Wondering what great Christmas gifts to get friends and family this year? We’ve picked some of the best ideas for travel enthusiasts, backpackers, weekenders, globe trotters and lovers of the great outdoors. Time to get shopping!
FOR STYLE_SAVVY TRAVELLERS
Sustainable wooden sunglasses by Proof: These stylish shades, designed by Proof, are individually handcrafted and rendered in beautiful eco-friendly wood such as ebony and bamboo. We like the classic, unisex style, and that for every pair you buy a portion of the sale price goes to supporting charitable causes worldwide, including an eye clinic in rural India.
Price: £120. Available from www.e-side.co.uk
Monsoon for Oxfam large wash bag: This special Monsoon collection for Oxfam includes hand embroidered items are made by SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), a community cooperative in India committed to empowering female artisans. This beautifully patterned textile washbag is a stylish way to carry your travel accessories.
Price: £9.99. Available from www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/monsoon
Snugbug hat and wrist warmers: Snugbug create some the most snugly winter woollies around! Made with 100% New Zealand wool, this top quality lanoline repels rain and snow making them great for winter outdoor activities. We love the on-trend chunky cable-knit designs and tribal-style patterns of the wrist warmers. But best of all, Snugbug works with ethical and fairtrade suppliers in Nepal where they are hand knitted – this ensures the money goes directly to the Nepalese villages involved.
Price: Cable floppy pompom hat – £22; Trapper wrist warmers – £20. Available from www.snug-bug.co.uk
TEKO EVAPOR8 socks: Every Christmas list needs a pair of socks and, would you believe it, these socks are actually made from recycled drinks bottles! The high-tech lightweight fabric ensures that your feet will stay dry, comfortable and odour-free as the EVAPOR8 fibre dries incredibly fast and is very durable making them perfect for high intensity activities or for wearing in hot, humid conditions.
Price: from approx. £8.50. Available from www.tekosocks.com or Amazon
Reflexion photography cases: For the wannabe David Bailey in your life who’s always lugging their camera (and camera equipment) on their trips, the Reflexion photography case collection could be just the thing. The range, by Case Logic, includes two messenger-style cross-body bags which feature a removable camera pod to store your camera, lens and accessories, as well as offering good padded protection.
Price: various, from £45. Available from Amazon
FOR GADGET FANS
Trakdot luggage tracking device: Never fear lost luggage again! Once you register on the Trakdot website, place the device inside your suitcase or bag. Trakdot will deliver location information directly to your mobile phone or SMS device via text or email. An additional app even alerts passengers as their baggage approaches on the carousel…smart.
Price: £44.99 (plus annual service fee of £13.65). Available from www.trakdot.com
Wooden compass: For trekkers who prefer the classic forms of navigation, get them this stylish, hand carved wooden compass by Singgih Susilo. It’s tactile and attractive enough to keep them away from battery-draining GPS devices.
Price: £15. Available from www.e-side.co.uk
House of Marley Watches: We love these eco-friendly watches designed and crafted by House of Marley (yes, of Bob Marley family fame). Choose a design with either salvaged leather, REWIND fabric, cotton and canvas straps; recycled steel or FSC-certified wood dials; and casing and buckles created with low impact ion plating. And to make them extra lovely, a percentage of proceeds from each sale goes to support 1Love.org, a non-profit which aims to make lives better around the world.
Price: various, ‘Billet’ with fabric strap – £89.99; ‘Transport’ with leather strap – £109.99. Available from www.watchshop.com
Lifeproof waterproof cases: Smartphones and tablets can take a battering on your travels, but the award-winning Lifeproof creates a great range of shock-proof cases that protect your precious gadgets from water, dirt, mud and snow. The LifeJacket case even makes your tablet or smartphone completely buoyant allowing you to take it out on the water, and even take photos underwater. Cases available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad mini, Samsung S3 and S4.
Price: various, from £59.99. Available from www.lifeproof.com or Amazon
FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS
Draper Tools folding stool backpack: Lighten the load on a long hike – no need to carry a backpack and a separate chair, this durable, water-resistant backpack has a lightweight steel tube attached (1.6kg) that forms into a comfy seat. Ideal for camping or hiking.
Price: £16.50. Available from national outdoor stores or Amazon
Zap-It: Being in the great outdoors is wonderful – but not so wonderful if you find yourself a meal for the local mosquitoes! Zap-It is a cute little device that is perfect to soothing itchy insect bites. Just place over the offending itch and click a few times – the mild and harmless (no stronger than a gentle pinch, honestly!) electrical impulse is created by crystals, delivering little zaps that soon stops you scratching. Its tiny size means you can even carry it around in your pocket.
Price: £5.95. Available from various health stores, garden centres, pharmacies and online at www.ecobrands.co.uk
JML Flexi torch: This slimline, bendable torch helps you illuminate awkward, hard-to-reach areas with its 360° flexible head. But as a bonus, the head extends up to 57cm and is magnetised allowing you to retrieve lost or trapped metal items – you’ll realise how useful this is when you drop your keys down a tiny hole! It can lift objects of up to 1kg. The three LED lights have a good life expectancy and batteries are included.
Price: from £9.99. Available from www.jmldirect.com or Amazon
H2Onya steel bottles: Perfect for hiking or cycling trips, these reusable stainless steel bottles are lightweight but sturdy enough to survive regular knocks. Made from 100% foodsafe material and bisphenol A-free, they won’t leach any nasties into your drinking water. We like the funky metallic colours and attractive ergonomic design.
Price: £11 (1l); £9.50 (350ml). Available from www.onyabags.co.uk
Coming soon…The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide: Part 2 (last minute gifts to buy online!)
All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.