HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HIKERS | HIKING GEAR 2021

Holiday Gift Guide for Hikers and Jeep Owners

In my other post HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HIKERS – STOCKING STUFFERS I touched on the lighter side of gift giving with hiking related Christmas Tree Ornaments and Stocking Stuffers for hikers. This post is different, it’s about great functional gifts for hikers, backpackers and campers, gifts that are meant to impress and up the ante on someone’s hiking game. Some of the items on this holiday gift guide are items I own and use while others are items I want or shall I say NEED.

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MSR POCKETROCKET DELUXE STOVE KIT

Premium lightweight cook and eat kit for 1-2 backpackers, featuring the PocketRocket Deluxe micro stove. Premium stove kit takes ultralight adventures up a notch with deluxe features that enhance your cooking experience on the trail. Sized for two but light enough for one, the kit comes equipped with MSR’s pressure-regulated, fast-boiling PocketRocket Deluxe stove that perfectly nests in the kit’s ultra-compact Trail Mini™ Duo Cook Set. Ultralight backpackers and minimalist bikepackers alike will appreciate the stove’s push-start ignition, consistently fast boil times (even when fuel and temperatures are low), and broad burner for more versatile cooking and simmering. The 1.2 L pot is the ideal capacity for boiling water for two pouch meals or cups of coffee, while the included bowl adds a second eating/drinking vessel for sharing with a trail partner

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OSPREY TALON 33 BACKPACK

I’m not typically a “Brand” type person, meaning I like the best product for my needs and I wont buy something just because I am loyal to a particular brand. That said I have never been disappointed with OSPREY products. Beyond my Talon 33 liter backpack I also have some of their hydration backpacks and they are in my opinion the best. The OSPREY TALON would make most day hikers happy and typically cost about $149 but is occasionally on sale for $99. Read my review of the Osprey Talon 33.

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OBOZ SAWTOOTH HIKING BOOTS

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my Oboz Sawtooth Mid BDry Hiking Boots, so much so that I tell anyone who will listen to go to the nearest REI and try them for themselves. The O Fit Insole orthotic is the path to happy feet whether hiking or just walking around. While no footwear can please everyone’s feet I bet the sawtooth can please many and at an affordable $149.  I think a pair of Oboz sawtooth would make an excellent gift. If you aren’t sure about there size print out a picture and attach it to an REI gift card for the amount. If your a stay at home holiday shopper you can also take advantage of Amazon Prime to buy your loved one a pair of OBOZ. Read my review of the Oboz Sawtooth Hiking Boots.

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OBOZ O FIT INSOLE PLUS MEDIUM ARCH

 So maybe your loved one has a pair of hiking boots that they will never part with so getting a pair of sawtooths is out of the question. Good news! Oboz offers a trim to fit O FIT INSOLE that can be used with any hiking boot. My girl is getting these as a Christmas gift for her 15 year old ASSOS hiking boots.  Here’s the OBOZ description of the INSOLES. “OBOZ trim-to-fit anatomically-designed aftermarket insole maximizes stability and support with a medium arch and a deep heel cup. Dual-density EVA throughout provides both cushioning and durability, and Poron® Comfort urethane pods under the metatarsals and heels adds extra protection to high-strike zones.” Oboz is selling the O Fit INSOLE through local shoe stores and Amazon. Visit Oboz Footwear

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BLACK DIAMOND ALPINE CARBON CORK TREKKING POLES

Internet hikers are very opinionated on whether or not hiking or trekking poles are a necessity. I believe everyone is different and everyone’s needs are different. There is no right or wrong answer. I will say that my girl bought me the BLACK DIAMOND ALPINE CARBON CORK TREKKING POLES last August because a salesperson at REI had suggested to her that I would need them for hiking Franconia Ridge Trail in New Hampshire. I thought it a very considerate gift because I didn’t think I would use them and also didn’t want to spend the money. Well I didn’t need them to ascend to the summit or traverse the peaks but coming down was a whole other thing. It was brutal and I simply can’t imaging NOT having the hiking poles on that descend. I relied on them so heavily that my triceps hurt for days. I really have the most awesome girl. So if you really want to give a hiker or backpacker in your life an amazing Christmas Holiday Gift I don’t think you can go wrong with the BLACK DIAMOND ALPINE CARBON CORK TREKKING POLES. I have a review the poles coming I just need to take the pictures. I will update this post when the review is complete so for now visit Black Diamond

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NITE IZE MOONLIT LED MICRO LANTERN

I have always enjoyed having tiny little lights. Back in my earliest camping days I had this light that looked like a 3/4″-1″ tall Coleman Lantern. We used to hang it from the center of our Eureka tent for “Mood Lighting”. Eventually though I moved it to my key ring  and replaced it with a slightly brighter but similarly sized “Ray O Vac” lantern. I still have them both to this day they they are retired for safe keeping. Now I have my mind set on the $10 NITE IZE MOONLIT LED MICRO LANTERN. I have have used other products from Nite Ize such as LED Illuminated Dog Collars and an Illuminated Safety Vest for myself while walking the dog so I can say Nite Ize is the “Good Stuff” not that $10 is much of a risk for a small LED light that you can clip to just about anything and has a battery life of 60 hours. This micro-sized lantern brings big ambient lighting solutions to small spaces. Clip it to anything from a zipper to the top of your tent for quick hands-free lighting. It features an integrated carabiner clip with a light that swivels 360°. Available in white or red LED options. The versatile MoonLit LED Micro Lantern features a secure carabiner at the top allowing it to clip and hang providing ambient hands-free lighting just about anywhere. The bright LED (white or red) can be set to glow or flash, and swivels in place 360° providing a comprehensive lighting solution in a compact package. Water resistant and featuring replaceable batteries that last over 60 hours, the MoonLit Micro Lantern is a great lighting companion for camping, fishing, reading, clipping to poorly lit areas like closets or shelving, and much more. Operates on two 2032 batteries.  Visit Nite Ize

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BIG AGNES MTNGLO TENT CAMP LIGHT

The BIG AGNES MTNGLO TENT CAMP LIGHT is a tent light that is almost universally loved by campers who own it. I don’t own one yet because until learning of the Big Agnes existence I had been using those little led strings on Amazon the kind you see in mason jars and wine bottles. You can see them in my review of the Woodstock/Lincoln KOA campground. They work OK but they are delicate and tangle easy.

Big Agnes mtnGLO Tent Camp Lights Big Agnes mtnGLO tent/camp light uses patent-pending mtnGLO Tent Light Technology™ and tough LED lights to illuminate your tent interior or campsite with enough light to sort gear or play cards.Triangular pyramid shaped case doubles as a lantern – Use clip on case when hanging as a lantern. Visit Big Agnes

• Three modes: off / full light / flicker
• 100″/254cm long strand of LED lights encased in lightweight nylon tubing
• Four plastic clips on light strand allow you to customize your lighting experience
• Three AAA batteries provide power (batteries not included)
• Light strand can also be powered by any USB source

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FILSON SMOKEY BEAR COLLECTION

As I mentioned in my Filson Smokey Bear Collection post I am a huge fan of Filson apparel. The recently released Smokey Bear Collection is a wonderful throwback to the youth of us older folks and sure to appeal to the newest generation of hikers. If anyone is paying attention I want a hat and briefs to start.

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