Every year for the last 20 years I’ve done a Christmas List for the outdoorsman article.
If your giftee (is that even a word??) is new to the outdoor world or you are and don’t know what to buy the new love in your life don’t panic.
Outdoorsmen love their gear and gizmos. And manufacturers crank out thousands of new items each year to accommodate those cravings.
For 3.5 years I wrote a weekly article for Bass Pro Shop. They had me write a 5-part series of Christmas articles.
One for the Hunter, Fisherman, Camper, Boat Owner and Backpacker. So, believe me buying for the outdoorsman in your life will be the easiest gift you buy this year.
BUT... their desires are specific so you need to buy the exact item that they want.
But don’t panic, I get to test hundreds of items each year. So, I’ll list out items that have tested out well for me.
KNIVES
• Smith’s 8” Tri-hone Sharpener
• Smith’s 6” Diamond Stone
• KOA Professional Boning knife
• Smith’s 6” Boning Knife
• Smith’s 8” Boning knife
• KOA Onyx folder
HUNTING
• Clamtainer makes some awesome plastic ammo boxes
• Talon Grips makes some great stick-on grips for your pistols
• Otis offers a ton of cleaning oils, rags and accessories for cleaning your guns
• Hi-Mountain Seasoning for jerky and sausage blends
• Blue Book of Gun Values & Ammunition Encyclopedia
• Easton arrows
• Versa Carry holsters
• Mantis X10 Elite Shooting System
• Caldwell shooting tables, sand bags
• BOG Adrenaline bi-pod
• AXIL hearing protection
• mytopomaps.com is where I get all of my maps
• Chard Pro Former jerky gun
• Bowden Tactical makes some cool after-market AR parts
• Montana Decoys
• Morell Archery targets
• Wasp broadheads
AMMO
• For big game hunting I get good performance out of Hornady, same with their pistol ammo
• For shotgun shells I shoot a lot of Kent shells
• JSB makes the most accurate pellets
FISHING
• Evolution tackle boxes
• Fish Monkey gloves
• Pautzke Fireballs
• flydealflies.com
• Smith’s electric fish filleting knife
• Proline Baits (Scents to put on your lures/bait)
BACKPACKING/CAMPING
• I use a lot of Alps backpacks, sleeping bags, pads and tents
• Dutch oven
• Adventure Medical Kits 1st aid gear
• Hybrid Lights makes cool solar charged lights
• Aquamira filtered water bottles
CLOTHING
• 5.11 tactical pants work well in our outdoor world. I love their tactical pants since they have a lot of pockets. They also make great base layers
• I have a pair of Danner Recurve Moc Toe that are super comfortable boots.
• I tested some Garmont boots which are great Italian backpacking/hiking boots
• My daughter loves her LaCrosse Lodestar boots
• I just got some HOO-RAG head scarves that are great.
• PNUMA pants. They offer some classy looking outdoor pants
• Frogg Togg rain gear
• Katy says to buy her flannel lined jeans, insulated overalls and hand warmers!
STOCKING STUFFERS
These are economical gifts and yet gifts that will catch their eye
• Mister Twister plastics & jig heads
• Flies from flydealflies.com
• Browning Hiking Socks
•Calls
• Compass
• Fishing lures
• Next year’s hunting/fishing license
• Gift card at their favorite store
• JSB pellets
• Otis Lead Wipes
ELITE GIFTS
• BRG 9MM pistol
• Umarex Gauntlet PCP .25 cal. pellet gun
• Umarex Ready Air compressor
• Diamond Blade Surge knife
• Henry’s lever action rifles. Who doesn’t love a lever action?
• Camp Chef pellet grill. I use their grills
• Vortex Fury HD 5000 binoculars (Attend my GLASSING FOR BIG GAME seminars at the DSC Conv. & Expo in 2023 in Dallas & the SCI Convention in Nashville to see the elite Vortex gear).
• Vortex Viper HD spotting scope
•Primal Tree Stands
• And of course, any of my e-articles/books on Amazon Kindle!!! Duh.
*ULTIMATE GIFTS*
If you don’t have a penny to your name don’t worry, give your daddy or husband a Pass stating that you’ll go hunting, fishing or camping with him.
He’ll like that better than any gift that you could ever buy him. Trust me on this one!
Tom Claycomb is a hunting enthusiast and writes a b-monthly column for Great Basin Sun.
