Holiday gift guide for adventurous families

Every August, I get a sneak peek into the holiday gifting season. Outdoor Retailer is the largest trade show for outdoor and travel gear, and each summer, they have all their new and soon-to-be-available products on display. We curated our favorites here at Pit Stops for Kids, just in time for holiday gift giving.

holiday gift guide for adventurous families

Ready for the scoop on the newest, most innovative travel gear for 2018, available this holiday season? Here’s our holiday gift guide for adventurous families:

Gear for the whole family:

MyCharge Adventure Jump Start: Have you ever needed to jump start your car, but you were in an isolated place and no one was around with another car to help? Or you were in an isolated place, and didn’t feel comfortable asking for help? The Adventure Jump Start is the size of a large electronics/phone charger, but can charge your car or boat, without another car. It comes with cables and when you’re not using it for car charging, you can keep it in your car to charge everything else.

Watershed Drybags Big Creek backpack: If your family rafts, kayaks, boats, fishes, or hikes near creeks and lakes, you’ll want one of these waterproof backpacks that roll down small and are actually comfortable to wear. We could have used one when we took a whole slew of gear canoeing in Maine and were caught in a summer thunderstorm. The Big Creek is a manageable size at 21 liters (larger ones available) and a large top opening and handy wide lug handle. The straps are padded, too! Pick one up for $129 up in a variety of sizes.

Sunski Yuba sunglasses: Sporting matte tortoise polarized lens, I love Sunski because their glasses are affordable yet durable and stylish. My teens jump at the chance to try them, and my 17-year-old immediately claimed the Yubas. They’re lightweight and work great on the backcountry ski slopes in winter, and on the lake in summer. Pick up a pair for $58!

Gobi Gear Hobo Roll 2.0: We’ve been using Gobi Gear’s hobo roll since it first came out a few years ago. The design has improved, however, making this ingenious packing tool even more useful. Simply fill your smaller travel items into the divided compartments, and roll up. You’re left with a compact stuff sack of gear that stays organized!

Fjallraven Kanken: This classic Fjallraven backpack is a great multi-use gift for just about anyone on your list. Kids, teens, and adults all love it, and it’s handy as a carry-on bag for electronics, snacks, and comfort items for just about any trip you could take.

Outfitting Mom or Dad:

Teva Ember Moc: This new moccasin shoe from Teva is to die for. It’s as comfortable as a slipper, but with its quilted moc look, you can wear it out and about, too. It’s my new favorite shoe for ski cabins and hotel rooms, and packs down quite small in my suitcase, too.

Dovetail Maven jeans: I am so in love with this women-owned and operated company that makes work-tough jeans for women that still look stylish and fit great! Our favorite is the Maven pant, which comes in stretch denim or stretch canvas, has big, deep pockets women can actually utilize, and are slim fit for those fashionable travel days. Try a pair now at Dovetail!

Momentum Twist Rubber watch: This is my absolute favorite travel watch. The Momentum Twist is rugged, with a rubber band that can stand plenty of wear and tear. It’s also waterproof, and sapphire crystal is tough as nails, too. This watch has been on the market for a couple years, but is now better than ever.

Mountain Khakis Bison Commuter Portfolio: Mountain Khakis is one of my favorite outdoor gear and clothing brands, and they are debuting a new line of bison leather luggage this season. The commuter portfolio is a sleek men’s bag, that’s ideal for business travelers who also want to fit in a little fun into their destination. If leather isn’t your thing, the Signature Tote is made of rugged canvas.

Fun for kids and teens:

Outside Inside Gifts from GSI Outdoors: I love this concept: traditionally indoor games made for the outdoors! You can play Chinese checkers or Mancala while you’re backpacking, or bocce ball while camping by a river. My new favorite: Tumbling Tower, which comes in a slightly larger size perfect for vacation homes and camping or a lighter size for backpacking.

