2018 Holiday Gear Guide

The holidays are right around the corner and with so much great gear on the market these days it is hard to decide on what to get your special someone. Our team traveled to major tradeshows like Outdoor Retailer and SEMA to meet with equipment manufacturers, talk to consumers, and bring you our picks for the very best gear for any outdoor or automotive enthusiast. Here are our top pics:

Stocking Stuffers

1. Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

FlatPak™ soap bar case is designed for ultralight adventure. 3 Times lighter and six times more compact** than plastic soap bar cases. Built from Welded Cordura® with Dry-Through™ technology. Soap bar dries through the material while keeping liquid water inside. Leak-proof, clean, and easy to use. TSA approved. MSRP: $12.99

2. Pelican Go G40

The affordable Pelican Go™ Cases feature the best attributes of protection and style. Made specifically for the avid outdoor enthusiast, the millennial beachgoer, and the everyday adventurer. The cases protect the integrity of valuables such as smartphones, credit cards, and keys while focusing on convenience and size. The first products in the PUC Series make lifetime durability available to a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers. MSRP: $39.95

3. Bolt 5/8" Receiver Lock

Featuring patented BOLT Breakthrough One-Key Lock Technology the BOLT Receiver Hitch Lock works with your vehicle ignition key. Use the BOLT Receiver Hitch Lock to secure your hitch to your truck and never worry about losing or having to remember which key goes to your receiver lock again! Available with either a 1/2" or 5/8" diameter pin the BOLT Receiver Hitch Lock is suitable for Class 1-5 towing applications. Featuring an automotive grade lock cylinder and a stainless steel lock shutter and cap to keep out dirt and moisture, each BOLT Receiver Lock comes with a solid stainless steel pin and a weather resistant jacket ensuring the long life of your lock. MSRP: $31.99

4. BaseMap Pro

Access countless features that will help you with all your GPS mapping and activity planning needs. This innovative mapping app is made to be all-in-one, so whether you’re using it as a hunting app, fishing app, hiking app or just a mapping app in general, you’ll find what you need all in one place. Get lost in the hundreds of layers in the app, and don’t get lost in the great outdoors — Own the Outdoors! MSRP: $29.99/year

5. Aftershokz Trekz Titanium

The lightweight and comfortable Trekz Titanium wireless stereo headphones are the safest alternative to traditional sport headphones and earbuds. Bone conduction technology, an open ear design and a suite of convenient features deliver premium music play and crystal clear calling without compromise. Designed with athletes in mind, Trekz Titanium are sweatproof, secure, and will allow you to hear your surroundings - no matter where life takes you. MSRP: $99.95

Gifts for Her & Him

6. MBT Meru Recovery Sandals

Long walk? Hard run? Your feet don't have to hurt, you just need the right footwear. Slip into a pair of recovery sandals. Our anti-microbial anatomically shaped footbed hugs and supports your arches, while helping you maintain natural alignment. Made of a special MBT cushioning material for that ultimate cushioned ride, the deep heel cups cradle and support your heel. Go on, feel pampered in a pair of our new MBT recovery sandals. MSRP: $90.00

7. DJI Mavic Air

A marvel of engineering and design, the Mavic Air was built to go wherever adventure takes you. Inheriting the best of the Mavic series, this ultraportable and foldable drone features high-end flight performance and functionality for limitless exploration. The Mavic Air’s onboard camera integrates a 1/2.3” 12-megapixel CMOS sensor and a f/2.8 aperture lens with a 35 mm-equivalent focal length of 24 mm to shoot high-quality photos and video. MSRP: $799

8. Costa Skimmer

With a super light titanium frame, air cushioned full-motion nose pads and slim temples, the Costa Polarized Skimmer Sunglasses embodies the characteristics of the ultralight seaplanes it is named after. Textured rubber temple pads for added grip and integral spring hinges for light, airy comfort combine for all-day wearability. MSRP: $239

9. GRIP6 Wyoming Flag Belt

Let’s be honest. Most products we buy today are designed to last through a single fashion cycle. If we’re lucky, that's a year, maybe two. As a society, we’ve become conditioned to expect very little from our clothing. When it fails, we throw it out and buy another one. When GRIP6 was founded, we had one goal - make the best belt that’s ever been made. We define success a little differently than most companies. We want our belts to look good, function better, and last longer, than any belt you’ve ever worn before. Though we’re getting close, we are still working to improve every aspect of our design, and that process will never stop. MSRP: $39.00

10. Fujifilm XF10

The Fujifilm XF10 is an ultra-lightweight, travel-friendly, premium compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor. The 24.2-megapixel APS-C sized sensor (14x larger than the sensor in a standard smartphone) combined with Fujifilm's proprietary color reproduction technology allows the XF10 to produce high-quality images that will suit a wide variety of needs. A fixed 18.5mmF2.8 FUJINON lens (equivalent to 28mm on 35mm format) ensures that every image is sharp from center to edges. Featuring enhanced Bluetooth® connectivity, the XF10 allows photographers to transfer images direct-to-smartphone seamlessly after shooting. MSRP: $499.00

