Hot tips for cool outdoor gifts

Outdoor enthusiasts love the holiday season.

What is a wilderness recreationist, after all, but an oversized kid? Throughout the year, skiers, hikers, kayakers and kids live to play. Come December, though, kids' thoughts turn to images of Christmas trees and presents. Lots and lots of presents! Finding the perfect gift for that "big kid" on your list can be difficult. If you buy a new gadget for a backpacker, say, it has to be something that is so great — or just so cool — that the hiker won't mind adding it to his already overloaded backpack. Most downhill skiers, on the other hand, want something that makes them ski better on the slopes or look better in the après-ski lounge.

With that in mind, we spent months trying out some of the latest and greatest products made for outdoor recreation so that we could offer you this list of gifts sure to please even the most finicky outdoor fanatic.

Recycled products

Got a greenie on your list? Consider giving him/her recycled gifts this year. No, not recycled in the sense of re-gifting (though that is a good way to get rid of that ridiculous backpacking espresso machine your Aunt Gertrude got you last year). Recycled, as in made from recycled products.

Mountainsmith's Classic

Day Lumbar pack: $80. The classic Mountainsmith Day Lumbar pack helped create the lumbar pack. The latest version of this venerable old pack features the same design and styling you'll remember from the award-winning packs of yesteryear — right down to the trademark yellow bungee accessory cord — but with one key difference. The modern Classic Day pack uses fabrics made from recycled plastic, primarily plastic beverage bottles. That's right — that bottle of Gatorade you guzzle after your hike could be your next lumbar pack! www.mountainsmith.com

Patagonia Synchilla

Marsupial sweater: Women's, $78. This soft, warm sweater uses a Polartec fleece made from 100-percent recycled materials. The bulk of those materials are post-consumer waste — soda pop and other beverage bottles. The generously cut Marsupial pullover features a zippered neck and a pass-through front pocket. www.patagonia.com

Wool

Wool lost appeal with outdoor recreationists in the 1980s and '90s as new "miracle" fabrics came into play. Laboratories work tirelessly to find a fiber that can be woven or knit into fabrics that moves moisture off the skin, insulates well even when damp and fights odor-causing bacteria. Lo and behold, the latest and greatest miracle material: wool!

Wool contains natural enzymes that fight bacteria growth, so it can be worn day after day in the backcountry without that "camp-funk" odor. It's a superb insulator and is very versatile. Best of all, unlike synthetics made from petrochemicals, wool is all natural and renewable (the sheep that give it up don't suffer much). Some examples of woolens that make perfect gifts this year:

SmartWool's Stripeuccino set: $85. This combo boasts a matching stocking cap, gloves and scarf made from 100 percent merino wool. Available in three color schemes, the set proves both stylish and incredibly warm. www.smartwool.com

Ex Officio Woolpro sweaters: $59 for crew neck, $69 for zip-T neck. Ex Officio offers the best of both worlds — natural and synthetic — with its Woolpro fabric. The fabric blends wool (37 percent), acrylic (37 percent), nylon (24 percent) and lycra (2 percent) to create a lightweight but warm layer perfect for winter recreation or adventure travel. The Lycra gives it four-way stretch; the acrylic and nylon make it durable and easy to care for, while the wool provides warmth, moisture management and odor control. www.exofficio.comGear and gadgets

What's an outdoor gift list without a selection of gear, gadgets and gizmos? Kids of all ages love toys, after all.

Cascade Designs ToughSkin

Therm-a-Rest pad: $120 (6-foot length). The classic self-inflating sleeping pad had one fatal flaw: If it got a puncture, it was worthless. Cascade Designs finally found a solution: ToughSkin pads. Utilizing a strong, puncture-resistant fabric, the ToughSkin can take a lot of abuse without suffering a blowout. But even if the pad does get punctured, it can still be used. The dense foam inside provides insulation and padding even when not inflated. Campers who sleep out in thorny terrain and desert environments will love this pad. www.cascadedesigns.com

Gregory Drift ski pack: $129. Designed for skiers and snowboarders who explore out of bounds, the 1,300-cubic-inch Drift swallows all the gear you'll need for a long day in the snow. The pack rides tight to your back, keeping your center of gravity forward where you want it. Skis can be lashed diagonally onto the pack for hike-up runs, and weather-resistant zippers keep your gear dry yet easily accessible. www.gregorypacks.com

GSI Outdoors Vortex Hand-Crank blender: $70. Sometimes gifts should just be fun. The hand-crank blender has no redeeming value, except it is fun. This is the perfect gift for those folks who insist on being the life of the party, even if it's an outdoor work party. The two-speed blender works perfectly. It can be powered up to create wonderfully frothy fruit smoothies, or geared down to crush ice for a frosty pitcher of margaritas. www.gsioutdoors.com

