Footwear
Cushe Surf-Slipper Loafer Thermo Review
Footwear falls into the category of "epic junkie" for me. I know the stereotype is that the ladies love shoes, but you can add this guy to that list too. So, when I found the Cushe brand I was both excited and skeptical. I am leery of new shoe makers, especially in the rugged outdoor category. Quality has to be the top priority and occasionally the uns…
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Tents
Holiday Gift Idea #22 - Truck Tents from Rightline Gear
For many of us the closest we can get to the back woods for a camping excursion is an area state park or camp ground. So, odds are you are never that far from your vehicle. If you are camping within sight of your pick up then Rightline Gear has a tent you absolutely have to check out. Forget sleeping with a rock in your back, or waking up in a puddle, truck campin…
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Headwear
Holiday Gift Idea #21 - Chaos Headwear Thermal Regulation
Having fun outdoors when the temps are sub-arctic and the snow is neck deep is far from impossible. The first trick is to dress properly, starting with your head. If your head and face are warm, your comfort level skyrockets. Advanced materials and field testing with world class athletes has helped Chaos Headwear create some of the most effective cold weather ther…
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Humminbird
Holiday Gift Idea #20 - Humminbird RF35 Fish Finder
Hands down, my favorite part of any canoe camping trip is the fish fry dinner cooked over an open fire. A group of friends, a campfire and fish are the basic ingredients to a great time. The problem is; that plan doesn't really come together if you can find the fish. Humminbird understands the plight of the canoe portaging back woods fisherman, dragging a fi…
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Tents
Holiday Gift Idea #19 - Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 Tent
Camping in canoe country brings it's share of unique challenges. Just getting your gear to your destination can be the biggest challenge. The term Ultra Light keeps getting more and more true, with tents and sleeping bags weighting fractions of the lightest bags from just a few years ago. Sierra Designs is a pro at trimming ounces from your shelter or sleep sy…
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Paddling
Holiday Gift Idea #18 - Old Town Canoe's Camden Series Kayaks
The new Camden Series of kayaks offers luxury and performance not previously available in the recreational kayak market. These slick, maneuverable kayaks provide a stable, comfortable ride well beyond my expectations. With features like a dash with ample storage including rod and cup holders, this kayak redefines comfort. The infinitely adjustable Active Comfor…
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Electronics
Holiday Gift Idea #17 - Brunton Restore Solar Power Device
The 21st century outdoors lover has a wealth of technology to choose from. GPS location devices, cameras and camcorders, fish finders, mapping technologies and MP3 players are commonplace on our gear lists. The problem this creates is that now you are packing in spare batteries to keep that technology up and running. The Brunton Restore is a universal solution to thi…
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Wool
Holiday Gift Idea #16 - Icebreaker GT Base Layers
Frigid temps and two feet of snow on the ground makes venturing outside this time of year less than appealing. Playing in the snow and watching the kids scream down the sledding hill seems to help, but the cold is relentless. Piling on long underwear and sweaters can work, but there is a better solution. The GT technical base layers from Icebreaker will keep you …
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Primus
Holiday Gift Idea #15 - Primus EtaSolo Camp Stove
Whether you need to make coffee in the morning or dinner at sunset, waiting for water to boil over a campfire can be a painfully slow experience. Camp stoves have been a solution to this problem for years, but they were often too bulky and heavy to justify. The latest generation of ultra portable stoves have changed all that. The award winning Primus line of camp …
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Too much snow and nowhere to go...
This is what happens when a city is shut down by a foot and a half of snow and people start to get a little stir crazy... Looks like fun.
