Looking for cool gifts for adventure travelers that range in price from $50 to $200. How about a breathable, moisture-wicking jacket to use over a t-shirt, or between a base layer and heavier jacket when it's really cold. Goggles for snowsports with a tiny fan that clears foggy lenses will be loved, especially by eyeglass wearers. Or, how about snowshoes, travel pants with 11 pockets, and walking poles that make hiking up and down hills easier. You can read reviews for several of these gifts, too.
1. The In Between Layer: Eddie Bauer Point Success Fleece Jacket
Eddie Bauer
Looking for a breathable, moisture-wicking jacket that you can wear over a t-shirt, or slid in between a base layer and a heavier jacket when it's really cold outside? The Eddie Bauer Point Success fleece jacket, with its Polartec Power Stretch for flexibility and motion fits the bill. The jacket is available in men's and women's sizes and designs. I wore it in snow and on the ocean, read my review.
2. Jetboil Flash Cooking System - CrunchIt Fuel Canister
Jetboil designed the Flash Cooking System to be a quick, easy way to heat up a full mug of whatever - coffee, instant oatmeal, pasta, or whatever you'd like along the trail. As your one-liter-sized mug heats up, orange bands on the side indicate when the contents get close to boiling. Winner of the Backcountry Magazine 2010 Editor's Choice Award, this little guy's burner twists to connect or dis-connect from the mug. A neoprene sleeve insulates the mug's contents and keeps you burn-free as you hold it.
3. Smith Turbo Fan Goggles for Snowsports Clear Foggy Views
If your goggles fog while skiing in a powder storm or snowmobiling, Smith’s Turbo Fan Prodigy and Knowledge goggles can clear the air. A tiny, quiet fan that moves at two speeds is built into the frame. These goggles are a blessing for outdoors activities if you sweat a lot. They are especially for people who wear glasses because you can get an insert that holds your own prescription lenses.
4. MAZE: The World's Lightest Snow Helmet Good for Skateboarding, Too
Smith Optic's all-molded MAZE helmet has been certified as the world's lightest snow helmet. It's comfortable and the AirEvac 2 ventilation system reduces fogging. Do you skateboard? Strip off the SnapFit EarPads and it becomes a skateboard helmet. You can add Skullcandy Bluetooth and Twin-Tip Link hone-audio systems.
5. CamelBak Hydration Systems
CamelBak offers more than 40 models of its hydration system, which allow hikers, bicyclists, skiers and even small kids to drink water at they play. This approach to ensuring one can easily drink water while remaining active has become so popular that other companies have copied the concept, but CamelBak still does it best.
6. Mountain Hardwear Zonal Insulating Jacket
This stylish"smart" jacket features Mountain Hardwear's new Core Climate Control system, with "microclimate zoning." The compressible Thermo Micro insulation in the body's natural hot and cool zones helps regulate the body's temperature, so you don't have to keep adding or eliminating layers to stay comfortable as the weather changes. Available in men's and women's sizes.
7. Tubbs Frontier Snowshoes
Tubbs Frontier snowshoes are lightweight and have the easily adjustable Quickstep binding. They are geared for men and women who want enhanced control and heel centering performance. The snowshoes come in two sizes for men and two sizes for women
8. Hiking and Walking Poles
Until you try a pair many hikers, even those in good shape, don't realize how much easier it is to hike up and down hills or mountainsides using walking poles. We've used them to scale mountainsides and walk up dozens of steps at ancient ruins in Peru. There are many brands of poles, but I suggest choosing a lightweight pair with shock absorbers.
9. Outside Baby Technical Clothes
Parents who take young ones with them when snowshoeing or hiking in cool weather will love this technical winter clothing for babies to 5-year-olds. The reversible jackets and pants have colorful sueded water repellent fabric on one side and Malden Mills micro fleece on the other. Roll-back cuffs protect parents’ wallets during kids' growth spurts.
Check out the merino tops and leggings.
10. SCOTTeVest Hidden Cargo Pants
Pocket-lined, stain- and water-resistant travel pants aren’t new, but the SCOTTeVEST Hidden Cargo Pants take this genre to a new level. These pants have 11 pockets (some pockets open within other pockets), but are streamlined to look like traditional pants. Stash your cell phone, wallet, loose change, PDA, an iPod (slide the earphones wire through a hole in the pants) and more—and you still won’t look like a teddy bear. Available only in men’s sizes, but many women can wear the smaller sizes.
11. Roces IDEA 6-1 Kids Adjustable Boots
This is a gift for you and your kids. if you take your kids skiing, because Roces IDEA 6-1 Kids Adjustable Boots can save you lots of money. Italian-based Roces, well-known for its inline skates, is bringing its junior boot to the US this winter. These boots can be adjusted to accommodate rapidly growing feet. Buy them when your child is toddler and with a few simple modifications your child will be able to wear these boots for years.
