Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas for Outdoor Enthusiasts
by Scott Smith
Contributing Editor
The leaves are changing, frost is on the pumpkin and the trick-or-treaters have come and gone: all signs that tell us Christmas is on the way. When it comes to holiday gift giving for those outdoors men and women and shooters on your list, all you have to do is decide what price range you want to be in. You can find gifts that run the gambit from $20 to several thousand, if you care to spend that much.
When we were kids it seemed one gift that was taken for granted was clothing. Now that we are mature adults clothing is part of what and who we are. For shooters it used to be hard to find things that are truly useful items of clothing. Woolrich is helping to eliminate that problem with the Elite Tactical Series (Backyard Outfitter Inc., PO Box 84157, Dept. GWK, Lexington, SC 29073; Phone: 803-808-2373; on-line: www.backyardoutfitter.com).
The clothing in the Elite Tactical Series is Woolrich through and through. The clothing is built to be functional, good looking, well made and reasonably priced. Unlike a lot of clothes on the market today, their clothes are designed to fit active adults not just models. There is room in the seat of the pants, the thighs are roomy, all the seams are double stitched for durability and the clothes look good.
Since Christmas is generally cool to cold, I decided to look at the Elite Barn Coat. This coat is styled after the work coats of farmers and ranchers, hence the name Barn Coat. Unlike traditional work jackets the Elite Barn Coat has many pockets to carry the stuff we shooters do. It is also slightly longer to aid in covering your favorite concealed carry handgun.
Inside the Elite Barn Coat are six pockets, three on each side. There are two upper slash hand warmer pockets and the lower bellows pocket has a flap closed outer and a slash pocket behind it which acts as a lower hand pocket. The outer pockets in my opinion are just outstanding because they are sized to carry keys, gloves etc.
The sleeves of the coat are lined with light quilting. This helps break the chill of those crisp Fall days, or with a sweater added it will keep you warm when out running those post Holiday errands.
Pants
Another great gift idea for shooters is the Lightweight Pants. These are, as the name implies, lightweight compared to the standard Elite Pants. This is due to different material; the Lightweight uses ripstop cotton while the Elite Pants use cotton canvas.
The Lightweight Pants are great for most year round wear on the range. Like the Elite Pants, the Lightweight has pockets aplenty, 14 in all; seven on each side. There are pockets to accommodate spare magazines, a bellows thigh pocket to carry whatever you choose, scoop front/rear pockets and small security pockets within the rear pocket. If you can’t carry your small stuff on your person with these pants you are carrying way too much stuff.
For durability, the knees and seat of the Lightweight Pants are reinforced. The knee reinforcements also act as a holder for optional knee pads. While they won’t act like hard tactical knee pads, for range use these pads work really well.
If you are looking to get the shooter on you list some functional but stylish clothes, check out Woolrich’s Elite Tactical Series. The clothing is stylish and functional.
Watch
Another one of those “old fashioned” gifts that still make sense is a watch. Special Ops Watch (American Watch Co. 1225 South Grand Ave., Dept. GWK, Los Angeles CA 90015, phone: 213-765-0765, online: www.specialopswatch.com) has updated their watches. This is especially true of the “Hawk” series which is comprised of basically two versions: the Blackhawk and Thunder Hawk.
Both of these watches feature stainless steel construction; the difference is the Blackhawk is blackened to reduce reflection and glare. Both watches can be had with choice of a stainless steel band, a rubber band, or a ballistic nylon/Velcro® band depending on your personal requirements.
There are two things that set the Blackhawk watch apart from other watches on the market. First is the fact this is a rechargeable watch. Yes, you read right, rechargeable through magnetic induction. The batteries are Lithium Ion and will last a good 10 years.
Second is the watch’s lighting system. Again you read it right. The Blackhawk offers LED lighting to illuminate the face of the watch and it has higher intensity navigation lights. The backlights stay lit for approximately five seconds when you activate them and the navigation lights stay lit for approximately one minute when activated.
Lights might not seem like a big deal and to tell you the truth that’s what I thought, too. When out hunting this past archery season I found the navigation lights worked really well getting into the woods where I set my hide at. They allowed me to see those limbs and branches without the need to carry a handheld light. The amber lights let me see a good 10-15 feet in the woods; which is good enough to not trip and kill myself.
