People who like to play outdoors are often as finicky about their gear as a picky child at the dinner table. Left wondering what she will like or what he needs, well-meaning holiday gift-givers err on the side of caution and buy an REI gift card.
There's nothing wrong with that. But there are lots of ways to buy or make a gift for the "outdoorsy" person in your life and get it right. Here's my list, organized by category.
Romantic
I don't know what phase you're at in your relationship, and (thankfully for readers) I don't dispense love advice. However, if I were to graph relationships from new to very committed, the correlating appropriate gift would go from flask (roughly $25 will buy you a pretty nice, even engraved, flask on the Internet; you can also buy local crafty ones at shops like Sevigny Studios in downtown Anchorage) to a planned getaway. Getaways range in price from the gas it takes to get you to a trail head and the nominal fee for a public use cabin ($50 rents one with more space than you need); all the way to the resort route (think Land's End in Homer or Alyeska Resort in Girdwood). The flask says, "I think you're fun;" the getaway for two says, "I still think you're fun."
Cheap
Shopping on a budget for an adventurer can be daunting in part because they always seem to require so much stuff. How can your gift stand a chance compared to the piles of complicated-looking clothing they always seem to have strewn in various stages of drying and organization across their living room? What do they really need? For everyone, the commute to fun outside often requires a long, dark drive. Make it a little brighter by pulling together a good playlist. Or, give them a good-luck charm to bring to the peak with them. I used to lug around a small Stimpy figurine (yes, of "Ren and Stimpy") and take pictures of him wherever I was, until one of his arms broke off and the pink duct tape sling I made didn't hold. Now, I have a nice photo collection of Stimpy visiting various scenic locales. Your lucky outdoors someone could have that too, although I recommend foregoing Stimpy and thinking of something you two have in common. If it's a printout, laminating it ensures that it lasts longer than one trip.
Thoughtful
It's likely the person you're shopping for has a lot of gear they really need and little of the gear they'd really like. What do I mean?
Well, she probably has an assortment of stickered, cloudy Nalgenes that have been run through the dishwasher too many times, and one that still vaguely tastes like whiskey. She likely does not, however, have a magical insulated stainless steel growler. From King Street Brewing Company to G Street Fox, you can find these 64-ounce beverage logo-emblazoned containers for $50 each at many Alaska establishments. They keep beer cold, or maybe more importantly this time of year, drinks hot, for 12-plus hours. It is a gift every single time to arrive back from skiing, pull down the tailgate, and pour yourself hot tea.
Another gift you can bestow upon someone lucky enough to have you around are down booties. No, not Uggs. Never buy those for someone you care about. Down booties are essentially very warm slippers, lightweight enough to backpack or ski with. REI sells its brand for $50, while Western Mountaineering booties run closer to $100. The difference seems to be a combination of design and market -- the REI brand is for a casual bootie-wearer around the lodge or at camp; whereas Western Mountaineering promises an air containment system around the ankle to prevent cold outdoor air from sneaking in. Whichever you prefer, I recommend some wiggle room around the ankles. I had a pair with the rubber band cinched around my ankles tight enough to leave marks.
Creative
Maybe the outdoorsy person you're shopping for recently posted a photo from a trip they were excited about. It can be difficult to tell if outdoor enthusiasts are actually excited because there is a tendency to be blase about accomplishments. But a past-tense verb is usually a solid indication of pride. Words such as 'skied/ran/climbed' all hint at accomplishment. Print the photo for them and frame it. Better yet, upload the photo at Costco.com, get it printed on canvas, and pick it up in a week for $30 or more (depending on size).
Or, get them travel-size games. Many adventurers are secret Luddites: They want to work hard, unplug, and geek out, which is why they haul heavy things on their back into inclement weather only to end up at a cabin that lacks any modern features. Buy them lightweight games like Alaska Outlaw Cards ($10), travel Scrabble ($25), or even portable Settlers of Catan (my new winter survival strategy, $25) and make sure they have a little "normal" fun before crawling into their sleeping bag.
Altruistic
Is there a place your friend/relative loves to go? Maybe he is an avid cross-country skier and does the Tour of Anchorage like it's a religious pilgrimage (not saying it isn't). Or maybe he loves observing wildlife. Do a little research and then make a gift to an Alaska nonprofit in their name, or sign them up as a member. Organizations ranging from Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage to Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats are examples of local nonprofits an outdoors person might be interested in supporting. Of course, if you go this route be sure to get them something a little self indulgent too...hot chocolate mix, a scarf, or mittens. They all pair well with altruism.
At the end of the day, the most fun gifts are usually not the things we actually need most. One of the highest compliments I can pay to someone giving me a gift is a) I love it, and b) I would never ever get this for myself.
All that said, I mean it when I say that if all else fails or if you run out of time, there really is absolutely nothing wrong with a gift card.
Alli Harvey lives, works and plays in Anchorage.