11. Life is Good Crusher Long Sleeve Tees & Vees

Instant classics don't just happen. We've spent over 20 years perfecting our original Crusher Tee, and its laid-back style has the staying power to prove it. Washed for everyday softness, this classic fit customer favorite barely skims the body for a look that's as easygoing as you are. MSRP: $30.00

Automotive and the Outdoors

12. Growler Werks Holiday Gift Bundle

Our original uKeg 64 is a mini keg in the size of a half-gallon growler, keeps beer cold, fresh and carbonated for two weeks. On the go or at home. Durable, double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel. CO2 regulator cap with customizable tap handle and gauge. The Holiday Gift Bundle includes one uKeg 64 pressurized growler for fresh beer, two uPint vacuum-insulated stainless steel pints, a handy carrying bag with CO2 holders, and a 10-pack box of 8g CO2 cartridges. MSRP: $251.00

13. Weego 66.1

Made with the professional in mind, our Weego 66.1 is our most powerful high-performance jump starter. It’s meant for tough jobs in larger gas engines and smaller diesel engines but can work on any vehicle. With the ability to charge anything from phones to laptops, power 12V tools, and accessories, and run a 600-lumen flashlight for hours on end, this is a great tool to have on the job. Perfect for: 12V equipment, any gas vehicle, smaller diesel engines. MSRP: $199.99

14. MyChanic Sidekick Stool

Full of function and thought, our new garage stool brings modified to a new level. From the adjustable height seat, power tool holster, hardware bins, and deep padded drawer, this shop stool is the opposite of stock. The bonus tool caddy means your tools are handy, under the hood, under the sink or wherever that project takes you. MSRP: $109.99

15. Tuffy Security Products Tablet Safe

Weighing less than 7 lbs., this lockable welded steel storage box is designed to secure a tablet or firearm and protect valuables while carrying by hand between locations, during travel, inside a vehicle, home or office. Convenient pre-drilled holes allow for easy mounting to solid surfaces including airline cockpits, fleet & service vehicles, home or office environments. Access ports are built in to accommodate power and data transfer cables. MSRP: $112.00

16. Stanley 99 pc Black Chrome Socket Set

This comprehensive 99-piece socket set from Stanley contains a mix of SAE and metric sizes to complete a variety of fastening tasks. The components are constructed with high-strength chrome vanadium to tackle high-torque applications and are treated with a black chrome finish to inhibit corrosion. Sizable laser-etched markings are carved into the side of each socket for easy readability and wear resistance. Each device has a custom-fit storage slot in the included hard-sided carrying case, making portability and accessibility a cinch. MSRP: $149.99

17. GSI Outdoors Gourmet Stainless 10in Frypan

In the realm of rugged outdoor kitchenware, nothing comes close to the reliability of Glacier Stainless™ premium 18/8 stainless steel construction. With a brilliant, rust-proof finish and the strength that only steel can provide, Glacier Stainless is the material of choice for decades of use. And with a heavy-gauge, clad aluminum core, these frypans remain lightweight and quick heating over any heat source, just like the finest gourmet pans. And the laser-etched nonstick surface offers excellent food release and easy cleanup. Of course, our premium 304 (18/8) stainless steel construction is still non-reactive, free of BPA, PFOA, and Phthalates- what could be better than that? MSRP: $34.95

18. Wits’ End Fender Blender

The Wits' FenderBlender™ is designed and CNC'd right here in the good ole' US of A. The air tool itself is an Ingersol Rand Air Grinder off the shelf. The base and the pitcher's mounting base is made from Delrin while the uprights and clamping mechanism is 6061 aluminum which has been nickel plated for strength and longevity. The Ingersol Rand tool is firmly held in place by both the clamp and the distribution block on the bottom which also features an air gauge. All hardware is stainless steel to guarantee no rusting. MSRP: $350.00

19. Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit

Perfect for any Outdoor activity: camping, hiking, boating, or backpacking, the Nomad Kit is great for all outdoor activities. Essential utensils all-in-one kit: Includes No12 Serrated Folding Knife, No10 Folding Corkscrew Knife, No6 Pocket Peeler, Beechwood Cutting Board, and a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth. MSRP: $85.00

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Author

Beau Johnston is an engineer, writer, and photographer who is dedicated to proving you can find a balance between work and life. He is the Co-Founder and Publisher of Living Overland, and when he isn't working, you can find him exploring National Parks, fly fishing, and camping with his wife (Krista) and their two dogs.

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