Intro
While some of our friends and family might be easier to shop for than others, we hope our annual Gift Guides can help add a couple of new worthwhile ideas to the list, and maybe provide the perfect gift for someone that they didn’t know they were missing.
For this year’s gift guides, we once again started small(er) with Stocking Stuffers, and today our reviewers are chiming in with their suggestions for some bigger gifts that’d be perfect under the tree — though we all know that what we really want is good days in the mountains spent with good company. Happy Holidays!
Delaine & Co Women’s Merino Wool Crew Neck Ski Sweater
MSRP: $250
Kristin Sinnott: There are so many reasons why I love the Merino Wool Crew Neck Ski Sweater from Delaine & Co. First off, I like the design; the longer torso keeps the sweater from riding up and it is the perfect length to tuck into ski pants. It’s also comfortable and flattering, and the vintage look is classic and well done. I have the sweater in a size Small and while I think it is a good fit, thanks in part to the tight-knit rib stitching that allows for some stretch, I think I would have been happy with a Medium as well. For reference, I’m 5’8”, 125 lbs / 172 cm, 56.7 kg.
The Merino Wool Crew Neck Ski Sweater is made of 100% merino wool that is domestically sourced. Delaine & Co is based in New Hampshire and makes their sweaters in the US, with knitting done in St. Louis with wool from California. If you know anyone who has a love for vintage, nostalgic pieces, or just needs a nice midlayer, the Delaine & Co Merino Wool Crew Neck Ski Sweater is a good option.
Blackburn Honest Shock Pump
MSRP: $90
David Golay: While it’s not as sexy as a new fork or shock, the single biggest thing that a whole lot of mountain bikers could do to improve their suspension performance (for a lot less money) is to just do a better job establishing and maintaining the setup of what they’ve got. And as someone who spends a ton of time dialing in all the different review bikes that pass through my hands, the Blackburn Honest Shock Pump is easily my favorite shock pump that I’ve tried to date.
Now, the job of a shock pump isn’t a complicated one, but the Honest Shock Pump is especially well designed and makes checking and setting pressures just a bit easier than most. The valve works nicely and seals leak-free; the digital gauge is accurate and easy to read; the pump action is smooth; and the pressure relief valve is easier to modulate than most. Such a streamlined process might be just the nudge that the lackadaisical mechanic in your life needs to keep their suspension pressures dialed in better, improving their ride by doing so.
BlueLand The Clean Essentials Starter Kit
MSRP: $39
Kara Williard: This seems like as reasonable a time as any to admit that I love to clean. Cleaning became all the more enjoyable last year when my mom gifted me the BlueLand Cleaning Essentials Starter Kit because it eliminated two of the concerns I have the most regarding cleaning: the use of toxic cleaning solutions and the consumption of plastic bottles every time you purchase cleaning products.
BlueLand products are plant-based and formulated from planet-friendly ingredients. They also come as concentrates, either in pill or powder form, that you mix with water into durable and long-lasting bottles that are included in the kit. It’s basically a multi-use, refillable cleaning kit. The Clean Essentials Starter Kit includes a bathroom cleaner, mirror cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, hand soap, and dispenser. The kit includes refillable bottles and one tablet, but once you have the bottles, ordering the replacement tablets is affordable and easy.
I have found all BlueLand’s products to work extremely well, leaving things feeling clean without any chemical smell. Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed all of the BlueLand products I’ve tried, but one that has especially stuck out is their foaming hand soaps, which come in a wide variety of seasonal scents.
BlueLand offers a wide mix of other cleaning products too, including dish soaps, laundry detergent, and a whole line of personal care products such as body wash and facial cleanser.
For someone you know who cares about effective, non-toxic, non-wasteful cleaning products that work, BlueLand is a great way to go, and with an investment in their Cleaning Essentials Starter Kit, you will be setting them up well for a long time.
Kristin Sinnott: I am also a fan of Blueland and have been using their bathroom cleaning tablets and foaming hand soap for the past year. From the simple yet classic design of their containers to the effectiveness of their cleaners, Blueland makes great products.
Rocker Ski Rack
MSRP: $39-399
Dylan Wood: I discussed the Rocker Ski Rack in Stuff We Like: June 2022, but I really like this product and I think it makes for a great gift, so I want to revisit it.
