The Outdoor Enthusiast fell into one of three categories on December 26th. If they were really lucky then his or her loved ones managed to pick out the perfect size, style, weight, and technically rated Christmas present. A second category found the adventurer with beaucoups gift cards to use at their local outdoor store. More likely, however, one woke up the day after Christmas with gifts that weren’t exactly what they wanted for his or her 2010 exploits and therefore needed to exchange the presents.
If you fall into the second or third description and plan to spend some time this week searching for gear, then take a second to check out my time tested favorites to see if there is something that you might want to supplement your holiday haul.
Patagonia Fleece
(***Please note that while the gear fashion show displayed below did take place inside, I opted for photos taken in front of an outdoor painting to present a more authentic feel.)
1. Patagonia Fleece – I love Patagonia because they are such an eco-conscious company, but I also love them because their products last forever. My lightweight fleece is a very light very and warm piece of gear that has traveled over 6,000 miles with me. I bought it five years ago, and the only sign of wear has been a slight fading in the dark black color.
WM Sleeping Bag
2. Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bag – If you have A LOT of extra Christmas cash then definitely consider a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. I love them! I have a 45F and a 25F bag. Again, they have both lasted several thousands miles. Western uses some of the highest quality 800 Fill Power down in the industry, so they are both uber light and most importantly they keep this cold-blooded southerner warm on chilly nights.
MH Down Jacket
3. Mountain Hardware Down Jacket – I don’t know if I can stress how much I like to be warm; a desert climate is ideal. However, when I do have to face the cold and snow there is no better piece of gear to wear up top than my Mountain Hardware down jacket, it has great loft and utilizes body heat to keep you nice and toasty. After four years mine isn’t quite as puffy as it used to be, but it is still my go to winter jacket.
SmartWool Sock
4. SmartWool Socks – If you just have a little bit of left over Christmas cash then think about investing in some quality socks. I personally like SmartWool because they wick away moisture really well. I never realized how important socks were until I developed the initial symptoms of Trench Foot on the Appalachian Trail. At that point I realized that a pair of good socks is just as important as a pair of good shoes.
Okay, friends, that concludes my list. Unfortunately, most of my friends and family think I have way TOO much gear and refuse to buy me anymore for Christmas, but my sweet husband ended up with a nice pile of gift cards so I look forward to helping him spend them on some great technical items this week. After all, we have some big adventures planned for 2010!
