Inga Hendrickson
Frost River’s Echo Trail seat bag ($95) is made entirely by hand on the second floor of the company’s shop in Duluth, Minnesota. And like all waxed-canvas products, it will only look better with age.
Inga Hendrickson
No bells or whistles here: Silca’s Italian-made Pista bicycle pump ($80) is just plain durable. And because every part is replaceable, you’ll never need a new one.
Inga Hendrickson
Canadian outerwear company Nobis has a knack for coming up with fresh designs each winter, and the women’s Eve Knit Fargo hat ($65) fits the mold. The exterior is wool and acrylic, the interior is high-quality faux fur, and the combination makes for a perfect après-ski beanie.
Inga Hendrickson
Grove, which crafts gadget cases from sustainable materials, makes everything in its Portland, Oregon, offices—including this tree-engraved bamboo iPhone 4/4S case ($99). Custom designs can be had for just $30 extra.
Inga Hendrickson
With Portuguese cotton woven into flannel, L.L. Bean’s 1933 Chamois Cloth shirt ($65) is a near replica of the button-down in its Depression-era catalog. The only update: a slimmer cut.
Inga Hendrickson
iStabilizer’s cinematic Dolly ($60) cradles iPhones, iPods, and other portable video recorders, including GoPros, so the auteur in the family can capture sweet tracking shots on a budget.
Inga Hendrickson
Quicksilver’s chambray-and-cotton Ellis Harbor jacket ($98) looks like a shirt, but don’t be fooled. The quilted insulation and jersey-lined pockets make it warm enough for chilly fall nights.
Inga Hendrickson
Timex’s Expedition Military Field watch ($65)strikes the right balance between rugged and office appropriate: it’s water-resistant up to 100 meters, and the classic canvas band goes with everything.
Inga Hendrickson
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who think a flask on a bike is a great idea and those who don’t. For the former, get Ahearne’s Custom Engraved flask ($65). The included mount attaches to a frame just like a water-bottle cage.
Inga Hendrickson
The shiny, lightly insulated North Face Mack Moto jacket ($140) looks like it was designed for a night on the town. But with a DWR coating on the nylon exterior, it’s also water-resistant enough to keep you dry in a snowstorm.
Inga Hendrickson
You could spend five times as much on a whizbang GPS, but if the backpacker in your family just wants to map hiking routes, Garmin’s eTrex 10 ($110) gets it done.
Inga Hendrickson
Blundstone BootsBecause their burly out-soles can handle just about any abuse—and because they look good enough to wear to fancy dinners—Blundstone’s slip-on boots have long been popular around the office. Now, with the 268 ($150), you get all that plus laces.
Inga Hendrickson
The exercise-friendly Bose SIE2i earbuds ($150) are expensive, but the audio is ultra-crisp, and they won’t budge from your ears on jarring trail runs. The ones shown here, with integrated remote control, are designed for iPhones and iPods; a device-neutral version, the SIE2 ($120), is available, too.
Inga Hendrickson
Mountain Khakis’ Utility bag ($125) is made of thick waxed canvas, and the handle is recycled climbing rope, so it’s both durable and tasteful.
Inga Hendrickson
What are the holidays without sweaters? Patagonia blended wool and cashmere for the Wool Cask crewneck ($149), for increased warmth and comfort.
Inga Hendrickson
Two technologies combine to make Mountain Hardwear’s Hydra Pro gloves ($125) the most waterproof we’ve tested. And with heavy fleece insulation, they’re great for skiers and winter alpinists.
Inga Hendrickson
It’s slightly insane to spend this much on boardshorts, but Bluesmiths’ ($175) really are the nicest we’ve ever worn. Cut from quick-drying Schoeller fabric, they look and feel twice as good as your average boardshorts—and will last twice as long.
Inga Hendrickson
Braven’s armored 625s portable speaker ($180) plays up to 16 hours of music on a charge. It also comes with a drybag, so it’ll go every- where you go, rafting trips included.
Inga Hendrickson
It’s about time. The Lazer Effect helmet ($120) features an integrated GoPro mount, the first to do so. Score extra points with the budding Warren Miller on your list by giving the helmet and GoPro’s HD Hero2 camera ($300) as a pair.
Inga Hendrickson
K2’s Backside Pilchuck kit ($200) is a great gift for backcountry newbies. The 11-liter pack, just big enough for skins storage and a few extra layers, comes with a shovel and probe. Complete the kit with one more mandatory item: a beacon, like Backcountry Access’ Tracker DTS ($240).
Inga Hendrickson
MSR’s four-person Flex 4 cook system ($160) is exactly what you want when camping: four stainless-steel mugs, four plates, two pots, one handle, and two lids. And it all fits together like a set of Russian nesting dolls.
Inga Hendrickson
Backyard swings put a smile on everyone’s face. And Dzierlenga F+U’s tree swing ($180) is the most beautiful we’ve seen. The wood is cedar, the rope is Manila, and your kids or grandparents will love the combination.
Inga Hendrickson
Sony’s rugged, water-proof Action Cam ($270) is the company’s first foray into wearable video cameras. While its size and specs make it comparable to a stock GoPro, two key features set it apart: on-board Wi-Fi and digital stabilization.
Inga Hendrickson
Revo’s polarized Windspeed sun- glasses ($209) are tricked out with adjustable nose and ear rubber and crystal-clear, scratch-resistant lenses. Plus, aviators look good on just about every head shape.
Inga Hendrickson
Therm-a-Rest’s LuxuryLite Ultra-Lite cot ($230) is the size of a roll of tent poles and weighs under three pounds—small and light enough to take into the backcountry.
