2019 Holiday Gift Guide
With the holidays (too quickly) approaching I have been bombarded with questions of what I would like for Christmas. The answer this year is a blanket “I want more blue skies and starry nights in the backcountry” and have opted that instead of gifts I ask each of my loved ones to join me on one of these adventures. But… (because we all know that not everyone listens to requests such as this) I have compiled a list of a handful of items that I have self-gifted over the years, that have stood the test of time and that if they were ever to go missing I would not hesitate for even a second to re-purchase.
1. Down jacket - The first insulated hiking jacket that I ever purchased was a teal Down Sweater from Patagonia a half decade or so, since then I have more than I am proud to admit (and even own this one in three colours) but I still find myself reaching for that teal jacket weekly. Not only is Patagonia a B-Corp certified company but their corporate mission statement is "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." - and I think that it is important to support companies that not only make amazing products that last but also share my values.
2. Thermal base layers - having a set of thermal base layers has made all of the difference in my hiking and backpacking as the temperatures drop. I am a fan of the Arc’teryx Rho LT Zip Neck Baselayer Top and bottoms
3. A well fitting backpack - I have been using the same daypack on the vast majority of my hikes over the past few years - the Patagonia Nine Trails (in the 26L women’s version). It is lightweight(while also structurally very sound) fits well and has pockets exactly where I want them. For overnight backpacking I purchased a new bag this summer - the Fjällräven Kajka 55L (W) - this bag is made to last and well worth the financial and weight investment.
4. Hiking boots - I own three pair of hiking boots and use them religiously:
Danner Mountain Light Cascade these boots are beautiful and once I broke them in they feel like a dream. A note - they are quite heavy, took a while to break in and are almost impossible to dry once they get wet.
Danner Inquire Chukka Mid hiking boots for my 2019 season and love them. They are lightweight and waterproof - they fit like a dream the first time I wore them and they look great!
New to me this year - a winter hiking boot, the Danner Arctic 600 Side-Zip hiking boots which have been amazing for winter hiking - I do recommend sizing up in these ones to fit your winter hiking socks in them though!
5. Insulated Camp Booties - if you or your loved one likes to camp (or stay in cozy cabins and alpine huts) these are a no-brainer. My ONLY regret is not picking up a pair years ago. They are more durable and warmer than socks and just make life in the backcountry a little bit more comfortable.
1. Garmin in-Reach - I picked up the mini version to appease my parents when I am out in the backcountry. In all honestly I should have done this years ago but when I decided to start venturing out alone it became impossible to ignore that I needed to be ready for the worst case scenarios.
2. Douchebags “The Backpack Pro” and “The CIA” camera pod - these are my go-to carry on backpack combo and even hiking bag for smaller adventures. It is really comfortable and has more pockets than even I know what to do with it.
3. Twelve South Plug Bug Duo and AirFly Pro - This Plug Bug has been in my travelling bag since its first edition the better part of a decade ago. It conveniently pops onto your MacBook charger and has two additional USB ports. Which means you can charge 3 devices from just one outlet AND with five international adapters, you can stay charged in over 150 countries. I recently ordered their AirFly Pro which allows you to use bluetooth headphones on airplanes (you can even pair two sets of headphone to a single AirFly Pro).
4. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones - These are my go-to noise cancelling headphones. I bought them for working in my office but now wear them virtually everywhere.
5. A shiny new bear bin - okay technically this isn’t a gadget BUT it defiantly makes everyones backcountry life a little bit better. Nobody gets eaten by bears AND its infinitey easier to use than hanging your food.
1. Reusable Coffee cup - my goal for 2019 was not to use any single use coffee cups and have carried a MiiR camp cup with me every day to fuel my coffee addiction. They are B-Corp certified, keep my coffee hot and the earth a little cleaner.
2. Travel Water bottle - I double duty with a Nalgene water bottle that can, when the situation warrants it, double as a hot water bottle when I camp in colder weather!
3. Portable coffee contraption - I recently started using the MiiR Pourigami and LOVE it - it is small and lightweight and portable when I need good coffee! At home I have been using my Aeropress for great coffee with very little waste and cleanup.
4. Reusable snack pouches / beeswax - I have invested in a few of these Stasher bags earlier this year to hold my snacks with no waste. They are super durable and you can even sous-vide in them! And these Beeswax Wraps can swap out plastic wrap in your kitchen!
5. Reusable straw - I stopped sing straws a handful of years ago but know that some habits are harder to break than others so I am including this reusable set that have rubber extenders and come with a cleaner.
1. Patagonia
“We’re in business to save our home planet.” - I think that Patagonia’s mission statement really says it all - but you can read more about their sustainability efforts here.
2. Marine Layer
Marine Layer is a company that I love because they are founded out of a sense of purpose. A few years ago they launched a line called Re-Spun which uses no water waste, no added dyes and no new material to manufacture new t-shirts!
3. Cototpaxi
“Giving is core to the Cotopaxi model. We tie our earnings to impact by allocating 1% of annual revenues to the Cotopaxi Foundation. Simply put, the foundation boosts our grantmaking, democratizes our impact, and helps us make a bigger difference in the communities we touch.” - You can read about about Cotopaxi’s efforts here.
“For every product purchased, United By Blue removes 1 pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company organized cleanups.” You can read more about this B-Corp company here.
5. Ten Tree
“As environmentalists our mission is to guide you on your journey and empower you to do your best when it comes to the environment. You don't have to be a hardcore environmentalist to make a difference. It's the little things, like riding your bike to work, bringing your own grocery bag, and buying an item that plants ten trees - they all add up.” Read more here.
6. REI Co-Op
Love trying different outdoor brands? REI plays host to all the top outdoor gear and clothing companies, as well as its own REI Co-op brand. Its unique co-op model means that more than 70% of its annual profits are given back to the outdoor community, in the form of dividends to more than 18 million members and investments in outdoors-related non-profits. Some more impressive numbers to chew on: In 2018, it invested $8.4 million in 431 non-profit partners and rallied 150,000 volunteers to impact more than 5,000 outdoor spaces nationwide. - Read more about it here.
7. Fjällräven
“Everything we do has an impact on the environment around us and the people and animals that inhabit it. As an outdoor company, we’re acutely aware of this impact and we do our utmost to keep our environmental footprint as small as possible. And this is a team effort. We consider nature when we design; when we choose one material over another; and when we decide where to produce our clothing and equipment.” Read more about Fjällräven’s sustainability police here.
8. Peak Design
“We make and sell stuff. That creates pollution. It is Peak Design's responsibility to clean up that mess, and find ways to make less mess in the first place. This is our sustainability strategy, and we want it to be yours, too.” Read more about Peak Design’s sustainability policy here.
*Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. As always, all ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!
