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Gear Guide: Eight affordable outdoor gifts

by Stephen Regenold

Need a budget-friendly present or stocking stuffer? Search for these outdoorsy items at a local gear shop or online. From knives to camp lights, these products will deliver smiles without emptying your wallet.

1. Morakniv Rookie Knife: $20

A 2.8-inch stainless steel blade with rounded safety tip and finger guard prevents newbie knife-users. A barrel-shape birch handle is sized for smaller hands, and at 1.8 ounces youngsters can confidently handle the Morakniv knife.



2. Black Diamond Wiz Headlamp: $20

A perfect first headlamp for kids, the Wiz has a child-safe closure, breakaway elastic head strap, and a lamp that aims correctly even if worn upside-down. Its LEDs put out 30 lumens at full power, and the Wiz is water-resistant for all conditions outdoors.




3. Snow Peak Titanium Spork: $9

Who doesn’t love a spork? This one from Snow Peak is made of titanium and comes in four anodized colors. Its utility will be appreciated for any meal in the outdoors.

4. Leatherman Piranha 2: $15

This tool ingeniously fits seven versatile implements into a flat, 3.9-inch-long piece of heat-treated stainless steel. The multitool contains a scraper, bottle opener, hex driver, screwdriver, wrenches, and a box opener — perfect for opening gifts.

5. Love Your Melon Beanie: $30

Made in Minnesota, these beanies will keep your head warm all winter long. The 100 percent cotton knit hat is soft and warm. Best of all, the brand donates 50 percent of net profits to fighting childhood cancer. Feel good giving this warming gift.

6. BioLite SiteLite Mini: $20

Decorate the campsite with this luminous line. Four LEDs on a 10-foot cord shine via a USB power source. Perfect for the romantically inclined adventurer on your list.

7. Nite Ize Hitch Phone Anchor and Tether: $15

A simple solution, this tether system minimizes the risk of dropping a phone by attaching it to a line that extends up to 24 inches. The mechanism secures to the body or a backpack when used outdoors.

8. Stanley Go Bottle: $27

Stanley’s Go Bottle with Ceramivac offers a new kind of insulated bottle with a fired ceramic finish. Your mouth contacts no steel, just lips on smooth ceramic (think a coffee mug) as you sip. A low-profile silicone footpad keeps it in place when set on any surface.

For more on this product, visit https://gearjunkie.com/. Stephen Regenold is the founder and writes about outdoors gear for Gear Junkie.

Aspen Times Weekly

Foodstuff: International Flair

As we slowly but surely emerge from cozy cooking weather, I like to get in a few elaborate comfort meals that take all day and are worth the effort. One of these is my annual Indian Feast, which I only do once a year because I remember what a process it is.



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