2021 Gear Gift Guide

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Do your friends have the tie-down straps they need to get that tree home? Read on for more stocking-stuffer ideas.

A spectrum of our favorites, collected and coddled through the year: here’s our Gear Gift Guide. These are items that really stood out to us or made our adventures better in some way. If you’re looking for something that isn’t a tangible item wrapped in a box, check out our “No-Box” Holiday Gift Guide, too.

Minus 33 Midweight Merino Wool Beanie. We met these folks at the Outdoor Media Summit, and — wow — their merino is amazing. They brought these beanies as swag, and it’s the softest wool we’ve ever felt. Well-made, with a great family start-up story behind the company.

REI gift card. Such an easy, no-brainer gift. Write a heartfelt message and let them choose from the candy store of outdoor gear. (For the women in your life, a Title Nine gift card is a great option too.)

MPOWERD solar lanterns. We talked about these in our multi-purpose gear post, and they’re back for the holidays. They shrink, glow, float, clip on, travel, and self-charge by solar. Tent, backyard, boat, or elsewhere, these will light the way.

Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag. This was given to us a couple of years ago, and Cristen commandeered it — she hasn’t looked back. It has a ton of storage for its compact size and lots of organization, from hotels to sailboats to campground showers.

Kammok Roo Double camping hammock. We love hammocks and take them everywhere. If you have an outdoor lover who hasn’t yet enjoyed the bliss (and usefulness) of a hammock, this is a great one to stick under the tree.

Rab Dispatch 50L duffel. This duffel will get you there — and get all the souvenirs back, too. It’s sharp-looking on the baggage carousel, has thickly padded shoulder straps for the trek to your hostel, and is heavy-duty and water-resistant.

Osprey Transporter bags. We’re thinking of their commuter-style, laptop-carrying bags for folks getting back to the office or telecommuting from home or the local coffee shop. Padded laptop and tablet pockets, tons of nooks for pens, notebooks, and cables, and comfy straps that cinch close if you’re riding a bike to work.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. We touched on these in our podcast episode about camping sleep systems. Your sleeping pad can mean the difference between a night and a great night — and Therm-a-Rest has led the charge on pads for decades.

Thermacell MR300 portable mosquito repeller. Our caveat: we use this on our sailboat, anchored near mangroves along the Florida coast in spring. If that’s not endorsement enough, it’s the size of a flashlight, lays on any surface, and works.

AeroPress coffee maker. We drink plenty of coffee — if you’ve listened to the podcast, you know local coffee shops are one of our favorite things to seek out in new towns. Our brewing evolved from an electric maker to a pour-over until we found the AeroPress. Now we can make coffee or great espresso, and it packs tight and goes everywhere. We’ve added a reusable metal filter and a USB-rechargeable frother over time.

Hiker’s Brew sampler and an insulated mug. While we’re on coffee, let’s complete the kit. Hiker’s Brew focuses on sustainable coffee in a small, multi-use, compostable package that keeps it fresh for the trail — and it’s some of our favorite. Add a two-cup insulated mug (we don’t mess around in the morning) and you’re set.

A clip-on safety light. A small clip-on that glows or flashes — perfect for a late run or trick-or-treaters, but we love putting one on our dogs’ harnesses when we walk them at night in campgrounds or marinas, so others can see them coming.

Upcycled bicycle-tube jewelry. Delicate designs made from discarded bicycle inner tubes — weightless, waterproof, upcycled jewelry, hand-drawn and laser-cut. Earthy accessories with unique flair, for bike lovers and beyond.

Sea to Summit Stretch-Loc straps. These. Are. Amazing. In lengths from 12 to 30 inches, they secure almost anything — bikepacking gear, SUP paddles, even roof racks. Talk about multi-use; it never hurts to have a couple in a pinch.

