Posted by It’s back! Our popular 12 Days of Gearmas Christmas gift guide is back for 2022.
We’ve pulled together our annual recommendations in a comprehensive gift guide for all climbers, mountaineers and general outdoor folk. Our criteria remains as it always has done – affordable and useful so feel free to browse and enjoying buying the perfect Christmas gift for the mountaineer you love.
We accept no payment for inclusion in this gift guide but reviewers will have been given and used a sample of the product. By clicking on the link and purchasing (no affiliate link) you are supporting us and ensuring that you continue to enjoy our independent and honest reviews.
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Super Sparrow Tritan Sports Bottle
Why not kick start the 2023 training season with a great drinks bottle. The Super Sparrow Tritan Sports Bottle is a premium BPA free water bottle that has been working great in the gym and climbing centre as well as out for hikes and even cycling. The BPA Tritan material is tough and taint free, I have not had any plastic aftertaste at any time when I’ve used it. It’s light too, I’ve given up carrying steel around on the hill – it’s far too heavy for a full day out.
The flip lid can be used one handed and it is leak free and spill proof, the wide neck opening is useful for filling in streams and adding isotonic powder. There is a wrist loop and it comes packed in a great premium looking box with spare seals. It comes in a whole host of funky colours and the smaller 500ml and the whopping 1500ml versions.
The bottle is also Climate Neutral in manufacture and can be purchased direct from Super Sparrow. SRP £17.61 and there is currently a 20% off holiday promotion!
Trekmates Chamonix GTX Gloves
Gloves can be a perfect gift for winter and what better than the well priced Trekmates Chamonix GTX glove. A full gauntlet style glove with Gore-Tex Active liner for £50! These are a fantastic glove that you could a pay lot more for with other brands. There is a durable polyamide outer with a DWR coating, elasticated wrist loop and a pull cord cinch to keep the cold out.
Insulation is provided by 80gm of hollow fibre synthetic filling so it should retain some warmth when wetted out through snow or rain. More insulation is offered with the brushed microfleece liner and the whole glove feels nice and roomy while still retaining some dexterity for compass reading and faffing around in a pack.
The PU leather palms means that the Chamonix glove is more suited to mountaineering than technical climbing as it would wear through with ropework and ice screw placing. That said so most mountain activities they will be perfectly fine and you would easily pay twice the amount for the same spec with a ‘big name’ brand.
The Trekmates Chamonix GTX gloves come in sizes S-XXL and can be bought direct from Trekmates for £50.00
Rab Down Hut Slippers
Not only are these warm they are super comfortable. As perfect for those cosy alpine hut evening as they will be for working from home or curled up watching your favourite climbing documentaries on Netflix. Super light and with a 100% recycled Pertex Quantum outer they feel super soft to wear with a microfibre ankle and inner they’re snug and pretty breathable too. Filled with 700 Fill Power premium and ethical and recycled down it’s like wearing clouds on your feet! They come in 4 colour options and sizes XS to XL.
And, if you’re buying for a loved one you wouldn’t want to be missing out so what not treat yourself to a pair too! The Rab Down Hut Slippers also come in a boot and synthetic versions if your destination is more damp.
SRP is £45 and they can be bought direct from Rab UK.
1000 Mile Fusion Walk and Approach Socks.
Come on, who doesn’t like getting some socks for Christmas. It’s traditional so you might as well buy them some useful socks. The 1000 Mile sock range is perfect for all adventurers and outdoor folk, or just wear them when working from home and dreaming of adventures. With a cast iron blister free guarantee or they wear out within 1000 miles you can be sure they will last until next Christmas at least! The approach sock is made from 71% recycled content and is double layered for super comfort in those approach shoes or lightweight hikes. The Fusion Walk Sock is a full length 4 season, double layered sock with the same 1000 Mile guarantee. Again they are made using 67% Recyled REPREVE® content and with with a mixture of nylon, cotton, wool as well as polyamide, acrylic and elastane they are super soft, stretchy and durable.
The 1000 Mile socks come in sizes M-XL which cover shoes sizes UK6-14 and the female specific version comes in sizes LS-LM which covers sizes UK3- 81/2.
