If you have a trail lover in your life, the Christmas shopping season can be a tricky one to navigate. A gift card to REI, Whole Earth, Hays Co, or Gruene Outfitters is always a safe bet, but if you’re looking to add a more personal touch, then let me offer the following options: For the Dayhikers and Backpackers—Gaia GPS. As a person who has a brass Stanley London compass on his desk, a little part of me dies to recommend this phone-based navigation app, however, it is the best and easiest navigation tool out there. Whether you’re daydreaming about the Angels Landing Trail at Zion National Park or just looking for new trails opened by the Greenbelt Alliance, this constantly updating topographic tool provides all the information you need to go on an adventure in your neighborhood or in your wildest imagination. Plus it uses your phone’s GPS, which is remarkably reliable even when your service provider is not. Finally, you can package an Outside Online subscription with the app, so your loved one can read up on all their favorite outdoor adventures.
For the Mountain bikers— KOM Cycling’s Tubeless Tire Repair Kit. My old road bike repair kit hangs off my current mountain bike seat, and every time I go to drop the seat, I get this weird crunchy sensation as I crush my old repair kit. So I asked my cyclocross- racing friend and neighbor for a recommendation, and I pass along his wisdom to the MTBer in your life who is looking to go light and lean. KOM’s kit weighs in at 25 grams and is the size of Chapstick. Everything you need is neatly packed inside, and it comes in seven different colors. This little tool can really save your bacon.
For the River Rats— Grayl GeoPress Purifier. I recently paddled from City Park to Spencer’s Canoe with a Water Safari veteran and a river guide, both of whom sang the praises of this water filtration system. As I fumbled with Nalgene and Gatorade bottles, I watched as this 24ounce press filtered river water in 8 seconds, and it was completely compatible with electrolyte powders. Needless to say, it’s now on my Christmas list. However, the absolute best gift you can give is that ever-fleeting, most precious commodity of time. What the trail lover in your life really wants is time on the trail. So save yourself some coin and whip up a few of those old coupons you made as a kid for your parents. Instead of prizes like “Do the Dishes,” or “Bathe the Dog,” try something like “1 Day Pass to Pedernales Falls,” or “Redeemable for 10 miles on a trail of your choice (blackout days apply).”
