Yet Another 2025 Gift Guide : my indoor-outdoor holiday gift guide
I was not going to write a holiday gift guide this year. Mostly because I buy things to last and my hyper-fixations lead me to finding one singular perfect product and refusing to use anything else year after year. And because everyone and their dog puts together gift guides in the hope that you click the link on their page vs someone else’s.
But this year I am not constrained by contractual obligations as to where I am recommending items from so I get to talk about things outside of the outdoors that I love (aka the indoors??). And also this year I spent a lot of time running, on the trails, in the streets, through the nightmares of men I have dated. (I don’t know why I think I am so funny in this intro - I don’t think anyone reads them) And then recovering from running and then preparing to run.
Welcome to my indoor-outdoor holiday gift guide!
A fluke 50 items that I have in my house (or in the mail on the way to my house) that I love and can personally recommend to you and your loved ones.
Happy holidays.
-A
for your (city/cold weather/trail) runner
This headlamp was recommended to me by my ultra marathon winning physio. It does not die. It is perfect if you are running for many hours on end over the nighttime… or if you are like me and never remember to charge your headlamps.
A classic no-frills headband that is not too warm and not too cold. it is not too tight and not too loose. The goldilocks of running headbands,
My tried and true sunnies. I use these for everything from cycling to skiing to running to hiking. They got the smaller faces of women and are incredibly comfortable and protective.
I historically have run with AirPods but did not love that it made me less aware of my surroundings. I tried shokz and don’t know if it is because I have a very small head (I did try the small size) or long hair but would have them disconnect and need to be re-booted a lot to the point of being unusable. These sit like little ear cuffs, they do not fall out of your ears, have great sound quality and are comfortable all day long while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings. I will note that I did find a slight limitation when taking phone calls that I do prefer my AirPods for that. When running on the streets these keep me aware of traffic and out on the trails I am tuned into my surroundings and any furry friendly visitors.
A great rain and wind jacket.
For these we are looking for lightweight and packable, waterproof and also I love a soft (not crunchy) texture. Some of my current go-to’s are:
Going into winter I hesitated including this as it is more of a summer piece. HOWEVER - I love this bra so much - it is incredibly comfortable and filled with pockets. I raced with this in both Chicago and New York - it held my phone and all of my gels with ease. And I personally prefer to hold those as close to my torso as possible. This is the best storage bra I have found to date.
A Smartwatch to track their runs
There are a ton of really great smartwatches out there. I had been loyal tot he Garmin family for years but am currently testing out a few other brands (stay tuned) and like so many things - they are all great. Some amazing running and multi-sport watches you might want to look into for your loved ones:
Apple Watch
This is new to me this season and although it does come with some limitations (like, if you have even the slightest booty you will be concerned you will break it every time you put it on…) once it is on it stays put and does not move. Even with your phone in it, even with a full 500ml flask in it. For me this is the perfect middle ground between using your pockets and needing a full on running vest.
There are a lot of great running tights for the winter and I will link some of those below. But these ones I love for when it’s chilly but not cold and I am running in low light. They are filled with reflective detailing that keep you super visible to passing cars.
But some other great winter run tights:
A great pair of runners is arguably the most important piece of gear. These from ON are some of my favourites to wear both on the trails and during bad weather in town. They have added grip for this snowy and icy days. I also have loved trial/cold weather running in:
This is a great gift for any runner - based on percussive therapy, it uses rapid, repeated pulses to stimulate the nervous system and muscle tissue, increasing blood flow, and improving muscle relaxation and flexibility.
Normatec boots use a patented "pulse" technology with dynamic, sequential compression to enhance circulation and lymphatic drainage, mimicking the natural muscle pump to aid recovery.
I bought these in 2024 and bring them with me everywhere I go (yes, they do take up half of my carry on suitcase) - but any endurance athlete can attest that these are an incredible tool to have to help wth recovery.
for your outdoorsy girlie
I have written 101 outdoor gift guides, packing guides, gear guides. these are my all stars but if you are looking for more - you can find that here for women and here for men
The best down jacket that I have (to date) ever purchased. It is made to keep you extra warm and it will. But I wear this more than any piece in my closet. From morning walks around the neighbourhood to winter road trips to cozy evenings at camp. I promise this is not only beautiful but will keep her warm (and happy). I own four of them personally.
Even in the winter the sun is strong (and if you are going on a warm vacation - even better). This midnight UPF 50 sun shirt is a staple in my closet and will keep her comfortable and protected from the sun’s damaging rays.
