eager to climb their first fourteener might rather do it with a hiking guide, and the cyclist wanting to try something new might like someone to show them the ropes.
And if none of these ideas work, then make a contribution in their name to one of the many non-profit organizations in the Give Pikes Peak campaign.
Be Good. Do Good Things. Leave No Trace.
