by Alicia MacLeay
photo by Christopher BeauchampWool socks and a cozy puffy for your skiing spouse. A new climbing rope for your favorite sibling. A compass for your misguided other sibling.
The holidays are an ideal opportunity to share the gift of outdoor recreation with friends and loved ones, whether outfitting them for their first winter hike, daily trail run, or upcoming expedition.
Of course, it's not about the gear. It's about where the recipient takes that gear, how they use it, and the memories they make. We all enjoy the outdoors more when we have the right equipment and comfortable clothing.
Luckily Trailspace is all about finding and sharing dependable gear, apparel, and footwear for outdoor adventures of all styles.
Here's how to efficiently navigate outdoor holiday shopping, saving time and money, so you can get back outside, not back in line.
Browse or search to find gear you're interested in.
Filter products by category, price, brand, and more.
The highest-rated products are shown first.
Read reviews for pros, cons, and real-world details to help you decide.
Check "Where To Buy" to find the best price.
1. Find the Best Gear Fast
You won't find annual holiday gift lists on Trailspace, because we already list the top outdoor gear all year round. Our members rate and review outdoor products every day. So you can find the current top-rated gear, clothing, and footwear whenever you need it, not just during an annual shopping season.
With more than 27,000 reviews (and counting), we've got you covered in every conceivable category from climbing harnesses to down jackets, trail runners to winter tents.
To find the best gear, just browse a category you're interested in. We've already done the work; the highest-rated available products are always at the top of the list.
Tip: Use the filters on the left-hand of the page to narrow by gender, brand, or price range.
2. Learn from Others' Experience
You want gear that will meet your loved ones' outdoor needs and preferences, and that will last for holidays to come. Whether buying in person from your local specialty retailer (yes, you can still do that) or your favorite online store, you want to make an informed gear purchase.
The best way to learn about a product you're considering is to read real-world user reviews beforehand. Reading individual reviews provides insight and details on others' firsthand experiences with a product, before you spend any money.
Trailspace is all about independent, unbiased outdoor gear reviews by real hikers, backpackers, climbers, paddlers, and backcountry skiers. Our 17,000 members have distilled their years of outdoor experience into useful reviews to help you get the right gear.
And you've got all of that outdoor expertise on your desktop or in your pocket. With our mobile site you can access Trailspace whenever and wherever you're shopping. Whether buying in a store or online, checking Trailspace's reviews first will help you make the right purchase.
Tip: When you're reading a product's reviews, you can sort them by rating, date, or how helpful others have found them.
3. Get the Best Price
Found the perfect soft shell for your best friend or crampons for your sister? Now you want to find the best price. Most product pages on Trailspace have a "Where to Buy" section that lets you compare prices from dozens of specialty outdoor retailers.
Each "Where to Buy" link will take you directly to the retailer's site, where you can purchase the product or browse further.
When you click on a "Where to Buy" link and purchase products from one of our retailer partners, a portion of your sale supports Trailspace's mission to share independent, unbiased outdoor gear reviews and ratings. And there's no extra charge to you (win-win).
Comparing prices under a product's "Where to Buy" retailer listings can help you save money for more gear or your next trip.
Tip: Sort by price to find the best deal, or sort by store to see if your favorite shop has the product.
4. Support Companies You Believe In
You're putting your trust in the backcountry gear you select for loved ones and yourself. So choose products and brands that you believe in. Buy from retailers who share your passion for the outdoors. In addition to ratings, reviews, and prices, consider a company's values and mission.
Like Trailspace: our mission is to be a free, independent, outdoor gear community where everyone has a voice. In addition to helping you find and share great gear, we're committed to protecting the places we all love as members of 1% for the Planet.
We hope Trailspace helps you find and share great outdoor gear with the special people on your gift list this holiday season. If it has, please consider supporting Trailspace by using the "Where to Buy" links to complete your shopping.
Tip: Now that you've found the right gear, and hopefully saved some time and money, use that gear to get back outside with your loved ones. Time spent outdoors together is the ultimate gift any time of year.
