Holiday Gift Guide for People Who Love the Outdoors
Looking for the perfect present in a pinch? Here are 10 gifts to impress the nature loving, outdoorsy person on your Christmas list.
Ski/Snowboard Mountain Lift Pass
Purchase a lift pass for you and your friends or family to go skiing this season. You could buy a gift card to a hill like Mont Tremblant in Quebec and plan an epic winter getaway, or, for multi-pow-day enthusiasts, there are packs of passes you can purchase that are sometimes deeply discounted. For example, Whistler Blackcomb’s five-day EDGE card is currently $500 for adults. Alternatively, pick up a family pass or a season’s pass to a local mountain. If your gift recipient is planning on travelling to multiple ski hills, consider the international Ikon Pass or the Epic Pass. The best gift is more time outdoors together.
Find your ski resort here: powderhounds.com
Black Diamond Trail Trek Poles
Look out, steep sections and slippery trails—these trekking poles are your new secret weapon for slick, snowy and tricky treks. Unisex and foldable, the lightweight aluminum poles feature sturdy FlickLock® adjustable mechanisms in three sections to find the perfect length, soft insulating rubber grips for tender fingertips in frigid weather, and technical tips with interchangeable WaveLock attachments so you can find the right tread for your chosen adventure.
Cost: $144.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
MEC Get Down Booties
Like sleeping bags for your feet, these cozy cabin slippers have a cushiony insole, elastic drawstring and 650 fill-power duck down to warm your toes up once you pull your boots off. Made sustainably with Bluesign® approved material and certified responsible down. Ideal for cozy nights at the campsite or warming up your feet inside your tent while sleeping, these booties are water-resistant and comfy. These can be worn outside but aren’t made for hiking—instead, relax by the campfire and roast marshmallows for s’mores.
Cost: $99.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
Collapsible Kettle
Boil water for tea, coffee, soup or freeze-dried food at the campsite this winter. You’ll save space—the entire kettle folds down into itself—and have fun using this malleable yet heat-resistant blue silicone kettle. With an impressive 1.5-litre volume, you can make enough coffee or tea for two-to-three people. The kettle is made of high-quality, durable, food-grade silicone with a metal base, a plastic handle with a locking mechanism and a precise pour spout. It won’t melt over your camping stove, and it will look dang cool at your campsite.
Cost: $29.95
Buy it here: explore-mag.com
Refillable Adventure Journal
For those who like to reflect on their past adventures, plan new ones or pen epic adventure stories, this refillable journal allows them to write to their heart’s content. Full of 100 double-sided, lined pages, there is enough room in this two-tone blue diary to brainstorm the plot of a fantasy book, cross off an adventure gear wish list or plan the next season’s upcoming adventures in a detailed bucket list. But the best part? The pages can be removed once filled and replaced with a fresh insert of blank pages. Endless daydreaming, sketching and story telling await.
Cost: $14.95
Buy it here: explore-mag.com
Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate 1.18L Tumbler
We know this tumbler is still the trendiest one on the market. At over one litre, it’s perfect for early morning drives to the trailhead, getting refreshed with cold H2O while setting up camp or hydrating on long road trips. Despite its large capacity and rubberized handle, the tapered bottom fits easily in most standard cupholders. With a reusable straw for easy sipping, this tumbler keeps hot drinks hot for up to seven hours, cold drinks cold for up to 11 hours and ice intact for up to two days.
Cost: $58.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
Cast Iron Pie Iron
Upgrade your camp kitchen and make easy, delicious, toasted sandwiches in this heavy-duty, cast-iron, extra-large square pie iron. We made turkey cranberry brie toasties for Thanksgiving at the campsite by roasting the ingredients (plus arugula and mayonnaise) between two slices of bread coated in butter. Hold it over your campfire (real or propane). It’s like cooking a grilled cheese—but with endless filling options, you can make sweet or savoury meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.
Cost: $43.99
Buy it here: canadiantire.ca
Whittling Kit
Fight boredom at the campground with this high-quality set of whittling knives for beginner carvers. Craft a small figure, carve out the handle of a new walking stick or flex your creativity by designing driftwood masterpieces. This kit comes with four hand-crafted knifes: a detail knife, spoon carving knife, whittling knife and small detail wood carving knife. Plus, it all comes wrapped in a portable tool roll, so you can easily pack and carry it to the campsite. Ideal for the artistic outdoors lover in your life.
Cost: $59.99
Buy it here: beavercrafttools.com
Jingle Basket
Did you hear about the Boo Basket—the trend of gifting a bundle of cozy, inspiring and seasonal-themed items for Halloween? Welcome to Christmas’ answer: the Jingle Basket. Made with outdoor adventurers and nature lovers in mind, Explore’s Jingle Basket contains five items geared to keeping you cozy, getting you outside safely and allowing you to connect with the outdoors on a deeper level—plus the latest issue of explore for added adventure inspiration. Gift this to the hiker, camper, paddler, skier or snowboarder in your life.
Cost: $49.95 (Black Friday sale)
Buy it here: explore-mag.com
Explore Magazine Subscription
Give the gift of adventure inspiration—our print magazine will entertain, educate and inspire you. Four times a year, we publish the best adventure stories, nature photography and outdoors tips so you can live your most adventurous life. Covering adventure hotspots and hidden gems across Canada, never again will you ask yourself, “where should I go?” for a hike, paddle or camping trip. Gift a subscription for a friend, family member or loved one—just fill out their address when ordering.
Cost: $17.47 for a one-year subscription; 4 issues (Black Friday sale)
Buy it here: explore-mag.com/subscribe
More Adventure Gear You Need:
Sustainably Sourced Gifts for Outdoor Adventurers
8 Gifts That’ll Inspire Your Kids to Head Outside
10 Multi-Purpose Outdoor Gear Items for Every Type of Adventurer