SRP is £14.00 for the Approach Socks and they can be purchased from Bailey Sports Therapy
SRP is £19.80 for the Fusion Walk Sock and they can be purchased from Decathlon
Yeti Rambler 18oz Bottle
The Yeti Rambler 18 oz is a 532ml vacuum insulated flask that will keep drinks piping hot for hours. Suitable for all climbing and mountain adventures. It’s perfect for one on a whole day out or for two when enjoying that quick bouldering session out on the grit or down the climbing gym. Super burly and made using 18/8 Stainless Steel it should last a lifetime and with both an embossed and engraved Yeti logo it’s sure to look cool – and talking of cool it will also keep liquids cold so you can be sure that mountain water will be ice cold when diluting that Christmas Malt Whisky at the bothy. The Hotshot cap is 100% leakproof so you can be confident of burying it in the bottom of the pack and a quick turn to unlock it and you can enjoy 360 degree sipping. The lid can be totally removed and the wide mouth will easily take powdered isotonic powder without it spilling all over the place. It also comes in the smaller 12oz (354ml) for those chilly commutes when you can sit dreaming of your next adventure. Not only does it fit most cupholders it fits neatly into a cycling bottle cage too.
The Yeti Rambler 18oz comes in a whole host of colours. The SRP is £30.00 and it can be bought direct from Yeti UK.
BioLite Headlamp 425
The BioLite Headlamp 425 is part of their new range of upgraded headlamps. Last year we reviewed the Biolite 750 Headlamp and it was a bit of a beast, ideal for epic events or winter routes that involved long approaches but probably overkill for most. Having upgraded all their headlamps the mid-range now checks in at 425 lumens whilst tipping the scale at a feathery 78g. You still get the über comfy 3D SlimFit Construction, up to 60 hours on low and 4 hours on high (with an intuitive dimmer switch adjustment between) and the option to attach an external powerbank for ‘Pass-Thru Charging’ for pretty much endless use till you run out of powerbanks! Be aware that Biolite have now upgraded to USB-C (supplied in the box) for charging so don’t do as this reviewer did and stuff the new headlamp in your sac expecting to charge it with an existing mini-usb when you get to the hut… The Headlamp 425 is pretty much perfect for everything from general camp chores, DIY, night runs and even alpine climbing – you can’t go wrong!
Available in Ocean Teal, Ember Yellow and Midnight Grey to suite any outfit at an SRP of 59.99 and available direct from BioLite UK
Sea To Summit X-Set 11
The Sea To Summit X-Set 11 is the perfect compact brew kit for van, car camping or even backpacking if you’re not sweating the grams. To be perfectly frank I’d seen the Sea To Summit ‘X’ cookware and dismissed it as a bit of a gimmick, too heavy for lightweight camping and a bit unnecessary for car camping or in the van. Having used it aI can conclusively say I was wrong. Certainly they are a bit weighty but compact stowage and surprisingly good rigidity in use make them a joy. Easy to clean and folding flat for storage makes it possible to bring along additional pots and cups to assist with more complex meals or larger groups/unexpected guests. Children will love the pop up action but it’s probably best not to let them cook with these as they require a slight bit more care than your normal aluminium, steel or titanium pots. We’ve had the X-Set 11 which consists of a 1.3 litre kettle (with a safe boiling capacity of 1 litre)and two cups, the perfect van brew kit! In fact the whole X Set-11 fits inside the X-Pot 1.4L and X-Pot 2.8L as a compact cook system that takes up aboit as much room as a Frisbee!
Available direct from the Sea To Summit UK website at an SRP of £50
Osprey Zealot Chalkbag
Kick start that 2023 climbing season with this great chalkbag from pack specialst’s Osprey. Made using bluesign® approved recycled and bombproof ripstop nylon it’s sure to take any about of abuse you can throw at it. It features a waistbelt, an elasticated brush holder (which is more useful than you think as it’ll take a whole variety of different brush sizes) and a zipped security pocket for keeping your car keys and even a smaller style phone. A nice fleece inner will keep your chalk in the bag and evenly distributed over your hands and the whole bag is cinched tight with a solid cord and lock as well as a taped opening to keep the bag open for those crucial dabs. Look out for our review of the excellent Zealot 30 climbing pack in 2023!