Bic Yakka kayak: $599. The perfect gift for the family of water lovers driving a Prius. The Bic Yakka Kayak (yes, this is the same Bic company that makes ballpoint pens and disposable lighters) folds to a compact 59-by-30-by-15-inch size, but extends out to be a full, 10-foot sit-on-top kayak. Inflatable sides top the rigid plastic hull. We found the Yakka to be a bit slow in the water, but very stable even for a 220-pound passenger. It's not a kayak for everyday use by serious paddlers, but the occasional lake-goer with limited storage space will love it. www.bicsportna.com

Hobie Sidekick Outrigger kit: $149. Kayaks are wonderful watercraft, but they aren't the most stable platforms from which to fish or photograph wildlife. Hobie, maker of an assortment of sit-on-top kayaks and sailboats, offers an add-on option that can make any kayak a stable platform from which to cast a line or set up a camera. The Hobie Sidekicks are inflatable pontoons that fit on virtually any kayak. The pontoon position can easily be adjusted for maximum stability, or minimum drag while moving. The Sidekicks can also be used as "training wheels" to give novice paddlers a bit of extra comfort if they are worried about a boat's stability. www.hobiecat.com

Ruffwear Urban Sprawl dog beds: $60-100. Your outdoor-loving dogs deserves a little TLC this holiday season, and there's no better way to show the pooch you care than with a comfy new bed. The Ruffwear Urban Sprawl, available in three sizes, is made just for hard-working dogs. Extra thick, and a soft fleece top, the bed is soft, durable and good looking. www.ruffwear.com

Freelancer Dan A. Nelson of Puyallup is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. For the purpose of review, gear manufacturers lend products, which are returned after a typical use of four to six weeks. There is no payment from manufacturers and they have no control over the content of reviews. Contact Nelson with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.

The gift of style

Sometimes, we need to give the gift of style to our loved ones. They are wonderful people, but they just don't get it when it comes to picking out apparel.

Horny Toad Hangover pants: $68. Women, picture this: After a long day of skiing, you and your spouse/boyfriend decide to grab a drink and a bite to eat before heading home. As you head for the lounge, though, you notice that your guy has changed into a pair of ratty gray sweat pants. Horny Toad to the rescue. The Hangover pants, made from a fleecy fabric and tailored to fit like loose-cut slacks, offer the comfort of sweats but a stylish look perfect for après ski affairs. www.hornytoad.com

Shred Alert Lambgirl and Lambbucket hats: $31-$48. This Hood River, Ore., company has been offering outdoor fashions for women for 17 years. Our female testers have dubbed Shred Alert's new Lambsuede series the coolest warm hats of the year. The Lambgirl offers casual, cowboy-hat styling, while the Lambbucket is a bucket-style hat. The faux-suede outer cover and fleece liner is weather resistant and very warm. Most important, they look awesome! www.shredalert.com

Big Agnes mountain booties: $35. Forget fuzzy slippers. Whether you need them at home or in camp, there is no better option for warming your tootsies in style than Big Agnes mountain booties. These PrimaLoft-filled booties feature tough Cordura bottoms for durability and comfort. www.bigagnes.com

Stocking-stuffer ideas

Petzl E+Lite headlamp: $30. Weighing barely over 1 ounce, the Petzl E+Lite features two brightness settings, as well as a red light cover. The light can be worn as a headlamp, or clipped onto virtually any surface. This truly is the latest and greatest (not to mention lightest) headlamp. www.petzl.com

REI Double Shot Press mug: $24. Finally, a travel mug fit for Seattleites. The stainless insulated mug sports a French press lid, letting you brew on the go. But since no coffee lover can stop at just one cup, this mug lets you bring along enough grounds for a second cup. A small coffee container stashes in the base of the mug, making it easy to make a refill whenever you need it. www.rei.com

Brunton MY-Ti Folding Spork: $15. Solid titanium blade with a stainless-steel wire handle, the MY-Ti folding spork weighs a whopping 0.6 ounces! That's less than most plastic camp utensils. Truly an impressive gift for the weight-watching backpacker. www.brunton.com

Benchmade Salmon River Folding Fillet knife: $35. The Salmon River Folding Fillet knife weighs only 3 ounces, but sports a locking 7-inch blade for smooth, precise cuts. This is the ideal gift for any backcountry angler. It's lightweight, durable and highly dependable. www.benchmade.com