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It’s no mystery that this year looks and feels a lot different than most. I’m not sure what the holidays will be like, but I do know that we can still keep the good vibes rolling—whether that is by Face-timing our family and friends, getting outside to play in the snow or by giving a gift or two. I’ve always loved giving an experience during this time of year which could be going to a cooking class, cabin getaway, pottery class or planning a road trip. If you’re in the Vancouver area, you could enjoy the Canyon Lights at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver Craft Beer Week or Wildplay Adventures.

While I’m not a huge fan of the holiday gift-giving culture, I do like giving a well thought out gift—especially if it’s something that will last for years and will help someone get outdoors. If you are looking to give a gift to the outdoor lover in your life, I suggest investing in a high-quality gift that is made by reliable brands. This way, your gift will last.

I’ve curated a list of different products that will help you finish your holiday shopping quickly. Where possible, I have chosen ethical and sustainable brands like Patagonia, Icebreaker and PrAna so you can feel good about the gifts you’re giving.

Note: if you’re shopping from Canada, please use the ‘Shop in Canada’ links—everything else will be directed to US retailers.

In a hurry? Jump to a section here:

• Affordable Unisex Gifts
• Gifts For Her
• Gifts For Him
• Gifts For the Winter Lovers
• Gifts For the Photo Lovers
• Gifts to Stay Safe
• Gifts for the Campers
• Gifts for the Travel Lovers
• Sustainable Gifts

Affordable Unisex Gifts

Coal Headwear Uniform Beanie: If you know me, you know that I’m all about cozy beanies. This one is great for everyone and anyone and is double-layered to keep your ears toasty (Shop in Canada)
Grayl Ultralight Compact Purifier Bottle: This water purifier bottle uses a press-function to filter water in fifteen seconds so you can have fresh water anywhere—along the trail and even in the city. It removes pathogens like Hepatitis A and E. Coli and filters particulates such as sediments and microplastics. (Shop in Canada)
Hydro Flask Coffee Mug – 12 fl. oz. I bring this mug with me on every single backpacking adventure and use it while I’m home as well. The insulation keeps drinks cold or hot for hours on end. (Shop in Canada)

Nalgene Wide Mouth Bottle: A tried and true bottle for everyday, hiking, camping and anything else. (Shop in Canada)
Patagonia P-6 Label Trad Cap: I have this hat in four colours and love it for everyday wear, adventures and gym sessions. (Shop in Canada)
Goal Zero Crush Light: This collapsible lantern is solar-powered and is helpful in the fall and winter seasons when there’s not a lot of day light.

Smartwool Hike Medium Crew Sock: Socks are always a great gift—especially when they are made of merino wool. (Shop in Canada)
Patagonia Let My People Go Surfing: This book follows the life of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia and shares the journey from a young boy into a business-savvy, adventure-loving entrepreneur.
Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat: Instead of sitting on dirt or snow at camp, sit on this this self-inflating, multi-purpose seat for backcountry comfort. It packs to the size of a water bottle!

Gifts for her

Patagonia Los Gatos 1/4-Zip Jacket: This fleece is one of the coziest sweaters out there and will last for years. (Shop in Canada)
Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boot: I have tried three brands in the last five years and these boots are my all-time favourite. They are incredibly comfortable, waterproof, lightweight and cute. That said, boots are really hard to recommend because everyone’s feet are different. What may work for me, may not work for you. (Shop in Canada)
Icebreaker BodyFit 200 Oasis Crew Top: Layering up is key, starting from the base. Merino wool helps wicks moisture/sweat, odor control and is sustainable. (Shop in Canada)

Patagonia Fjord Long-Sleeve Flannel Shirt: This shirt is perfect for everyday activities and camping. (Shop in Canada)
Osprey Sirrus 24 Pack – Women’s: This bag has it all—mesh in back, straps for breathability, a place for a hydration reservoir, pockets, 24L of space and an adjustable waist strap. Perfect for both summer and winter adventures. (Shop in Canada)
Patagonia Nano Puff Hooded Insulated Jacket: Keeping warm in the mountains is a must, so this lightweight insulated jacket is my go-to. It’s great for climbing, backpacking, and skiing—and basically anything else. (Shop in Canada)

Gifts for Him

Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket: Meet the perfect warm layer made for climbing, backpacking, skiing and more. (Shop in Canada)
Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boot: These boots are well loved by many of my friends and are comfortable, stylish, waterproof and reliable. (Shop in Canada)
Patagonia Retro Pile Pullover Jacket: This cozy fleece is made sustainably and will keep you toasty. (Shop in Canada)

