8 Great Holiday Gifts

December 11, 2015

by Active Junky
8 Great Holiday Gifts

The Active Junky staff is constantly on the prowl for the best gear—and often those products are found at REI. Over the past year of gear testing, these eight products have stood out. Be it value or versatility, performance or panache—this gear earned top marks for a reason. Read on to check out some of the gear testing crew’s favorite new products, and then earn cash back when you shop at REI.

Spark R&D Bindings

Splitboarding is, in the eyes of several Active Junky gear testers, the best way to spend your time. But that time should be spent working the skin track, scoping lines and laying turns—not cursing over gear and duct-taping failing straps. Spark R&D’s binding line has never been cheaper—or better. The Tesla T1 system allows splitboarders to ditch crotchety pins and shave minutes off transition times. Active Junky’s put several Spark R&D bindings through their paces; go with the Blaze on a budget, the Surge for big mountain lines and the Arc for an all-around lightweight skin track killer. 

Tester Quote:  “The Tesla T1 system is the best thing to happen to splitboarding since people stopped chopping their old boards in half and companies started making dedicated splitboards. A lifechanger in the backcountry.”

Best For: Eliminating time and frustration from your backcountry adventures at a reasonable price.

Shop Spark Bindings at REI >

Outdoor Tech Los Cabos Headphones

Outdoor Tech Los Cabos Wireless Headphones

Foldable, wireless, satisfactory sound quality—all for under $60? Three years ago, we would’ve called you crazy, but today, Outdoor Tech turns the tables with a comfortable and affordable Bluetooth model. The already slim Los Cabos headphones fold up to easily stash in smaller backpack pockets—making the travel-friendly package even friendlier. Even after cross-country plane rides, the over-ear headphones didn’t cause much irritation (a rarity in this price range) and the rechargeable battery allows up to 10 hours of Bluetooth bumping. Should your adventures take you faraway from recharging stations – and we hope they do – the optional auxiliary cord plugs in for unlimited playback. 

Tester Quote: “The foldable feature makes more of a difference than I expected—I’m never scared these are going to break in transit. Plus, the sound is hard to beat at this price point.”

Best For: International travel, commuting, everyday listening

Klymit Static V Lite Insulated Sleeping Pad

Klymit Static V Lite Insulated Sleeping Pad

Who says camping isn’t a four-season activity? Klymit’s all about getting out and staying out; the Insulated Static V Lite has been in the Active Junky rotation for months now. We’ve gone bikepacking, backpacking and backcountry skiing with this bad boy. Insulated to an R-Value of 4.4, this is one of the best insulated pads you can get for the price. 

Tester Quote: “I love how small it packs up, and how few breaths it takes to fill. Easy, reliable and comfortable.”

Best For: 4-season, multi-sport use.

The North Face Fuse Form Brigandine 3L Jacket

The North Face FuseForm Brigandine 3L Jacket - Men's Starting at: $610.02

This TNF jacket won high praise from our gear testers. Abrasion resistance usually comes at the cost of flexibility and weight, but the technical fabric employed by TNF is super light and far from stiff. From Sun Valley, Idaho, to the backcountry outside of Valle Nevado, Chile, this jacket has impressed our freeskiing, speedflying gear tester Reed Snyderman. We’ve got over two weeks in this kit, and we’re expecting to keep rocking it for years to come thanks to its durability, roomy fit and big mountain-friendly features.

Tester Quote: “A new favorite jacket for sure. Pair it with the Brigandine Pants and I’d pick this TNF kit against any other.”

Best For: Resort skiing, big mountain riding, anything in between

Manduka Black Mat PRO

Manduka Black Mat PRO Yoga Mat Starting at: $102.60

A quarter inch thick, everyone appreciates this beast of a mat —from elastic yoga teachers to inflexible novices. Though the textured surface is supposedly impervious to slippage, the seriously sweaty should consider getting a YogiToes towel to get through those hot yoga classes without turning that PRO mat into a slip’n’slide. 

Tester Quote: “A premium mat that shows little wear after a year of steady use. Though heavy, the thick mat does wonders for the knees.”

Best For: Home studios and serious yogis

Mountain Hardwear Switch Flip Hooded Jacket

Mountain Hardwear Switch Flip Hooded Jacket $112.49 - $116.51

Insulated jackets are all about versatility—so why not make one that’s actually reversible? Active Junky relied on the Switch Flip’s 100g Thermal Q insulation in wind-ripped Chilean couloirs, Santiago’s rain-drizzled side streets and Idaho’s snowy backcountry. The reversible factor is appreciated more in an urban setting, while skiers and snowboarders will be more focused on the compressibility, warmth-to-weight ratios and the overall affordability of the Switch Flip (when compared to similarly warm and durable synthetic insulators). 

Tester Quote: “A trustworthy insulator – as long as temperatures aren’t crazy low. The fit, pockets, compressibility and style are all on point. “

Best For: Winter lovers, skiers and snowboarders, backcountry travelers

Burton Rider’s Backpack 25L

Burton Rider's Pack

If you pack light and shred hard, the Rider's 25L pack is the perfect size for a day trip in the backcountry.  With a fleece-lined goggle pouch, an easily accessible shovel and probe stowing area and a main pocket large enough to store extra layers, the only question you'll have is, “Where’s the fresh?” Burton's vertical board carry makes bootpacking that much easier, and the hydration pocket goes a long way to keep your whistle wet on long approaches.  When the snow melts, replace your shovel with a laptop and throw a skateboard on the back straps.  

Tester Quote: “Versatility at its finest. The back panel padding is much appreciated—whether you’re hiking, commuting to work or taking a tumble with expensive camera gear inside the pack.”

Best For: Day trips, sidecountry missions, resort riding, everyday use.

Potable Aqua PURE Electrolytic Water Purifier

Potable Aqua PURE Electrolytic Water Purifier

Dead batteries, clogged filters, spilled pills, those last few drops of chlorine dioxide—water purification is never worry free.  Until now.  The same brand whose iodine pills you trust brings us PURE, the most versatile purifier we’ve seen. You take salt water and put it in the included chamber; it is then converted to a solution that (based on your selection) can purify anywhere from one to twenty liters at a time. Thanks to solar-charging capabilities and a built in LED, PURE thrives in the daytime and functions spill-free in the night.  Our tester’s new favorite for long trips, he plans on taking a few to Nepal next year as clean-water solutions for earthquake relief.

Tester Quote: "For large batches and low maintenance, the PURE combines cost-effectiveness with efficiency better than any other option out there."

Best For: Large batch purification, international travel

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