The Play Outside Guide 2017 Holiday Gift Guide features gifts for outdoor guys, outdoor gals, and outdoor kids. We have EIGHT great prizes available too – enter the giveaways below!
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The first big snowfall gets me excited about two things: winter and Christmas! While trimming the tree and writing cards, we plan ski trips and snowy adventures. Sweet letters to Santa are carefully crafted and adorned with artwork so Santa will know who they’re from. The girls ask for one special gift each year; sometimes just a candy cane!
Our daughters started the one-item wish list as preschoolers. They were adamant that they didn’t need anything at all, but Santa still surprised them with lots of awesome stocking stuffers in addition to their main gifts (and of course Mom and Dad did too!). When relatives ask what they can get for the girls, we request experiences (zoo passes), education fund contributions, outdoor gear (sled, hydration pack, ski goggles, snowshoes), or books. We have a moratorium on plastic toys! Check out our Gifts for Outdoor Kids below for handpicked ideas.
Shopping for adults is a lot trickier – you can’t just get something in their favorite colour – but we’ve curated some of our favorite things for Outdoor Guys and Gals we’re sure you’ll like. Things to wear and useful stuff!
This year’s Holiday Gift Guide has EIGHT (8) giveaways that are open until November 22 at 12 AM MST. Fill in the Rafflecopter widgets to enter and check eligibility requirements (Canada only or US only). Thank you to our sponsors for offering so many awesome prizes!
Disclosures: Some of the products below were received free to test and review. Also, a tiny portion of purchases made through affiliate links support this website at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
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Gifts for Outdoor Guys and Gals
- Get happy feet with warm, winter boots or new hiking boots / shoes from KEEN! The Elsa boots are a top choice for women, but for super cold weather, I recommend the Elsa Premium boots with 200 g insulation (vs 100 g in the regular Elsas). My husband’s go-to winter boots for extreme cold are the Revel III. He said his feet are warm for the first time in winter (he cycles to work year round, even in -30!). The Revel III also have 200 g insulation. For hiking, I love my Terradoras (light hiking, women’s specific) and Targhees (stiffer sole, more durable for rockier terrain). Enter to win one of 2 pairs of KEENs below (your choice, Canada only).
- Aventura Clothing makes stylish and comfortable women’s wear from (mostly) eco-friendly fabrics. I love their clothes for every day wear, date nights, and travel. The organic cotton blends are so soft and comfortable and unexpectedly wrinkle resistant! Seasonal color palettes mix and match beautifully so you can easily make a capsule wardrobe. Enter to win an Aventura dress or top up to $100 (Canada and US) below. I have a limited number of 60% off Aventura codes for US residents (60% off your cart, up to $250); please contact me if you’d like one!
Celebrating winter with the Aventura Jayla Vest. - Ecōths is Aventura Clothing’s men’s line which also uses eco-friendly fabrics. As part of their Feed 3 Program, Ecōths donates 3 meals to feed one person for one day with the purchase of each garment. Since 2014, they’ve donated over 260,000 meals to food banks throughout the US and Canada. My husband is a big fan of their shirts! Enter to win an Ecōths shirt up to $90 (Canada and US) below.
Karen in Aventura Eden T-neck, Redmond Vest, and Avalon Skirt;
Hubby in Ecōths Hoodie and Joggers.
- Terramar Sports makes base layers and mid layers for all seasons. I wear them year round! The Cloud Nine leggings are cute enough to wear as regular leggings (shh.. don’t tell anyone they’re long underwear!) and the Thermawool (fleece-lined, no itch) top is perfect for skiing and the apres. Enter to win a “Top to Bottom Merino Wool” set: top, bottom and socks! (Men’s or Women’s, US only) below.
LOVE the Thermawool top and Cloud Nine Leggings! - Mystery Tackle Box – is a gift subscription for the fisherman or woman in your life. It’s an awesome way to “discover new fishing products, learn new techniques and catch more fish”. Receiving these boxes is like Christmas every month! Subscriptions range from $14.99/mo – $29.99/mo for 3-12 months (pick your plan & species of fish). I like that the Trout Fishing box came with high quality lures as well as instructions on how to use the tackle included. Use the code GIVEMTB for 5% off all gift subscriptions.