Patagonia Lightweight Fjord Flannel Shirt: This shirt is perfect for everyday activities and camping. Everyone needs one flannel and this is one of the best out there. (Shop in Canada)
Osprey Packs Stratos 24L Backpack: This breathable, versatile pack is perfect for any adventure. It’s made with mesh on the back, a place for a hydration reservoir, pockets, 24L of space and an adjustable waist strap. (Shop in Canada)
Icebreaker 200 Oasis LS Crew Top: Layering up is key, starting from the base. So, merino wool will help as it wicks moisture and sweat, helps odor control and is sustainable. (Shop in Canada)

Gifts for the Winter Lovers

Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device: A necessary piece of gear for anyone who hikes in the spring, winter and fall seasons. These spikes prevent falls when there’s mud, ice and snow on the trail. I keep them in my bag in these three seasons in case I run into unexpected snow! (Shop in Canada)
Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles: These aluminum poles are perfect for trekking or ski touring. (Shop in Canada)
Backcountry Gore-Tex Mitten: Perfect for those chilly days on the mountain—wether you’re hiking, skiing or just playing in the snow. (Shop in Canada)

Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Low Gaiter: These help keep snow out of my boots allowing them to stay dry for much longer—which means you can adventure longer. (Shop in Canada)
Zippo 12-Hour Hand Warmer:  This hand warmer runs on fuel that generates a flameless heat, allows it to run longer and be less wasteful. (Shop in Canada)
Baffin Cush Booty Slipper: I never knew I needed down booties in my life until I bought a pair and brought them into the backcountry. (Shop in Canada)

Gifts for the Photo Lovers

Peak Design Capture Clip: This clip that can attach to your backpack strap or belt is everything you never knew you needed. It’s great to have your camera easily accessible and have the weight on your chest (rather than your back).
Lexar Professional Memory Card: Investing in a fast and reliable memory card is something I wish I had done in the beginning of my photography journey. It’s well worth it to invest in this card than buy multiple slow cards.
LaCie Rugged USB-C 2TB External Hard Drive: I use these hard drives to back up all of my work. They are waterproof, shockproof and keep your images safe.

Gifts to Stay Safe

Adventure Medical Ultralight & Watertight Series Medical Kit: Necessary addition to any adventure is a medical kit—this one is for multi-sport adventures. This is a great gift because it keeps your loved one safe and gives you peace of mind! (Shop in Canada)
Leatherman Squirt PS4 Multi-Tool: This piece of gear has 9 useful tools in one. (Shop in Canada)
Garmin InReach Mini: There’s almost always no service when you’re in the mountains, so a GPS is needed in case of an emergency, to know where to go or to let loved ones know that you are safe. They are precise, comes with preloaded TOPO maps and two way messaging. It’s more than a basic GPS with features like a digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerometer (which are a part of the Ten Essentials). You will need to buy a subscription for the SOS and text features—but it is well worth it. 

Gifts for the Campers

Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow: This pillow is incredibly light, small and soft. It’s definitely a great gift as it’s something that will one up any outdoor lover’s backcountry experience. (Shop in Canada)
AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press: The perfect coffee set up for the backcountry, road trips and even to use at home. (Shop in Canada)
Black Diamond Moji Lantern: This lantern is handy for when the sun has gone down and you want some extra light in your tent or wherever you may be. (Shop in Canada)

Jetboil Flash Stove: This is an upgrade from the simple Pocket Rocket and a great gift! (Shop in Canada)
Osprey Hydraulics LT Reservoir: After upgrading from 2-3 Nalgene bottles to this reservoir, I knew I could never go back. (Shop in Canada)
BioLite 330 Headlamp: I swear by this headlamp. It’s incredibly bright, rechargeable, light and overall is 10/10.(Shop in Canada)

Gifts for the Travel Lovers

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker: I’ve had this speaker for years and it’s perfect for any trip—especially camping trips.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Camera: It’s always fun to capture memories in Polaroids and this camera will help you do just that!
Anker PowerCore 20000 Charging Bank: I always bring this with me as I like to keep my electronics charged up and ready to go.

Sustainable Gifts

Hydro Flask 32oz Wide Mouth Water Bottle: This is necessary to help limit single-use plastic waste. It’s BPA-Free and Phthalate-Free and insulated so your water (or whatever you’re drinking) stays cold or hot. (Shop in Canada)
Stasher Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag: Ditch plastic bags and use this highly flexible, plastic-free reusable storage bags. Not only can you store food in them, but also bake, microwave, sous vide, boil and freeze food.
Stainless Steel Cutlery Set: This portable, stainless steel cutlery means you can say no to single-use plastic utensils.

If nothing in this post catches your eye, check out my Ultimate Guide to Winter Hiking and Summer Backcountry Gear Guide for more gear suggestions.

If you’re looking for more discounted gear, I suggest checking out Steep and Cheap (an American discounted gear retailer powered by Backcountry) or The Last Hunt (a Canadian discounted gear retailer powered by Altitude Sports).

I hope this post helps you with finding the perfect gift for the outdoor lover in your life. Please leave a comment if you found this useful, if it’s missing anything or if you just want to say hi!