Wind pouch: Do you need a wind pouch? Maybe not. Do you want one? Heck yeah. This fun, inflatable, and easily storable air hammock is perfect for picnics, camping trips, backyard fun, or simply setting up in the kids’ bedroom. We have used our Wind Pouch all season!

Sportube child boot bags: Finally, the perfectly-sized backpack-style boot bag for small kids! The Sportube Freestyler Junior Boot Bag is under $60, and will keep all your kid’s ski or snowboard gear organized in a bag he or she can actually carry! Better yet, they come in sizing for mom and dad, too! There’s no reason to spend more!

Como Audio Amico speaker: This portable, weather-resistant speaker rocks! And it’s pretty, too. While too large to carry with you, it’s ideal for your guest cabin, AirBnb, or teen’s room, and can come outside with you, too. Sync it with a phone for adaptability, and enjoy! Pick one up on the Como Audio website or save on Amazon!

ProPacking Cubes: Your kids’ gear will FINALLY be organized in their duffles, backpacks, and suitcases when you use packing cubes. Stocking up on cubes can get expensive, but ProPacking Cubes come in sets of 6 for $39, which is a great value. We use them to store shoes, clean and dirty options, and cold-weather coats.

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Five holiday gifts for travelers who have everything

Have an avid traveler on your gift list this year? It’s a no-brainer to pick up something travel-related, but what if she already owns all the latest travel gear, or you have no idea where he’s planning to vacation next? No worries: the following five epic holiday gifts for travelers will make any jet-setter happy.

1. Give the gift of connection:

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Fly with WiFi, photo by Glen Fleishman

A subscription or gift card to GoGo inflight internet service is appreciated by any traveler who needs to get work done inflight. Buy a $5 one-hour pass as a stocking stuffer, or splurge on an unlimited monthly pass for your loved one. Now he has no excuse not to stay connected! Have an international traveler? Buy a prepaid 3G data SIM card!

2. Give the gift of a good (and free!) night’s sleep:

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Marriott Vacation Club, Oceana Palms

Everyone can use a gift card to their favorite hotel chain. We love Marriott’s gift card options, which allow recipients to choose among thousands of hotels. Are you a Marriott Vacation Club owner? If so, you can gift points for an epic gift to a loved one! Same goes for membership in hotel loyalty programs like iPrefer (which is free to join). Think outside the box to stretch your existing memberships into gifts.

3. Give the gift of experiences:

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Snorkeling in Laguna Beach, CA

This is our favorite gift to give! Instead of opening more ‘stuff’ on Christmas morning, treat your favorite traveler with the gift of new experiences. The options are endless of course, but if you’re not sure where in the world your loved one will be traveling next, buy a gift card to Cloud9Living, which showcases over 1800 experiences ranging from sky diving trips to snorkeling excursions.

Know your traveler’s destination? Consider buying a CityPass or GoSelect card, which gets your traveler into the best museums, tours, and attractions in cities across the US and Canada.

4. Give the gift of compliments and family stories:

awesome-box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create a box of memories, compliments, and inspiration.

Create a box of awesome with AwesomeBox. This innovative gift allows families, parents, groups, or teammates to add custom photos, stories, and messages to special cards for a lucky recipient. This can be done online; then the cards are created at AwesomeBox and placed in a memory box that’s shipped to the receiver. This is the gift for the person who truly has everything, or to share as a family. We plan to create an AwesomeBox of family memories, which we’ll open during the holidays as a family gift!

5. Give the gift of travel-day comfort:

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Airports are friendlier places with lounge privileges

The traveler on your list may have every airline pillow and eye mask on the market, but if he or she does not have access to a luxury airport lounge, true comfort and relaxation is still at bay. Give the gift of an airport lounge membership. Our favorite is Alaska Airlines’ Board Room, but you’ll want to purchase a membership through the airline your traveler uses most often. Remember, most airlines enjoy access at partner airline lounges, giving members more options with every flight.