Eddie Bauer Kids CirrusLite Down hooded jacket. It’s tough to buy solid (and necessary) gear for kids when they grow so fast, but cold weather is nothing to mess with. Eddie Bauer’s kids’ winter coats fill that gap, and the CirrusLite has become our son’s favorite. It doesn’t hurt the wallet either, and there are lots of colors.

Therm-a-Rest Stellar tech blanket. Packable, fast-drying, warm, and lightweight, this one made our multi-purpose gear list, too. You might think you have enough blankets at home — but we daresay this replaces at least three of them. It’s so nice, even our dogs try to steal it.

Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch dog tether system. We can’t leave the pets out. Our tail-waggers go almost everywhere with us, but many places require leashes, and a campsite can become a tangled mess. String this between two trees, clip on the lead, and the pups can move around camp safely while you set up and make dinner.

A cat travel tent. We can’t leave out the cat, either — he travels with us too. He’s not cooperative on a leash, so we make his RV life as interesting as possible. Seeing tiny dome tents made for cats finally hit the market makes my heart happy; now your cat can have their own basecamp on the road or at home.

Stasher reusable silicone bags. Sick of disposable plastic bags? Reusable silicone bags are our go-to at home, at school, on the road, and in the boat. They save money and landfill space, wash easily, and are easy for little fingers to open and close. We use them for food, crayons, magnets, and small toys.

REI Multi-Towel Lite. Once, we had a water leak in a small space and grabbed the nearest towel — this one. It holds eight times its weight in water, wrings out nearly dry, and goes back for more. It’s also so soft it nearly feels like a blanket, whether you use it for camp showers, hair, the beach, or hot yoga.

Hydro Flask Cooler Cup. Our quick-grab item this summer. It looks like a metal koozy for a can, but it also switches into a cup for hot or cold drinks. Every trip to the lake or pool, we stuck a cold can inside and that refreshing temperature lasted much longer.

Zippo HeatBank 9s rechargeable hand warmer. A winter item. Many of us have used chemical heat packs that last eight hours and get tossed. Now there are USB-rechargeable hand warmers (and versions that run on lighter fluid). For anyone who wants to get out on winter trails or slopes, having one in a pocket warms you up fast on the chilliest days.

Minus 33 merino socks. Beanies for your feet. Like the head version, Minus 33 didn’t skimp on quality or softness, and the padding under the heels and toes really stands out — perfect on hikes or while staying cozy on the couch.

Outdoor Research Gripper sensor gloves. Grab these on the way out the door and your hands stay warm all the way to school or the office — and you can still scroll, text, and check email with them on. Windproof and water-resistant, too.

Outdoor Research Kids Adrenaline mitts. We can’t leave the kiddos out. The snowball-shaping palm seems made for snow, as do the insulation and waterproofing. A longer collar and two cinch points keep them where they belong and the elements out, so the adventure lasts. (At least two candy canes fit in each mitten, safely, when hung by the chimney with care.)

Buffs. We’ve always loved Buffs for hair control, sweat control, style, and function — and shaping one into a balaclava makes even more sense than it used to. Stick one in a stocking and your loved ones will stay stylish and warm on runs, rides, hikes, and while shoveling snow.

Nemo Moonlite reclining chair. Imagine enjoying a lunar eclipse or a summer meteor shower from a steady camp chair that reclines — or kicking your feet up at a backyard fire ring with friends. Nemo makes a very comfortable chair. Pair it with a warm blanket and a hot drink and you’ve got a cozy night ahead.

Nemo Helio pressure shower. We don’t talk about this one enough. If you kayak, SUP, sail, take pets on trails or water, get muddy or dusty, mountain bike, rock climb, or van-life and boondock — anywhere it’d be nice to rinse feet, face, hands, or body without running water — you’ll love adding this. Even with the stickiest sand or dust, the pressure behind the spray gets you, the kids, and the pets clean enough to feel great before a long drive or turning in.

Ruffwear Highlands dog sleeping bag. Our dog, Jack, believes his body was made for soft things. Like the cat tent, this may be indulgent, but it makes us smile — and makes the dog feel special with his own matching, squishy bed. He’s one of the pack, after all.

