The holiday season is finally here, and we at Utah Outside can’t wait for it to end so we can get back to skiing instead of Christmas shopping. That being said, we still love getting gifts. Despite already owning everything we need for outdoor adventure, there’s always the “wants” – shiny new items that catch our eye and make us drool, then haunt our dreams until we throw up our hands and say, “Fine! Here’s my credit card. Take my money already!” So below is our 2014 Christmas wish list, along with a few things we think you should get under the tree this year.
First off, there’s always online deals for outdoor stuff in the weeks leading to Christmas. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and more deals will help you save some coin. Utah’s own Backcountry.com have some of the best discounts (up to 50%) right now, so if you don’t see any gift ideas below, check them out.
Salomon’s latest creation, the Q LAB, is said to be the burliest ski the company has ever produced. With full sandwich construction, utility rocker in the tip and tail, honeycomb tip, poplar and ash wood core with titanium laminate, and 104mm underfoot in the 183 length, it sounds like Salomon threw everything that makes skis awesome into a blender then threw it against the wall to see what sticks. Although brand new this year, early reviews are very positive. Race skis with a freeride personality, these sticks will crush the mountain in powder, groomers, crud and chunder.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Touring Pants
When backcountry skiing, you have to have a good pair of pants. They need to be warm on cold days, cool and breathable on warm days, and water resistant on wet days. They also need to be flexible, comfortable, and burly enough to withstand anything the mountains can throw at them. Salt Lake City-based Black Diamond, which recently got into the apparel game, created the Dawn Patrol touring pants just for that purpose. With Schoeller stretch-woven softshell material, full side zips for ventilation, articulated knees and three pockets, it looks like BD hit a home run. Now if only they’d invent fabric that withstands crampon encounters…
Every self-respecting outdoorsy type needs a cargo box on their 4×4. I however, do not have one. They are expensive, and my 15-year-old Pathfinder is so beat that I don’t care if my wet, rusty skis are destroying the carpet. But seriously, I need one. They give you serious cred when you pull your Subaru into the Whole Foods parking lot, even if you never use it. I like Yakima products, so the Skybox is on the list. It will carry your stuff, leaving room in the car to fit more friends. Except I don’t have any of those either…
Everybody needs a pie-in-the-sky, big ticket item on their wish list. It’s fun to imagine and who knows, maybe that rich uncle is feeling generous this year. Mine is the Borealis Echo XX1 Fat Bike. With trails covered in snow, bike season is over… unless you have a fat bike. Oversized wheels float on snow and sand, giving you year-round biking options. What makes the Borealis Echo different is that it features front suspension, something unheard of in the fat bike world.
Every holiday list needs a stocking stuffer. As a skier and a beer lover, combine the two with the Beer Shaped Wax from OneBallJay. It’s wax for your boards that’s shaped like a beer. Does it make sense? No. Is it cool? Yes.