When I used the backlights they were bright and didn’t seem to affect the wildlife. I had heard some deer rustling just prior to sun up and they were bedded down not 50 yards away, even after I checked the time. I know that is not a scientific find, but the blue LEDs didn’t seem to scare them off.
The Special Ops Watch Blackhawk is quite a watch. It will serve the outdoorsman, cop or GI well. I would have liked to have one when I was on active duty.
Carabiner Tool
If a good watch isn’t on the list, how about a piece of gear that’s a knife, screwdriver and bottle opener and you can hang stuff from it? The Kershaw (KAI USA Ltd. 18600 SW Teton Avenue, Dept. GWK, Tualatin, OR 97062; phone: 503-682-1966; on-line: www.kershawknives.com) Carabiner Tool is just the trick.
The Carabiner Tool has a locking hasp; to keep it and anything you have hung it secured to your gear. One word of warning: this is not to be used to rappel as the Carabiner Tool is not rated to bear weight. That said Carabiner Tool will secure most anything you wish to carry on your gear.
I found the Philip’s and flat blade screwdrivers to work for most general-sized screws from a wood screw to hang a photo on the wall to using the flat blade to adjust a scope setting. I don’t suggest trying to build a truck with these screwdrivers but around the range or on most outdoor gear they will work great.
The knife blade of the Carabiner Tool is a combination serrated/flat blade. This blade cuts most things I have used it on. It makes short work of an apple for lunch, opens tough reinforced packing tape, field dresses a deer and will make short work of seat belts. If you are a mountain climber it will slice through a tangled rope no sweat. The Carabiner Tool is easily carried gear that will work for the person who has it all.
Rangefinding Binos
Another multi-use piece of gear I found that is outstanding is the Leupold RXB IV 9X32 Rangefinding Binoculars (1440 Northwest Greenbrier Pkwy., Dept. GWK, Beaverton, OR 97006, phone: 503-646-9171, on-line: www.leupold.com). I have tried a couple different range finding binoculars and they have left me wanting. The RXB IVs, on the other hand, get two thumbs up.
The RXB IV gives the hunter/shooter choice of an archery setting for close range, various speed/ballistic settings, inclination/declination for true distance, and the 9-power binoculars are crisp and clear. Another unique feature of the RXB IV is that each eye can be individually focused, allowing you to truly focus these binoculars to you. For easy access the RXB comes with an “X” shoulder harness to keep them on your chest and out of the way when moving through the woods and fields, yet readily available when you need them.
I have used the Leupold RXB IVs on the range to set up distance shots and to set shooting lanes for archery season. I have been most impressed with these range finding binoculars. I plan to use them for many years to come. If you have an active hunter/shooter on your list; give the Leupold RXB IV Rangefinding Binoculars a look. The recipient will be very happy.
Another thing that clears up things on the range is new sights for you handgun. This past year I checked out three new sights; TFOs from Truglo (710 Presidential Dr., Dept GWK, Richardson, TX 75081, phone: 972-774-0300, on-line: www.truglo.com), 10-8 Sights (Bravo Company USA, PO Box 341, Dept GWK, Hartland, WI 53029; phone: 262-367-4009; on-line: www.bravocompanyusa.com) and Warne Tactical Sights (Mike Luciano Enterprises, PO Box 8998, Dept. GWK, Cranston, RI 02920, phone: 401-626-4653, on-line: www.mle-shootingsports.com). These three sights are popping up on handguns for duty, competition and CCW carry, so I thought they would be something you might want to give to a shooter for Christmas.
The TFO is a fiber optic sight with tritium vials set in each fiber optic pipette. I thought what a gimmick; this has to be a toy for competition only since fiber optic front sights can be seen on easily 90% of the handguns in an IDPA or USPSA match. These things can’t be tough enough for street use. As with many things that I have such thoughts on I was wrong.
The TFO sight is being used by many law enforcement agencies, apparently one of the government alphabet agencies is looking to use a carbine version on their M4 carbines; and there have been very few sights get broken by the cops. Unlike competition sights the TFOs are beefy and heavier to accommodate the tritium vial. This alone makes the sights more durable and these sights have a solid base for support, not “free” floated like competition sights.
I put a set of the TFOs on my Ultra Carry II to see how I liked them. Being the skeptic I am I was most impressed. They are fast to pick-up and the sight picture is clear. The tritium vials glow nicely at night and in low light. These sights are very cool.