The Rocker Ski Rack is a system that uses two swinging arms to hold your skis or snowboard without altering its rocker profile. Squeezing a pair of skis between two dowels on your wall can cause them to change shape over time, and leaning a bunch of skis / boards against a wall is certain to cause your skis / boards to fall down every once in a while, or just be difficult to access. The Rocker Ski Rack organizes your gear and allows you to show it off, all while being secure and good for your equipment.
The system is straightforward and easy to use once you’re used to it, and it also shows off your ski / board, as well as your base graphics. It doesn’t take up much space at all, and is out of the way when you’re not using it but looks really nice mounted to a wall, especially the “mountains” racks.
These racks can hold any kind of ski or board, regardless of shape or rocker profile. You can also use it to hold your poles, backpacks, and helmets, all while keeping everything quite accessible. I’ve been really liking my Quad — Mountains Rocker Ski Rack, and I think it’s a great addition to any home, apartment, or cabin that keeps skis stored inside. In my opinion, it makes for a great, thoughtful gift for the skier / boarder in your life.
Velocio Men’s Utility Bib Short
MSRP: $299
Matt Mitchell: During my extended convalescence from a nagging foot injury this fall, I relied on pedaling away on my gravel bike for my daily dopamine hit. While I’m by no means new to cycling, my body (i.e., my butt) required a bit of a break-in period to get used to spending long hours in the saddle. In an effort to be thrifty, hoping that my time away from running would be brief, I went as cheap as I could when it came to buying bibs, an attempt at frugality that would often end with me waddling around for the rest of the day after a long ride. Spurred by fears of future infertility and at the behest of some of my cycling friends, I eventually ponied up and invested in a pair of Velocio’s Utility Bib Short, which proved to be as lavish and comfortable as their Italian-sounding name might suggest.
Made from ultra-lightweight stretch woven polyamide / elastane fabric, the Utility Bib Short was designed with the demands of gravel riding in mind.
It borrows many of the same features Velocio uses in their popular road bib, like a refined fit and strategic areas of compression, and adds extra storage in the form of two side cargo-style pockets as well as two back pockets. Velocio also included their Signature Chamois, which has multi-density padding that I found to be soft and substantial enough for all-day rides and subtle enough not to get in the way of my pedal stroke. The utility bib short’s inseam does tend to run a tad long for my liking, but I found a Men’s Small to compliment my 5 ‘9 / 175 cm frame well, with each hem stopping about 2 in / 5 cm above my knees. If you know someone who enjoys long-distance gravel rides that take them far afield from any cafes or gas stations, forcing them to keep all of their mid-ride snacks on board, consider checking out Velocio’s Utility Bib Short as a comfortable option to help keep them well fed for long days on the bike.
Mulberry Park Silk Pillowcase
MSRP: $35–$85 (on sale as of publishing date)
Luke Koppa: My day-to-day lifestyle would be described as anything but lavish or refined — utilitarian is a better word for it. I never imagined a high-end silk pillowcase would be a part of it, and definitely not as much of a highlight as it’s proven to be.
But anyway, I got a chance to try one of Mulberry Park’s silk pillowcases, after hearing about how much Kristin enjoyed her silk pillowcase, and I quickly became a huge fan. In particular, it’s amazing how much less my long hair catches on it, and visually, there’s been a massive difference in the number of hairs that have been ripped out of my head and stuck to my pillowcase, compared to even a pretty high-end cotton one. My bedhead look has also been notably reduced.
Long-hair troubles aside, it’s just extremely soft and … silky, and also quite cool to the touch. I’m a massive fan, and I think Mulberry Park’s silk pillowcases would make for a great gift for just about anyone who could benefit from stepping up their sleep and bedding setup.
Function Before Fashion Ski Rescue Sled / Tarp Shelter
MSRP: $275
Drew Kelly: In recent years I have been hearing about the importance of bringing a rescue sled into the backcountry, enough so that I bit the bullet and added this item to my pack on all of my longer and more remote backcountry tours, despite the extra 900 grams of weight. With the potential of an interminably cold night waiting for extraction by SAR, I want to stack the odds in my favor by having the option to sledge my friend to safety myself, especially in the event of an emergency.
