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It is Christmas morning at the in-laws. You wake up to excited kids tearing into the living room. They make a beeline to see the gifts you had placed under the tree late last night. Only a bit of snow is left from the flurry that came through a few days ago but it’s still enough to constitute a “White Christmas”. You toss on a pot of coffee and build a fire as the rest of the family makes their way to the living room. Not wanting to waste time, the kids start divying out the gifts.
Ah yes, this one is from your wife (you already know it’s a new set of pajamas). Then another one from your father-in-law. It has the shape and feel of a box of shotgun shells. A box of 12ga #6 has been the go-to gift from your father-in-law for the last three years. Sure, it’s no surprise, but why change what works?
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The Moment of Truth
The last gift is grabbed, and to your surprise, it is placed in front of you. Curious about who it is from, you look around the room and instantly identify the gifter. Sweet Aunt Suzan has spent a portion of her meager income to get you a gift. The kind gesture touches you.
It is your turn to unwrap your gifts. The appreciation for Aunt Suzan changes to a sense of duty and determination. Nobody knows what lies within that package, but you can only plan for the worst. No matter how cheezy, you must make Aunt Suzan believe you love it. As you tear through the paper you try to channel everything you learned in that one semester of high school drama class. You prepare to express your best portrayal of sincere thanks as you unwrap the last layer to find… a nice flashlight? A moment’s pause as the drama lessons go back into cold storage for next year. Then a genuine thank you and a hug for Aunt Suzan.
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A good gift is just as much fun for the giver as the receiver. Here is a short guide to help you be a bit more like sweet Aunt Suzan and keep your gift from ending up in the donation pile.
Streamlight Macrostream – $55
A good flashlight is always a hit! I have been carrying this light for over a year and I love it. It is the perfect size to clip in my pocket without blocking access to my phone. One of my favorite features is the rechargeable battery. This is nice because you can top off the charge without having to trash half-dead one. The 500-lumen beam is fairly wide so it doesn’t throw super far but it is great for everything within fifty yards.
Just before I started writing this article I was on my way home from Home Depot (I ran out of Christmas lights) and my motorcycle lost power and died. Thankfully I had my Macrostream handy in my pocket so I had light to push the bike off the road. Turns out my new tank vent wasn’t doing a very good job of venting. I just cracked the gas cap and I was back on the road. A compact light you carry is better than the bratwurst-sized searchlight left at the house.
Product Link: MacroStream® USB | USB Rechargeable EDC Flashlight | Streamlight®
Sawyer MINI – $25
Most guys, even if they are not avid outdoorsmen, will appreciate a water filter. It is smart to have one even if it is just in case there is an issue with the tap water. I have been using Sawyer water filters since college and my favorite model is the Sawyer MINI. It is compact and lightweight plus it has an incredibly long lifespan if well maintained. It can be put in line with your hydration pack, screwed on top of a bottle, or hung below a blatter of dirty water and gravity fed into a water bottle.
The gravity option is my favorite since it makes it easy to filter a lot of water at camp in the evenings. Just pack a few empty jugs and you can reduce how often you have to purify water.
Product Link: MINI | Sawyer Products
Leatherman Wingman – $65
I have been carrying this multitool for about six years and it has held up beautifully. I used to carry a Benchmade folder but after discovering how much I used all the other tools in the Leatherman, I don’t think I could ever go back to a single blade.
The slim design and pocket clip make it perfect for carrying every day, unlike the thicker multitools that try to pack an entire toolbox into one tool. Like the Macrostream, I would rather have something small enough to carry comfortably than the perfect tool sitting on my dresser at home. And also like the Mactrostream, this tool got me out of a bind earlier today when my motorcycle died. I was able to quickly pop off fuel lines and troubleshoot the issue with nothing more than what I had in my pocket.
Product link: Wingman Multi-Tool | Leatherman
LED Road Flares – $25
I own quite a few of these from different brands and they have been incredibly useful. I was sitting at a light a few months ago when the truck in front of me stalled and couldn’t start again. Before pulling in front of him to hook up the tow strap, I stuck one of these to his roof using the magnetic base. It gave us a bit more visibility and I like to be as visible as possible when I’m on the side of the road.
I used one again just a little while ago when, yeah you guessed it, my motorcycle broke down. I keep at least one of these in every vehicle and I think most people would appreciate them as a gift.
Product Link: Ecoangel USB Rechargeable LED Road Flares
Holosun EPS – $330
Gift-giving gets a bit tougher when it comes to gear but if you know the recipient is in the market for a concealed carry red dot you can’t go wrong with the Holosun EPS. The EPS is a compact enclosed emitter reflex sight. It fits perfectly on the compact handguns like the Glock 19. I have been carrying the EPS for about two years now and I have no plans to switch. The enclosed design prevents body moisture or lint from obstructing the lens and the battery can be changed without having to remove the optic. Even if someone has a good dot on their primary gun, they probably wouldn’t mind having this for one of their others.
Product Link: EPS Red 6-Holosun
Ripstop Nylon Tarp – $25
A trap as a gift might sound like a dud but I promise if they are at all into preparedness, backpacking, hunting, or the outdoors in general this tarp is likely to be a hit. Unlike your typical Harbor Freight tarp, this tarp is constructed of ripstop nylon which is much more compact and lightweight. I take it backpacking to cover gear and I keep it in my car the rest of the time. Its pouch has enough room for some aluminum stakes and 550 cord too. Just like that, I have a simple shelter kit at a fraction of the weight and bulk of my backpacking tent.
Product Link: Stansport Heavy Duty Rip-Stop Tarp 7′ x 9′ – O.D. Green
Holosun HS403R – $160
Read More: Carrying the New Holosun EPS
The final item on the list is just a workhorse of a red dot. Perfect as a standalone optic on a sub gun, PDW, or carbine or as a complement to a magnified optic. I currently have two and I just ordered a third. The oldest is about six years and it shows no signs of stopping despite regular use. Whether their arsenal is small or large they probably have at least one gun that could benefit from this red dot.
Product Link: HS403R-Holosun
Final Thoughts On Holiday Gifts
Giving gifts is tough but hopefully, with this guide, it will be a bit easier this year. Just remember not to get too caught up in gifts, but instead remember to focus on what is important. To quote my favorite childhood Christmas movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
Here’s me wishing you a very Merry Christmas and the best of luck in your gift-giving endeavors.
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