For personal use I would mate the front sight of the TFO with the 10-8 rear sight from Bravo Company. The 10-8 sight was designed by Hilton Yam who is a fine pistol plumber and works for a federal agency. The 10-8 is a beefy sight that is designed to handle anything duty can dish out. These sights are made from heat treated 4140 steel so they are tough and durable. The sight is durable enough to use in one handed loading drills and it shaped to do so.
The sight blade is serrated with 40 LPI to reduce glare. Instead of a square notch the 10-8 uses a “U” notch; this allows a faster acquisition of the front sight.
10-8 Performance only manufactures rear sights but they will mate with most any front sight. I have been using a 0.185 sight on my RRA Basic Carry with the 10-8 and it is dead on at twenty five yards. I like the sight well enough that I will be having tritium vials put into the sight on the RRA and in the one I am installing on my Ultra Carry II.
Another sight designed by a full time federal agent and respected competitive shooter is the Warren Tactical Sight. The Warren Tactical Sight has quickly built a following among competition shooters and is used by Phil Strader, Julie Goloski and Scott Warren, the designer, to name a few.
The Warren Tactical Sight (WTS) is one of the most unique sights on the market. It is called a wave sight because of the center peak with the down sweeping sides. The sight looks like a wave. This sight gives you a sharp crisp view of the target without obscuring the target. This gives you a larger view of a target on the range or a view of a suspect when viewed over the handgun.
Unlike many sights on the market the WTS sight is not serrated. I was concerned about this creating sight glare until I shot it. There was no glare in the brightest or the flattest light.
Drawing from his competitive roots, Warren uses a “U” notch instead of the standard box notch. This allows for faster front sight acquisition and at close range acts like a ghost ring to set the front sight in and simply shoot. For more precision, the top of the notch is flat to get that picture perfect post/notch sight picture.
You can find Warren rear sights for Sigs, S&W 5906 and M&Ps, and Glocks. Front and rear tritium sight sets from Warren Tactical are available for Glocks with single dot or two dot rear sights. Rear sights for Springfield Armory XDs and 1911s with Novak® sight cuts will be available soon.
Like the above sights, another item that can be put on by the owner/recipient of the gift is the TruGrip Wraparound Grip (PO Box 307, Dept. GWK, Airway Heights, WA 99001; phone: 509-981-7558). These grips are custom fit for specific handguns. TruGrips can be had for Sig Sauer 226/229, Smith & Wesson M&Ps, Springfield Armory XD’s, 1911s, STI/SVI 1911s and, of course, Glocks.
TruGrip comes with easy to follow instructions and is easily applied. These grip panels work well for whatever purpose you use the pistol; competition, duty, CCW, etc. Some may argue they are rough on clothes for duty or CCW, but then again so is some of the texturing I see folks doing to polymer handguns.
I chose to try them on my XD9 since this has rapidly become one of my favorite pistols to shoot and carry. I wiped down the frame with the degreaser and applied the panels. The TruGrip fit just perfectly, and I like how it feels in my hand and when I am shooting while wearing gloves. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to texture your polymer handgun, TruGrip is it.
Carry Option
When it comes to carrying a handgun, a holster is not always a good option. Sometimes you are in running shorts, don’t have a belt on, or need to have a way to carry your pistol that won’t raise an eyebrow.
Personally I am a fan of fanny packs, but I know many of you will say they scream gun. (Hey, buy one that isn’t tactical black or the size of a barn.) I found the Weapons Fanny Pack (WFP) from Eagle Industries (1000 Biltmore Dr., Dept. GWK, Fenton, MO 63026; phone: 888-343-7547; on-line: www.eagleindustries.com) is one of the best in the business.
The WFP’s main pocket is large enough to carry most duty sized handguns, including a 1911 or XD Tactical with its 5-inch barrel. The handgun is retained in a generic nylon holster and has an optional thumb break. I have never used the thumb break on the WFP I have carried for 10 years and have yet to lose my firearm. There is room for two extra magazines if you wish to carry them in their security straps.
For ease of access to the weapons pouch of the WFP, Eagle uses a large heavy duty YKK® zipper with two pulls. At each corner a piece of parachute or 550 cord is sewn into it so you can “rip” open the pouch for access to your handgun. These zippers are designed to last forever and it’s my experience they do.
