Gift giving tips and local gift ideas to make the holidays more magical.
By Shallan Knowles
What makes the perfect gift? Let me tell you, it doesn’t have to be big or expensive, but it will take a little work to make the magic happen. A meaningful gift will hopefully do one of a few things: upgrade them from something they like to something they love, show them how well you know them, or introduce them to something they didn’t even know they needed.
Another fun gift giving strategy is to go with abundance! One of my favorite gifts this year was a Costco box of handwarmers. It will be a warm winter for me. Find something small that your person loves and stock them up. Some people love gifting, some people dread it.
Our annual guide to gifts emphasizes supporting local businesses, including many Out There advertisers. Shop local and keep money in our local community! I hope this guide helps spark some imagination and inspiration that will make your gift giving easier and more fun this holiday season.
The Coffee Lover
Either for the jolt or the variety of flavors offered in a simple cup of brew, the coffee lover in your life will appreciate a gift from their local roaster. Grab a can of DOMA’s DEEP coffee that’s not only delicious, but supports POW (Protect Our Winters). Not only do most roasters offer delicious beans, they have fun merch too! Check out the Whistling Fox on a bike shirt from Roast House, or the Summer Lovin’ Hat from DOMA crafted by local artist Cori Ward with a tribute to Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness.
For a downtown Spokane experience, grab a “Transcend the Bullsh*t” mug at Atticus and drop in a gift card for a latte. It’s a fun place to sip and people watch. For the adventurous coffee drinker, pick up a gift card to your person’s local coffee shop and print a map for them to walk or bike to get there! Or go with abundance and gift a variety basket of instant brew for outdoor adventures.
The Bike Rider
Maybe the person you love is a summer singletrack shredder or a dedicated year-round rider. Honor their love for two pedals with a gift they’ll use and enjoy. Bike lights can keep them rolling their favorite singletrack trails long after the sun goes down or keep them safe if they ride on the road. Check out the mega selection of bike lights from North Division Bicycle for front or back lights. Branded apparel, from hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts, are a great gift for any rider who has a favorite shop like North Division that has great shop apparel.
Wheel Sport has a couple cool gift ideas for riders this season. The Muc-Off Big Bore Tubeless Valves, they say, will “revolutionize the lowly and long-serving presta valve with a unique core-free design, which allows up to 230% higher air flow than traditional presta valves.” The result is dramatically easier tubeless tire installation and inflation, with no valve core to clog up with sealant. And with the integrated lever, rides can quickly and easily micro-adjust tire pressure mid-ride.
Wheel Sport also recommends the Specialized Air Tool Comp V2 Floor Pump, which boasts big air chambers that move a lot of air, quickly, with pressure gauges to dial it in precisely. This pump goes even further with a unique high- and low-pressure gauge system. The low-pressure portion of the gauge allows mountain bikers to fine-tune their fat tires; the high-pressure section gives road bikers optimal control over their slicks.
Two Wheeler & Ski Dealer in Hayden has the added bonus of making one-stop shopping for cyclists and skiers. The Matrix Saddle Tagger from Lezyne creates a hidden, protected holder for an Apple AirTag under a saddle for trackability in case the bike goes missing. Any bikepacker or adventure rider will love a Mag-Tank top tube bag from Revelate Designs for stashing calories and other personal items they will need on long rides. For safety-minded riders who pedal in traffic, a Mirrycle Mountain Handlebar Mirror is a great gift choice that pretty much says “I love you and don’t want you to die.”
The Home Nester
There are people who love to be home, or those who love to come back to the nest after an outdoor adventure. Fill their space with the scent of their favorite outdoor place with a Bungalow Candle Company, with scents from “Post Falls Cottonwood Reserve” to “Autumn in Hells Canyon” and “Waikiki Spring Trailhead.” Bring your giftee’s favorite outdoor adventure happy place into their home while supporting a local business. Last year a loved one asked for some new dish towels, which is a highly useful gift, and can find some beautiful options and plenty of other unique fair-trade gifts when you shop at Kizuri downtown Spokane!
The home nester will love curling up to a copy of “Lost Apples: The Search for Rare and Heritage Apples in the Pacific Northwest,” by David Benscoter. This new book out from Keokee Books in Sandpoint will captivate anyone with an interest in our local food heritage. The book is the account of apple historians and enthusiasts who are canvassing old orchards and forgotten homesteads of the Inland Northwest in search of the rare and heritage apples that still survive.
