Gift ideas for those who love the outdoors

Even Santa needs a hand at times to find the perfect present for an outdoor enthusiast. With that in mind, we put together the following suggestions. If you haven't been naughty, you might find one or more of these under your tree this year.

We start with the pricey and end with the price-conscious.

Kaenon Hard Kore sunglasses

There's no other way to say it: These are the best sunglasses I've ever worn. The frames are stylish, yet remarkably comfortable, even after being worn all day in a driving wind. The polarized lenses are optically pure, with no distortion or blurring, and nicely tinted to cut harsh light while boasting contrast and object definition. This means bumps in snow and texture on water are easily seen even when zipping along at maximum speed. Whether worn while skiing, biking, fly-fishing or hiking, these glasses outperformed every other model of eyewear. At $209, the price is steep, but the quality is unmatched. See www.kaenon.com.

Fishpond High Country Tech Pack

Part fishing vest, part backpack, this is the perfect tool for backcountry anglers. The backpack section features more than 700 cubic inches of storage capacity — plenty for a day hike into a remote fishing spot — while the front-mounted fishing pack will hold all your essentials for a day on the water. The front panel flips down to reveal a foam fly holder to keep your hooks readily at hand. Best of all, the two pack sections can be worn alone as well as together, so you can modify to your needs. $159. See www.fishpondusa.com.

PrimeTorch 801 flashlight

Flashlights have been bumped from the spotlight in recent years as headlamps have become more common among recreationists and homeowners. But a handheld light is still a valuable tool in many instances, and Primus offers a new line of rechargeable LED lights. The PrimeTorch 801 throws an ultra-bright beam that burns more than 30 hours between charges. It proved a reliable tool to have on hand during power outages at home, as well as when we were car camping and needed to navigate dark trails to the restrooms. $100. See www.primuscamping.com.

Ex Officio Baja Shirt with Insect Shield

What could be better for outdoor enthusiasts than a comfortable warm-weather shirt that blocks UV, dries quickly and looks good? One that does all that, plus repels biting insects. Welcome to the wonderful world of Insect Shield — a process that puts insect repellent into fabrics. Insect Shield (formerly known as Buzz Off) is applied during the manufacturing process, and Ex Officio is one of the top users of this wonderful product. The Insect Shield safely repels insects without harsh chemicals, is totally odorless and doesn't wash out. The Baja is an Ex Officio classic, made from butter-soft cotton twill that dries quickly and looks good on trails and in towns. $85. See www.exofficio.com.

Summit Trail cribbage board

Hikers need something to help them pass the time during the long winter months when snow covers their favorite trails. Enter the new Summit Trail Cribbage Board from Spokane-based Outside-Inside. This molded acrylic board resembles a wilderness trail looping around a mountain lake and waterfall. Scoring pegs are stored in the climbers hut, and the winner is the first to reach the summit. $45. See www.outsideinsidegifts.com.

Origo Paso pedometer watch

Let's face it: Few people actually use all the cool functions and features built into fancy altimeter watches. But give a hiker a pedometer, and they'll use it regularly. Put the pedometer in a wristwatch and those hikers will monitor it constantly. Origo offers an array of high-tech watches, but the most functional and least expensive is the Paso Pedometer. A simple timepiece and chronometer with one important add-on: the ability to tell the wearer how far they've walked (and estimate how many calories they burned in the process). $40. See www.origowatch.com.

KOR One Hydration Vessel

OK, forget the fanciful name — it's a water bottle. But a unique water bottle. With growing concerns about the bisphenol A (BPA) leaching from traditional Lexan water bottles, recreationists have been scrambling to replace all their old Nalgenes. KOR offers a new idea on the age-old question of how to best carry water. The BPA-free KOR One is oval, so if you drop it, it doesn't roll away (and off a ledge). It has a locking flip-top so it is easy to fill and to drink from, yet leakproof. KOR, it seems, has built a better water bottle. $29. See www.korwater.com.

Icebreaker skier socks

Wool has once again become the most preferred fiber for your feet, especially for cold-weather pursuits such as skiing. One of the best socks we've found this season is the Skier Mid from Icebreaker. Woven from super-soft merino wool, the Skier sports dense padding around the base of the foot and across the arch, providing welcome cushioning between your foot and a rigid ski boot. The socks extend well above the boot top to ensure maximum comfort and warmth. $20. See www.icebreaker.com.

Light My Fire sporks

Is it a spoon? A knife? A fork? Yes! This ultimate eating utensil from Redmond-based Light My Fire is a combination knife, spoon and fork, and now the spork is offered in three sizes: standard, large and serving-sized. Unlike a typical spork, which is nothing more than a slotted spoon, these utensils boast a spoon on one end and a fork on the other, with one edge of the fork being serrated to act as a modest table knife. $3-$9. See www.lightmyfireusa.com.