Rest day writing

A Gift Guide for the Outdoorsy Person in Your Life /  by ellie berry

Hike! The herald angels sing, ”Back again, for more gifting,
Peace on trails, and weather mild,
Gear and backpack reconciled….

It’s that time of year, where I embrace the season and make some lists of gear gifts for the outdoor lover in your life. Last year, I listed out my personal top ten gift ideas, and this year I turned to Instagram and asked what your top gift ideas are.

Gear Gifts & Kits

1. Water Filters

There are several options: I have the the Platypus Quickdraw Filter; there’s the MiniWorks EX Microfilter from MSR; and you can also get ones to fit specific bottles, like the Salomon Soft Flask filter. One of the most famous filters that I’ve seen mostly people from the USA use is the Sawyer Filter.

2. Repair & Care Kits

A really great recommendation! Quite often, those we’re buying for will know the very specific kit they need to get, and so it can be hard to buy the right thing. But the kit they have always needs to be cared for!

You can get a GoreTex Patching Kit for waterproofs; for their sleeping mats, there is the instant field repair kit, and the permanent home repair kit; a neoprene repair kit for the water-sports lovers; a down wash kit for taking care of jackets or sleeping bags; gear cleaner; footwear care kits - the lists go on!

3. A New Head Torch

Tying in to my recent piece on how to choose a head torch - if you live somewhere that has long, dark winters, a head torch will always be used! Read about the factors to consider when buying a torch here. In general, the three things to consider are: is it at least 500 Lumens; does it have rechargeable/changeable batteries; and is it weather resistant?

4. Maps!

There is nothing as nice as a good map (at least, to some people!). If you’re looking to buy maps, consider getting laminated maps, as they can withstand the harsh weather. In Ireland, the two options are OSI Discovery Series Maps, or EastWest Mapping.

5. Hiking Socks

The thing that feels cliche, but will always be appreciated, is a good pair of socks! My personal favourite brands are Darn Tough, 1000 Miles, and SmartWool. They all do marino blends for their socks, a personal requirement for new socks for me. And there are so many options - you can get thick, traditional hiking socks; thin liners; or even waterproof socks from SealSkinz!

Waterproof socks are a fun gift as they’re something that many people won’t consider buying for themselves, but would love to try. I can attest, it's a strange sensation when you feel the water flooding your shoes, but aren’t actually getting wet.

6. A Gift Voucher for their local Outdoor Shop

Local outdoor shops are great! They’re spaces for us to see things in person, talk about the pros and cons of different systems, and just get inspired for adventure. We’ve worked with Great Outdoors in Dublin for nine years and really value these kinds of long term relationships. Wherever you are, check out what’s close to you, and support local!

A new Irish outdoors shop option is Spur Outdoors.
Spur Outdoors are in the second hand gear market, buying and selling used outdoor gear to create a more sustainable cycle and extending the life of things that are made to last. I love everything that’s working to make the outdoors affordable and sustainable, and so wanted to give these guys a special shout out!

7. Shokz Bone Conducting Headphones

This one is a personal recommendation. During the summer Carl got me a pair of Shokz for my birthday, and I’ve really enjoyed them. They’re bone-conducting headphones, meaning that there’s nothing physically in your ears when your out and about, allowing you to hear what’s around you. Whether walking in a forest and wanting to absorb the sounds of nature, or are running and want to know if there’s a car coming up the road, I’ve found these extremely useful!

The OpenRun model (not the pro version), has an IP67 rating, which means I’m not afraid of any weather ruining them too! I got the OpenRun mini, as it had a shorter head band.

Outdoor Inspired Gifts

8. Outdoor Experiences

In the last 5 years, saunas have become a much more common occurrence in Ireland - and rightly so! Our cold weather works so well with the heat of a sauna, and I think they can be a fantastic way to relax.

Whether it’s up-skilling for adventure, or looking for a guide, there are so many people in Ireland offering fantastic services. A couple that I’ve had the pleasure of working with are:

9. Nature Inspired Jewellery - The Wandering Goldsmith

Leika creates gorgeous handmade jewellery here in Ireland, with so much of her work inspired by nature! Something that reminds someone of a favourite outdoor spot, in clear or subtle ways, can be a really lovely gift.

The Wandering Goldsmith Website - Instagram

10. Nature Inspired Prints - Storehouse Arts

Based in Co. Wicklow, a lot of the work of Storehouse Arts reflects the natural beauty of the Garden County. You’ll find lino printed greeting cards, and county high point maps, along with the rivers and mountains of Ireland.

Storehouse Arts Website - Instagram

11. Nature Inspired Scents - Be Kind Incense

While walking St. Kevin’s Way I stayed in An Teachain Beag, where the owner Belle gave me some incense inspired by the trail! The first scent from Be Kind that I’ve tried, they have a whole range inspired by different parts of Wicklow, and other areas of Ireland. Be Kind’s Wicklow inspired collection.

Outdoor Books

Books are my second passion, which works well when I can’t go outdoors. Here are some of my favourite books from this year, and of all time:

I hope you’ve found some inspiration, and have a lovely festive season ahead of you. Never forget, despite all I’ve just written, it’s not all about spending money. Wishing you all peace on trails, and weather mild.

Here is the youtube video version of this article