We’ve been making our list and checking it twice. Now we’re wrapping stuff that’s mighty nice. A trick mountain bike, a soft-shell jacket, new skis… Oh, let’s make this easy. Here’s the new ϳԹ gift guide. Should we bring one of everything?
Load TRAJECTORYLABS’ POCKETBIRD field guide into the new PALM TUNGSTEN T3 and head for the woods. The PDA’s pop-out screen is 50 percent larger than that of previous Palms—ideal for rendering big, vivid avian images. (PocketBird: ; 248-342-2070, ; T3: 9; 847-262-7256, )
Mountain bike, hike, and camp.
Ice-climbing, strap-on crampons, and speed-skate boots.
Dive, surf, swim, and paddle.
Ski, snowshoe, and layer up.
Climbing shoes, ropes, salves, and more
Skate, run, hydrate, and dress in style
Quad kites and electric mountain bikes
Dirt
[1] Renowned for its pedigreed downhill mountain bikes, frame builder INTENSE has introduced the SPIDER XVP, its new flagship cross-country ride. The aluminum frame sprints like a hardtail on flats and up hills but floats like a hovercraft on descents. ($5,421 as shown, $1,900 for frame; 909-296-9596, ) [2] Brighten up your midnight rides with LUME's ten-watt STRADA light—a gorgeous piece of electrical engineering wrapped in polished carbon fiber, aircraft-grade aluminum, and fiberglass. ($329; )
[1] Lighter than air? Uh, no. But at just 800 grams per pair, GARMONT's HYDROGEN hikers still offer great ankle support for the weight. The secret? The beefy treads are honeycombed, not solid, rubber. ($110; 800-943-4453, ) [2] Wrap your fist around the handle of the BUCK SUMMIT knife, which has everything you need—a partially serrated blade, corkscrew, can opener, and screwdriver—and none of the frippery you don't. ($70; 800-326-2825, ) [3] We're already fans of SMITH's swappable-lens sunglasses, but the company's new SEQUEL takes the concept a step further. Three pairs of polycarbonate lenses slide into the frame from the sides, rather than the top, as with previous models. Why? Because it's easier. ($99-$159; 800-459-4903, ) [4] Fastpackers often make do without silverware, preferring to singe their fingers rather than add to their load. The MY-TI three-piece titanium flatware set from BRUNTON weighs a miserly 1.7 ounces, so you can have your cake and eat it with a fork. ($20; 800-443-4871, )
Ice
[1] Rigid boots are de rigueur on vertical ice but will practically hobble you on the walk in from the trailhead. MONTRAIL‘s I.C.E. 9 to the rescue! The soles offer flex for the approach, then stiffen up when you attach the matching 14-point crampons. ($565 as shown; 800-826-1598, ) [2] Quandary: Should you pack the trekking poles or the ice ax? Solution: the PETZL SNOWSCOPIC, a one-pound self-arrest tool with a retractable staff hidden inside the shaft. ($119; 877-807-3805, ) [1] The MARMOT QUANTUM is a soft-shell leap of performance and style. With Gore WindStopper in the chest, back, and lower arms—plus generous helpings of Schoeller four-way stretch fabric on the torso—this is one of the warmest softies we’ve ever zipped up. ($270; 888-627-6680, ) [2] Be the envy of Ouray with BLACK DIAMOND‘s elegant new ICE BOX, a zippered-nylon case that lets you organize ten screws, four tools, and assorted other ice-climbing essentials. (case only, $75; 801-278-5552, )
Lay it low around the neighborhood pond with BONT‘s new carbon-fiber TORINO short-track speed-skate boots, with wicked 18-inch blades. Laces and Velcro straps keep your feet locked and loaded in the heel cups. ($1,228; 011-61-2-9718-7180, )
Waves
Stalk snapper in their own element with TRIDENT DIVING EQUIPMENT‘s TRAVEL POLE SPEAR ($81; ). Thanks to a trio of stainless-steel points on the business end, this four-piece, 6.5-foot collapsible lance is perfect for fishing while freediving or snorkeling…. You’ll spot more fishies through a TUSA VISUALATOR ($75; 562-498-3708, ), the widescreen TV of tempered-glass dive masks. The Visualator doubles the field of view offered by conventional models, and a five-position strap delivers a comfy, watertight fit…. Surfers know the formula painfully well: Salt water + surfboard + bulky fabric seams = chafing. RIP CURL responds with the new CODE:STL trunks ($55; 800-842-2875, ), which are electrowelded—not stitched—together…. Step into liquid with PATAGONIA‘s nine-foot-two NOSEGLIDER surfboard ($760; 805-641-9428, ); it’s wide at the waist for extra stability and easier paddling.
