The Happy Camper: Big Christmas Gift Ideas
Last week I listed a bunch of cool stocking stuffer gift ideas for Christmas. Now, it’s time to list some ideas that require more wrapping paper and a big red bow. So, grab your credit card and have a look at some of my favourite big gift ideas for Christmas.
Algonquin Outfitters Custom Guided Canoe Trip
Why not give someone an experience for Christmas? Have Algonquin Outfitters guide them through the water by canoe. It can be for just a few days or an extensive trip right across the park. A guided trip allows beginners to feel safe, and to learn tips and tricks from an expert so they can head out on their own the next time.
Happy Camper Winter Camping Workshop
Embrace the cold with this workshop on winter camping. I will introduce you to the practices and principles of winter camping, covering trip planning, map and compass, cold camping, hot tenting, packing, stoves, food, hauling your gear, safety, fire lighting, wood I.D., tracking and more with a break mid-day to enjoy a warm, delicious lunch. After this workshop you will be much better prepared to do an overnight trip on your own.
Esker Folding Wooden Bucksaw
Canada’s Esker company makes a solid camp saw. This bucksaw, or what some call a bow saw, requires far less elbow grease. The grip is incredibly comfortable, it’s made of walnut (dark wood) or birds eye maple (light wood), the blade is a high quality Bahco 24 and it’s held together with a sturdy nylon tension rope. Basically, not only does this thing cut wood like no other—it also looks awesome.
Kni-Co Alaskan Jr Stove for Hot Tent
The Kni-Co Alaskan Jr stove will definitely keep you nice and cozy in your winter hot tent. It packs small and light, but throws enough heat to keep a three to six person tent warm enough that you’ll be sitting around it in a t-shirt and shorts, drinking your hot toddy. It features an adjustable damper in a 5″ straight pipe, five sections of 5″ (tapers to 4″) nesting galvanized stove pipe, a 5″ elbow piece (for directing the pipe stack out the side wall) folding legs and can be stowed in the stove box for transport.
Kelly Kettle Scout 800
The Kelly Kettle is my favourite stick stove and the Scout 800 is one of their most popular stoves. It has a smaller water capacity but faster boil time. It also packs better. The Hobo stove is a perfect addition. I use it to fry my fish or place an alcohol stove in when it’s been raining all week and the wood is too wet to use your kettle.
Outdoor Research Lucent Heated Sensor Mitts
These may seem overkill to some and a life-changer for others. A GORE-TEX insert adds waterproof protection and lightweight synthetic EnduraLoft insulation adds extra warmth and cold weather protection. The mitts also have a fleece palm lining, molded EVA foam on the back of the hands and abrasion-resistant goat leather palms. But they’ve also updated with this year’s design. There’s a touchscreen-compatible leather thumb fingerprints and a new power button with brighter, easier-to-see settings.
Women’s Transcendent Down Skirt
A puffy skirt. This is a stylish gift and a cozy one as well. It’s filled with super warm 650-fill down with a stretchy-soft knit waistband. Slip it over your base layer pants and feel free to sit in the cold snow or on a ski lift with comfort.
P.S. Looking for a gift that keeps giving all year?
Gift a subscription to our “Live the Adventure’ Club!
In our quarterly subscription gear box, we include four to six pieces of new gear, the latest issue of explore and inspirational challenges to get you outside and using your new gear. That’s $150+ in retail value for just $97 per quarter… plus the priceless value of the motivational challenges you won’t find anywhere else.
Why not gift a subscription to the explorer in your life? Pay for a year in advance and cancel anytime by contacting [email protected]
