The holidays are approaching and I am sure that there are people out there that already have their entire gift list picked out. Some people are probably already done with their shopping. Others, like me, are still trying to figure out just what to get everyone on our lists! I have been lucky enough to test a ton of outdoor items this year and have put together this list of some of my favorites that might just fill the wish list of someone you are shopping for. So if you are feeling way behind this year, don’t panic, check out our 2025 Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide.
Quick disclaimer: This site uses affiliate marketing links. If you click on one of the buttons below a product and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. I have been given most of these products to test, but I am not compensated for brands being on this list or for my opinions of the products.
Coast Voice Activated Lantern
The folks at Coast Portland are at it again. Last year they brought us the voice activated headlamp, this year they have upped their game for campers with the voice activated lamp. The EAL35R, also known as a voice activated lamp, provides up to 1000 lumens of light and displays in 5 different colors, warm white, cool white, daylight white, red and flashing red.
You never think you need a voice activated lamp until you realize how nice they are. No more fumbling around in a dark tent trying to find a light in the middle of the night. Just two words, “Coast On” and you have light in any situation. The lamp is rechargeable and can provide light for up to 16 hours. It also doubles as a power bank for those last minute charges.
I was impressed with how lightweight but also durable this lamp is. Its body is made out of a rubber mold so it is water resistant and has a solid build that protects it from the occasional bumps. This is a great gift idea for the campers and backpackers on your list but also just the tech lovers who want a cool lamp for parties!
AllTrails Subscription
AllTrails has completely changed my life. One of the biggest things when I moved to Colorado from the Midwest was, “Where do I go?”. I would ask people and they would just tell me to go to the mountains. So for ten years I didn’t go because I didn’t know where. Then I found hiking and quickly after, AllTrails. All of a sudden I knew exactly where to go! And I wanted to finish every trail that came up on the app. I found hikes I never would have found because AllTrails told me where to go and what to expect.
This year you can give the gift of a Plus account to your favorite outdoor lover. The Plus plan allows you to download maps, which is so important as most trails worth it are not within cell coverage. The Plus plan will also alert you when you take a wrong turn. This happens way more than you would think and it is great to get that little alert tell you to get back in place.
Seriously, this is one of the most important apps that I use every time that I go to the outdoors. If you have an outdoor lover out there, this will be a great gift to keep them safer and more educated out in the woods.
Osprey Travel Bag
The Osprey Ozone line is amazing and the Boarding bag has become my go-to carry-on for every trip I take. It can hold both of my computers and all of my in-plane essentials. The Boarding Bag is even expandable to the point that it is the only bag I need on a shorter weekend trip.
There is large open back pocket, a smaller pocket on top for essentials (snacks, wallet for more snacks) and then two main pockets. The main pocket has a sleeve good for most laptops and tablets and unzips fully which is great for organization. The front pocket is great for organization. There is an interior zippered mesh pocket to keep things organized. Perfect for passports, phones or anything you want to keep secured. There are also 3 outer mesh pockets to keep track of smaller items. Plus, because it is Osprey, there is a key clip in the front pocket.
This really has become my favorite travel bag. It fits perfect under the seat and the strap is long enough to be slung on one shoulder or worn as a cross body. A great option for your travel companion this holiday season.
Surviving the Wild by Dr. Rob Scanlon
There are always risks when you go onto the hiking trail. Many of us don’t even know about the risks that we are taking as we take that trip to the back country. But every year hikers succumb to the elements. So if you are going on your first hike or have been hiking for years, it is important to read, Surviving the Trail by Dr. Rob Scanlon.
As an experienced hiker, I thought I knew it all, and then I almost ran out of water and got into some serious distress. It can happen to anything and Rob takes you through a lot of scenarios that help you take on the trail with the knowledge to avoid having to call Search and Rescue out. Accidents happen but if you are prepared, it can definitely lesson their impact.
This book is a great read for the most experienced hikers and the casual weekend warrior alike. If you have a new hiker on your list, this is a great option to help them learn what it takes to have a successful adventure. Also, if you have an experienced hiker, they will love the depth of each situation and will make them rethink some of their preparedness and approaches to the outdoors.
Kuhl Reactiv Grid Full Zip Hoody
I wear a ton of Kuhl clothing and love how they put so much thought and tech into each piece of clothing. That is no different to the Reactiv Grid Hoody. This has been my go to top layer for the fall and early winter and I will most likely use it as an insulating layer as we get deeper in winter.
Now the tech. The Reactiv Grid is moisture wicking and breathable. It is also odor resistant which is great on those longer, multiday hikes. I also wear it on the trail and then around town as a light jacket. One of the most important tech improvement here is the Graphene infused fleece fabric from Italy. Graphene has superior heat dispersion technology that expels heat in warm weather and preserves body heat in the cold.
This is a really nice piece for layering and I love it as a top layer. This will be a great gift for those people on your list who love to spend the winters on the trails and mountains instead of in front of a fire! Plus, it is available in Men’s and Women’s.
Shinola Duck Watch
In a world of digital everything, it is nice go back to craftsmanship and consistency. The Shinola Duck is just that. The Duck features a stainless-steel case with a screw-down crown, unidirectional bezel, sapphire crystal, C3 SuperLumi-Nova on the dial and hands, and a new reimagined tropic style rubber strap with a basketweave texture.