But don’t just take my word for it — I’ve heard through the grapevine that the Wilderness Medicine Institute now considers it standard protocol to carry a rescue sled into the backcountry, and teaches accordingly. With color coding, webbing handles, and tow loops, Function Before Fashion’s Rescue Sled / Tarp Shelter sets you up for success in a crisis situation (I’ve practiced with it, at least). And for something that could save a life, doubles as an emergency shelter, and packs down to the size of a Nalgene, I hardly notice the added weight to my bag. Plus, it’s made right in Crested Butte.
Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System 1.0L
MSRP: $49.95
Kara Williard: I’m not the only Blister reviewer who recommends this water filtration system from Katadyn; Drew Kelly spoke about it in the June edition of our Stuff We Like series, but considering my brother got me one as a gift for Christmas last year, it’s time I reflect back on what a difference it’s made for me since then.
I am someone who relies on a lot of water while riding. This is super annoying because I also refuse to wear a backpack (unless I am headed out for longer than four hours). So, what better solution than an easy, packable, fast water filtration system? The Katadyn BeFree is amazing for this purpose. It’s designed as a collapsible water bottle with two spout options: one for drinking and one for pouring. Both are impressively fast so long as they are squeezed with enough pressure.
Because of this convenience, I never felt dehydrated while riding my bike this summer, and yet, I hardly ever carried any water with me.
Granted, I ride around Crested Butte, where almost every ride has guaranteed river or stream crossings, which makes my reliance on the Katadyn a little more fool-proof (I can think of plenty of places I’ve ridden where this would not be an option).
I find the BeFree system to not only be a great option for when you know you’re going to need water, but also as a viable backup option to always carry with you. It’s super fast, filtering one liter (at least while the filter is fairly new and/or flushed regularly) as quickly as I could possibly drink it. The BeFree also packs down pretty small (slightly smaller than a bike tube). If someone you are shopping for is looking to nail their hydration goals and they happen to frequently recreate near water, or you just want them to have an easy option in case something goes wrong, the BeFree Filtration System is a great choice.
Sweet Reads Box
MSRP: $35 for a mini box to $744 for 12-month subscription
Kristin Sinnott: If you have ever heard of Jolabokaflod or “Christmas Book Flood,” then you are aware that books can make great Christmas gifts. Jolabokaflod is the Icelandic tradition of gifting a book on Christmas eve and then spending the evening snuggled in with family reading it deep into the night. I first learned about this tradition from my sister-in-law when she gifted books to my husband and me with Jolabokaflod in mind.
I am an avid reader so I love the idea of this tradition, and Sweet Reads Boxes take things a step further. This past summer, I received a Sweet Reads Box and absolutely loved it. The book, Black Cake, was fun to read, and all the themed goodies — vegan gummy sharks, coffee, a candle, a recipe, and more — were well thought out and relevant to the book. It definitely elevated my reading experience, and I love the idea of gifting Sweet Reads Boxes to others.
Kitsbow Icon Flannel
MSRP: $259–$324
David Golay: I wear a lot of flannels — they comprise an embarrassingly large percentage of my wardrobe, if I’m being honest — and the Kitsbow Icon is, by far, my favorite. A few key things set the Icon apart. First and foremost is how well it fits; granted, that’s going to vary from person to person, but given just how many options Kitsbow has for sizing (more on that in a moment), there should be a version of the Icon for just about everybody. The Icon is patterned especially well and looks truly great as a result. It’s easily the article of clothing that I’ve gotten the most compliments on in recent memory.
The Icon is also made especially well, using Pendelton wool fabric throughout, plus some extra-durable nylon patches on high-wear areas around the elbows and shoulders (the Hybrid Icon adds an extra panel of that same material on the chest for wind resistance and warmth). The standard Icon that I’ve been wearing is extremely comfortable, relatively warm, regulates temperature well, and is holding up great.
