Forget the Roses—If You Actually Love Us, Buy Us This Gear Instead

Published February 1, 2026 06:00AM

Cancel the prix-fixe, seven-course dinner, and skip the frantic call to the florist. This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the people we love with our favorite outdoor pastimes. Whether your idea of romance is a quiet morning at a frozen trailhead, a cozy shared lift ride, or stargazing from a double-wide camp chair, these are the gear picks our editors (and their better halves) are using to celebrate the season of love.

I’ve probably owned a few dozen camp chairs in my life, and they’ve come in all shapes and sizes. Some have strong back support, others feature epic cupholders. Some come with shade umbrellas, others fold down tiny enough to take on a short backpacking trek. But I have never fallen as deeply in love with a camp chair as I have the Huskfirm Double.

The oversized seat is made for two, but it’s so large that there’s enough room for my husband, our two little kids, and me to all snuggle in for stargazing. The cushioned quilt that covers it provides insulation that is both comfy and clutch for keeping our booties warm on a chilly night. And the cupholders come with mesh dividers so they can house beer cans, water bottles, and even coffee mugs (with handles!) with ease. After testing it for about a year, I don’t even bother with my other chairs anymore.

My wife and I love the sound the Thule Chasm suitcase wheels make on the brick floor that covers the entire Albuquerque airport. The click-clack might annoy some people, but to us it signals vacation. We’ve tested many different carry-on options, but we stick with the Chasm because it has all the features we need for adventurous travel. The wheels, for example, are oversized so the suitcase is easy to drag over bricks, curbs, dirt, or up steep hills. At 40 liters, the suitcase holds plenty of clothing for a solid three or four days but keeps us from overpacking. Built from high-quality materials like a 900-denier face fabric and molded plastic back, we know we can toss our Chasms in the back of Ubers, check them under a plane or bus, drag them through rain or snow, and they will never leave us with wet or scattered clothes. At $370, the suitcase is an investment, but after you travel tens of thousands of miles, the investment easily pays off.

If true love is about sticking together through hard times, then the Salmon QST 94 skis are my soulmate. Colorado is enduring a historically terrible ski season, and most of the resorts are covered in ice, hardpack, and man-made snow. Still, I was able to enjoy my recent trip to the slopes, and a big part of that was due to the QST 94 skis. With none of my favorite high-alpine, big-mountain terrain open, I committed myself to carving corduroy and bombing down frontside blue runs. I found the QST 94 skis to be ideal skis for carving through hardpack and crud. The narrow waist, wide tip, and sidecut helped it hold a line on even the worst snow. And believe me, most of the snow I encountered was bad.

Chicago winter with a baby is a crash course in cold-weather gear essentials. Add a mid-December trip to the frozen coastline of New Brunswick to the mix, and this down onesie quickly earned MVP status in our household this winter. It’s warm enough for sub-30 degree temps, packs down super small, and is now the must-wear jacket for our 10-month-old for outdoor adventure this time of year. Plus, the best hikes are the ones you share with the people you love—kids included.

This jacket has withstood snowy shuffles on all fours without any tearing on the knees. We love the dual full-length zippers down the front that make it easy to get on and off, especially for diaper changes, and the flap-over mitten and foot cuffs do a stellar job at keeping heat and the cold out. It’s easily the piece of gear my wife and I most wish we could steal from our baby.

On Saturday, when it was -6°F out, I wore my Janji Waffleloft Longsleeve under a lightly insulated vest while driving to the airport to pick up my wife—because it kept me warm when I had to step out briefly, but didn’t overheat in the car. Plus, my wife always says, “nice shirt” when I’m wearing it. On that equally cold Sunday, I wore it while lounging around the house, and under a parka during a two-mile walk. It was cozy, comfy, and warm for both activities.

On Monday, with the temperature up into the 20s, I wore it under a shell for a 3-mile trail run. It felt great against the skin, kept me warm while I got my blood circulating, and didn’t overheat when I picked up the pace. It wicked so well that even though I could feel moisture on the inside of the jacket, I felt dry enough to keep the shirt on for a couple hours of desk work after the run. The 78% recycled polyester/12% modal/10% spandex blend in a heavyweight waffle knit makes it feel almost like a sweater—soft and warm—but it is as light and airy as any of my thinner running shirts. It’s too warm to wear very far into the spring, but as long as the weather stays chilly, I’ll be sporting this versatile piece day after day.

My wife and I love snowboarding together, but we definitely run at different temperatures. In a bid to make her layering simpler and lift rides more comfortable, I had her test the Stio Fernos Insulated Knickers this season. On her first day out, she immediately noticed how they were warm without the bulk. Now, you should know that she’s not picky and lives by the spirit of “the right gear is the gear you have”—so I know something is really good when she actually speaks up.

The Peakfill Active Insulation kept her cozy during windy, single-digit temperatures, without causing her to overheat on bootpacks in search of good snow. Stretchy side panels made movement and high-stepping across rocks feel natural and unrestricted. The biggest compliment came from the fit. My wife has an athletic build and bigger hips and thighs, and she noted that they were a “Goldilocks” fit—just right. She won’t hit the slopes without wearing her “puffy capris” and bragging about being cozy.

After using Camp Chef’s Gridiron 36 five to seven days a week since August, I would like to add “cooking” next to backcountry skiing and whitewater kayaking on my list of favorite outdoor activities. The 36-inch seasoned griddle makes perfect pancakes 100 percent of the time and sears all of the meats I cook for dinner to delightfully-crusted perfection. I get to do this while enjoying fresh air! In the morning, even! My wife hates the smell of breakfast meats in the morning and the fact that I can cook bacon and sausage anytime, any day, with zero guilt alone makes this my favorite new tool.

The Revv1HT has become my favorite mode of transportation around town. Technically, this is a class 3 e-bike, but the hand-grip throttle and styling reminiscent of a classic cafe racer make it feel like I’m riding a motorcycle, albeit a motorcycle that tops out at 28mph. The 1000-watt motor has about 50 miles of range per charge (which is way more than I need to get to the pickleball bar and back), and I added a seat extender with grab handle and foot pegs ($100) so I can take my wife into town with me. You know, for couples pickleball tournaments. I envisioned steering us around town while she hugged my torso tightly for safety. Romantic, no?

Apparently not. My wife won’t ride on the Revv1HT with me precisely for the reason that I love this bike: because it feels too much like a motorcycle. I’m sure she’ll come around, though. Persistence and time; that’s how I got her to marry me in the first place.

The Gear Outside Editors Are Crushing on This Valentine’s Day

Huskfirm 2 Person Camping Chair Oversized Loveseat

Thule Chasm

Salomon QST 94 Skis

Patagonia Infant Hi-Loft Down Sweater Bunting

Janji Waffleloft Longsleeve

Stio Fernos Insulated Knicker

Camp Chef Gridiron 36

Ride1Up Revv1HT