Buck Knives
Buck's camp axe and folding saw.
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Digg itOnce again, we've enlisted the help of a few gear-heads to help sort through an assortment of outdoor gear and garments and present some of the things that any outdoor enthusiast would be happy to get as a gift.
CAMP AND TRAIL TOOLS
There's always one more piece of gear that will be welcomed by most hikers, bikers, trail runners or climbers. Here are a few items that might be perfect for your hard-to-buy-for buddy.
REI Four Winds Travel Staff, $68
Everyone who walks any distance can benefit from the added stability and weight-transfer provided by hiking with one or more poles. But they can be hard to take on vacations -- until now. You won't find a more compact pole than the Four Winds Travel Staff. It compresses to a tiny 21 inches -- but expands to 51 inches -- and weighs a mere 8 ounces. Get two if you prefer trekking-style poles or one if you like simple hiking staffs. The alloy shafts are light but strong, and the adjustment rings securely lock the poles at your desired length. There's even a camera mount under the hand grip if you want to use the pole as a monopod.
Black Diamond Spot headlamp, $42.95
The quality and efficiency of LED lights continues to boom, and the new Spot headlamp takes full advantage of the latest innovations. This is the only compact, batteries-in-front headlamp that sports both a full one-watt HyperBright bulb and three SuperBright LEDs. What's more, each of those lighting options offers three brightness settings to fully customize your light. The Spot uses three AAA batteries and features a tiltable housing to make directing the light beam effortless.
Buck Camp Axe and Folding Saw, $38 and $23
Car campers will appreciate these tools the next time they try to light a fire at their state park campsite. The compact Folding Saw uses hardened steel offset teeth to easily rip through branches and boughs for your fire. The lightweight Camp Axe features a weighted head to make chopping kindling as easy as slicing pie.
PACKS AND BAGS
When in doubt, a new pack always will be welcome -- we've even found great packs for the urban hikers.
REI Transit Day Bag, $60
Not all outdoor gear is destined for the backcountry. Conditions in the urban environment can be just as demanding, and your business tools deserve the same level of stout protection as backcountry gear. Enter the REI Transit day bag. This modern briefcase features REI-quality construction and attention to detail. Urban hikers will appreciate the multiple exterior pockets and organizing panels. Inside the main compartment, there's a simple sleeve for securing your laptop -- a 15-inch screen fits perfectly. (One nitpick: The sleeve is padded on the outside face, but the simple nylon panel does nothing to pad your computer from interior items.) Unlike many courier-style cases, the main compartment is readily accessible via a water-tight zipper. Rather than cover the main compartment, the cover drapes over the front pockets, protecting from the weather.
Mountainsmith Off Piste 25, $99
Snowboard riders who head out of bounds (i.e. off piste) will love this pack. Stout, reinforced straps hold snowboards to be toted up slope on your back, and the sturdy suspension system will keep the load stable and secure. Attention to detail makes this a wonderfully functional pack. For instance, small pockets on the front of the hipbelt are perfect for a compact camera or handwarmer packets so you can toast your fingers between runs. The pack also sports an insulated zippered sleeve for your hydration tube to keep it handy without freezing.
Hydrapak Streamline, $53
Those needing minimal pack volume but who need readily available water will appreciate the Hydrapak Streamline pack. This small hydration pack rides comfortably in the middle of the back, with 70 ounces of fluid capacity and nearly 200 inches of storage space. The pack sports a small pocket for portable music and a self-sealing port for your headphones cable. The Hydrapak hydration bladder has the unique ability of being turned inside out for effective cleaning (no more slime build-up in your water system!).
More links:
Gifts to warm an adventurer
Presents for outdoorsy types
Dan A. Nelson of Puyallup is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine and Northwest Weekend, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. Contact him with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.
Dan A. Nelson of Puyallup is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine and Northwest Weekend, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. Contact him with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.
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