Great gear gifts for outdoor lovers!
Last-minute shoppers, rejoice! Can Geo editors have compiled this list of five affordable holiday gift ideas for just about every nature-lover on your list, from phone addicts to night owls and everything in between.
For the handyperson: Leatherman Signal multi-tool
“A multi-tool designed for adventure” proclaims Leatherman of its new Signal. With 19 tools — needle-nose and regular pliers, knife, saw, hammer, bit driver, wrench, whistle and sharpener, to highlight a few — in an 11.43 centimetre-long (closed), 212.6-gram package, it’s sure to have a feature for the task at hand — or at least to MacGyver it. And while it has the heft and seeming simplicity renowned of Leatherman, some gadgets may require secret agent-like intellect to manipulate into, or out of, position. Still, if you’re in the market for a reliable do-it all device, the Signal will have you covered. — Aaron Kylie
Leatherman.ca, $124.95
For the free-range friend: MSR TrailShot Microfilter
Whether you’re jogging around the park or rambling through the backcountry, it’s important to stay hydrated. The TrailShot Microfilter from Mountain Safety Research (MSR) lets you drink directly from almost any source without having to worry about ingesting harmful bacteria or particulate, making it a convenient and lightweight alternative to packing along a heavy water bottle on your trail run or day hike. Just dip the end of the hose into your water source, squeeze the flexible silicon bulb to draw water into the filter, and drink. You can also use the TrailShot Microfilter to refill bottles on longer trips. Of course, when it comes to identifying potential water sources, common sense should still apply, but in case it needs to be said, the filter won’t do anything for salt water or tailing ponds. — Alexandra Pope
Mountain Equipment Co-op, $59.00
For the casual camper: Coleman Conquer Twist 550L LED Lantern
Car campers, this is the lantern for you. It’s big, gives off a good amount of light (550 lumens at its highest setting) and has a handy BatteryLock system that disengages batteries, allowing you to keep the same batteries for years (a good thing, given this baby takes four D batteries) and preventing corrosion that can damage the lantern. Despite its size, the Coleman Conquer Twist lantern is relatively lightweight and, with a beam distance of nine metres on the highest of four light settings, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a nighttime hike to the bathroom or the bonfire. Simply twist the top of the lantern to toggle through different light settings (the one downside to the “twist” function is that it’s a little loud). The lantern plastic, a feature that can sometimes limit durability, but the Conquer Twist can survive an impact of up to two metres, is water resistant and comes with a three-year warranty. — Michela Rosano
colemancanada.ca, $54.99
For the night owl: Ledlenser MH10 headlamp
I recently became a headlamp devotée for a most un-adventurous reason: I’m teaching myself to quilt by hand, and no overhead fixture compares to a headlamp for spotlighting close, fine needlework. The MH10 from European brand Ledlenser has taken the basic concept of the hands-free flashlight and improved on it by adding a powerful 600-lumen LED bulb with a rechargeable battery, a transportation lock to prevent the light from accidentally turning on and draining said battery, and an illuminated red tail-light so you can be seen from behind should you decide to actually take the headlamp outdoors at night. The initial setup is a bit complex, and I found the Ikea-esque pictorial instructions somewhat difficult to follow, but once I figured it out I was impressed by the MH10’s comfortable, lightweight feel, long battery life (a full charge can last up to 120 hours in low intensity mode) and easy one-touch intensity adjustment. — Alexandra Pope
Ledlenser.ca, $99.95
For the stylish adventurer: Stanley Happy Hour System
