2024 Backcountry Gift Guide: Editors’ Picks

Backcountry.com is a one-stop shop for all sorts of outdoor gear, and we regularly turn to them for great deals and helpful product advice. With the holidays quickly approaching, we’ve hand-picked our favorite options—organized by price from lowest to highest—from the brand’s extensive online selection, including accessories like chalk bags and headlamps, ski helmets, camp chairs, snow goggles, and more. Whether you’re shopping for a hiker, runner, camper, traveler, or skier in your life, the recommendations below represent some of our favorite and most frequently used outdoor products.

Editor's note: This article has been sponsored by Backcountry, but the picks and descriptions below were made independently and based on our experiences with and opinions of the products.
 

Our Team’s Holiday Picks

Static Artist Series Chalk Bag ($35)

Most climbers use chalk to prevent their hands from growing slippery with sweat, and a quality chalk bag is a great investment for the vertically inclined. There are tons of styles and designs available, from pocket-equipped bags for toting up multi-pitch routes to simple, low-profile options for the gym and sport climbing. Static’s Artist Series Chalk Bag falls in the latter category but stands out with its beautiful, eye-catching designs. Each bag features unique artwork that adds a nice dose of flair, with many depicting scenes from popular climbing destinations like Yosemite, Grand Teton, Smith Rock, and Wyoming’s Wind River Range. The rest of the design is well sorted as well, including a handy drawstring closure to prevent spills and a fleece lining along the interior to minimize chalk dust.
See the Static Artist Series Chalk Bag

Black Diamond Storm 450 Headlamp ($60)

A headlamp is a must-have for most outdoor adventurers, whether you’re spending the night deep in the backcountry or embarking on an after-work mountain bike ride in the shoulder seasons. Black Diamond dominates the market with an extensive selection of portable lighting, with their Storm 450 striking a nice middle ground for many. With 450 lumens of output that stretches almost 400 feet, you get an impressive amount of light in a light and compact package, along with multiple proximity and distance modes, dimming and strobe functions, and red, green, and blue night-vision. Taken together, it checks all the boxes we look for in a quality and well-rounded headlamp at a hard-to-beat price.
See the Black Diamond Storm 450
 

Matador FreeFly 16 Packable Backpack ($80)

Along with a headlamp, a daypack is another item we reach for frequently, whether we’re taking a leisurely stroll on a local trail or hopping on a flight across the country. Matador’s FreeFly 16 is well built for both purposes, with a frameless design that keeps weight remarkably low and allows the bag to pack down extremely small for storage. You don’t get a cushy hipbelt or shoulder straps, but the suspension system does a good job of keeping you comfortable when carrying lighter loads. Plus, the pack is reliably weather-worthy and durable, with sealed seams, water-resistant zippers, and reinforcements in high-wear areas. Tack on a reasonable $80 price tag, and the FreeFly stands out as a great value for a versatile pack for everything from hiking and travel to daily commutes and gym sessions.
See the Matador FreeFly 16

Smith Rodeo MIPS Ski Helmet ($95)

Smith is an irrefutable leader in the snow goggle and helmet markets, with an extensive lineup of premium options for resort use, backcountry missions, and everything in between. Their Rodeo MIPS lid is new for 2024 and stands out for its all-mountain versatility at an accessible price point. As its name suggests, the Rodeo features a MIPS (short for "Multi-directional Impact Protection System") liner for assurance in the event of a crash, along with a tough ABS construction that’s easy to trust and contributes to the clean, sleek appearance. Tack on a micro-adjustable dial for tweaking fit, removable earpads for customizing warmth and comfort, and ten fixed vents to promote airflow, and the Rodeo is a simple but well-rounded option for all-mountain riders—and a seriously solid value, especially for a Smith helmet.
See the Smith Rodeo MIPS

Kelty Low Loveseat Camp Chair ($140)

It’s hard to overstate the value of a quality camping chair, whether you’re spending a weekend in the woods, attending an outdoor concert, or tailgating before a sporting event. While most options on the market are designed to fit one person, Kelty’s Low Loveseat is a great option for couples and friends who don’t mind cozying up. Highlights include a wide and supportive seat that’s slightly reclined, thoughtful touches like adjustable armrests and insulated drink holders, and a long-lasting construction made of steel and thick polyester. And when it comes time to pack up, the Low Loveseat is quick and easy to stow away in the included carry wrap, which doubles as a padded dog mat. Kelty also offers the design in one- and three-person variations called the Lowdown Chair ($80) and Lowdown Couch ($200), both of which retain the strong focus on comfort and durability.
See the Kelty Low Loveseat
 