MyMedic medical kit. Update those first-aid kits and keep them ready for the backcountry. There’s a size and arrangement for every activity, from road trips to day hikes to expeditions.

We hope our Gear Gift Guide helps! It’s always fun to put together — both to help with your holiday shopping and to look back at the creativity the outdoor industry keeps coming up with to make getting outside more comfortable and fun. All the best in your gift gathering, and happy holidays from Keyword Adventure!

20+ Essential Items for Your New RV

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You just got home with your new RV, and now you’re wondering about all the items you should add — but not too many! — to be officially set up for your first camping trip. It can be a little overwhelming to realize that outfitting an RV or camper is a lot like outfitting a new home. Rest assured, though: you don’t need nearly as much “stuff” in your RV as you have in your house. Better yet, a great goal is to lean toward the minimalist side.

We do our best to pack a week in advance, and then we sit with it. That may sound strange, but it gives us time — as we stock the fridge and put clothes away — to admit that we don’t need four seasons of clothing and 25 books for a week-long trip. In fact, we keep a laundry basket on the sofa that, little by little, gets loaded with the items we’ve changed our minds about, and those go back into the house before we leave. It helps with both weight and clutter.

With our tendency to overpack acknowledged from the start, here are 20 items that have become essential from the moment we take off — plus a few bonuses.

Tire blocks. No one wants to roll away just as they’re getting ready to make dinner.

Drinking-water-safe hose. Always bring your own and keep it clean — this is where the water you drink, cook with, and bathe in travels.

Adjustable water pressure regulator. This small gadget saves us from big headaches when a campground’s water pressure is too forceful for typical plumbing.

In-line water filter. This sits between the spigot and your drinking-water hose. It keeps most particulate out of your RV lines and improves the taste.

Disposable gloves. Because handling the sewer hose isn’t always an art form.

A separate rinse hose (not drinking-water safe). This one hooks to your black-tank cleaning port. Just to be safe, keep it separate.

Surge protector (30-amp, or 50-amp if your rig requires it). RVs have a lot of electronics and appliances these days — not to mention the ones you bring — so protect them from unexpected power surges.

Rechargeable LED flashlight. At some point you’ll want to go outside at night to check on something, and a good light (with rechargeable batteries to cut waste) is just a good idea.

Welcome mat. This might not seem essential until your first rain. As you track in sand, mud, and leaves, you’ll think back to this list and say, “ah, I get it.”

Nesting pots and pans. “Nesting” is key. The first time we traveled, we just grabbed pots and pans from the home kitchen. Nesting sets saved weight and precious space we could then use for other kitchen items.

Unbreakable dinner plates. “Unbreakable” is key here. Melamine is a great option, and we also love reusable wheat-straw plates that act like plastic but are earth-friendlier.

Ceramic knife set. We like these so much we’re planning to replace our kitchen knives at home with them. They hold their edge incredibly well and won’t rust.

Flexible plastic cutting board. Talk about space-saving — we now use one at home, too. Easy to clean and can be stored anywhere.

Can opener. Yes. Because we’ve forgotten one before and spent a whole weekend opening cans with an old military-style survival opener.

Shelf and drawer liner. This goes with all the “unbreakable” items but adds another layer: things stay put on this non-slip, non-adhesive mat. It’s important in cabinets and on shelves, and we’ve even left a basket on a piece of liner on the counter — hundreds of miles later, it hadn’t moved.

Electric water kettle. We love our coffee, tea, and cocoa. Nearly-instant hot water in the morning — at the temperature you want, with auto shut-off — while you feed and walk pets and cook breakfast feels pretty luxurious. Ours is insulated, too, even when the dogs take their time.

Synthetic towel set. Damp, stinky towels are unpleasant, and in humid places it happens fast. Synthetic towels are still soft but dry quickly, so they avoid that stale smell.