Mystery Tackle Box - Serac Hammock said, “Come hang with us” so we did. We’ve had a Serac Sequoia XL double hammock for over a year now and taken it camping, hung it in the yard, and even taken it to the local park to sit in or lie down in. Hammocks may seem like summer gifts, but they’re useful in the winter too, when there’s nowhere to sit! The ripstop nylon, carabiners, and straps are high quality so we’ve had no issues with the hammock despite heavy use. Available in 8 colours. See our full review here: Serac Sequoia Hammock Review.
Serac Sequoia Hammock at Lake Minnewanka, Banff - With an RCR Card, your 1st, 4th and 7th visits are FREE at Nakiska, Fernie, Kicking Horse, or Kimberley. Only $99.95! See what we like about skiing at Nakiska here: Why You Need a Nakiska Season’s Pass or RCR Card.
Skiing at Nakiska, Kananaskis - Get a Mount Norquay Big Drop Card and get 3 free ski days for the price of 1! Your 1st, 4th and 7th visits are FREE. Only $74! Read about our experience at Norquay here: Fun Family Skiing at Mount Norquay.
Skiing at Mount Norquay, Banff - MEC Hut Booties are not just for huts; they’re a must-have for anyone who loves camping. We’ve brought these car camping and backpacking in cooler weather as they’re so comfy and warm.
MEC Hut Booties – don’t go camping without them! - The Joby GorillaPod tripod is rugged and flexible so you can level it on a rocky summit or attach it to a tree for the perfect shot. I have the mini version for my GoPro and am asking Santa for the larger DSLR version that can hold more weight (up to 6.6 lbs).
- My husband got me this MEC Spicy Hoodie for my birthday and it’s one of my favorite jackets ever. Its 850 down fill means it is really warm for its weight, but it packs down to nothing so you can bring it everywhere. Plus it looks really good.
MEC Spicy Hoodie on the Bear’s Hump, Waterton - This Patagonia Reversible Bivy Down Vest (Men’s) from MEC has a retro look, but technical features like 600-fill reclaimed down and DWR finish.
Patagonia Reversible Bivy Down Vest - The OUTAD Portable Folding Camping Chair is so awesome that after buying one, we bought another! This lightweight ultra-compact chair is super easy to set up and really sturdy compared to other similar makes of chairs (though this size is more suitable to folks of a smaller stature; taller version available if you don’t like being so low to the ground). We like the OUTAD better than the Alite Monarch chair as it sits flat (the Alite tends to fall forward when you’re in it). Only $40.99-48.99 depending on which colour you choose!
KEEN Women’s Targhee Waterproof Trail Shoe Available on Amazon. |
Available on Amazon. |
Available on Amazon. |
Gifts for Outdoor Kids
- The Black Diamond Whiz Kid Climbing Harness has all the features of adult harnesses, but is made for 5-10 year olds. The leg loops are easy to adjust for quick on and off. Available from All Out Kids Gear, a southern Alberta family-run store. Enter to win this climbing harness (Torch or Plum colour, Canada only) below!
Black Diamond Wiz Kid Climbing Harness in Torch - Most of our favorite hats come from Sunday Afternoon Hats. They make attractive, high quality sun hats, beanies, fishing hats, you name it. New for this Fall/Winter is the reversible merino wool Stellar Beanie with glow-in-the-dark constellations! Enter to win one below!
Sunday Afternoons Stellar Beanie - The SportsStuff Sno-Nut is a high quality tube for serious snow or water fun! We’ve tubed on the Elbow River in this and used it for sliding on snow and love how comfortable the ride (or float) is. The outer cover is extremely durable and still looks like new despite dragging over sharp rocks on a river float. My kids prefer tubing to sledding as the ride is more comfortable and they get less snow in their faces on account of being higher off the ground. Check out our tubing video here!
- The Trout are Made of Trees Book describes how organisms in an ecosystem are related. My kids were fascinated by the interconnectedness of plants, animals and insects.
- Are your kids growing like weeds? Enter to win a pair of KEENs below (Canada only)! I am giving away TWO pairs – that’s 1 pair each to 2 lucky people!
The KEEN Elsa boots are great for snowy or slushy days! - Kombi The Racer Mitts are warm and waterproof with primaloft insulation and a GORETEX waterproof-breathable membrane. Available at MEC.
- More kids’ stuff coming soon!
Available on Amazon. |
Available on Amazon. |
Stocking Stuffers
- Buff Merino Wool Scarf: It’s a neck gaiter, beanie, ear warmer, headband and more! Wear it 12 different ways. I love the natural anti-odor quality of the merino buffs when we have back-to-back ski days. Available in tons of different patterns and colors to suit even the pickiest relative.
