The Outdoorsy Holiday Presents (With Purpose) I’m Gifting This Year

I love gift giving, but often ask myself if my friends and family really need more stuff. This year, I’m taking solace in this thought: gift giving has the power to do good. Not only for the receivers of gifts—it always feels good to be thought of—but for the greater good.

I gathered a collection of items that serve as agents of good in various ways. Some upcycle or recycle what would otherwise end up in landfills into something great, some enable or promote more sustainable living, and others support a mission-driven purpose.

Upcycled/Recycled Presents

Japanese company Oyuki has partnered with California-based Bureo, which recycles fishing nets into fabric to create a line of snowboarding apparel. The Oyuki + Bureo 2L Kiroro snowboarding pants and Kiroro NetPlus 2L Jackets are designed for inbounds riding, and Nimi NetPlus 3L Bibs and Nimi NetPlus 3L Jackets are made for backcountry adventures. These jackets and pants give the rippers in your life a feel-good way to charge the snow we all hope doesn’t disappear due to climate change.

Kiroro NetPlus 2L Jacket

Shop at Oyuki

Nimi NetPlus 3L Bibs

Shop at Oyuki

By reshaping pieces of resin that are discarded during the surfboard manufacturing process, Surf Gems founder Abby Ahlgrim creates unique, colorful pieces of jewelry. Don’t tell my surfer sister, but I’m planning on gifting her a pair of beautiful Surf Gems earrings and telling her all about the feel-good, upcycled story behind them.

Surf Gems Earrings

Shop at Surf Gems

Sustainable/Footprint-lowering Gifts

Puzzling is a great mindfulness exercise, and a mesmerizing way to spend a few hours in a mountain cabin. But once completed, they languish in attics and end up being carted to the dump after not selling in garage sales. Completing the Puzzle is a travel puzzle rental service that minimizes waste. Subscribers simply return their puzzle when through and receive a new one. I brought one of these on a race weekend to keep me and my running partner in the moment pre-race, instead of freaking out over paces and race outcomes.

Completing the Puzzle

Shop at Completing the Puzzle

A good, reusable beverage bottle, thermos, or tumbler is always an appreciated gift that promotes sustainability. (No more plastic water bottles, please!) This SMMT Serpa Tumbler has an ingenious magnetic lid that nests on the bottom so it doesn’t get lost. This vacuum-insulated, kitchen-grade stainless steel tumbler is as leak-proof as I’ve found: it hasn’t soaked the contents of my soccer-mom bag yet—which has happened with other drinkware more times than I’d like to admit.

SMMT Serpa Tumbler

Shop at SMMT Outdoor

Gear that Supports a Good Cause

Cotopaxi dedicates one percent of revenue from every purchase to nonprofit partners that support communities experiencing poverty. The company is also a certified B Corporation, which means they’ve demonstrated a net positive impact on workers, suppliers, community, customers, and the environment. And this versatile, comfortable Atajo Long-Sleeve Waffle Hoodie supports Cotopaxi’s Better Cotton Initiative to develop equitable working practices in the cotton farming industry. That’s cozy vibes all-around.

Cotopaxi Atajo Long-Sleeve Waffle Hoodie

Shop at Cotopaxi

I’ve been testing the Adventurist Backpack Co.’s Classic Daypack, carry-on duffle/backpack 45L, and Summit Sling Bag, and like the durability, retro styling, and smart pocketing of all three. But what I love even more is that, for every bag purchased, the company partners with Feeding America to donate 25 meals to families in need.

Adventurist Classic

Shop at Adventurist Backpack Co.

Summit Sling Bag

Shop at Adventurist Backpack Co.

I appreciate these companies’ efforts to make a positive change in the world while creating great products. And I think the recipients of my gifts will feel similarly.