The new 17-foot KLEPPER AERIUS QUATTRO XT tandem folding kayak is superstable, carries up to 2,000 pounds, and sports an innovative adjustable hull—you can choose a V or U profile, depending on load and water conditions. And should your partner bail on you at the put-in, the craft morphs into a solo kayak in 30 seconds flat. At day’s end, everything packs down into three duffel bags small enough to toss in your trunk. ($5,529 as shown; 800-500-2404, )
Snow
[1] MARKER‘s twin-lens INFINITY goggle—the first eyewear effort from a company best known for ski bindings—fits seamlessly with a helmet and delivers huge peripheral vision, so you can more easily spot runaway snowplowers. ($110-$130; 800-453-3862, ) [2] Give it up for BURTON‘s ANALOG leather jacket. Cowhide plus three-layer Gore-Tex equals a waterproof-breathable urban-assault coat worthy of Shaft, while techie touches—hood, pit zips, and powder skirt—will serve you well on the hill. ($700; 800-881-3138, ) [3] Traditional alpine-touring bindings force skiers to climb with a stiff, tibia-stressing stride. The NAXO NX01—now available in the United States after a couple of seasons of tweaking in Switzerland—pivots in two places at the toe, allowing a more natural gait. We’ve paired it here with the SCARPA LASER, our favorite randonnée boot. (Naxo: $300; 303-417-1345, ; Scarpa: $445; 801-278-5552, ) [1] Last season, J. P. Auclair, Tanner Hall, and four other champion freestyle skiers launched ARMADA to build planks exactly to their liking. The posse’s new ARV is fat for flotation in powder and twin-tipped to stick those kickers. ($675; 949-642-6714, ) [2] Leather panels and a metallic-looking plastic brainplate make the 18-ounce OVO BOMBER the RoboCop of ski helmets. Running hot after a spell in the terrain park? Pull the earflaps and the plug that opens the chimney vent. ($100; 877-686-8725, ) [3] ATLAS put its 10 SERIES snowshoe on a diet to create one of the lightest all-terrain rackets on the market—the men’s 30-inch model drops a full 16 ounces, weighing just four pounds three ounces per pair. An easy-cinch binding wraps around your boot and won’t let go. ($259; 888-482-8527, ) [4] At 670 cubic inches, the new single-strap ARC’TERYX QUIVER pack is small enough to facilitate easy access while on a chairlift yet large enough to stow a water tank and shovel for a few laps beyond the ropes. ($80; 800-985-6681, )
Rock
[1] A downturned toe and concave sole make the MAD ROCK LOCO climbing shoe a snug fit for overhanging routes. Breathable nylon-mesh uppers keep your feet cool, while cinched-down rubber straps keep ’em locked in. ($90; 800-959-5792, ) [2] A 2.3-ounce TRANGO SUPERFLY quickdraw is as light and fast as a hummingbird. Thanks to proprietary hot-forging and sling-sewing techniques, a full rack of these could save more than a pound over competing setups. ($85 for five; 800-860-3653, ) [3] A set of colored dots engraved into METOLIUS‘s new RANGE FINDER cams indicate whether you’re using an appropriately sized piece for the crack at hand. Visible green blips mean your pro is safely tensioned. Seeing red? Reach for the next size up. ($54-$70; 541-382-7585, ) [4] When every ounce counts, break out a 9.4mm DOMINATOR from BLUEWATER ROPES. One of the lightest 60-meter lariats available, it weighs in at just over seven pounds and is rated to seven falls by the UIAA, climbing’s international standards body. ($165; 770-834-7515, ) [5] Rock rats nursing the broad, shallow cuts known as flappers find relief in JOSHUA TREE CLIMBING SALVE, a healing blend of oils and herbs like calendula and comfrey. ($10; 800-933-3197, )
Road
[a] Swoosh engineers devised the NIKE ACG OREGON OUTPUT JACKET for mornings when you need a light extra layer. The 11-ounce piece includes a tiny pocket, articulated sleeves, and breathable mesh material under the arms. ($120; 800-344-6453, ) [b] MERRELL‘s ultra-grabby Stormfront runners were designed for the trail, but they’ll handily pound winter pavement. Gore-Tex XCR on the outside of the upper keeps Manhattan slush where it belongs. ($100; 800-789-8586, ) [c] Factoring in the outside temperature, humidity, and your heart rate and weight, the EON-202 DEHYDRATION MONITOR WATCH estimates how many fluid ounces you’ve sweated away and chirps when it’s time to replace them. ($150; 800-852-7823, ) [d] The ICEBREAKER U-TURN is a soft, stretchy merino-wool midlayer that’s highly breathable. And, no, it won’t leave you smelling like a wet and woolly farm animal. ($96; 800-814-5000, ) [e] Consider the ULTIMATE DIRECTION ACCESS your trusty agua sidearm—20 ounces of squeeze-bottle refreshment cinched against your waist at a grab-friendly angle. ($20; 800-426-7229, ) [f] Load a AA battery into the featherweight IRIVER IFP-395T digital audio player and you’ll more than double its heft. Still, this little lozenge carries roughly 17 hours of MP3s. ($300; 800-399-1799, ) [g] ARBOR‘s HYBRID 38 longboard will serve skaters well on both wide, lonesome roads and the sidewalk leading to the local Kwik-E-Mart. The koa-wood topsheet is pretreated with a gritty finish, so there’s no need to plaster it with grip tape. ($160; 310-656-3268, )
Toys
[1] The HQ HYPNOTIC QUAD KITE ain’t no beach toy: With a flick of the wrist—and a bit of practice—you’ll be pulling inverted hovers and other advanced tricks in no time. ($110; 800-541-0314, ) [2] When he isn’t gunning for the Oval Office, General Wesley Clark pitches electric mountain bikes—as chairman of WAVECREST LABORATORIES. Back in 2000, the company developed the TIDALFORCE M-750—a folding, electric all-terrain bike—for the military. Now the would-be prez is bringing it to homeland singletrack at a Pentagon closeout price. ($2,249; 888-880-1988, )