Therabody Theragun Relief Massage Gun ($149)

Theragun is practically synonymous with massage guns, and for good reason: Their designs feature unparalleled quality and attention to detail, along with a patented shape that provides the best handling and ergonomics in the industry. Slotting in as their most affordable option, the Relief combines the signature triangular shape with a lightweight build, three attachments, and a respectable 10 millimeters of depth (also referred to as amplitude). You don’t get many of the add-ons we’re used to seeing from Theragun, such as Bluetooth connectivity or a travel case, but it’s nevertheless a reliable and affordably priced option for a wide range of users. It’s also hard to overstate how much we prefer the triangular handle to the more common drill-like design—it’s easier to hold for long periods of time and far more ergonomic for difficult-to-reach areas.
See the Therabody Thergun Relief

Salomon ADV Skin 12L Hydration Vest ($165)

In addition to water, long-distance runners often carry snacks and a layer or two, necessitating a dedicated hydration vest or pack to stash it all. Among the myriad options, Salomon’s ADV Skin stands out as our favorite high-capacity design—great for ultramarathons, all-day unsupported jaunts, or winter running with a puffy in tow. In testing, we've been highly impressed with the ADV Skin 12's bounce-free carry, even while hauling a 2-liter hydration reservoir, as well as the generous storage layout that makes it easy to divvy up—and easily access—a full day’s worth of gear. It’s also sold in a 5-liter capacity for shorter or less gear-intensive runs, as well as a 15-liter Cross Season variation that boasts a water-resistant back compartment for those undeterred by inclement weather.
See the Salomon ADV Skin 12L
 

Oakley Flight Deck L Prizm Goggles ($225)

One of the more distinctive ski goggles on the slopes, Oakley’s Flight Deck has been a longtime staff favorite thanks to its oversized, rimless style. The large spherical lens gives the goggle its signature look, and combined with a low-profile shape, you get one of the largest fields of view on the market. All-day comfort is also excellent thanks to the plush, triple-layer foam that goes largely unnoticed throughout the day. And the goggles feature Oakley’s Prizm technology, which translates to superb optics and excellent clarity in a wide range of conditions. All in all, it’s a decidedly premium, comfortable, and stylish design, which is an enticing combination for many.
See the Oakley Flight Deck L Prizm
 

Cotopaxi Men’s Fuego and Women’s Fuego Hooded Down Jacket ($295)

We consider a solid down jacket to be a must-have for any outdoor-goer. One of our current favorites is Cotopaxi’s Fuego, which checks most of the boxes we look for in a quality all-rounder: It’s packed with premium 800-fill down, features a reasonably tough and water-resistant shell, and boasts the trendy retro styling that Cotopaxi is known for. Throw in responsibly sourced down and the fact that Cotopaxi is a certified B Corp, and the Fuego is an easy jacket to get behind. And given its popularity, the Fuego collection has expanded over the years to include tons of styles, included a non-hooded jacket, vest, pullover, and even cozy down pants and overalls—all of which share the same lofty down fill and distinctive styling.
See the Men's Fuego Hooded Down Jacket  See the Women's Fuego Down Hooded Jacket

How to Shop Backcountry’s Holiday Selection

There are a couple of ways to shop Backcountry’s collection, and the easiest for most will be online. The brand’s website is very modern, easy to use, and has a helpful chat feature that allows you to connect with a sales representative—or Gearhead, as Backcountry calls them—in real time with any questions that come up. We’ve used the chat function more times than we can count for things like specs and fit recommendations and have always found the staff to be helpful, informative, and prompt. Backcountry also has several locations throughout the U.S. (you can see a list of retail stores here). If you choose to shop in store, be aware that any unwanted items must be returned to the store, while online shoppers get the benefit of returning products by mail (along with a much wider selection to choose from). Either way, gear must be unused and sent back within 90 days of purchase in order to be eligible for a full refund. You can read more about Backcountry’s return and warranty policies here.
Shop Backcountry's 2024 Holiday Selection