I hate to start this post off with a tale of tragedy and sorrow, but I think you need to know that P typed this entire list on Wednesday night and, when he went to save it, our internet connection went out and he lost pretty much the entire thing. Then he vowed that he would never go near the blog again and perhaps said a few words that aren’t fit for children. Or really anyone with a good sense of hearing.
But he jumped back on the horse that threw him and completed it late last night because he knew I really wanted him to do it. It’s like we are living out our very own version of The Gift of the Magi, except I don’t know that I would ever cut off all my hair and sell it for a wig.
I’m just being honest.
Anyway, here are P’s gift suggestions. I think you’ll see that he did a great job of finding items at every price point. You’ll also find my commentary in green (I was going to use red but the links are all in red and it was very confusing.) throughout the post because apparently I cannot shut up even when I have a guest poster.
Hello ladies. Have you ever casually suggested something, sort of hypothetically agree something would work or be a good idea and next thing you know you’ve embarked upon unfamiliar territory? Welcome to my now. A couple of weeks ago I casually mentioned to Melanie that it would be cool for me to write a post on things you could get the outdoorsman in your life for Christmas…and here we are.
Of course I jumped on the suggestion only because I wanted to help y’all out. Plus, it’s a post that I don’t have to write. I’m like a a modern day Tom Sawyer.
And my mind is not for rent. But my blog totally is.
I also want to emphasize, in case the FTC is listening, that these are all things that P happens to really like. We haven’t been compensated in any way.
As ya’ll know from Big’s (I always dreamed that my husband would refer to me as Big.) past posts I love to hunt and fish…it’s my happy place. (I thought I was his happy place.) After doing this for the last 33 years I have discovered there are a few things you do not want to be afield with out. (I want to incorporate the word “afield” into my daily vocabulary.) I have also discovered some commercial products that just make the outdoors more enjoyable; things you could surprise your sportsman with that will make his day (not that the plaid robe I got a couple years ago wasn’t great…holy crap). So here we go.
(That plaid robe was lovely. And so was the matching ascot.)
1. Flashlight
I like the Surefire Flashlights. Light where there isn’t any is a good thing. I like a dual-powered flashlight so if you’re looking for something in a bag or the truck you have useable light but not blinding white wash. The flip side is if you are someplace you’ve never been, you have lots of light to find your way.
I’m not really allowed to touch P’s flashlights because he thinks I don’t put things back where they belong. Which is true, but I like to think it adds a touch of mystery to our marriage.
2. A good knife
My friend Dean gave me a knife by Outdoor Edge and I love it. Outdoor Edge makes a great product that will last. Another great knife that you can get for a steal is the Kershaw Blackhorse II. It was my first real knife, got it when I was 12 and I cleaned two deer with it last weekend.
3. Leupold scope
Leupold makes great scopes for every budget, from the Rifleman to the VX-3.
4. Backpack
I like the Camelback because it’s also a hydration pack. Bigger is better and make sure it has the M.O.L.L.E. system.
It’s like he’s speaking a foreign language. I’ve lived my whole life without knowledge of the M.O.L.L.E. system.
5. Headlamp
You want one that’s LED with different power settings.
I love when P wears his headlamp because I can make Coalminer’s Daughter references. “I just want the dadgum bedroom in the back of the house!”
6. Binoculars
Minox HG 8.5 x 43 BR ASPH. They’re an extremely high end glass at a mid-range price for a great pair of binoculars.
P told me that a good hunter can’t compromise on his optics. He actually compared it to how I feel about a good pair of jeans which means he knows my love language.
7. Rangefinder
For the long range shooter, you want the Leica CRF 1200 Rangemaster. For a bowhunter or the more budget conscious, the Bushnell Sport 600 Yardage Pro is a great option.
8. Hunting Clothes
Different types of hunting require different types of clothing, but one thing all good hunting clothes should have in common is that they are waterproof and windproof. Cabela’s sells a great line of clothing that is described as Windshear or Dry-Plus. You also can’t go wrong with anything Gore-Tex.
9. Knife Sharpener
V-Sharp Classic by Warthog. It’s hands down the easiest and best sharpener I’ve ever owned.
I wish I would have used it before I nearly cut my finger off slicing that tomato the other night. Also, I’d like to attest that this would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys sharp knives. Anytime P pulls out this sharpener in a group full of men, they gather around it like he has just discovered fire.
10. Duck Commanders Cap
After the hunt is over, you need a good cap to look good for the picture. At least that’s what Melanie tells me. I like this DC olive green distressed one.
I think if a person is going to spend four months out of every year hunting, then the least they can do is take some pictures so their family doesn’t forget what they look like.
And while we’re on the subject of Duck Commanders, I have to let you know that after I wrote about them a few weeks ago that I actually received an email from one of their wives. I cannot even express my joy. In the three years that I’ve been writing this blog, nothing has ever legitimized it more for P than when I told him I’d gotten an email from the Duck Commanders.
Oh, and Duck Commanders is up for a Golden Moose Award, which is apparently like the Academy Awards for hunting shows. You should totally go vote for them because they are a bright shining star in the sea of the outdoor television genre.
I’m going to quit talking and mixing metaphors now.
A few other miscellaneous items that might make good gifts or stocking stuffers are batteries, knife sheaths, holsters for flashlights, SmartWool socks, or gun cases.
This list is pretty heavy on Cabela’s stuff. I have bought from them for years and have always been treated well. (He is such a good customer that we receive their hard bound catalog every year. I don’t really want to think about what that means.) Their brand name stuff is good quality and they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee or you get your money back (It’s true. He sent back a five-year-old raincoat and they replaced it free of charge. You can guarantee that Anthropologie wouldn’t do that.), plus they have a lot of really good deals right now just in time for Christmas.
I hope this list saves a few of you from going down the dreaded path of the flannel plaid robe.
I’ll be back Monday for the Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes, plus I’ll have another giveaway going on.
It’s just non-stop fun.
Y’all have a great Friday.
**Edited to add that P said he’ll check the comments for questions and answer them there. He is a full-service blogger.