5 Gifts for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Nov. 20, 2015

1. LOOPROPE

LoopRope is one of those things your giftee might not even know she wants, but once she gets it, she’ll wonder how she ever backpacked, boated or camped without it. No knots required for this fastening system that combines industrial shock cord with spaced tie-down lengths and attachment points so you can bring just about anything with you on your trek, and also store it super efficiently once you arrive. Starts at $16 at Home Depot Petoskey/Traverse City or at looprope.com

2. “HOME IS WHERE YOU PARK IT”

If you’re not a fan of winter camping, then it’s going to be quite a while until you take your camper back out into the wilderness. Give this beautiful photo book to your favorite campers-in-waiting to inspire them throughout the cold months; the author left his big-city job, bought a VW Vanagon and hit the road, documenting “fellow campers of every shape and size” along the way. $65 at arestlesstransplant.com (click on “Store”)

3. ROAD PRO 12 VOLT COFFEEMAKER

When your giftee is driving through nowhere, with no Starbucks in sight, they’ll appreciate the Road Pro, which plugs into any 12-volt socket to brew 16 ounces of fresh coffee in 15 minutes, right into a stainless steel travel mug. Travel lid and washable filter are included and there’s even a bracket if they want to make it a permanent fixture in their car or camper. Amp up this present by adding a pound of ground coffee. $35 at Gander Mountain, Traverse City (gandermountain.com)

4. TUBBS SNOWSHOES

Good for day treks, longer trips or simply to get you to your winter campsite, Tubbs makes some of the best snowshoes around, with compact designs lightweight enough even for beginners. This makes them terrific gifts. Choose from traditional aluminum or modern composite styles and, for extra pizzazz, buy a pair for yourself and join your fellow snowshoer out in the snow. Start at $139 at Boyne Country Sports locations in Petoskey, Traverse City and Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain resorts (boyne. com). They are also available at Bear Cub Outfitters in Petoskey.

5. DRY GUY TURBO DRY BOOT DRYER

After you’ve wrapped your outdoor activities for the day, you stomp back inside, cold but triumphant — your socks and boots soaked and uncomfortable. What better gift for the winter sports enthusiast than the gift of warm, dry feet? With a patented ventilation/thermal convection system, the Turbo Dry Boot Dryer will perfectly prep your footwear for your next day’s adventures. $40 at Bahnhof Sport in Petoskey