Other great sun shirts:
I made a while reel about my favourite hiking pants - you can find that here . And although there are great options in there that work great in a variety of scenarios - the gamma is one that I find flatter both on the mountain and off.
This version is lined and much warmer and more durable which I sometimes find a little too warm for shoulder season hiking but is great for cold winter days of hiking or taking your dogs for a walk or kids to school (I imagine, I have no kids or dogs).
REI put out a new version of this backpack for 2025 and I did pop out and buy one. I have a long torso and the old I used a women’s medium and in this year’s I went with the men’s small - I do find that this fits me better and has a few very minor updates but overall both versions of this backpack are amazing. And yes, Erna did get my old one.
When I thought about what you should think about getting the outdoorsy women in your life I thought about things I have picked up for my outdoorsy women. And these are an item I have gifted to more than one of my favourite ladies. They are incredibly comfortable with no break in period. This version is waterproof which makes them ideal for dewey morning grass and low level creek crossing. Also, they look great. A classic for a reason.
I will shout this from the rooftops (and also buy it in bulk every time I see it at REI) this is SUCH a great gift for the camper in your life. It keeps your hands clean and their dinner fully eaten. Apparently it is not available at REI or Backcountry at the moment but you can find it in Canada at MEC. They come back into stock often and honestly I have just probably bought them out of stock.
A Pair of Camp Booties
These flip flop back and forth between my camp gear and my home gear because I use them everywhere - from chilly mornings at home before the heat kicks in to evenings around a camp fire to slipping on to take my trash to the end of my driveways on Wednesday mornings. I have linked a handful of my favourites below but look for something cozy with a hard bottom to protect your feet from the uneven ground but also keep moist at bay.
for your barista
(aka selfish gifts because it means you get coffee - no judgement here)
you can also find my full personal cafe set up linked here
A great mug
I love a good mug (or 100 good mugs) and one of my favourite things to do is have friends over to the cafe and let them pick they own cup. I then get to tell the origin story of that mug, So the long and short here is that my first option is to buy from a local potter. And if that is not available these are some of my go-to’s:
An ember mug (this is on my list this Christmas)
I will be honest that I got this recommendation from a man I was casually seeing over the summer. He had one and loved it - so when Fellow reached out and asked if I would want one - I said sure! Although I do use it a lot less than my pourer setups or my machine. I think that this is great for people who don’t live alone and often need to make more than a single cup of coffee. You are able to use the Fellow App to schedule your coffee in advance (or in the moment from the comfort of your bed). It makes great coffee and a great gift.
I know, I know the price tag on this is a little wild. But a coffee lover can dream right? I think the statement I made recently was that this was a non-negotiable for men I date to have in their homes because I love mine so much that if I do end up spending time away - I want her with me.
And yes, the man who convinced me to get the Aiden did in fact get a Linea.
No cabin morning would be complete without coffee (at least no cabin morning you would want to be at with me) - pick up a bag of her favourite beans and this portable coffee maker - great for home and camping too - and this Christmas gift for her makes everyones mornings a little better.
A Coffee Subscription
A monthly subscription of any kind of an insanely thoughtful gift - it keeps them thinking of you all year long. And I feel consumables make great subscriptions for the people who have a lot of “things” in their home and don’t have a lot of space. Some great ones are:
for your self care queen
the past few months I have been firmly in the feminine energy and loving these items - you can be badass and also take care of yourself
This is my go-to throw on jacket for when I am meandering around my house or need to pop out to pick up the mail or grab a few groceries. It also packs down into its self which makes it great for travel. It is effortless.
I wanted to hate this so much. And as much as I don’t love being fully naked when needing up use a public restroom - this onesie is impossibly soft and comfortable. And I have never worn it and not gotten a compliment. I will note aside forms eh bathroom naked-ness, the lighter purple colour does show sweat so I would stick with the black.
These are my 2025 Holiday Pyjamas - and as your newest pyjama creator - the Anthropologie collaborations seem to always be my favourites.
A Fitness Membership
There is always the rush to the gym on January 1 for everyone to hit their New Years goals. Personally, I am not a gym girlie. Sometimes I wish I was. Not me though. I do, however, keep a membership to The Peach Club (full transparency : it is owned by one of my best friends so I initially bought it to support her and now am genuinely so obsessed with getting my butt kicked by these workouts).
You can use the code Andrea10 to get your first month of classes for just $10. And if you are looking for accessories - they have a full little set here. But I would also recommend the mini bands - Hayden has been loving those lately (I have been hating them int eh best way).