The Skier or Snowboarder
Do you have a friend who is “unavailable” after the snow flies? You can see them, but only if you join them on the slopes. Support their love of flying down the mountain with a gift card to their favorite resort, or a resort they don’t normally frequent. Pair it with a set of ski straps from Spokane Alpine Haus to help them keep their skis held together in style. If they have their hands full with a hot coffee while huffing it to the first lift, these will be a welcome addition to keep their skis from turning into a yard sale.
If your person runs cold, consider a helmet cover or heated mittens, also found at Alpine Haus at their two Spokane locations or at your favorite local ski shop. As seasons change, so do fashions, and you can leave it to Alpine Haus to stay updated with a new pair of goggles or the very necessary helmet for all levels of snow riders.
Spokane’s Solnix ski and board shop, which also sells wake, skate, and bike gear as well as other outdoor gear and apparel, had some sweet gift ideas for snow sliders. Solnix recommends coming into their huge shop to look around and find a wide range of gift ideas for just about anyone. A few ideas include ski and board tune kits and tools, gloves and mitts from a new company called Death Grip Glove Co., goggles from Smith and Oakley, or Gravity Grabbers ski and board hanging kits to better organize that quiver in their garage or gear room.
Know someone who loves nothing more than to trek around the snowy woods? Hok Skis, from Northeast Washington-based Altai Skis, is designated as an easy-to-use backcountry travel tool. Hoks’ short, wide dimensions makes the ski incredibly maneuverable, and the integrated climbing skin gives the Hok great traction for climbing while allowing them to glide back down hills. The Hok combines the maneuverability and ease-of-use found in snowshoes with the ski’s efficiency of sliding forward rather than lifting and stepping with each stride. Several binding options are available along with the skis and other gear at their online shop.
The Go-Getter
These people love activities and doing new things. Their house could already be full, but they are ready to roll at any time. They probably don’t need or want more “things” but will appreciate the new experience that will expand their universe and get them moving and experiencing our world in new ways! How about a gift card to Coil Spokane that will get them doing Aerial Yoga? Or a tandem sky diving gift at Skydive West Plains just west of Spokane? They are offering a holiday special of $100 off a tandem skydive for two as a special for Out There readers (see their ad in this issue for details).
If your person is in Spokane, or comes to Spokane, check out the Wander Spokane tours to get an insider’s view of the urban trails, historic sites, and best eating and imbibing stops in the city. Gift a simple city tour, or find a themed tour that includes wine, beer or some local eats for a unique experience that will educate, entertain and help them get their steps in.
For the more energetic, a gift card for a session at Krete Academy will allow them to literally jump off the walls in constructive ways. Gift cards to a local climbing gym like Wild Walls in Spokane or Coeur Climbing in Post Falls make for an awesome stocking stuffer or main course gift.
Dining out can be nice, but one-up it with an experiential cooking class. Wanderlust Delicato in Spokane or The Culinary Stone in Coeur d’Alene offer cooking classes for a variety of food interests.
The Yogi
Any dedicated (or semi dedicated) yogi would appreciate an upgrade to the most basic of yoga equipment, the yoga mat. Check out local stores such as Spokane Exercise Equipment. Go abundant and pair it with a membership, punch card or a series of classes to a yoga studio, like Harmony Yoga’s one-month unlimited membership that is only $49.
The Water Lover
The dark, cold months can be hard for the lake lover. Get them dreaming about the warmer months with their own private inflatable dock from Solnix in Spokane. If you have a risk-taker in your life, a good lifejacket is a gift for everyone as they learn to fly on their foil or wake surf board. For the human-powered watercraft people, a soft-sided boat cooler is a thoughtful gift to keep them hydrated next summer. The Mission Tempest at Solnix is extra cool because it floats! If your dog or kid joins you on your paddleboard, this is a nice feature to have. Call ahead to make sure staff can retrieve summer items from the warehouse!
The Teenager
Though cash is always a welcome gift for any teenager, get creative! Hide some cash in a sweet pair of gloves that will encourage them to protect their hands and get outside this winter. If they are a mountain slayer, a gift card to their favorite mountain that they can use to keep fueled up at a ski area eatery will get used for sure. Or treat them and a group of friends to an experience such as one of the various themed escape rooms around the region.
