The Geartrade Guide to Giving: 2022

As if the first powder days of winter weren’t enough to celebrate, here’s some even gladder tidings: your holiday gift-giving can be extra easy on the budget this year, thanks to all the fabulously UnNew items stocking the digital shelves here at Geartrade. We love coming up with thoughtful little somethings to give the people we love most. So we’ve assembled a quick guide to gift-giving for all the outdoor enthusiasts on your list. They range from stocking-stuffer-sized gifts all the way up to bigger-ticket items that will delight your nearest and dearest. Behold, in no particular order: a few of our favorite gift ideas this year.

Headlamps:

Headlamps are much more than a nice-to-have. On adventures that stretch into the evening, headlamps are a literal life-saver. We love keeping a small, minimalist headlamp in every backpack we use day-to-day, just so it’s always there when needed. You can find many such simple headlamps here on Geartrade—as well as super-bright lamps suitable for nighttime mountain biking, trail running, or ski mountaineering races.

First aid kits and “oh sh!t kit” sacks:

We’re pretty big fans of preparedness over here at Geartrade. A first aid kit is a fine idea for anyone on your gift list. And if they venture far into the outdoors, consider an “oh sh!t kit” with handy contents like matches, duct tape, fabric patches, ski binding repair tools, a knife, anti-glop wax, sunblock, etc. You can customize the kit based on what your loved one likes doing most—and package it up in a nice little stuff sack or zip sack found UnNew here.

Duffel bags:

Everyone appreciates a great duffel. Whether your gift recipient is a world traveler or just likes driving up to the resorts for some groomer laps, a handy gear duffel always saves the day. We typically have a wonderful variety of duffel bags here on Geartrade, ranging from gently used to practically new—and in lots of different sizes.

Microspikes:

Ever slipped and fell on an icy trail? Not with microspikes, you won’t. Grab a pair of traction devices to stretch over your trail shoes, and you suddenly have four wheel drive. It’s low-tech, it’s low-cost, and it’s a game changer for wintry hikes and runs.

Sport watches:

Hikers, runners, bikers, and backcountry skiers love nerding out on their stats. Today’s sport watches are stat-capturing powerhouses, and they also have a bevy of safety features, mapping features, and impressive battery life. (Check our Guide to Schmancy Sport Watches for the full scoop!) Give a loved one the gift of trail technology—even if they don’t already identify as a metrics nerd, they’ll be super into it once they give it a go.

Hammocks:

Simple fact: everybody loves hammocks. They make humans smile. You can find all sorts of hammocks here on Geartrade, perfect for your loved one to take to the park, to the campground, or just out to the yard for a nice hangout. You can also check out our Guide to Hammock Camping here, and pick up handy accessories to make it all possible.

Camp furniture:

Camp chairs are a crowd favorite, and are basically always a good idea to have in the car trunk or the back of the van. Splurge on a nice reclining model with cup holders, or find a packable minimalist model your loved one can take backpacking. You can also find excellent camp tables, fold-up kitchens, collapsing stools, camp showers, and more on Geartrade. Hopefully your gift recipient will take the hint and invite you on their next s’mores campout.

Bike tools:

The mountain bike and road cycling enthusiasts on your list ought to have repair tools, extra tire tubes, and tire pumps on them at all times. And you can easily make that happen, thanks to the plethora of bike accessories we have listed these days. For bonus love, assemble a Bike Kit of Safety and Thoughtfulness out of a few such items, maybe with some tasty trail snacks thrown in.

Fleeces:

Whatever your winter sport of choice, it’s hard to have too many fleeces. We find they’re perfect for any cold-weather hike, run, ski tour, or dog park outing, whether worn alone or under other insulating layers. Right now on Geartrade, we have an incredible variety of fleece pullovers and jackets from big-name brands—many still with the tags on. Find the perfect level of insulation for your favorite person’s favorite sport. Then snag another one for yourself with all the money you saved by shopping UnNew! We’d love to hear your ideas for holiday gift-giving, especially if they feature gently-used Unwed gear, sustainable sourcing, or creative thinking. We’re all ears—tag us with your gift-giving wins. Beth Lopez is a seasoned writer and creative director who loves to tell tales of adventure and discovery—and finds writing a powerful way to give a voice to people, causes, and places. Beth runs amok in the Wasatch mountains when untethered from her computer. She believes there’s no such thing as a bad ski day and considers animals her favorite people. Don’t tell her mother about her Instagram mountaineering photos. Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Winter gear to sell? Get cracking.

Winter is just around the corner. It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our new Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified