Outside Editors' Favorite Gear to Gift

Published November 22, 2025 03:45AM

Over the course of the year, Outside editors have tested everything from the coolest coolers to the best all-mountain skis. If there’s one side effect of rigorously testing thousands of pieces of gear every year, it’s that we can be a little bit picky. Okay, a lot bit picky. We know what works, we love analyzing every tiny little detail, and we stake our reputation on our in-depth gear reviews.

The upside of all this obsessive testing? It makes us absolutely amazing gift givers. because we’ve lived, laughed, and loved the products we’re wrapping up oh-so-carefully. Consider this gift guide your inside look at what Outside editors actually reach for again and again—the items we’d bring to a favorite things party, our most-loved, most-hyped sidekick gear. These are the outdoorsy gifts we’d have at the top of our list this year, if we didn’t already own (and love) every single one.

I never go on a backpacking trip without the Grayl 24oz GeoPress Water Filter. It’s a bit heavier than other purifiers, but the ease of use more than makes up for it. On an overnighter in Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains this summer, my friends ditched their own filters and just used the Grayl instead. Put a little bit of muscle into pushing the lid, and you’ll fill your hydration bladder in only a few minutes. (Also comes in 16.9oz and titanium options.)

The world of “wellness” gifts can be dizzyingly complicated with marketers telling us their products can optimize everything from our stomach lining to our glands. While my wife and I can’t tell you much about our glands, we both do high-output activities for at least an hour a day and are terrible at hydrating. We know, that’s bad. We got a Rorra Countertop System in October and owning it has quadrupled (yes, 4X) the amount of water that we consume in a day. The water out of the stainless steel system is notably tastier than out of our tap, and it’s incredibly easy to fill up. Plus, the ergonomic handle is easy to use, so we don’t stress about our daughter knocking the system over when she fills up her 8oz Yeti. My wife and I laugh about how easy of a fix the whole “drinking water” thing is, and we’re grateful that we don’t have to maximize our gut biome to feel better in this specific situation. Hell, our glands might even be better for it.

I have a dozen camp chairs in my garage, but the Cliq has rendered them all obsolete for one simple reason: it sets up the easiest. Period. Simply unwrap the velcro strap and pull the telescoping legs out until they click into place. Putting it away is just as simple; No folding legs or wrapping them in the seat fabric like a burrito. It’s comfy, sits at the perfect height to enjoy a campfire, and packs into a compact travel case. The Cliq Classiq is everything you want out of a camp chair, with none of the hassle.

While most are touting the merits of backcountry quilts, there are still some worthy traditional sleeping bags out there designed with versatility in mind. The Ascent Down sleeping bag has a shape that allows me to move around freely (I’m a constant roller), and a zipper design appropriately named the “free flow zip system” with multiple ventilation options to match the conditions. Zipped closed in the cold, fully splayed open to become an oversized quilt, a fold-down front flap for those in-between temperatures, and even a footbox capable of opening independently to regulate airflow or walk around camp like a cozy burrito.

My size Long bag weighs just under 2 pounds and packs down to about 6 inches with the included compression sack, never giving me regrets about having it at the bottom of my bag. As an engineer, I appreciate the design and development that goes into well-made, versatile gear.

When Coast released its first voice-controlled headlamp, I brushed it off as a convenience I didn’t need—but then I tried it. Now they’ve integrated the technology into a lighter package with the FL97R, ditching the rear battery pack and safety light in favor of a smaller front load, and I may never go back. The ability to turn on your light at camp, or while on-the-go hiking, biking, climbing, or skiing, without needing to stop what you’re doing to fumble for the right button needs to be experienced to be appreciated. My stubborn-natured one handed “skills” may be fading, but it’s for the better. Not to mention the headlamp can become a fun game at camp as it responds to all voices—battling for off and on, and seeing how softly you can speak or from how far away you can change the light.

I’ve had my Oura Ring 4 since last Christmas and, in more than ten years owning and testing fitness wearables, it’s the tracking tool I’ve stuck with the longest and love the most. And I talk about it a lot: it helps put my total health and fitness into context in ways other wearables can’t. The Oura Ring detects housework and yardwork more effectively than my smartwatch, giving me a better, more complete measure of my daily movement. It’s also unobtrusive and the battery life is excellent, easily lasting me four or five days between charges. And if you’ve ever gotten a sleep score in the 90s, you know how amazing it feels.

My wife tries a lot of gear for Outside. If I need to see a women’s product in action, she’s my go-to tester. But she’s also my pickiest tester, and has a very low tolerance for layers that are too tight, too constricting, or poorly designed. The Aestas Jogger is her new favorite wear-everywhere layer. It’s essentially a roomy, technical, barrel-leg pant that fits in at bars and while shopping for groceries. The fit is paramount here: an internal drawstring and high, stretch-waist are as comfy as your sweatpants at home. The Joggers are sewn with Polartec’s Power Air, which is a durable, dual-sided fabric that has a quilted, insulated inner and a tough-but-soft knit outer face. Supposedly that quilted design reduces microfiber shedding by 80-percent—something we can’t really measure. What we do know is that it’s a damn comfortable, breathable, water-resistant, and just about the perfect chilly-weather pant, indoors and out.

