2011 Gift Guide

Summer’s blooms have gone to seed, the larches’ needles have blown off in the wind, and snow is just around the corner. Yep, it’s time to start thinking about your loved ones, and maybe a little about yourself as the holiday season approaches. WTA’s gear team has spent hours consulting elves, in-laws, your loved ones and your favorite gear companies to generate a broad list of holiday season gift picks. From stocking stuffers to pure gear bling, our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide gives you a cheat sheet for all the best gear out there.

Better than Coal

Useful items than make great stocking stuffers and small gifts.

Sherpa Adventure Hat
Comfy lambswool and Polartec beanies hand-knit in Nepal. $25

Mountain Hardwear Bandito Fingerless Glove
Seamless softshell convertible glove-mitt combo. $45 

Gerber Crucial FAST Multitool
Handy quick-open tool for trail, camp or home. $50

Exped Shrink Bags
Watertight bags to reduce bulk in your pack. $32-$39

Beyond Coastal Natural Products
Facestick sunscreen and Active Lip Balm. $3-$7

Jack Frost

These apparel solutions can keep Jack’s nips at bay during the long Pacific Northwest winter.

Isis PDQ Hoodie
Fashion meets function in this sleek midlayer for town or trail. $115 

Ibex Woolie Zip T
Soft, breathable 100% Merino wool baselayer. $85

Icebreaker Realfleece Sierra Sweater
Sustainably-produced Merino Wool for men and women. $150-$225

Loot Lugging

Your special someone might need a new bag to carry all his or her new gear. These small packs and sacks will make shouldering the load an easy job.

Overland Equipment Shasta
Low-profile sling pack with plenty of pockets. $70

North Face Verto 26
Compressible, ultra-lightweight summit pack. $69

Mountainsmith Swift FX
Lumbar-style camera pack for digital SLRs. $69

CamelBak Highwire 25
Lightweight hydration pack with tons of features. $115

It’s a Wonderful Life

There’s really nothing better than a sweet sweet camp set-up. Here are a few items to enhance your base camping experience.

Jetboil Sol Ti
Ultralight 4-season fully-contained cook system. $150

GSI Crossover Kitchen Kit
Everything you need for preparing back country meals. $35

Nemo Obi 2-Person Tent
Ultralight backpacking tent with DAC Featherlite® NSL poles. $389

Therm-a-Rest® Down Coupler
Quilted down sleeve for connecting two mattresses. $99–$129

Packit Gourmet Gift Card
All-natural breakfasts, lunches and dinners. $10+

Bling for the Holiday

These pieces may be on the spendy side, but they will certainly put a smile on a gear hound’s face.

Snow Peak Titanium Flask
Uber-light pocket-sized flasks available in three sizes. $140–$160

Suunto Core Altimeter Watch
Quality and function paired with rugged style. $249

Julbo Nomad Photochromic Glacier Glasses
Anti-fog lenses change for light conditions. $130

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
Lightweight with comfortable grips. $140

Winter Break

Do you find your loved ones get more out of an experience? Try getting them these unique gifts.

America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, or Washington Discover Pass. $30–$80

Gift Donations to The Wilderness Society, National Parks Conservation Association, Pacific Crest Trail Association, or the Washington Trails Association. $any

PCT Trailside Readers
Explore the history, people, places, humor, traditions and myths of the PCT. $20