TreeLineBackpacker

Welcome to my Holiday Gift Guide for 2023!

If you’re new to the tradition, I take all of my favorite gear from the past year and create a list of my favorites that I think would make great gifts. I have personally and vigorously tested each product and choose them based on price, value and usefulness. I try to keep it unique, interesting, and above all quality. No gimmicks here. If it hasn’t made it into my personal kit at one point or another, it doesn’t make the cut. Links will be a combination of reviews, products links, and maybe affiliate links if I get around to it. Some of these companies sent me products for testing, some I picked up on my own.

Cusa Tea and Coffee, and Wild Zora Snacks

Snacks are universal, so this is an easy win. Cusa uses cold brew and slow evaporation techniques that preserve the flavor and complexities of their teas during production. They also offer variety packs that let users sample their teas, coffees, or both, in holiday friendly offerings. Wild Zora does much of the same, but offers veggie infused and seasoned meats. You can catch them online here and here anywhere from $10 to $30. I’m still testing these but really like the varieties and uniqueness of their products so far.

Z seat by Thermarest

My go to gift for anyone new to hiking or backpacking: The Thermarest Z seat provides warmth, cushion, and a dry place to sit, no matter the conditions. It’s light, affordable, and mine has lasted over a decade. $30 bucks and just 2 ounces makes it an easy win.

Biolite 425 Headlamp

Every backpacker needs one. It may as well be a good one. At $60 bucks the 425 headlamp from Biolite packs a lot of output, impressive battery, and the most comfortable design I’ve ever tested. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and holds a charge for months of inactivity. It’s hard to go wrong here. (Review)

Tozo Open Buds Headphones

The number of headphones being released that are designed for the outdoors is rather staggering. Thankfully, only a few really stand out from the pack. The Open Buds from Tozo not only provides excellent audio and battery life, they’re also light weight and are physically adjustable to fit a wide range of ears. The open design means the user can still hear everything going on around them, making them a safer option for jogging, biking or hiking. Also, they’re very affordable at just $70.

Nocs Binoculars and Photo Rig

A double whammy this time. Nocs makes ultra-light, durable binoculars that are great for travel and hiking. Now, they offer a way to take photos through those binoculars using their Photo Rig kit. Great for those who want to document their sightings or just capture memories. (review)

Salewa Pedroc Pro 22L Backpack

Relatively new to the backpack market, Salewa has produced some rather fascinating, innovative products recently. Among them is the Pedroc Pro 22L, an ultra-light backpack that doesn’t trade weight for comfort. The innovative chest and hip straps distribute weight to provide a surprisingly comfortable carry that handles 20 pounds of gear without issue. It weighs just 20.2 ounces and is well priced at $150. It also comes in lighter 16 L versions.

Beyond Clothing Ultra Locki L3 Jacket

Lightweight insulation is a standard item for any outdoor enthusiast, but rarely do we see one that is reversible. The Lochi L3 is a fully synthetic jacket featuring Primaloft Black insulation and a double sided water resistant shell. It can also be reversed to match your style of the day, or just to provide better visibility where necessary. The snug fit makes it a great middle layer, and it packs down small for easy portability. 14.9 ounces and $229.

Nemo Tensor Extreme Sleeping Pad

New for 2023, the Tensor Extreme Conditions Sleeping Pad is one of the warmest sleeping options for the weight. Packing an impressive 8.5 R value and 3.5 inches of thickness, the Extreme provides ample warmth and comfort thanks to its internal insulation and cushy, baffled profile. I’m wrapping up my review now, but spoilers, it’s very nice. It weighs 1 lb. 2 oz and retails for $250.

Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Down Top Quilt

Designed to eliminate drafts and cold spots, while also shedding weight and boosting warmth, the new StormLoft from Outdoor Vitals is as cozy as it is performant. It has a deep foot box, luscious draft collars, and seals out cold air impressively well. It comes on 0, 15 and 30 degree F variants, offers long versions, and provides an exceptional warmth to weight ratio, with their lightest version weighing just 1 lb. 4 oz. Starts at $284.

Outdoor Vitals Fortius 2 Backpacking Tent

The Outdoor Vitals Fortius 2 Backpacking Tent is a sub 3 pound trekking pole tent that provides better than class strength, space and features. I raved about it in my review last year, and it is still standing as one of my favorite shelters. $340. (review)

Big Green Egg Mini Max

The Mini Max is a smaller take on a legendary classic. Redesigned into a smaller, lighter, camping friendly 13 inch design, the Mini Max brings the features of its larger brothers into a compact design that can be used just about everywhere. It’s a pricier option at around $700 but certainly packs a punch when it comes to consistent cooking. It also has a relatively small footprint is convenient despite its 76 lb. weight. Full review coming this Spring.

Come back for more later!

So there it is. More items will be added to this list very soon, so feel free to check back as the season progresses.

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