With a starting price of $259, the Icon is undeniably expensive, but the quality is truly a cut above, and unlike the overwhelming majority of apparel out there, the Icon is made in the USA, in Kitsbow’s own factory in North Carolina. In addition to paying their employees a living wage and helping to reduce their environmental impact, their manufacturing model lets Kitsbow offer the Icon in a breathtaking array of sizes and fits. (Check out Ep. 115 of Bikes & Big Ideas with Kitsbow CEO David Billstrom for a whole lot more on that.) There are two separate cuts for both the men’s and women’s versions (the trimmer-fitting “Signature Fit,” or a more relaxed option labeled “Relaxed Athletic Fit” or “Ample Athletic Fit”, respectively), all of which are available in sizes XS through XXL, and in Short, Regular, or Long lengths. At 6’ (183 cm) tall and 175 lb (79.4 kg) the Icon Signature Fit, size Medium, Regular length fits me perfectly, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the breadth of options, Kitsbow’s customer service department can help you out.
If you’d like to get the flannel aficionado in your life the best one they’ve ever had, the Kitsbow Icon is hard to beat.
Therabody Theragun Mini
MSRP: $200
Matt Mitchell: Don’t be fooled by its size, the Therabody Theragun Mini packs a serious punch, a huge reason why it’s been my percussive massager of choice for the past two years. Therabody (formerly, Theragun) was one of the first companies to elevate percussive massage devices to a mainstream level, spawning an entire industry around high-tech recovery tools in the process. Despite innumerable competitors pedaling similar products, in my opinion, Therabody continues to set the gold standard when it comes to performance, ergonomics, and design.
Despite weighing just 1.43 lbs / 650 g, the Theragun Mini is just as powerful as many full-size massage guns on the market. It has 3 separate speeds, allowing you to choose between 1750, 2100, and 2400 percussions per minute, and features up to 150 minutes of sustained run time on a single charge. It’s this combination between performance and portability that makes the Theragun Mini so useful; it’s easy to stash in a gym bag, fit in a carry-on, or keep in your car for immediate use after a workout.
Unlike larger massage devices, it’s quiet, too, so you can use it discreetly without sounding like you’re taking a gas-powered demolition hammer to your tight quads. If you know someone like us who enjoys beating the hell out of their body on a regular basis but dreads spending the necessary time on a foam roller to recover properly, consider investing in Therabody’s Theragun Mini.
Pro Bike Gear Floorpump Team Tubeless
MSRP: $135
Dylan Wood: It’s both economical and rewarding to perform bicycle maintenance and repair tasks at home. But a regular task for cyclists who run tubeless setups — seating tubeless tires — often requires an air compressor, which is pretty impractical for the average bicycle enthusiast to own. Instead, floor pumps with a larger air chamber designed to be pumped up and then quickly expelled into a valve can allow the layperson to seat all the tubeless tires they want from the comfort of their own home.
I’ve used a few pumps of this style, and recently I’ve really been liking the Pro Bike Gear Floorpump Team Tubeless. Upon first glance, this doesn’t really look like a chambered tubeless pump — it lacks the large air chamber seen on most of them. Instead of using a big chamber, the Floorpump Team Tubeless’s smaller chamber can be pumped up to very high pressures, making it capable of quickly releasing a lot of air into a tubeless system.
This smaller chamber is easy to quickly fill up using the pump, and it also makes day-to-day top-offs quicker, as the larger-chambered pumps can steal ~5 psi of your tire pressure when attached, since they first need to equalize the pressure between the tire and the large chamber. This makes the Floorpump Team Tubeless a great gift, even if seating tubeless tires isn’t a huge priority for your giftee — it functions very well as a daily floor pump with the ability to set up a tubeless system when needed.
The Pro Bike Gear Floorpump Team Tubeless has a sleek, mostly metal construction, which looks really nice, and it can be used on both Presta and Schrader valves. If someone you know could use a floor pump with the ability to seat tubeless tires, the Pro Bike Gear Floorpump Team Tubeless is a very good option.
Sun Valley Ski Tools Panzer Body File 4”
MSRP: $16.95
Drew Kelly: You know when the thing is called the “Panzer,” it’s going to be an aggressive file… Throw this thing on your file guide of choice and get to working those ragged edges. It won’t take much effort with the Panzer. Because it removes a lot of edge material (or excess sidewall), I wouldn’t tune your skis every night with this thing, unless you plan on replacing them after a year or two. For me, the Panzer file has been a tool that takes much of the effort out of removing really large burs or small compressions out of my edge by essentially resetting the side bevel.