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Duluth Pack
Holiday Gift Idea #14 - Duluth Pack Wallet
This is the best wallet I have ever had! I received this as a gift about two years ago and it still looks like new. Most of the wallets I have had rip, tear, or just wear out in the first year. This handcrafted wallet looks and wears perfectly. I have the all leather 9 pocket wallet, which holds all my plastic, my fishing license and whatever else I need to cr…
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Sleeping Bags
Holiday Gift Idea #13 - Kelty Light Year XP20 Sleeping Bag
The more time you spend in the woods the more you realize that you can go without many of the creature comforts you think you "need". Traveling light and shedding unnecessary gear will make any back-country outing more enjoyable, and your back will thank you later. On the short list of true necessities is a good sleeping bag, and Kelty makes some of the f…
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Native Eyewear
Holiday Gift Idea #12 - Native Eyewear Sunglasses
Varied activities, changing weather conditions and extended trips make choosing just one pair of sunglasses as you walk out the door difficult to say the least. Inevitably, I end up grabbing at least one back-up pair and throwing them in my bag. That is, until I tried the Grind shades from Native Eyewear. Traditionally I have never been a fan of glasses with int…
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Outerwear
Holiday Gift Idea #11 - GoLite's Cady 2477 Insulated Jacket
Here in canoe country you need a jacket for the majority of the year, the only question is whether you are fending off 40 degree temps in the spring and fall or sub-zero windchills this time of year. The Cady 2477 jacket is a great weapon to have in the arsenal regardless of the season. At just 17 ounces and packing down into its own stuff sack the size of a ca…
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William Henry Studio
Holiday Gift Idea #10 - William Henry Studio's Pocket Knives
There is definitely a difference between needs and wants, but for some of us the line gets kind of fuzzy. Most people think of a pocket knife as a utilitarian tool and nothing more. A select few have transformed this humble device of sharpened steel into useful art. All I can say is, I NEED one... The artists at William Henry Studio in McMinnville Oregon set th…
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Swiss Army
Holiday Gift Idea #9 - Swiss Army Trekker Knife
The legendary Swiss Army Knife gets a 21st century upgrade. This is the perfect gift for anyone that loves Swiss Army knives. It has a 3 inch locking blade, which cuts through anything, and is designed to be opened with one hand. The knife also comes with a can opener with a small screwdriver, a bottle opener with large locking screwdriver, wire stripper, reamer, …
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Rite in the Rain
Holiday Gift Idea #8 - Rite in the Rain Notebooks
Recording your adventures on paper is a past time that many outdoors enthusiasts enjoy. All to often bringing a notebook into the woods ends in soggy pages and blobs of ink. Water plus paper usually equals worthless mush. Enter the Rite in the Rain notebooks. Their all weather paper is designed to survive in any weather conditions. If you want a bound journal,…
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Multi-tools
Holidy Gift Idea #7 - CRKT MultiTools
We all have that person on our list that seems to have everything. We wonder the malls trying to find something they actually will use. Choose from any of the I.D. Works multitools from Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) and odds are you have a winner. Are they into hiking, camping, rafting, biking, paddling or just fiddling around the house? If so, CRKT has a …
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Stabilicers
Holiday Gift Idea #6 - Stabilicers Ice Cleats
Now that all the water has gone solid and the streets and sidewalks make walking to the end of the block an adventure, the Staibilicers Ice Cleats are the perfect way to stay on your feet. Go from slipping to gripping in a matter of seconds. Made from a lightweight TPE elastomer , these durable cleats will help you navigate even the slickest of surfaces. Availabl…
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Electronics
Holiday Gift Idea #5 - Dry Case
Bringing electronics into the back-country is always a risky venture. Water and dirt don't play nice with your phone, camera or MP3 player. Well, worry no more. Drycase not only lets you bring them with you, but you can still use them while they are protected. Vacuum sealing your electronics inside makes all the difference. Using the DryCASE for an iP…
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Rain Gear
Holiday Gift Idea #4 - Integral Designs eVent Rain Jackets
There is nothing worse than getting stuck in the rain, unless you have this 9 ounce wunderjacket stuffed in your pack. The eVent fabric used by Integral Designs has reset the bar for lightweight, breathable, waterproof gear. This unisex jacket features a full waterproof front zipper and an integrated elastic hood. A large zippered chest pocket is designed to store …
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Saws
Gift Idea #3 - Gerber Double Joint Folding Saw
Whether heading into the woods or trimming the trees in the back yard, this folding saw will deliver more cutting capability than you can imagine. With a 13 inch blade and ergonomically designed handle, you can pile up a stack of campfire wood in no time. When closed, the blade folds into the handle to a length of only 16 inches with a weight of just 12 ounces…
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GoLite
Holiday Gift #2 - GoLite Sarek Softshell Travel Hoodie
Do you and your gal like to throw a weekend's worth of clothes in a bag and head out the door? Whether she needs a cozy base layer or a spring/fall jacket, the Sarek Softshell Travel Hoodie from GoLite is going to be her first choice from this point forward. This is not your normal sweatshirt. Incredibly soft, a little fitted for an athletic shape and comple…
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Sanuk
Holiday Gift #1 - Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers
These are NOT shoes... They are sandals. I know they kinda look like shoes, but put a pair on your feet and you'll understand. No pair of shoes in the world are this comfortable and cool. My son and I had the opportunity to put these "Sandals" through the paces this summer and you had to find an incredibly good reason for us to wear anything else.…
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The Paddle Junkie's Holiday Gift Guide
Every day until Christmas The Paddle Junkie will have great gift ideas... Check in often, we will be giving away a few presents of our own...
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