What should you get for the person who spends all of their time outside? For the answer to that question, a group of outdoors writers put their heads together and came up with this list. You can trust their advice — they’ve made a career out of trying to avoid the office as much as possible.
JETBOIL FLASH COOKING SYSTEM
$99.95, REI
This has been a backcountry staple for the past three years, and it’s perfect for cold driftboat anglers looking to whip up some coffee or lunch. The cup has an attached propane heater that quickly cooks what’s inside the cup. The burner and the 110-gram propane canisters (sold separately) store inside the cup. The Jetboil remains the best and most compact of the in-the-field cooking devices on the market.
CARSON ADVENTURE PACK
$40, rei.com
Nothing helps kids get more excited about being outdoors than having their own gear. If they see a bird, they want to look now, not when some adult is done with the family binoculars. The Adventure Pack can get them started with a matching flashlight, whistle, compass and 5×30 binoculars. The whistle has two built-in thermometers — one displays the temperature in Fahrenheit and the other in centigrade. It all comes in a soft carrying case that can attach to a belt. The flashlight will need two AA batteries.
THERMACELL HEATED INSOLES
$129.99, www.thermacell.com
Cold feet can quickly ruin an otherwise enjoyable outing. Thermacell Heated Insoles will keep them dogs toasty in the worst of conditions. The insoles run on a small wireless remote that fits into a pocket, and runs up to five hours or longer if used in intervals.
LIQUID IMAGE APEX HD+WIFI GOGGLES
$399.99, liquidimageco.com
Skiers and snowboarders who think strapping a camera to their helmet looks awkward will appreciate the less conspicuous look of this goggle cam. The camera is built into the top of the goggles and is WiFi compatible, allowing skiers to live stream their runs to their smartphones or tablets. A free app allows you to edit video and pictures shot with the goggle cam. Oh, and the lenses are 100-percent UV protected.
FLASH SLEEPING BAG
$199, REI
REI’s ultra-lightweight sleeping bag has synthetic insulation on the bottom and goose down on top, and is rated at 32 degrees. The waterproof, breathable fabric around the edges wicks away condensation.
SIMMS SLICK JACKET
$499, www.simmsfishing.com
Some of the best fly-fishing is in the rain and snow, and Simms has made a jacket that will keep you comfy when the weather is nasty. This Gore-Tex garment has a clean look, with two large pockets for gear and two pockets for warming your hands. The main pockets have zippers on the inside — and outside — of the jacket, making it easy to access layers under the jacket.
LASER-PLINKING-CAN
$335, LaserLyte.com
Hunters and marksmen who honed their early shooting skills by plinking tin cans will quickly see the appeal of the new Laser-Plinking-Can. LaserLyte, a company specializing in firearms laser technologies, has released a safe and entertaining target. When hit with a laser from any of the LaserLyte training cartridges or other laser trainer tools, the cans react by jumping up and falling over just as a real can would. This reaction is powered by a 9-volt battery and a spring-loaded plunger released by a solenoid. To reset the cans, simply stand them up and depress the plunger. The battery will last for about 8,000 shots.
iBATTZ BATTERY CASE
$89.95, www.ibattz.com or Best Buy
Keep your iPhone powered and safely tucked away with the iBattz Mojo Refuel Armor Battery Case, a compact, rugged yet good-looking case that keeps the phone safe and extends battery life on long outdoor outings. An extra battery costs $15 and is worth the purchase.
VERSALITE SOFTSHELL INTERCHANGE JACKET
$195, REI
For those of you who haven’t bought a new ski jacket since the 1980s, it’s time for an upgrade to Columbia’s Versalite Softshell Interchange jacket.
The inside of the light-weight coat resembles aluminum foil, providing warmth akin to goose down. The jacket is light enough to wear as a liner beneath a snowboarding jacket during very cold days. The attached hood also works well for winter backpackers.
WOOD N’ STREAM RED OAK BOOT
$180, Amazon.com, various retail outlets
The boots are part of Wood N’ Stream ELX/LTT Series, which feature shock-absorbing gel soles combined with a molded footbed that make the boots comfortable on those first break-in outings.
What’s more, the boots are waterproof and breathable.
The Wood N’ Stream brand was reintroduced by the Weinbrenner Shoe Co. this year, making them the new kid on the competitive block. Yet the company is building on a line that began in 1957.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
