3 Gifts Guaranteed To Make Your Outdoor Mama Happy
Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. I have only recommended products and brands that I personally use and stand behind.
Minimalism is the lifestyle of choice for me and my family, so when it comes to recommending products, I am one tough cookie to please. When I do discover a product I love, I am genuinely excited to share it with the people I know will benefit the most. The three products I’m sharing today are guaranteed to make any outdoor mama happy, meeting my mandatory criteria below:
they serve the purpose they were designed for in a practical way
they bring joy to my life
they are durable enough to hold up over time
they are designed by companies who provide excellent customer service
The following gift recommendations have been personally tested for years, by me, a happy outdoor Mama.
1. Marmot Women’s Guides - Amazing Down Hoody
When I bought this jacket I had NEVER spent so much on one item of clothing before! But, my family and I were headed into the High Sierra Mountains, during the month of September, to hike 100 miles of the John Muir Trail. It was the biggest adventure we had taken to date, 21 days in the wilderness, backpacking up and over mountain passes at altitudes we had never entered before.
Living on a tight budget meant I was always looking for the best deals on gear but I had decided, while preparing for this grand family adventure, that even if we had to take on debt, I was going to make darn sure we were all properly clothed, sheltered and fed on this trip. The boys were only 10, 13 and 15 at the time. Not yet grown men I was able to find warm puffies at a much lower price point and a sale led me to a great deal for my husband but for me… it looked like I would be spending around $250. Marmot was the best deal I could find on a jacket that came from a company I knew was reputable and a product that had a reputation for holding up to the elements. I had no idea it would become my biggest creature comfort on this trip… and for years to come.
By the end of our hike, I had spent 22 days living in this jacket. I was hiking, eating and even sleeping in this warm, cozy insulator. I loved putting it on! Behind my zipper I felt warm, I felt safe, I could provide comfort for a weary kid at night and make the crawl out of the sleeping bag on those early, frosty mornings more bearable. And here I am, three years later, still rolling around town and the mountains in this same warm puffy. Just pulled it out for Winter season #4!
It plays many roles, working as both an underlayer and top layer for a plethora of adventures. Over the years it has held up against freezing temperatures, mud puddles, puppy claws and blackberry bushes. I have skied, snowshoed, hiked, backpacked, camped, mtn. biked, slept, cleaned, danced and even kayaked in this puffy. Let’s just say it cleans up well and I am totally in love.
You WON’T be disappointed with this jacket!
Want to enjoy some of their newest technology? Check out their WarmCube Innovation!
The first CamelBak Fusion Mug I owned came to me as a gift from a neighbor. It quickly became my habit to carry it with me everywhere. No joke! And when I lost it, after a year, I swear I felt withdrawals while waiting for another to arrive. It’s an insulated mug… how ridiculous! I know. But here me out...
As a mom of three young kids I turned to coffee for survival and the comfort of a hot drink on a cold, dreary Oregon day was always just enough to get me out the door with the kids. I loved to roam the trails, the kids, the dogs and my hot drink in tow. The hot drink inevitably getting knocked over or spilling in my car or backpack, both constantly smelling like coffee. I had tried so many different designs and wondered if there was REALLY a spill proof mug out there that could stand up to the needs of a busy, outdoor Mama.
The Fusion Mug by CamelBak was a game changer! It keeps my hot drinks hot for LONG periods of time, perfect for the conastantly distracted Mama. But the best part was that NOT A DROP of fluid drizzled out any time I found my mug sideways or upside down. I could fill it with hot coffee, throw it in my backpack, drive to the mountain and still enjoy my hot morning cup of joe, while getting the kids ready to go out on the hill.
Extra bonus, the lid to this mug is super easy to clean. It pops open, allowing me to easily clean all the nooks and crevasis where slimy bits grow when I get so distracted that I leave it in my backpack over night. EW!
CamelBak really hit the marker with this one!
3. Darn Tough Vermont - Worlds Best Socks
I was gifted a pair of DarnTough Socks by Vermont, while attending a local womens group snowshoe event in Glacier National Park, Montana. My first impression was that they looked well made and I was attracted to the colorful, earthy tones. Then I wore them and immediately loved the fit and feel of the merino wool. But I’m not one to be fooled by socks. They never feel as great after you wear/wash them a few times so I was skeptical that I’d ever buy a pair.
Then they went and proved me wrong. Over time the durability of these socks amazed me. Wear after wear and wash after wash they didn’t stretch out, they had no holes and their ability to wick away moisture held strong. Over time their comfort persisted and they quickly became my all time favorite socks. Then, I went to buy another pair and I couldn’t believe the price… $18!!! I had never spent so much on 1 pair of socks! Then again, I HAVE spent that much on a whole package of socks that all together didn’t last as long as this one pair I had been gifted. So I bit the bullet and bought another pair. I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was sold… imagine my excitement when I realized they make ski socks too!
The following year, I spent hundreds of dollars outfitting my family of five in Darn Tough Socks for our 100 mile backpacking trip. I gulped when the teller rang them up, I couldn’t believe I was going to spend that much on just socks. But, I figured if we could only carry 5 pairs each, for 22 days of consistent wear and tear, they better be the best you can buy. Talk about putting them to the test! As a result, my whole family fell in love with them. Wearing our moisture-wicking DarnTough socks, along with a liner sock, prevented blisters for everyone our party. That’s right! Not one blister on any of our 10 feet after 22 days of backpacking 100 miles, climbing up and over mountains. Three years later we are STILL wearing some of those same socks! I see now why Darn Tough offers a lifetime guarantee.
These socks really are DARN TOUGH… worth every penny!