Outfitted: Gifts for outdoorsy people

Some people are tough to shop for. Outdoorsy people are not among them. Those of us who live in mountain towns keep an informal but deeply committed running inventory in our heads of “things that will make my next ski tour/camping weekend/drive to the trailhead less annoying.” Below are nine pieces that have earned their place in real-life gear piles. They work, they last, and they’ll actually get used — whether your giftee is skinning Tiehack after work, hiking with an enthusiastic dog up Smuggler, or simply trying to stay warm through the dregs of January.

1. Kitworks Gear Box and Accessories

Gear organization sounds boring until you’ve spent 25 minutes digging through a duffel for a headlamp that somehow migrated into a pair of underwear. The Kitworks Gear Box is one of those “small changes, big life improvement” items. It creates a home for all the tiny essentials that otherwise turn into chaos: camp utensils, chargers, stove parts, first-aid bits, lighters, dog treats, sunscreen sticks, and mystery micro-sporks. Add a couple of accessory pouches, and your giftee suddenly becomes the person everyone else asks for the thing they forgot in the outdoors — that is a very high compliment. I highly recommend adding the extra organizers and accessories. The Gear Box is $299. Accessories range from $9 to $79, and $547 for the box and all of the accessories, MyKitworks.com.

2. Cotopaxi Fuego Down Hooded Jacket

You’ve seen it everywhere: mid-mountain, at the farmer’s market, in line at Paradise, on the bus. The Fuego is Cotopaxi’s signature down jacket for a reason. It’s warm without being bulky, packs down small, and the hood makes a huge difference once you’re on a windy ridge or just walking the dog on a night when the cold feels personal. Cotopaxi’s commitment to ethically sourced down and global-impact manufacturing is real, not just marketing language. This one checks the boxes for function, color, and conscience, and this season includes an improved fit from the previous version. It’s available in women’s and men’s sizes and colors. $295, Cotopaxi.com.

3. Sackcloth & Ashes Yellowstone Teal Blanket

This is the cabin blanket, the bonfire blanket, the extra-layer-on-top-of-the-campervan-mattress blanket. The Limited Edition Yellowstone Teal colorway is inspired by the rugged spirit of the West and the iconic Montana landscape of the Yellowstone television series. With its blend of wool, acrylic, and polyester, it remains washable, soft, and warm. Plus, for every blanket purchased, the company donates one to a local homeless shelter. Warmth received, warmth given. $160, SackclothandAshes.com.

4. Ruffwear Dirtbag Dog Seat Cover 

We are, as a valley, dog people. And dog people know mud season does not restrict itself to the calendar. The Dirtbag Seat Cover keeps wet paws, snowy bellies, and questionable creek-roll decisions contained to a washable surface instead of permanently embedded in upholstery. It installs and removes easily, holds up well to claws, and makes spontaneous “let’s just go up for a quick lap” moments significantly less stressful. A very practical gift, but an excellent one that has been a staple in my Jeep for a couple of years. $100, Ruffwear.com.

5. Arc’teryx Sylan Pro Shoe

A gift for the runner, the hiker, the scrambler, or the person who prefers logging their miles on anything except pavement. The Sylan Pro is lightweight but structured, confident on rocky and rooty terrain, and works well both in shoulder season muck and high-summer dust. With mid-sole rocker geometry and a grippy Vibram outsole, this shoe is responsive without feeling bulky. The knit collar that’s designed to seal out debris takes a little getting used to, but I’ve come to really value its ability to keep the inside of the shoes pebble- and dirt-free. It’s available in women’s and men’s sizes and colors. $200, Arcteryx.com.

6. Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask

There is something about a winter evening — especially after a day spent outside — that wants a slow pour. Wyoming Whiskey’s Double Cask goes through its first maturation round in new charred oak barrels and then finishes in decades-old casks seasoned by Pedro Ximenez sherry, which brings in warmth and depth without overwhelming sweetness. The result is a nose, taste, and finish that ranges from autumnal vibes to hints of the holiday season. It’s the kind of bottle you open around the table when everyone’s cheeks are still windburned and it’s time to pass around stories new and old. $68, WyomingWhiskey.com.

7. Birkenstock London Shearling Clog

Après-ski footwear is its own category, and the London Shearling Clog has quietly become a personal favorite. It’s warm, supportive, and just structured enough that you don’t feel like you’ve left the house in slippers (even though you kind of have). This is the shoe for walking out to grab firewood, shuffling to a friend’s house for book club, or heading to the grocery store with helmet hair and base layers still on. With a closed heel, they add a little more support than the famous Boston Clog that seems to dominate warmer months. It’s available in multiple colors and sizes. $200, Birkenstock.com.

8. Case Knives Smooth Dymalux Rosewood Highbanks

A good pocket knife is one of those things that quietly becomes part of a person’s life. The Highbanks is compact and beautifully balanced, and the rosewood handle has the kind of character that develops with time and use. It’s perfect for slicing cheese on a hut trip, trimming cord while rigging a tarp during a surprise afternoon storm, or opening packaging in the middle of a ski parking lot because somehow nothing in outdoor gear comes in packaging that makes sense. It’s practical every day, but gifting it feels personal — not purely utilitarian. $197, CaseKnives.com.

9. Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Gloves

Every winter, without fail, there comes a day when you realize your gloves aren’t cutting it. Usually somewhere around late January. The Hestra Heli Ski glove is the solve — warm, durable, and built to take the kind of use local skiers actually put gear through. The removable liners dry quickly, the leather breaks in instead of breaking down, and the gauntlet cuff means wind and spindrift don’t stand a chance. Give these, and you are essentially gifting continued circulation to someone’s fingers. It’s available in multiple colors and sizes. $185, HestraGloves.us.

Meg Simon is an Aspen-based freelance writer, graphic designer and founder of Simon Finch Creative. She can be reached at meg@simonfinchcreative.com.

Meg Simon is an Aspen-based freelance writer, graphic designer, and founder of Simon Finch Creative. She can be reached at meg@simonfinchcreative.com.