CATEGORIES
CATEGORIESThe holidays are just around the corner. In case you’ve left your shopping to the last minute, we’ve rounded up some of the best gear that we’ve tested this year. From trail-ready button-ups and bike helmets to insulated jackets and snug slippers, these are gifts that any outdoor lover will be stoked to unwrap this holiday season.
No gift says “I love you” like a life-saving communication device. Enter the Bivystick, a 7-ounce stocking stuffer that no off-the-grid adventurer should travel without. Essentially, the Bivystick allows you to convert a run-of-the-mill smartphone into a remarkably capable satellite communication device. Simply download the Bivy app, link your phone to the Bivystick, and send and receive messages from anywhere in the world. You can also track and share your location, send SOS messages to call in an evacuation team, look up thorough weather forecasts, and even charge your phone via the backup battery.
The truly game-changing aspect of the Bivystick, though, is the fact that it doesn’t require any crazy contracts. We hate when satellite devices charge annually, and the Bivystick allows you to pay as you go for as little as $17.99 per month. Not only is this a rad gift for your friends and family, but they’ll be doubly stoked if you pick one up for your own adventures. Now is an awesome time to buy, too, because Bivy is offering $50 off each Bivystick for the rest of 2019!
Who it’s for: Any outdoor enthusiast who often strays far from cell service.
Hardcore bike apparel often relies on lycra-heavy fabrics, hugs the body, and screams “Strava is my most-used app!” Club Ride, however, is refreshingly softcore. Born in Sun Valley, Idaho, the casual bike brand stitches up good-looking duds that bridge the gap between saloon and singletrack. Case in point: the Sawtooth Jersey. One of our new favorite long sleeves, the Sawtooth is crafted from a tactilely delightful lightweight twill weave, with just a smidgeon of spandex thrown into the mix to keep you comfortable when you’re in the saddle. Bike-friendly details like the zippered hip pocket and reflective accents make the Sawtooth Jersey as versatile as it is fetching.
Who it’s for: You don’t need to be a mountain biker to love this shirt—though it certainly doesn’t hurt.
We just reviewed these slippers in a Fall Essentials gear round-up, but they’re so nice we had to review ‘em twice. To be honest, you don’t need to be an outdoor enthusiast to love these Scandinavian slippers—they’re designed more for mellow mornings whipping up pancakes and low-key evenings watching Netflix than anything else. We rarely rock ‘em outside for fear of dirtying the suave wool felt, although rubber soles do make them capable of quick jaunts out into the elements. Bottom line: these slippers are luxurious, comfortable, and downright dreamy. Not to mention their idiosyncratic European styling earns both complements and questions left and right.
Who it’s for: Anyone. Seriously, anyone. Your niece or nephew, your grandma, your climbing partner—anyone and everyone will love these slippers.
Orvis praises their Pro line of apparel as the “most technologically advanced outerwear we’ve ever built.” Praise, in the case of the Pro Hoodie, is due—this insulated jacket is a fly fisherman’s best friend. The athletic fit is far from baggy, and Orvis made sure that the cut is comfortable to wear while casting from dawn ‘til dusk. The purpose-built design integrates swathes of ultra-warm Primaloft 80g Gold Active insulation at the core, head, and arms, with more breathable Polartec Alpha 80g insulation under the arms and down the side panels. We’re fans of the fleecy handwarmer pockets, which are a lifesaver when fishing during the colder months. Should rainclouds materialize, the stretchy nylon outer material is treated with DWR—so that you can stay warm and on the river as long as possible.
Who it’s for: Any angler who refuses to let a little rain (and maybe snow) keep them from their favorite pastime.
Don GIRO’s Agilis MIPS helmet and it feels like you’re wearing air. The lightweight helmet is peppered with no less than thirty-two vents: pedal at speed and the wind whips through and cools you down. The styling is low-profile and tuned to the rigid requirements of road and gravel riders. MIPS—now standard in helmets from the ski slopes to the singletrack—helps minimize rotational forces upon impact, and GIRO’s Roc Loc Fit System offers unparalleled adjustability so that you can dial in the perfect fit while keeping one hand on the handlebars.
Who it’s for: The cyclist in your life.