Much like TPC - this is made by one of my favourite humans so I always wonder if I am a little biased. However… seven journals in - I think it's safe to say that this is a great daily journal, especially for those just getting into the practise and need a little guidance on how to start moving things from your brain to paper.
Another creation from the mind of my personal favourite mindfulness creator. This is a 5(ish) minute affirmation practise that I have found works suspiciously fast and that I have in my morning practise. I think it has also helped me out of a lot of really negative spirals. I think that this gift is the perfect tool to give your loved one that might have found themselves in a hard place and be unsure how to get out.
I have this set and have loved incorporating dry brushing and body oil into my every day post-shower ritual. As someone who does not live in a place that I get to go to a spa or have a lot of self care services I love this small bit of taking care of myself daily.
I am a sucker for an evening in, a wood burning fire, good friends, great food and a puzzle on the coffee table.
I got this as a gift last Christmas and have it set up in my bedroom (I do not own a TV) and the other weekend a girlfriend came over and we hung out in bed and ate popcorn and watched Elf and she went home and ordered this for her house. It is so nice and cozy to have - and so so much less intrusive than a traditional TV.
In all honesty I made a lot of self care changes around the same time and have no idea what is working and what I am just doing because I think it works. I received this mask and use it most days and do feel like my skin has really cleared up and is thriving. They do seem to be very in style at the moment so who knows? maybe they work!
for your ski bunny
(not in a derogatory way)
I bought this last year as a bit of a curiosity and really love it. I am someone who does not love having my goggles on all of the time and find that this helps with that quick transition.
These were actually a Christmas gift for me last year - my favourite Christmas gift last year. I love them for the uphill when ski touring. They are a great weight and seem to be the industry standard.
Last year my friend Hayden had this suit in a Butter Yellow colour and ever since I had wanted one of my own. I went with the white but feel like this is a super fun, chic and functional suit. Halfdays is owned by a female ski olympian.
Much like their belt this was made to really break the glass ceiling for functionality. This (in purple) is my touring suit for 2025/2026 and I am SO excited for the snow to finally arrive so that I can pressure test it myself.
A great set of Baselayers
A great set of base layers is key to cool temperature outdoor activities. But also great for a little pre and après adventure lounging. These versatile pieces will keep your favourite women comfortable and cozy all season long.
Some of my personal favourites:
Much to the dismay of our younger selves - sometimes socks are the best Christmas gift. especially if they are ski socks like these. And extra especially off they are heated like these.
I am a sucker for a fun sweater. And après culture is something I can absolutely get on board for.
Once again, the on-the-nose merch gets to me. The pyjamas are currently on their way to my house. Perfect for cozy nights in the chalet.
Find the top here and the bottoms here.
for your constantly on the go
things that make travel a lot easier coming from a technology illiterate girlie
I first bought this when I was I was in university in 2012 and have had them with me anywhere I go ever since and bought many for friends as gifts when they embark on travel plans. I have one in my office and one beside my bed to keep all of my devices charged. The interchangeable ports allow them to leave their clunky travel adapters at home.
This is the best travel bag I have ever found. I used to be a backpack girl and then realized how nice it is to simply slide this on top of my roller bag, the opening makes finding your things easy and the pockets (both inside and out) are super intuitive to use (I use the one on the back for my passport always).
These are (for me) the best noise cancelling headphones. I have a tiny head and will admit that they re maybe a smidge too big for me but the sound quality is sambaing and they block out all of the noice at home and on the road.
This little trinket attaches your headphones (like the noise cancelling above or our AirPods) to any in flight entertainment system. No cords, no borrowed headphones.
I initially bought these for the Taylor Swit Eras tour and have been loyal to the band ever since. They are comfortable (even if they have tiny ears like I do) for sleep or for wearing in noisy public environments.
I do not know very much about skincare but I DO know that this (along with the A313 that you can apparently only get in France) - are my two staples. They keep my skin looking bright and clear.
This is a new addition that I have really loved when traveling, especially after long days in airports and on planes and trains… a quick little 10 minute hydration bump is much deserved.
This case reminds me of the original iPhone cases that apple made. it is sleek and soft and durable and I love it.
And for when you want to watch movies, film content and not lose your license and cards.
I thank you for being here and if you choose to purchase via my links - thank you for supporting me. it has been a (financially, emotionally, physically) tough year and I appreciate when you choose to support me.
*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!