Side Trip Weekender
If a fanny pack isn’t your style or you need to carry more than just a wallet, how about the Side Trip from 5.11 Tactical (4300 Spyres Way, Dept. GWK, Modesto, CA 95356; phone: 209-527-4511; on-line: www.511tactical.com). The side trip is more of an overnight/attaché bag so you can carry a weekend’s worth of clothing and still discreetly carry your handgun thanks to a zipper panel that accepts 5.11’s BBS (backup belt system) which is a number of Velcro® accessories to secure a handgun, spare magazine, phone , etc. to various bags, packs, and clothing.
The Side Trip has a 16.5x12.5x5.5 inches main pocket, two front pockets which measure, 7x10x2.5 inches and have several sewn in slots to organize pens, lights, pads, etc. Behind these pockets is the Velcro® sealed discreet carry pocket to secure your sensitive gear such as a handgun using the BBS, there is a back zipper pocket (16.5x10.5x2 inches), that can easily handle a lap top computer. Lastly there are two end pockets that zipper shut that can carry a one liter water bottle each. The Side Trip packs all you need for a weekend jaunt or double shift.
The Side Trip is constructed of Cordura® nylon, has rubber feet to keep the bottom dry and is built to handle a load. The handles wrap around the bag, inside the pockets to give it clean lines. For ease of carry over long distances, there is a shoulder strap.
If you are like many of us, when we take our business or weekend trips often times you have to fly. Sadly in this post-9/11 world oftentimes this means we have to do a mini-strip search removing your jacket, belt and shoes. All of which can be a major pain in the fourth point of contact; especially in the Winter.
I found the answer to these inconvenient intrusions to be lessened by wearing comfy slip-ons from Crocs (6328 Monarch Park Place, Dept. GWK, Niwot, CO 80503: phone: 866-306-3179; on-line: www.crocs.com). I can hear folks out there saying, hold on cowboy, its winter and Crocs are for summer wear. But alas they now offer several pairs of men’s and women’s shoes for winter/cold weather wear. From what I saw on Crocs’ website, the Troika, Mammoth and Axle will fill the bill for those of us on the go, whether flying or running to the grocery store.
The Troika is sized for ladies while the Axle and the Mammoth are offered in sizes to fit men and women. These shoes have a solid forefoot which sets them apart from standard Crocs and by the nature of Croclite are waterproof.
The Mammoth has a warm fleece lining which really does keep the feet warm on cold mornings as I have found recently. The Troika is looks like a solid Croc Beach but is solid with a suede forefoot upper and higher heel cup to keep the feet warmer and drier. The Axle is a full-footed shoe that laces on like any traditional shoe.
I have found the Mammoth to be a great runabout shoe and mine have seen many trips to the store. The Troika looks good with jeans or yoga pants and I have been told it makes a great shoe for back and fourth to yoga studio. The Axle is the beefiest of the shoes and has been given a test run by my buddy’s early 20-something son. He says they are dry and the camo pattern is really cool. If you are looking to get the family or friends a useful gift; get them Crocs for around town or on the go.
Knife
If you are looking for something a bit higher end for a gift, how about a Surefire (18300 Mount Baldy Circle, Dept. GWK, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone: 800-828-8809; on-line: www.surefire.com) Echo Fixed Blade Knife? This knife was designed to be a hard use combat/utility knife with the input of several special operations personnel.
The Echo is compact, with an overall length of a little over 8˚ inches and a blade length of 4˚ inches, while it tips the scales at a hair over five ounces. This is a small knife compared to what many think of as a combat/utility knife but utility is the key word. The Echo, while designed to meet the requirements of our finest warriors, will serve the outdoors enthusiast too.
The Echo is small enough to fit on a belt, pack on a hike or carry to the field when hunting. I know of several outdoor writers who have used the Echo as their primary knife for field dressing game from rabbits to an elk. While not what we all would consider ideal size, the blade is razor sharp and the grip is large enough to fit the hand well, even with heavy gloves.
If need be, the Echo is tough enough to handle hacking down tree branches to clear a shooting lane or make a walking stick, thanks to the asymmetrical grind and the CPM3V steel. The unique serrations will also make short work of any nylon webbing.
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