Best Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide 2025
We don't only spend our days thinking about nutrition in extreme environments, but we also spend them in the mountains, on trails, and in the field testing gear that has to perform when it matters. This holiday season, we wanted to share some of the equipment we trust - tools that have earned their place in our packs through quality construction, thoughtful design, and proven reliability.
These aren't just products we like. They're gear we depend on. Each piece reflects the same principles we apply to RecPak: lightweight without compromise, durable enough for real conditions, and built to perform when failure isn't an option. Whether you're outfitting someone for their first backcountry trip or adding to a veteran adventurer's kit, these are tools that deliver.
From the RecPak team to yours, here's what we're putting under the tree this year.
Mammut Eiger Nordwand 28 Backpack
When your day means covering distance fast, the Eiger Nordwand 28 delivers. This pack strips away the unnecessary without sacrificing functionality, a philosophy we deeply respect. Built with Mammut's legendary durability standards, it's designed for alpine approaches where every ounce matters and failure isn't an option. The 28-liter capacity hits the sweet spot for dawn-to-dusk missions, whether you're racking up before a alpine climb or moving light in the backcountry.
Why we recommend it: Lightweight construction meets bomber reliability. This is the kind of pack you trust on exposed ridge-lines and long approaches, season after season.
Price: $364.95
Buy Eiger Norwand 28 Backpack HERE
Sawyer Water Filter
Clean water shouldn't be complicated. The Sawyer filter system is straightforward, reliable, and proven - exactly what you want when you're miles from anywhere. Its longevity and minimal weight make it a staple in our packs, and the fact that it can filter up to 100,000 gallons means this is gear you buy once and count on for years.
Why we recommend it: Simple, lightweight, and dependable. In backcountry nutrition and hydration, reliability isn't negotiable. The Sawyer "Squeeze" delivers. Plus you can reuse RecPak bags to store extra water.
Price: $45.99
Buy Sawyer Squeeze water filter HERE
Backcountry Exposure Mesa 4.5L Zippered Food Bag
Food storage that doesn't slow you down. The Mesa food bag combines ultralight construction with durability that stands up to real use. The zippered design means easy access when you're setting up camp in the cold or fumbling with gloves on, and at 4.5 liters, it's sized perfectly for multi-day trips. Built in the USA by a small company that understands lightweight doesn't mean fragile.
Why we recommend it: We're particular about gear that makes backcountry nutrition easier. This bag keeps things organized and accessible, trip after trip.
Price: Starts at $39.00
Buy Backcountry Exposure Mesa Food Bag HERE
HiBear -Â The All-Day Adventure Flask
Hydration that adapts. The HiBear flask combines vacuum insulation with thoughtful design - keeping water cold on summer approaches or protecting it from freezing in winter conditions. Its durable construction means it won't let you down when you're counting on it, and the wide mouth makes it easy to add RecPak on the move.
Why we recommend it: Temperature control matters in extreme environments. This flask performs when conditions get serious, and it's built to last for years of hard use. Plus you can make coffee with it, decanter wine, and steep tea - all on the go!
Price: Starts at $55.00
Buy the HiBear Adventure Flask HERE
Das Optics Sendees Interchangeable Polarized Sunglasses
Vision clarity in variable conditions. The Sendees system with interchangeable lenses means you're prepared whether you're dealing with alpine glare or flat light in the forest. Das Optics brings optical precision to adventure glasses, with polarized lenses that cut through bright snow and water reflection. Lightweight frames won't weigh you down on long days.
Why we recommend it: Eye protection is critical gear, not an accessory. These deliver optical quality you can trust in challenging light conditions, with the versatility to adapt as environments change. Plus part of every purchase goes to a non-profit of your choice.
Price: $49.99
Buy Das Optics Sendees Sunglasses HERE
RecPak Meal Replacement
Of Course we added RecPak. duh. Complete nutrition when movement can't stop. RecPak delivers 700 calories and 42 grams of protein in a 6-ounce package.engineered for environments where space, weight, and time are at a premium. No boiling water, no stopping to eat. Just add water to the resealable pouch and drink on the move. Available in Chocolate, Vanilla Chai, and Coffee (with caffeine).
Why we recommend it: We built it for ourselves first. Lightweight, durable, and formulated to perform in the backcountry when traditional meals fail. This is nutrition you can trust from a veteran-owned company that values mission over margins.
Price: 3 pack - $38.99
Outdoor Element Slicer Feather Knife
A knife that earns its weight. The Slicer Feather combines surprising cutting performance with minimalist design. Whether you're prepping food at camp or handling field tasks, this knife delivers without the bulk. Its lightweight construction means you'll actually carry it, and the quality steel holds an edge through extended trips.
Why we recommend it: Every gram counts, but functionality can't be compromised. This is smart ultralight design, cutting weight where it doesn't matter, building strength where it does.
Price: $59.95
Buy Outdoor Element Camp Knife HERE
Hydaway Bamboo Cutlery Set
Sustainable camp dining without the waste. This bamboo cutlery set replaces disposables and flimsy plastic with something that actually works. Lightweight, durable, and easy to clean, it's the kind of simple solution that makes sense for anyone who spends time eating in the field. The natural material won't impart flavors or fail in cold conditions.
Why we recommend it: Thoughtful, functional gear that reduces waste. We respect products designed to last and perform trip after trip. Plus, their made of sustainable materials.Â
Price: $14.95
Gossamer Gear Carbon Trekking Poles
When you're covering serious distance, trekking poles become extensions of your movement. The LT5 poles from Gossamer Gear marry carbon fiber strength with ultralight design. The three-piece construction means they pack down efficiently, and the locking mechanism is reliable in all conditions. These are poles built by people who understand what matters on thousand-mile trails.
Why we recommend it: Gossamer Gear's reputation is built on ultralight equipment that doesn't sacrifice performance. These poles reduce weight without reducing confidence.
Price: $195.00
Buy Gossamer Trekking Poles HERE
Seek Cimarron Light 2.0 Tent
Shelter you can count on when storms roll in. The Cimarron Light balances spacious four-person capacity with packable weight—a difficult engineering challenge that Seek Outside has solved. Built for mountain weather and sustained use, this tent provides the reliability you need when you're committed to remote terrain. The floorless design offers versatility and durability in equal measure.
Why we recommend it: When conditions deteriorate, your shelter becomes critical infrastructure. Seek Outside builds for real mountains and real weather, and the Cimarron Light delivers.
Price: Starts at $485.00
Buy Seek Cimarron Light Tent HERE
Nemo Endless Synthetic Mummy Sleeping Bag
Warmth when you need it, without the weight penalty. The Endless synthetic mummy bag provides reliable insulation that performs even in damp conditions - critical for anyone who's faced unexpected weather. Nemo's design focuses on comfort without bulk, and synthetic fill means consistent performance across varying conditions. This is a bag built for reliability across seasons.
Why we recommend it: Sleep systems are foundational to backcountry performance. The Endless delivers dependable warmth with the durability and wet-weather performance that synthetic insulation provides. It's honest, functional gear.
Price: Starts at $249.95
Buy Nemo Synthetic Sleeping Bag HERE
These are the tools we trust when we're in the field. Each piece earns its place through quality, durability, and thoughtful design, just like the same principles we apply to RecPak. Gear that performs when it matters.