We tested hundreds of products earlier this year to round up the best holiday gifts currently on the market—all explicitly curated for your outdoorsy loved ones. From travel gear to tech gifts to fitness products, from $20 to $1,600, we have something for everyone. Be sure to check out the rest of our favorite picks in our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide.
At a Glance
If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.
Alpine Sea Medium Pocket Crossbody Bag
Crossbody bags are having a moment. After all, who doesn’t love functionality? They’re big enough for all your daily essentials, and they stay put when you’re walking. Nearly every fashion brand now seems to offer one, but we love Alpine Sea’s version the best because of its high-quality, 200D recycled polyester fabric and minimalist strap, which carries surprisingly well. The brand also gets bonus points because every bag is hand-sewn in Hood River, Oregon.
Flylow Wolfie Robe
Leave it to a ski apparel brand in love with aprés to design the best hot-tub-ready, post-shred robe. Most importantly, the Wolfie comes with an internal stretch pocket that’s big enough to carry a six-pack of beer (or La Croix) to ensure you can fully relax once you’re in the tub. It’s also made of an extra-thick, high-pile fleece and cut long, so the honey on your list will stay warm while trekking to and from the tub.
Vibae Roma Shoes
Sizing: 5-13 (women’s), 6-15 (men’s)
Handmade from vegetable-tanned leather in a family-run factory in Portugal, these slip-ons have a bespoke quality not only in appearance but also in feel. Wear them to the office with cuffed jeans all summer for a smart but casual look, or add a pair of socks for a more autumnal vibe. We loved the high-quality insole, which felt almost as good as a Birkenstock and kept our feet happy both while walking around the block and while standing for hours at a desk.
Patagonia Women’s Jackson Glacier Parka
Sizing: XS-XL
Mark our words: the fashion-filled streets of New York City will be people wearing this parka once winter arrives, thanks to the stylishly long cut and understated but on-trend color choices. New Yorkers—and the rest of us—will also appreciate the top-notch warmth retention, which comes courtesy of a 700-fill recycled duck-down insulation. Snow isn’t an issue for the Jackson Glacier Parka either: the jacket boasts a waterproof outer made from recycled plastic bottles.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY KEEN
KEEN Targhee IV ($170)
Meet the last hiking boot you’ll ever buy. ’s new and improved Targhee IV features durable, sustainable materials so you can literally go the distance—and reduce your impact on the planet at the same time. Made with glue-free, fused construction, the Targhee IV is the first KEEN shoe backed by a lifetime delamination-free guarantee. The KEEN.RUGGED outsole is twice as durable as rubber for longer-lasting, superior traction. And PFAS-Free waterproof protection keeps feet dry—KEEN removed PFAS, a.k.a. forever chemicals, from its entire supply chain in 2018 on its journey to make the . With ethically-sourced leather, 100% recycled plastic laces, and a comfortable fit, every detail has been thought through to make this the most durable Targhee yet.
Finisterre Basset Pant
Sizing: 28-39
Baggy 90s-era pants are back, and Finisterre’s version is our favorite by far. Cut from a soft organic cotton, these pants are easy to wear but also extra durable thanks to the thick material and triple-stitched seams. They’re too relaxed for the traditional workplace, but the Bassets are perfect for road trips, yard work, aprés, or working from home. We suggest the terracotta color, which hides dirt well and takes on a nice weathered patina over time.
Huckberry Weekenders Sunglasses
Huckberry launched the Weekenders for folks who are rough on their gear. The glasses have a classy Wayfarer design and polarized lenses so they look and feel like more expensive shades—but cost way less than top-tier glasses. So, if your giftee damages them, it’s not the end of the world. The Weekenders come in a host of colors and arrive packaged in a nice sleeve that doubles as a lens wipe.
Alpine Revival Women’s Granite Crew Sweater
Sizing: XS-XL (women’s)
The stylish skier in your life will live in Alpine Revival’s Granite Crew sweater this winter—from dawn patrol laps to evening aprés sessions back at the cabin. The 100-percent cashmere material is blended with lycra, making it ideal for both cozy hangouts and heavy use. Bonus: The bright colors and nostalgic vibe will make your loved one stand out in the best way at the ski lodge.
How We Tested Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
- Number of Testers: 6
- Number of Products Tested: 125
- Number of States Tested in: 7
- Tester Age Range: 30-75
- Highest Elevation Reached While Testing: 14,006 ft.
The best holiday gifts often fit in two main categories. The first category is: “A gift that makes my everyday routine that much better. “ The second goes something like: “This is a gift I’d never splurge on, so it’s amazing that I received it from someone else.” With those parameters in mind, we reached out far and wide to find gifts both big and small, expensive and affordable, and obvious and unexpected. A team of six testers put well over 100 products through their paces, and after weeks of testing and comparing, we came up with the final list.
For example, one of the products that made the cut under the “everyday routine” holiday gifts category was the Suunto Race S watch in our fitness category. Running tester Meg Healy loved how it was the perfect training watch that kept her motivated and updated all week long, no matter the length of her workout. Lead tester Jakob Schiller flew all over the country (Alaska, California, Seattle) with the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 pack and was always impressed with how it was perfectly sized for a three-day trip, easily fit in an overhead compartment, and was comfortable to wear while schlepping through airports.
Presents that fell into the “I’d never buy this myself category” included things like Sonos Ace headphones and Howl propane campfire in the tech category. The headphones, which are as much as a car payment, seem excessive, but you understand the appeal once you hear how they truly enrich every piece of music, from John Coltrane to Taylor Swift to Cypress Hill. A $1,300 gas campfire seems absolutely ridiculous until you stand next to one on a chilly fall night and realize that this new piece of technology is actually as warm as a campfire (if not warmer) and does a great job setting the vibe after dark.
Meet Our Lead Tester
Jakob Schiller
Over the past decade as an ϳԹ editor and then columnist, Jakob Schiller has gotten to know many UPS drivers by name thanks to the frequent stops at his house for gear drop-offs. He’s opened so many cardboard boxes he could start his own recycling facility, and his garage, as you might suspect, is a mess. But thanks to all that gear, Jakob and his family of six (plus two dogs) have been able to adventure around the world and visit many of the globe’s most beautiful spots. When he and his family are not on the road, they call Albuquerque, New Mexico home.