Black-tank toilet pods. If you don’t use these, you’ll understand why people do after a couple of weeks. Black tanks get smelly with use, and these pods help.

Wine opener. We did say these are essentials, right? A screwdriver just isn’t the same.

Unbreakable wine and water glasses. See above.

And a few bonus items:

Small hand vacuum. Tracking in dirt is inevitable, spills happen, and indoor life is more compact in an RV. This little vacuum helps keep your sock bottoms clean.

Hanging laundry basket. Unless you have a washer/dryer on board, laundry has to be mobile. This basket stays out of the way and is easy to carry to the laundromat.

Reusable shopping bags. These become more multi-use than almost anything else in your RV: groceries, picnics, the post office, dirty things — it’s good to have spares.

First-aid kit. We always hope we never use it, but it’s nice to have a basic kit on hand. More often than not it’ll be a neighbor who needs a bandage, but at least you can help.

RV toilet paper. We all have a favorite brand, but things will… flow… better if you use paper that starts to break down while it sits in the tank. Think of it as a safeguard.

Did we miss anything in this round of essentials? What would you add for your travels?

23 Items to Take On Your First Bareboat Sailing Charter

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You’ve booked your first bareboat charter — that’s awesome! Now for the packing, and it can seem like there’s a lot to consider and to take. We’ve compiled a list of items for your trip, assuming you’re headed to tropical waters. Don’t worry: most of these are small, and planning now will save you money and space in your luggage.

Bareboat charter sailing has become a popular way for a small group to explore tropical places. It’s called “bareboat” because you’re hiring the yacht without a crew — that’s where you and your friends and family come in. These trips are normally booked by sailors with experience (though not everyone on board has to have any), and there’s also the option to add a skipper, a hostess, or a combination of the two.

The sailboat or catamaran typically comes fully loaded with sheets, towels, and kitchenware, but you’re responsible for provisioning food, beverages, and other personal items. Gear for fishing, diving, paddleboards, and more is sometimes negotiable for a price.

The big difference between a day sail — or even a weekend trip — and chartering a boat for a week or more is that you’ll be living and playing closer to the elements than you do at home. Sun, humidity, heat, rain, sand: they all become part of your daily movement, and a few comfort items will make the trip more enjoyable all around.

We’ve spent a lot of time on our boat in many different conditions, and here’s the list we pack to make our sailing adventures more comfortable and more fun. If you have room to bring these from the mainland, they’re much more affordable than buying them in the islands. Here we go.

Body/shower wipes. Fresh water is a limited commodity and showers become short. For getting by with a quick wipe-down after an easy day, a good body wipe (we like Yuni) is a lifesaver — and they smell great, too.

USB rechargeable fan. Many charter boats have air conditioning; some don’t. Even on a pleasant night, it’s nice to have some air movement in a humid environment. There are lots of small, travel-friendly options.

Travel towel. Microfiber towels hold many times their weight in water, dry quickly, pack very small, and don’t hold onto the musty smell as easily as cotton (OlimpiaFit is one option).

Reef-friendly sunscreen. A given any time you’re in a sunny locale — but choose a reef-safe option if you’re getting in the water. Sun Bum is easy to find, and many smaller companies make reef-friendly sunscreens now.

A sun shirt with sleeves and a hood. Check Title Nine or REI for great options, or any similar cover-up. Actually, make that two — even when you plan to live in a swimsuit, you’ll likely reach a point each day when you’re ready to give your skin a break from the sun’s intensity.

Motion-sickness medications and ginger treats. You just never know, and why suffer while hunting for these in a new place while feeling less than chipper? Dramamine, Meclizine, Bonine, acupressure wrist bands, or even a Scopolamine patch prescription from your doctor (if you tend to get seasick) are all options. The medications help prevent motion sickness; the ginger items help relieve symptoms if they occur.

Sunglasses — maybe two pairs. Give your eyes a break. (Backcountry has a great variety and good deals.)