What I really love about this watch is that it is hand crafted in Detroit. Shinola crafts watches and doesn’t just throw them together with a new app and call it a must have. Instead, they created watches that are must wants! The duck is water-resistant and holds up well to the riggers of adventuring. When I look down, I see the time. I don’t have shift through menu’s or hit buttons. I just see what I need and know I can rely on it.
The Duck also has a water resistance of 10-ATM which is equivalent to a depth of 100 meters. So you don’t have to worry if you want to explore those lakes on your trails. If you have someone on your list who values quality and style on their outdoor adventures, the Shinola Duck is a great gift option.
Sock and Underwear
Remember growing up when the worst gift under the tree was the wrapped socks and underwear? How is it now as an adult that is one of my favorite gifts! Especially, when the underwear is as soft and comfortable as the Essentials 2.0 line from PAKA for men and women. if you haven’t heard about PAKA yet, they make some great clothes. I have the Essentials, hoodie, sweater and I love all of it.
PAKA integrates fabrics like Tencel, Organic Pima Cotton, Royal Alpaca, and Spandex to give the perfect amount of stretch and comfort. The Essentials line comes in both Men’s and Women’s so they are the perfect gift for yourself or anyone you are comfortable enough to give underwear. In the men’s line, my favorite are the boxer briefs.
PAKA also makes some great socks so you can always finish off the gift with a full throwback gift of socks and underwear!
Kahtoola Ghost Microspikes
If you hike in the winter, odds are you know about Kahtoola Microspikes. They are quite literally life savers on the icy winter conditions that are so common in the mountains. The heavy spikes are usually dangling off the back of a backpack, or tucked into a pouch for when you need them. That jingle of the heavy metal chains is just part of the winter hiking world. Until now!
The new Ghost Microspikes from Kahtoola are a game changer. They are 43% lighter than their old steel cousin. They have replaced the steel chains with a super strong and abrasion resistant material that holds 12 heat-treated steel spikes.
I haven’t had a chance to hike in these yet, as Colorado has decided to go a bit snowless this winter, but just feeling them and seeing how light they are is exciting. They fit snug on my feet when I tried them on and they feel like feathers. It is an advancement I wasn’t expecting. The old adage says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, well Kahtoola didn’t fix it, they made it way better! These are super cool and a great gift option for anyone who loves outdoor adventures all winter long!
Acid Rain Epithalamium by Becca Downs
Another one for my book lovers out there! Becca Downs is one of my favorite writers in Colorado. I know her as a writer and editor for some of my favorite outdoor publications. She is out testing gear all the time and loves the outdoors.
In Acid Rain Epithalamium, Becca asks the question, Might a divorce, like a wedding, require ceremony, witnesses, vows taken? She then takes a journey through a difficult time and reconnects to her true self. Finding new bonds in the world around her and emerging as a better person. This collection of poetry is a wonderful gift for anyone trying to rediscover themselves, and finding the answers to questions that may not have been asked but should have been. At least, that is what I think it is about…Becca is way smarter than me!
Royal Robbins Arch Rock 1/4 Zip
Every fall I get excited to see what Royal Robbins will have available for the colder months. Royal is one of my favorite companies because of how focused they are on sustainability. It all started with Liz and Royal back in the ’60s as some of the earliest environmental activists. They were deep into the start of the Yosemite climbing community and now the company focuses on using lower impact materials that are better for the environment. Like the Merino Wool that they use in the Arch Rock 1/4 Zip.
Also, I look really good in their clothes! Not that me looking this good is the most important part of their clothing but it is helpful! I love all the clothes that I have tried from Royal and the past couple of winter they have come out with some great stuff. I love the classic design of these 1/4 zips and the entire line.
The Merino wool is also really soft of comfortable! It is breathable so it is perfect for one of those trail to table winter hikes. Merino is also naturally odor resistant so the others at the table will be happy. My final favorite part is the fact that the care instructions are, “don’t wash too much, just air it out outside”. As someone who doesn’t love laundry that is music to my ears! Great gift for the men and women on your list that love comfort and style! Also, if I am on your list…hint, hint.
HikeGoo
What in the world is HikeGoo? Well if you ask that question, you have never had a blister the size of a half dollar on your foot after a long day on the trail! For the rest of us, we know about the blisters. We have seen them all. The big ones, little ones, even the ones that start, grow and pop all in one hike! HikeGoo is the solution to anyone who spends a long time on the trails. Great for both hikers and runners, HikeGoo forms a protective layer on your skin to prevent those blisters and allow you to finish your hike or run pain free.
HikeGoo is fragrance free and sweat-resistant. It lasts a very long time and can also work to protect skin against chafing and hot spots, as well as the blisters. I was recently at a conference and met the CEO who was great. She took over for her dad who invented the Goo and they are still a small family business to this day.
So if you or someone you know loves to spend time hiking or running in the outdoors, make sure you have a jar or single serve pouch wrapped up this holiday season. You will be protecting feet and helping a small business all at once.
More Product Reviews from The Fatman
If you like this 2025 Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide, you can see other products I have reviewed on my Product Review Page. If you have any items you would like me to review or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or, you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!