Of course, you want to be proficient in hand-tuning your skis, which is an extremely in-depth pursuit in and of itself. I will say, it’s imperative you move through a progression of finer files and diamonds after making your first cuts with the Panzer. And I should also add: do not use this with your base edge file guide unless you want to be hip-dragging before you’re able to set the edge in.
Blister Membership
MSRP: $84.30/year
Luke Koppa: Yeah, this is a biased opinion, but did you really think we weren’t going to mention it? A standard Blister Membership makes for a great gift if you know someone who’s a gear nerd; a non-gear-nerd who’s in the market for some new ski, bike, or running products; or just an outdoor enthusiast. It gets you access to all Blister content, exclusive discounts on gear from tons of great brands, the ability to get one-on-one, personalized recommendations from our reviewers, and a whole lot more.
If you want to gift a standard Blister Membership to someone, just purchase it as if you were buying it for yourself, and then reach out to this email and we’ll transfer it to your giftee.
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
MSRP: $749.95
Kara Williard: I drink a lot of coffee (not nearly as much as Jonathan, but still more than is recommended), and I really enjoy my cup of Joe in the form of espresso, americanos, and lattes. However, I am by no means an expert barista. Thankfully, the Breville Barista Express makes it relatively painless and easy to ensure amazing coffee in the morning, while also being pretty quick and simple to use.
The Barista Express is designed to ensure correct grind, portion, temperature, and water pressure to make extracting high-quality espresso a pretty simple process. The steamer is also easy to use and helps to guarantee the correct temperature. Combined, all of these features make it feel like I am a much better barista than I am, and the process of making coffee in the morning is not only straightforward, but it’s also quite enjoyable.
Maintenance of the Express Espresso Machine is also not too difficult and pretty easy to stay on top of. It lets you know when it needs to be cleaned, and that process is similarly quick and easy; press a few buttons, insert a cleaning tablet, and you’re done.
Overall, having the Barista Express has definitely grown my coffee habit, for better or for worse. If one of the coffee lovers in your life needs a practical and effective solution to ensuring easy but delicious espresso while at home, the Barista Express is a worthwhile investment. It’s also a great way to break someone of their daily trip to their neighborhood coffee shop — not that I am against supporting your local barista by any means, but from an economic standpoint, I have more than paid for the Breville Express Machine by not having to venture out to find a good cup of coffee.
Ripton & Co Jorts
MSRP: $55-69
Dylan Wood: If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance someone in your life could use a pair of jean shorts, AKA the notorious “jort.” And sure, you could just find an old pair of jeans, cut them at the knee or thigh (depending on how scandalous you want to be), and call it good. But I can guarantee that whatever old pair of Wranglers you have laying around aren’t as comfortable and activity-friendly as Ripton’s “performance denim.”
Ripton’s jorts are all very comfortable and stretchy — they definitely don’t feel like your typical blue jeans. They are soft on the thighs and not movement-restricting whatsoever. What Ripton created is very impressive. If someone in your life needs the radness of jorts but not the rashes and discomfort of typical denim, a pair of Ripton & Co’s jorts could certainly be just what they’re looking for.
Cotopaxi Coso 2L Hip Pack – Cada Dia
MSRP: $55
Kristin Sinnott: I first wrote about the Coso hip pack in the May edition of our monthly “Stuff We Like” series. The Coso is still my go-to pack for everything from long days of travel to short walks down the road with my son. Generally speaking, if I leave the house, the Coso is coming with me. I started using a hip pack as a sling last summer, but the one I was using (a basic one purchased from Amazon) lacked functionality. It had one zipper pocket and everything had to go inside its single pouch. Shuffling through it to find my keys always frustrated me, so when I saw the Coso, I was excited to try it.
The Coso has multiple zippered pockets, making it easy to keep small items like keys separate from larger pockets. I love not having to rifle through the larger pouch to find my earbuds or hotel key. I have a number of purses that I love, but since having a kid I’ve been less inclined to use them since they all make it a little more difficult to carry my son on my hip. The Coso’s sling stays put and the pack is large enough to carry what I need, especially since my son is far removed from the diaper phase. I do find I use the Coso as a sling 99% of the time. I’ve worn it as a hip belt a few times, but I find the pack much more comfortable slung over my shoulder. If you know someone that’s not a “purse” person, the Coso might be a nice alternative for them.