Hydration tablets or powder. Something like single-serving Propel pouches or Nuun tablets to help you rehydrate on the really hot days. Water comes first, but you’re likely more active than usual in the tropical heat and humidity, and your body will crave that sodium, potassium, and magnesium — plus something besides plain water tastes good.

Lotion, after-sun moisturizer, and lip balm. You’re rehydrating on the inside; don’t forget the outside. No matter the humidity, sun and salt will start to dry your skin out, and adding wind makes a little daily self-care worthwhile.

A Buff and/or a hair clip. Speaking of humidity… your hair will take on a new level of freedom out here, especially with the wind. Keep it out of your eyes and off your neck — these also help avoid the dreaded, painful part-line sunburn.

A ball for your feet. Why, yes. This is purely a pamper item. If your feet have been in shoes and socks for months, transitioning to full-time sandals or barefoot onboard takes some getting used to. We keep a couple of tennis balls onboard to roll out our feet during that first sore week (a dedicated foot-massage set works, too).

A packable bag. We love our ChicoBags. We use them for everything: groceries, the shower house, the beach, souvenirs, laundry day. One packs down smaller than a baseball and hides in a purse or pocket.

A USB battery pack. Charters can charge the electronics you bring, but it’s nice to have a backup in case something doesn’t go as planned — which happens when you travel. With this small item, you stay adaptable.

Bug wipes. Mosquitoes are always a possibility, and no-see-ums are their aggravating little cousins. Lemon-eucalyptus spray is great, but if traveling with a liquid is tricky, OFF wipes work well.

Swimsuits — bring two. That could be two one-pieces, two bikinis, a combo, or one of those plus an alternate with more sun coverage like swim shorts and a long-sleeved rash guard. Plan not to get sunburned while snorkeling, but prepare for the chance that you do and still want to get in the water the next day.

A dry bag. Sea to Summit’s lightweight dry bags are our go-to. They pack small and keep things dry as a bone during the splashiest, rainiest dinghy rides.

A rain jacket. It happens. Depending on the season, you can almost time the brief daily shower — and a rain jacket is also a nice break from the wind when it feels cool. If a cold front rolls through, throw on an extra layer under your shell and you’ll be perfectly comfortable. Outdoor Research’s Helium series is affordable and very packable.

Body Glide. Lots of people have body parts that rub — thighs, underarms, and more. Body Glide helps them slip past each other without the friction that sweaty, humid conditions add. No more thigh rash in that cute skort, no more sore spots on the hike to the beach bar. Endurance athletes swear by it.

A hat. This could be a purchase on your trip — one of those nice, wide-brimmed straw hats would be lovely. Or something packable from Outdoor Research that tucks into small spaces and shades your face.

A sarong. Another option to buy on your trip. Sarongs are wonderfully versatile: a cover-up, something to sit on at the beach, a lightweight wrap-skirt, even a carry-all. If you’d rather come prepared, Back From Bali makes ethically produced ones through women- and family-owned businesses in Bali.

A headlamp. Anytime we travel out of the norm, we take a small headlamp (BioLite makes good ones). It’s nice for reading after the rest of the crew has gone to bed, and walking new streets at night is much easier with a little light.

Snacks. Pack ‘em if you’ve got ‘em! You’ll have plenty of chances to buy food, but if there’s a favorite chocolate you want to enjoy with a glass of wine one night under the stars, do it. Food and drink run higher out in the islands — it’s a necessary part of island life, and also an adventure in new culinary opportunities (try some guava treats!).

Bonus: a good book. Or a notebook and pen, a Sudoku book, or a pack of cards — how about a good story about sailing? Bring something to pass a quiet moment without electronics. Let your mind relax and enjoy the setting, the sounds, and the multi-sensory bath you’re getting to dip into without much distraction.

Throw in some clothing and a toothbrush and you’re nearly packed! How does our essentials list fit for you — is there something you’d add for your own sailing adventure? Fair winds and following seas on your journey!