The Kids
The holiday season is even more magical for kids. For as much as they love the trips to see Santa, decorating the tree or sipping warm cocoa, most kids are super focused on the gifts. Make it a memorable year with a registration to a climbing team at Coeur Climbing (teams for ages 7-12 or 12-18), or a Wild Walls Beginner’s Club (ages 7-10) or Climbing Club (ages 7-14 after passing beginner’s club) that includes a one-month membership and instructors that teach knot tying and safety. Gifts that are fun to un-wrap are Lego sets from Brick-by-Brick in Spokane’s Garland Neighborhood, or anything from Whiz Kids downtown Spokane or any other local shop with creative and educational kids’ gifts and games. This year we will be gifting our kiddo an upgraded chess set from Uncle’s Games in downtown Spokane, but any board game from this store will bring hours of unplugged family fun. Hopefully Santa will take care of the big stuff like the Firecracker Waterski Trainer! If not, you can get one at Solnix.
The Hiker
Some love water, some love land, and for those who love those overland mountain and canyon trails, honor their passion! Every hiker appreciates a pair of socks, and the “Socks that Save” at Kizuri do good for causes (mental health, building homes, giving water, planting trees and many other causes). My mother did not appreciate the hiking poles I gifted her for her 60th birthday (she calls them canes) but they can be essential for the avid hiker to keep them upright and encourage upper body strength. Find them at your local outdoor retailer! No matter if your person lives in Washington (Discover Pass) or Idaho (State Parks Passport) gift them easy access to the outdoors with a state parks pass, available on-line, giving them a year of no excuses to hike local trails. Hiking can be challenging in the winter months, so surprise them with a pair of Altai Hok skis that allow hikers to stroll across the snow, climbing up hills and gliding back down.
The Person Who Has Everything
If the person you are getting a gift for literally has everything, or just has too much, consider these acts of service and find a fun way to wrap them up! For the person who spends a lot of time adventuring, they might appreciate the gift of house cleaning. A Google search will result in a long list of local cleaners that can come in for a one-time scrub, or a monthly membership, depending on how much you love them. If your person is making trips up and down mountains, or just lives in the Inland Northwest and drives our slushy streets, a membership to a car wash can keep their mountain transportation in good condition inside and out.
Memberships are another way to gift your person without gifting stuff. A membership to their favorite podcast so they can listen subscription free, or a membership to the Museum of Arts and Culture to give the gift of exhibitions, programs and events. Or give someone who loves picking up Out There Outdoors magazine an Out There membership that will provide them with a bunch of year-long discounts and swag from local bike and ski shops, ski resorts, climbing gyms, and outdoor adventure companies offering rafting and fishing trips, zipline tours, and more (available at Outthereoutdoors.com/membership).
Food and drink lovers might appreciate a wine club membership from Wanderlust Delicato, which is available in a myriad of prices ranges. And not a membership, but a gift certificate, for a home cooked meal from The Supper Club or Lucid Roots can nourish your person for their next adventure. Roast House Coffee offers a Stay Wild subscription, which provides a rotating coffee experience delivered to their door. How about a local, farm-fresh food box subscription from LINC Foods, where they will enjoy the culinary surprise of new local food items being delivered to their door all season long?
Know somebody on a keto or gluten-free diet? Give them a gift card at Spokane’s Cole’s Café and Bakery, which is 100% gluten free with lots of keto and vegan options. Any Out There reader will love tickets to the Banff Mountain Film Festival, coming to Spokane for three nights Jan. 10-12. These showings typically sell out, so hook them up before tickets are gone!
The Stocking Fanatic
Some people love tearing into a jam-packed Christmas stocking more than opening gifts. Fill their cup by paying a visit to the ultimate one-stop stocking stuffer spot, your local Grocery Outlet store. There you’ll find incredible deals on quality candy, gourmet chocolate, snacks, nuts, dried fruit, organic and vegan options, and other home goods and health and beauty products that make great small stocking gifts.
Whatever you give, make it extra special by purchasing it from a local small business. Or, even better, from an Out There Outdoors magazine advertiser!