Velo Canteen
MSRP: $45–50
David Golay: The Velo Canteen is great for combining two of my favorite things: coffee and bikes. And especially since it’s now moving into the winter season, I’ve been really enjoying being able to bring a hot beverage on some of the colder, wetter rides that I’ve been going on of late.
In short, the Velo Canteen is a double-wall stainless steel insulated thermos that’s designed to fit into a standard bike bottle cage. It holds 13.5 oz (400 ml) of your beverage of choice, and keeps it warm (or cold) for hours. My take on the Velo Canteen hasn’t changed much since I included it in our Stuff We Like roundup back in October; it’s nicely made, looks sharp, and has done a solid job keeping my coffee (and miso soup — that was a particularly inspired use on an especially gross, cold ride) warm, though it’s definitely not the most insulative double-walled thermos I’ve ever tried. Given the packaging constraints of fitting it into a standard bike bottle cage while still holding a respectable amount of liquid, I think that tradeoff seems entirely fair, but it is still worth noting.
Overall, though, I think the Velo Canteen is a great option for the bike commuter in your life, for folks who do a bunch of bikepacking / touring, or just hardy lunatics who don’t let cold, wet weather stop them from getting after it on a bike.
And if you think the bike nut in your life might prefer to carry a different sort of beverage, I’m also a big fan of Jank Components’ Beer Cage ($30), too. In addition to the regular model for 12-oz beer (or soda) cans, a slim hard-seltzer-style version is also available, and I’m told that a 16-oz tallboy model is in the works, too.
Fjallraven Keb Eco-shell Jacket W
MSRP: $500
Kristin Sinnott: I’ve been wearing the Keb Eco-shell Jacket W for the past 3 years and it still looks like new and I still love it (I wrote a full review of it back in June 2019). It’s my go-to rain jacket and travel jacket. I have it in black, and the nice matte finish keeps it from looking overly techy so I feel comfortable wearing it in a city as well as out in the woods. On a recent trip to Europe, I had to pack for glacier skiing, hiking in the alps, running, and exploring cities via foot (and scooter). I packed the Keb Eco-shell Jacket W and had zero regrets.
Garmin inReach Mini 2
MSRP: $349.99
Drew Kelly: Captain Safety reporting for duty. But seriously, the inReach Mini 2 is sick: you can get directions to the nearest Starbucks, text your mom back immediately, and get Al Roker to read you the weather at your exact location, more or less. You can probably even livestream yourself in the middle of nowhere, swipe right on potential dates, and even get saved by a helicopter. All of this from a device smaller than your cell phone, and one that, unlike your cell phone, won’t die immediately in the cold.
For a more detailed breakdown of the benefits of a satellite messaging device, see this Blister Podcast conversation with reviewer, heli-guide, doctor, and frequent remote wilderness explorer, Paul Forward.
Patagonia Black Hole Gear Tote 61L
MSRP: $119
Luke Koppa: Do you know someone whose car looks like it was the testing site of an outdoor gear demolition, with various bits strewn about with abandon? If so, this big, burly gear tote could be a great gift. I very much fit that above description; over the course of the year, the back of my car would be cluttered with tons of skiing, fishing, and biking gear, as well as emergency travel things like blankets, extra jackets, gloves, jumper cables, tow straps, etc.
But a little over a year ago, I got two of these totes to try to wrangle all that stuff, and I’ve absolutely loved them. Not only do they keep a bunch of stuff in a controlled space, they also double as bags for grocery runs, and serve as a great place to stand in when getting into and out of wet fishing waders. They are effectively just really big bags, albeit highly durable and weather resistant ones, but they aren’t the best for those who like to have every little thing in its own place.
For those folks, I recently started using the Sidio Crate system, and I’m a pretty big fan so far, but I won’t chime in on that quite yet until I’ve spent more time with it. But if you know someone who mostly just needs to put a bunch of crap in something that keeps it from rolling around in the back of their car — and makes it easy to move that stuff elsewhere — this tote is a great option.
Orange Seal Sealant
MSRP: ~$9-45
Dylan Wood: If you know somebody who has a bicycle setup with a tubeless tire system, chances are they could use some sealant, given that most sealant manufacturers recommend refreshing your tire sealant around every 3 months. After having tried many brands, I keep coming back to Orange Seal’s sealant because of how reliable it is. It fills most small punctures well and seals around tire plugs for those bigger punctures. It lasts long and stays liquid inside of tires, too.