Thanks to the perfect balance of function and style, the X2s are my favorite and most-used shoes of all time (seriously). Classic Hoka cushioning and a carbon plate make them great for trail runs but also for long travel days that wind through airports and marble-floored museums. Unlike other running shoes that go for a utilitarian look, these X2s come with details like wavy side stripes and a two-tone white colorway that give them so much personality, I constantly get compliments at work. Right now I have the MAAP version of this shoe that comes with the bright shoelaces, but I’m already looking forward to a fresh pair of X2s when mine wear out.

Time is our most precious commodity, and staying organized is how I make the most of mine. Enter the Kitworks Gear Tote, which helps me get out the door for bike rides and ski sessions faster. The 55-liter gear hauler is compatible with a variety of different accessories like gear cubes, Molle-panel pockets, and waterproof bags, so I can keep everything I need for a given adventure, like mountain biking, stored and ready inside the tote. After the ride, I shove my dirty shoes and clothes into the removable waterproof bag so my clean gear doesn’t get compromised. I have it packed with my mountain bike gear during the warm months, and will switch it over to ski gear now that the snow has started falling.

I live in Chicago with a snow-loving Bernedoodle, which means approximately 25 percent of my waking hours during the winter are spent taking her on frigid walks. For years, I futilely tried to find the perfect pair of gloves or mittens that would withstand the wind chill, but also lend me enough dexterity to open a poop bag. Reader, I never found it. Instead, I snagged these cheap hand warmers from Amazon, and they’ve lived in my coat pockets ever since. A single charge typically lasts me about a week of dog walks, and the lowest level of warmth is plenty, especially when trapped in a coat pocket. I’d take these on wintry hikes or ski days in a heartbeat; they take up barely any room in a pack and have handy wrist traps to prevent them from getting lost.

If you’re an active, outdoorsy adult with children, there’s a solid chance you spend a good amount of time as a doting spectator of youth sports. So when you find something that helps maximize both, like the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair, you get a bit obsessed. The Hex 2.0 rolls up small, is lighter than the original, and its slight cushioning turns a hard bleacher into a padded seat with a back. Having this chair for spectating sports has made me more comfortable, which puts me in a better mood all-around—a win for me and everyone in my family.

This is my secret weapon layer for resort skiing in early winter. For ladies who run cold no matter how hard they ski, these three-quarter length insulated down knickers are a lifesaver. I’ve tried a couple of different styles of down knickers for skiing over the years, but I keep coming back to the Kari Traa Emilie High Waisted Capri because they balance warmth (450-fill power down) with a sleeker profile, so you don’t feel like the Michelin Man on the ski hill.

This mountain bike seat for tykes has unlocked a new level of adventure for my young family. We purchased one second-hand at the beginning of the summer, and it’s been the best piece of “non-essential” kids’ gear we’ve ever bought. Our two-year-old is obsessed with riding shotgun on mom’s and dad’s mountain bike on easy single-track trails, and mom and dad are so happy to be able to get out and do more than just hike. The MacRide is so simple to affix to any mountain bike with the included adapters, and adjustable to accommodate growing kiddos (my brother still uses his with his almost-4-year-old daughter). It’s expensive for what it is, but you can’t put a price on your kiddo’s sheer joy from getting to tag along on “real” mountain bike rides.

If I didn’t have this shirt, I would love to receive it as a gift. It’s my wear-everywhere, everyday shirt, that’s always comfortable, good-looking, and low-maintenance. The 50 percent wool, 50 percent polyester blend strikes an ideal balance between warmth and breathability, softness and durability. The long-sleeve shirt feels great on a run in temperatures from the 60s down to the 30s, and, under a shell, keeps me warm but not hot into single digits. I wear it as a casual shirt year-round, its relaxed athletic fit and lightweight always feels just right. It’s the first thing I pack when traveling: It manages odor so well and drapes so smoothly I can wear it overnight on a plane or train and feel well-dressed at a restaurant, meeting, or ball game the next day. My only complaint is that I have only one and sometimes it is in the wash.
—Jonathan Beverly, senior running editor, Outside

Chilly mornings present a conundrum for cyclists. Will the day warm up, or will it stay cold? Not even my Apple weather app knows for sure these days. If I don my thickest cycling jacket, I run the risk of becoming a sweaty and miserable mess, without the ability to take it off and tuck it into a jersey pocket. But if I under-dress, I’m bound to head in early for a hot shower. This fall I have found the Attack Thermal Jersey to be the perfect solution to the cold-morning question. The jersey is thick enough that I only need to bring a thin windbreaker for the first hour or so of the ride. If the sun stays hidden, my outer layer stays on, and the Attack jersey provides the thick thermal layer that keeps warm air against my skin. If the sun comes out, I can shed my windbreaker and fold it into my pocket, and let the passing air cool me down. Your move, Mother Nature.
—Frederick Dreier, articles editor, Outside

From $30 Hand Warmers to Voice-Activated Headlamps, This Is Outside Editors’ Favorite Gear to Gift

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle

Rorra Countertop System

Cliq ClassiQ Chair

Sea-to-Summit Ascent Down Sleeping Bag (30 F)

Coast FL97R Headlamp

Oura Ring 4

Arc’teryx Aestas Jogger Women’s

Hoka Stealth/Tech Tecton X 2

Kitworks Gear Tote

Ocoopa Rechargeable Hand Warmers

Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair

Kari Traa Down Knickers

MacRide Child Bike Seat

Fjällräven Abisko Wool Longsleeve Shirt

Pearl Izumi Attack Thermal Jersey