- Treat someone special to breakfast in bed! Lannie Rae Gourmet Pancake / Waffle Mix will make you a gourmet chef for a day! Enter to win a 3 pack of deluxe pancakes mixes (Canada only) below! Several delicious flavors available! Available at www.lannierae.com.
- Avoid chapped lips with a natural lip balm. We love the texture and smell of Burt’s Bees Lip Balm!
- I’ve been reading my friend Linda McGurk’s book, There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather and can relate to so many experiences.. people offering us a ride on our walk to school, struggles to get out the door some days, and the pure love of the outdoors. Linda blends personal anecdotes with research about the benefits of being outside, and shares tips on outdoor parenting from Sweden. A good read for any parent who loves the outdoors or needs inspiration to get out more.
- Dark chocolate rocks because it has a higher melting point than milk chocolate (I bring it hiking and backpacking year round).. plus it’s good for you! Chocolate snobs will appreciate Amedei’s Porcelana dark chocolate.
Buff Merino Wool Neck Tube available on Amazon. |
Available on Amazon. |
Available on Amazon. |
Get it on Amazon! |
6. Thorlos Socks are designed for different activities and different foot conditions. My favorites are the Outdoor Athlete socks (for running) and Outdoor Fanatic socks (for hiking). The padded socks help a lot if you have plantar fasciitis.
Thorlos socks are available on Amazon. |
7. Get a traveler a quirky luggage tag that reflects their interests like this awesome Harry Potter one!
Get this luggage tag for a Harry Potter fan on Amazon. |
8. Warning: A National Geographic Traveler Magazine Subscription will cause wanderlust.
National Geographic Traveler Magazine |
9. National Geographic KIDS is an awesome magazine to encourage kids 6 & up to explore the natural world. There’s a little kids version too (3-6 years old).
National Geographic Kids |
Giveaways
- One pair of KEEN shoes or boots (Winner’s choice, Canada only)
- One pair of KEEN shoes or boots (Winner’s choice, Canada only)
- One Aventura dress or top up to $100 (Canada and US)
- One Ecōths shirt up to $90 for the giveaway (Canada and US);
- Terramar Sports “Top to Bottom Merino Wool” set: Top, bottom and socks! (Women’s or Men’s, US only)
- One Black Diamond Whiz Kid Climbing Harness (in Torch or Plum) from All Out Kids (Canada only)
- One Sunday Afternoon Hats Stellar Beanie – Instagram page: @sundayafternoons_ca (Canada only)
- Lannie Rae Gourmet Pancake Mix: 3 pack (Canada only)
Check out MORE Holiday Gift Guides and Giveaways!
Nomads With a Purpose – Holiday Gift Guide for the Want to Be Adventurer
All Things Waterproof – 27 Unique Christmas Gift Ideas for Outdoor Enthusiasts
285 comments
oooh giveaway time 🙂 For Keens I'd probably go with a sandal like the Clearwater leather CNX
Great giveaways !
get me Ecoths Dax Shirt
I like the Revel 3 boots. Thanks!
a winter hike with my son scout troop
new pair of targhee
I'd order the Women's Hoodoo III Lace Up boots in the coconut colour! They'd be a big step up!
Amazing giveaway! Thank you Karen 🙂 I would honestly love any of these prizes – Keens, any of the kids stuff, all the prizes are awesome!!!
I'd get winter hikers for sure!
I'd love the Keen winter boots!
I would get the Fallon Dress for my wife.
I would get the Ecoths Webster Sweater.
I would use the Terramar base layers for winter hiking.
OMG I just love all the Keen boots. I would choose the WOMEN'S MORRISON LEATHER MID!! Thank you!
Love my Keens, wouldn’t mind another pair?!
The Adventura top I would select would be the comfy, cozy Zayda Tunic! Oh Yes!
If I won a base layer set, I would use them for late fall and winter hiking adventures and snowshoeing to keep comfortable and cozy!
The Ecoths Barrett Sweater from e-cloths – perfect for fall and winter!
I would get the Ecoths Zander Shirt.
I would use the Terramar Base Layers for hiking.
I would order the Keen Women's Terradora shoes.
I would get the Aventura Bacall Dress.
Thanks for sharing these great outdoor gift ideas!
Amazing ideas! Thanks Karen 🙂
I would love a pair of MEN'S TARGHEE EXP's for my husband for Christmas! His low boots are looking ratty!
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