I also really like their bottle’s injection system — I’ve been using the same Orange Seal injection bottle for about 6 years now. It’s saved me from using tons of small single-use sealant bottles, and I always just use the hose on the bottle to attach directly to my tubeless valve, allowing me to inject sealant without needing to take one side of my tire off the rim and re-seat it afterward.
So, while this might not be the most exciting gift, it is a very safe and practical bet for anyone who owns a bicycle with a tubeless setup.
100% Snowcraft Goggle
MSRP: $180
Dylan Wood: When I heard that 100% was entering the snow goggle market, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. They are quite established in the mountain bike and motocross goggles space, there’s no question about that. But there are plenty of good snow goggles out there, and I wasn’t quite sure what 100% was going to do to set themselves apart. And well, after a few days in their Snowcraft goggle, I am a believer.
The Snowcraft has a clean design with a large, cylindrical lens integrated nicely into a wide, flexible frame. Each goggle comes with two swappable lenses: one high-light and one low-light. These lenses provide high-quality optics with a clear, undistorted view and good contrast. The Snowcraft’s lenses are dual-paned, as you’d expect from a high-quality snow goggle, but what’s different about them is how they attach to the goggle. The lenses are attached to the frame by the perimeter of the inner lens, and the outer lens sits against the outside of the frame.
I think it looks really good, and even though it doesn’t use magnets (their pricier Norg goggle does), it’s quite easy to swap the lenses.
Another standout feature of the Snowcraft is their field of view. It’s excellent in all directions, but most noticeable side-to-side — my eyes physically can’t go any further to the left or right of what these goggles let me see, and I don’t find myself wishing I had any more vision in the upward or downward direction, either. The Snowcraft is very comfortable, too, and I don’t find myself needing to crank its straps down very hard to keep it securely in place. And I know this is subjective, but I also really like their colors, specifically the “Stonehammer” colorway we have. It’s also integrated nicely with both helmets I’ve tried it with, the size Medium Smith Code and size Medium Giro Jackson. The Snowcraft has felt well-ventilated without being cold and drafty at high speeds, so I’m curious how it will hold up on those extra cold winter days as well as very warm spring days.
If you know someone who needs some new goggles and could appreciate something original and different from what most folks are rocking out on the hill, 100%’s new Snowcraft goggle has a lot more to offer than just its novelty.
Pro Bike Gear Tharsis Dropper Post
MSRP: $330
Dylan Wood: If you’re asking “What is an effective upgrade you can make to a mountain bike without breaking the bank?”, one of my answers would be adding a dropper post, or adding a longer dropper post. Modern bikes are featuring lower and longer seat tubes, allowing for shorter riders to ride longer bikes and taller riders to use longer dropper posts. The only problem is, most bikes come with a dropper post that’s too short for many riders who are on the average-to-tall side. So, these longer posts often have to be bought aftermarket, which creates a great opportunity for a practical gift with a lot of bang for your buck (seriously, a longer dropper can change the way you ride your bike). Plus, if you know someone who doesn’t have a dropper post on their bike altogether, it is a total game-changer.
There are a lot of good dropper posts out there, and one of the standouts from this past year is Pro Bike Components’ Tharsis Dropper Post. The Tharsis comes in 100, 160, and 200 mm travel options, fitting a wide range of folks.
Its silver stanchion (on the longer models) stands out and provides some opportunity for matching, but its looks certainly aren’t all of what’s good about the Tharsis. The Tharsis is smooth and dependable; it’s quiet on the way down and the way up, apart from a loud thud that lets you know the post is fully extended. It’s easy to push down and comes up quickly, too. Combined with Pro Bike Gear’s 1x MTB dropper lever, it has a very soft lever feel, allowing you to easily activate the dropper with just your thumb.
A dropper post makes for a great gift for any mountain biker in your life, and the Pro Bike Gear Tharsis is a good choice for a dropper post. Just be sure to check compatibility with the bike frame of your giftee.
Silky big boy 2000! Because..
LOVE LOVE LOVE my BeFree filter. Barely leave the house without it :)
Pomoca spare skin for the win!
Also those skeats crampons