Gear Review: Stocking stuffers

One of my favorite holidays was Dec 6: St. Nick’s Day. By the time I was 7, my mom had sewn me a huge stocking, which, at the time, seemed big enough for me to crawl into. I’d haul the lumpy sack onto my parent’s bed to open gifts, which ranged from silly (including Silly Putty) to shiny (sparkly barrettes) to sensible (soap, shampoo, and socks).

In honor of Ole St. Nick, I thought I’d highlight a few stocking-stuffer ideas.

Smartwool Women’s Intraknit Thermal Merino Base Layer Bottom and Intraknit Bikini Underwear

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Yes, sometimes my stocking contained underwear — the “cool” kind. Granted, back then, that meant various-colored embroidered days of the week underwear. Now, it means brands like Smartwool’s Intraknit bikini underwear, made of 39% merino wool for those extra-cold chairlift days. They fit great, without riding up or down, and they’re made to be breathable and odor resistant (enough said), just like Smartwool’s base-layer bottoms, made of 52% merino wool. The slim-fitting bottoms hug contours and keep me toasty with a warmth factor rated below 25 degrees. Seamless mesh ventilation adds breathability, as well as style, and the wide, mid-rise waistband is comfortable to wear throughout the day.

$34, underwear, $130 bottoms, smartwool.com

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Laird Superfood Focus Medium Roast Ground Coffee, Creamer, and Performance Mushrooms

I wasn’t a morning person as a kid, but on St. Nick’s day, my parents could’ve used this coffee. The Peruvian blend includes extracts of organic lion’s mane mushrooms and coffee cherry as superfoods, along with rhodiola to address stress. This is definitely some of the best coffee I’ve had in the U.S. It has a rich, bold taste that I can easily drink black, and it got me through 12- to 13-hour work days in the past handful of weeks, without jitters. The Sweet & Creamy Adaptogens Superfood Creamer adds four adaptogenic mushrooms to combat stress. With just 1 gram of sugar, it’s dairy-free and made of simple ingredients: coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, and mushrooms. And it tastes delicious. I don’t like mushrooms, but I’d never know these products contain them.

$19 for 12-ounce coffee, $27 for 16-ounce creamer, lairdsuperfood.com

Thermos Icon Series 40 oz Stainless Steel Cup Holder Mug

This big-gulper holds 40 ounces, yet its long, skinnier bottom fits deep into cup holders for no-toppling driving. And, the top slide lock prevents leaking if the mug happens to fall over on a table. Its vacuum-insulated, stainless steel construction is designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours, but it also keeps tea or coffee warm, so after skiing in the morning, I return to comfort in my car. The grippy handle and base is a great feature, and I love that the slide lock and gasket easily come off for thorough cleaning. Available in fabulous colors — and it comes with a straw for cold drinks.

$39.99, thermos.com

Tifosi Moab Sunglasses

An incredibly lightweight frame (31 grams) meets durable, scratch-proof polycarbonate lenses in the Moab. Made for runners, cyclists, and other adventurers, bottom and side vents promote airflow so glasses don’t fog, and the rubber ear and nose pads grip, even during an intense workout. The wrap-around, full-frame design provides plenty of coverage with no visual distortion and they fit great wearing a full-face helmet for mountain biking. But the real outstanding feature involves the Fototec lens, which automatically adjusts to changing light. In low visibility, it lets in 64% of light, but just 14% gets through in full sun, while still providing clear vision. Or, you can choose interchangeable lenses over the Fototec, but I like the all-in-one convenience of the latter.

$79.95, tifosioptics.com

Puffin Drinkware Pray for Snow Bundle

Since I’m reminiscing about childhood, these fit right in: They remind me of playing dolls, only I dress my drinks. It all started with The Patroller, which comes in the three-coat Pray for Snow Bundle. I’m a sucker for ski patrol jackets, as I happen to think patrollers are the most bada$$ on the mountain. Along with the sexy patroller jacket, you can choose from two retro styles and 10 puffy jacket colors. Beyond being ultra-fun, Puffin drinkware actually serves an important function: It keeps your drink cold without chilling your hands. The Puffy and Patroller are great for regular cans, while the higher profile of the retro jacket (The Miller) works best with taller cans or bottles. The design ensures your drink won’t slip out of your hand or the zipped jacket, and the rubber bottom allows it to stay put.

$69.85 regular price, puffindrinkwear.com