Christmas gift guide: from stocking fillers to mountain essentials – the perfect present for the adventurer in your life
Well the days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and the radio is full of festive playlists. It can only mean one thing – Christmas is back upon us. Here at Mountains not molehills, that’s a good thing; we love the cold winter months just as much as the warm summer ones – in fact maybe a little bit more so.
This time of year is filled with Christmas work parties and the shops (both the high street and online) with people purchasing gifts for their friends and families.
We’ve put together our own Christmas gift guide to help you find the perfect present for that hiker in your life. Be it a small stocking filler or a more lavish gift – we are sure you will find inspiration here.
Go Emu Bobby bags, from £24.50
These colourful, water resistant ‘Bobby’ bags have been designed by Go Emu in the UK and have a multitude of uses from wash bags to storing electric cables and gadgets. They come with a smart carry handle and sport contrasting coloured linings which match the zip. Vegan friendly and washable, they can be stored flat when not in use.
This travel mug boasts a Trigger-Action Mechanism, operated by one finger. Simply squeeze on the button on the lid and this will open the vent, allowing you to drink the content. Leakproof and packable with double-wall vacuum insulation, it will keep your hot drinks hot for five hours. It’s dishwasher safe, too.
(£23.50)
These water resistant, vegan friendly, neoprene belts have adjustable waistbands which can be worn around the waist or across the body. With a divided central zip compartment, key pocket, earphone connector and clip fastener they are ideal for travel, the gym, jogging, cycling, skiing, hiking and everyday use.
(£28)
Icebreaker provide natural performance alternatives to synthetic-based apparel to create a healthier, more sustainable future for our species and the planet. Available in three colours, this super-soft, versatile neck gaiter provides crucial protection on those cold, blustery days.
Dryrobe’s Ultimate Outdoor Change Robe, from £140
Suitable for a whole host of activities and pursuits, Dryrobe’s products allow individuals to get active outdoors without ever feeling wet or cold, through a garment that’s shell is both windproof and waterproof with insulating fabrics at its core. Through a two-way inner / outer zip mechanism and an overall loose fit, changing in and out of underlayers is made simple, too.
Go Emu have a wonderful range of colourful gift options for outdoor lovers. Quick drying, sand and odour repelling, these soft, large (2m x 90cm) and colourful Star towels are available in beautiful bright colours, and each one is made from 50 recycled plastic bottles.
The perfect accessory for outdoor enthusiasts, travellers or those who simply want an eco friendly, super portable everyday backpack. Light yet strong, this neat little piece boasts a roomy 15 litres of carrying space with a hidden side pocket to easily access essentials.
(£20)
Crossfly Pro 7 Inch Boxer is built to work with your every movement and crafted with 3D breathable, fast drying panels that ensures maximum comfort. The Pro 7 also features their patent pending technologies; the Coccoon and X-Fly. This is your ultimate workout or hiking partner.
Falke women’s long sleeve Maximum Warm shirt (£89)
A useful baselayer for winter, this long-sleeved shirt with a stand-up collar in a slim fit keeps the body extra warm in cold to very cold weather conditions thanks to the special material surface on the inside. The combination of high quality warming and insulating materials ensures perfect moisture and temperature regulation and the perfect fit for maximum freedom of movement.
Made of hemp and recycled plastics, the Terra Scout H is a sustainable, lightweight headlamp for everyday outdoor adventures. It features 350 lumen, night vision mode, IPX5 water protection, battery level indicator and Hybrid Technology, meaning the battery compartment is compatible with the included rechargeable Silva Hybrid Battery and standard AAA batteries.
The SK5 men’s ski socks are perfect for competitive skiers, offering unbeatable power transmission and a high degree of control, and their ultra-light cushioning is perfect for all custom-fit boots. Silk offers superior, extremely lightweight thermal insulation, while the rapid moisture wicking and optimised shape guarantees superior comfort for the wearer.
This piece of kit is 100% waterproof, making it a next level winter hat, but it also has an LED, keeping you visible in low light conditions. Perfect for keeping the wearer dry, warm and safe in rain, snow, and mud, through blustery walks with the dog and brisk rainy hikes. Toggle between three brightness settings, with 240 hours of battery life and visibility of up to 500m.
The Munros: Complete collection of maps (£35.00)
This beautiful hardback book provides a compendium of maps including coverage of every Munro (hill over 3000 ft). For the map lover, it’s a feast of topographic delight. For the outdoor enthusiast, it’s material for future invigorating exploits, as the detailed maps enable the walker to plan routes and trips.
Warm, lightweight, packable and waterproof, and supplied with a stuff sack, these gloves are ideal for moving fast and light in cold, wet conditions. Suitable for hiking, mountaineering, trekking or fastpacking, the women’s specific fit features pre-curved digits, with silicone printed palm and fingers and adjustable cuffs.
A map jigsaw of your favourite hills, the Ben Nevis & Glen Coe MAZZLE is a full colour jigsaw based on the renowned Superwalker map, so keen walkers can examine familiar terrain in detail in the winter evenings when deprived of hill walking. Packaged in a cardboard tube, it’s a moderately difficult puzzle with lots of detail.
The Wainwrights are the 214 hills (or fells) described in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. ‘Bagging’ them all is quite a challenge, and this log book from Hike the Lakes is an essential for any Wainwright bagger.
Muddy Puddles EcoSplash fleece lined puddlesuit (£59)
This all-in-one waterproof for adventurous toddlers and younger children (up to age seven) is designed to be incredibly waterproof – it’s been tested and withstands 10,000 mm of water whilst also being highly breathable (3,000g/m2). Lined with soft fleece, with the outer shell made from 100% recycled polyester, they’re available in four different designs.
Designed with active kids in mind, these fun yet highly practical boots have soft padded insoles for extra comfort, so whether little ones are enjoying a winter day at the beach or climbing over rocks and pebbles, they’ll stay comfy and dry. PuddleStompers are designed with extra length to avoid unwanted rain and splashes getting in.
(£16)
Knitted in a wool mix yarn for extra warmth, this extra warm and snuggly knitted cable bobble hat is ideal for autumn and winter outdoor adventures. The unisex colours and fun brightly coloured pom-pom will make your bold explorers stand out while they are exploring the outdoors this autumn and winter. The hat is also machine washable.
Waterproof to 10,000mm and breathable to 3,000 gm2, this kids’ waterproof puffer jacket from Muddy Puddles is the perfect choice for young adventurers who love to get outdoors in all weathers. Made from high-quality recycled fabric, this stylish yet functional jacket will keep your child ultra-warm and highly comfortable without added bulkiness..
This new limited-edition, high protein, low sugar Chocolate Orange Warrior RAW® flapjack from leading sports nutrition brand, Warrior. The perfect Christmas flavoured stocking filler to keep hikers and outdoorsy people pumped with protein. Packed with 20 grams of high-quality milk protein, 8.5 grams of fibre – and just 259 calories per bar.
With a Readly subscription, you can browse and read 6,300 digital magazines and newspapers whenever you wish – including unlimited reading to lots of hiking, walking and outdoors titles. And as it’s digital, you can also download 500 titles and read in the offline mode – great for keeping up on news and reading when taking a break on walks.
(£14.99)
John Blashford-Snell has been exploring some of the planet’s most remote, inaccessible and dangerous places for over 60 years. His name is known globally for his daring adventures and intrepid journeys of discovery. Now, well into his eighties, he has gathered together in a single volume a collection of tales from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
