Hobie i11. Image courtesy of Hobie.
From under the tree to stuffing in a stocking, those who love the mountains are always on the hunt for new gear. Sure, there’s much to choose from not only in terms of gifts, but deciding which passion to feed. Hike? Paddle? Ski? Snowboard? Snowshoe? So many pursuits, so much stuff. Hope this helps.
Turn heads on alpine waterways with a Hobie inflatable kayak. The Hobie Mirage i11s is the latest addition to Hobie’s fleet, the lightest of the four coming with a pair of air chambers on each side of the crafts and a fin that fits into a built-in slot on the bottom of the hull. Bungie down your fishing gear and sustenance with an optional H-Crate. Kayakers short on space might consider the smallest and shortest i9 while the i14 has touring paddlers in mind. They come with a hand pump. Optional sail kits available too.
hobiecat.com MSRP i9, i11 $1999, i14 $3199
Keep a hiker happy with the Deuter Airlite 22. Why? The company claims the backpack system reduces perspiration by 25 percent. Can’t say if the promise is true, but the concise 22 liter pack is a light 2 pounds, 3 ounces and has some appreciated features like integrated rain cover, trekking pole attachment loops and hip belt with two zippered mesh pockets. As for the perspiration reducing construction, the manufacturer says it’s because of the FlexLite System which contains anatomically formed shoulder straps with perforated foam and large-celled 3D AirMesh lining to make them airy.
deuter.com MSRP $109
Be sure to carry water and not bulk. The Hydrapak collapsible Stash means you’re decreasing mass with every sip you take. The BPA-free and PVC-free construction isn’s supposed to brittle with age or light exposure. They’re designed for a long life. The Stash 750 carries 25 ounces and collapses down to two inches. That’s some shape shifting. Stackable too.
hydrapak.com MSRP $17.99
Satisfy your hunger on the trails and slopes with meat sticks containing eight grams of protein from Vermont Smoke and Cure. Real Sticks include Green Mountain State ingredients like apple cider and maple syrup while also using vegetarian-raised animals. For more than 50 years, the company’s been cranking out meaty favorites like bacon, ham and sausage. The meat sticks utilize beef, pork and turkey in flavors like barbecue, honey mustard and cracked pepper.
vtsmokeandcure.com MSRP $32.95 for case of 24
Stormy Kromer’s been producing tough-tested apparel since the early 1900s when locomotive worker George “Stormy” Kromer asked his wife to stitch him a cap that would keep him warm and not blow off because of the wind. It worked. Then friends wanted one. Fast-forward to today and the Michigan-based company makes all sorts of outdoor wear. The Stormy Jack is one of those garments that falls in the gap between shirt and jacket. Whatever. It keeps you warm (80 percent wool, 20 percent nylon) and makes you want to spend time outside.
stormykromer.com MSRP $199
Okay, so it’s a plus when you go out to eat and the restaurant boosts about being part of the farm to table movement. Well, how about a company that helps you move from farm to feet? Enter Farm to Feet. Since comfortable feet make for a great day on the trails, consider the Bend, a stylized hiking sock with full density cushioning throughout. It is 100 percent American made with U.S.-sourced materials in U.S. facilities. So, that’s a big all-around win.
farmtofeet.com MSRP $19
So, a couple of years ago my wife and I are standing in a lift line at Mammoth in California when I notice a skier wearing a funky neckwarmer. Hey, I say to the skier, isn’t that made in Vermont. Yes, she said. Turns out the skier was on the U.S. Ski Team. How about that? Skida makes local and lots of limited edition apparel from t-shirts to hats. The floral printed Aloha neckwarmer is well suited to fight the cold with its Polartec micro fleece lining. Just the floral pattern seems to be enough to warm things up.
shopskida.com $24
