Outdoorsy Christmas Gifts: the Short Answer
The best outdoorsy Christmas gifts are the ones that get opened in December and used in April. Winter is the planning season, which is why a trip for next year lands harder in December than in any other month. After that, buy the consumables and upgrades they run down every season and never replace.
Outdoorsy Christmas Gifts by Budget
| Gift | Budget | Slot | Why it works in December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merino socks, 2 or 3 pairs | Under $50 | Stocking or main gift | Theirs have holes in them |
| Rechargeable headlamp | Under $50 | Stocking | Dark at 4pm, used immediately |
| Repair kit: tape, cord, buckle | Under $50 | Stocking | Nobody buys this for themselves |
| National park annual pass | $$ | Main gift | Pays back in three visits next year |
| A planned trip, printed | $$ | Main gift | December is when people plan next summer |
| Satellite messenger | $$$ | Big gift | The subscription is why they have not bought it |
1. Why a Trip Is the Best December Gift
Nobody hikes much over Christmas in most of the country, but almost everybody plans. Give someone a route in December and they spend the winter looking forward to it, checking dates, booking time off. A jacket gets worn once before spring. A trip gets thought about for four months and then actually happens.
A trip to open in December and take in the summer
The 14 day West Coast Road Trip, Seattle to LA, printed and personalized with their names. Day by day, in driving order, with digital maps. Something to open now and plan around all winter.
2. Stocking Fillers That Get Used
The under $50 tier is where outdoorsy gifting is easiest, because the useful things are cheap and people do not replace them. Merino socks. A rechargeable headlamp with a red mode. A small repair kit with tape, cord and a spare buckle. A proper blister kit, which is worth more than it costs the first time it gets opened on trail. If you want to get socks right, read the best hiking socks first.
3. Christmas Presents for Outdoorsy Guys
The same rules apply, with one addition: men are especially likely to be running fifteen year old gear they refuse to replace. Look at his headlamp, his socks and his water bottle, and replace whichever is worst. More options in our gifts for an outdoorsy dad guide.
4. Winter Specific Picks
- Microspikes. Cheap, tiny, and they make icy winter trails safe.
- An insulated flask. Hot drink at a cold summit is a genuine morale item.
- Liner gloves. Worn under a shell glove, and constantly lost, so a spare pair is welcome.
- A buff or neck gaiter. One size fits everyone, used all winter.
5. What Not to Buy in December
Avoid anything sized: boots, packs and fitted jackets are the most returned outdoor gifts of the season. Avoid single purpose gadgets. And avoid buying a winter item for someone who does not hike in winter, which is most people. For the general list see gifts for outdoorsy people.
Outdoorsy Christmas Gifts: What to Buy and What to Skip FAQs
Merino socks, a rechargeable headlamp with a red night mode, a small repair kit of tape and cord, a blister and first aid kit, and microspikes for icy winter trails. All of them get used and none depend on exact sizing.
A planned trip or a national park annual pass. December is when people plan the following year, so a route or an itinerary given at Christmas gets thought about all winter. A satellite messenger is the strongest gear option at that price.
Anything sized. Boots, packs and fitted jackets are the most returned outdoor gifts, because fit varies between brands and torso lengths. Stick to socks, gloves, hats and gear that fits everyone.
Look at his headlamp, his socks and his water bottle, and replace whichever is worst, since men tend to run gear well past its life. For a bigger gift, a satellite messenger or a printed itinerary for a trip he talks about.