The Osprey Zealot Chalkbag comes in two tasteful colours Cetacean Blue (navy) and Rock Brook Green (which is a sage green/grey). It is available from the OspreyEurope website at an SRP of £18.00
Klean Kanteen TKWide 12oz
The perfect gift for the socially and ethically minded adventure – especially those who love piping hot coffee out on the hill or the crowded commute. The Klean Kanteen TKWide is a 12oz (335ml) is a versatile, insulated flask that will keep liquids hot for 11 hours and cold for 38 hours. The 18/8 stainless steel body is made using 90% recycled steel and any plastic is BPA free including the replaceable silicon seal. The flask thread is the excellent ‘dimpled’ TK style which allows 360 degree pouring so no hoping the cap lines up with grooved threads. The Cafe Cap offers a leakproof seal and impact proof in a taint resistant plastic so no nasty plastic taste in that vital morning caffeine hit. The burly, swivel loop allows easy carrying on the outside of packs and there are several, low cost caps you can buy as supplements or replacement. The ethical credentials of Klean Kanteen are second to none and you can be assured your gift is socially and environmentally the best it can be. The TK Wide bottle also comes in the larger 16oz (473ml) version and a wide range of colour options.
The Klean Kanteen TKWide bottle has an SRP of £25.95 and can be bought direct from Klean Kanteen UK.
Stasher Bags
Perhaps not the most glamorous or sexy of gifts but probably amongst the most universally useful for the outdoors person in your life. Stasher Bags provide a plastic free Silicone alternative to the traditional ziploc bag or plastic bread bag. Durable, reusable and safe for use in the oven, microwave and dishwasher they are another small step we can all take to reducing our environmental impact. Currently Stasher Bags are not recyclable in the UK as they are in the USA but that is hopefully set to change. Available in a variety of sizes I’ve been finding that the Stand-Up Mid works great for a bagel, bar and fruit lunch bag and the Snack Bag works perfectly for a bit of trail mix and flapjack on winter routes or hikes. They’re not the lightest but are super durable and very easy to open and seal shut – even with gloves on.
Distributed by Burton McCall and available from a wide range of retailers including john Lewis Stasher Bags range in Price from £9.99 up to £21.99.
Leatherman Free T2
This is the baby of the Leatherman Free lineup. Like all the multitools in the Free line it uses magnets to retain the various tools in their closed position. This together with the stainless steel construction bring a lovely tactile feel when deploying its tools. In fact you’ll likely spend a bit of time just opening and closing the tools and blades just to experience it! The Tools themselves can be deployed one handed and all lock in place. To open the main blade there is a simple thumb slot and the three remaining tool ‘blades’ are deployed by pressing onto the little hooks near the pivot (a bit like a blade launcher) which opens all three – you then select the specific tool you need and close the rest. You get a Clip-point Knife, Awl, Bottle Opener, Package Opener, Phillips Screwdriver (the squished version), Pry Tool, Extra-small Screwdriver, and Medium Screwdriver. There is a hole to attach a lanyard and a pocket clip is available separately. Overall the Free T2 is a robust quality knife with the look and feel of tool jewellery – a great EDC buy for Christmas. #toolsforlife and #leathermantools
The Leatherman Free T2 is available for £59.95 from the Leatherman UK site along with the full range of Leatherman tools and accessories.
Montane Brew Beanie
Constructed from a 50/50 blend of certified mulesing-free merino wool and acrylic wool the Montane Brew Beanie is a quality item. The addition of acrylic gives it a little more resistance to bagging out as some merino beanies can but you still get a wonderfully warm, temperature regulating hat. Perfectly suited for winter wear on the hill, out on the grit or accessorised with shorts and a vest down your local bouldering wall ;-). Everyone loves a beanie and everyone can make use of one so you can’t go wrong!
Avaialable from Montane and many retailers at an SRP of £25
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