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Get outdoors with these 15 gift ideas for everyone in the family

(Nate Carlisle | The Salt Lake Tribune) River runners launch rafts and inflatable kayaks onto the Colorado River at Dewey Bridge campground near Moab on May 27, 2017.

’Tis the season to indulge your outdoorsy family’s inner materialism! From inflatable kayaks to electrolyte tablet stocking stuffers, here are some gear gifts to consider for Santa’s list.

Keep them warm

Elements 2 in 1 Hand Warmer • Hand warmers can be challenging. The popular disposable chemical variety works but can’t be recycled and often lasts only 30 minutes. The traditional fuel-powered type can be hard to light and can smell. The Elements 2 in 1 Hand Warmer by Celestron ($31.97, celestron.com) is a rechargeable device (using a USB port) that provides up to 8 hours of heat on a single charge. It has the added bonus of serving as a charge port for portable devices. The kit comes with the basic hand warmer, a charging cord, a lanyard holder and a felt bag that can be heated.

— Tom Wharton

On the water

NRS Tributary Tomcat Tandem Inflatable Kayak • If there’s someone on your shopping list who likes running the flat water of a Utah river or lake, then here’s the vessel for that person. Inflatable kayaks are easier to haul and store than hard shells and have room for gear if you want to take an overnight trip. NRS is the same brand outfitters and rental shops use. The vinyl on the Tributary Tomcat ($779, nrs.com) is tough enough you don’t need to worry about a puncture every time the current takes you too close to Russian olives or tamarisk. The price doesn’t include paddles and lifejackets.

— Nate Carlisle

For the camp kit

(Courtesy photo) The Stryker Multi-Fuel Stove, $59.95, by Cache Valley-based CampChef offers a lightweight (19.4 ounce), quick-heating stove.

The Outlite 240 Lumen Solar Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight lasts from sundown until bedtime and then some. You can also pull it out of your camping gear if there’s a power outage at home. Image courtesy Outlite via Amazon.

Stryker Multi-Fuel Stove • Cache Valley-based CampChef ($59.95, campchef.com) offers this version of a lightweight (19.4-ounce) quick-heating stove. Advantages are that it runs on butane and propane and can boil a half-liter of water in about 2 minutes. The package includes the stove, an insulated pot, a folding tank stabilizer, lid and mesh carry bag. The stove requires a flat surface to keep from tipping, but offers wind protection. Additional pans are available from CampChef.

— Tom Wharton

Outlite 240 Lumen Solar Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight • I’ve all but retired my propane lantern. My Outlite ($17.99) has a lot of candle power and, as long as it gets some sunlight during the day, lasts from sundown until bedtime and then some. You can also pull it out of your camping gear if there’s a power outage at home.

— Nate Carlisle

Back to basics

Almost every hiker needs poles, and Black Diamond is the gold standard. The Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles ($140, blackdiamondequipment.com) are the top-line all-purpose hiking poles. If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, consider the attachable powder baskets ($7) for winter travel or tip protectors ($3.50) for desert rats who cross a lot of slickrock.

— Erin Alberty

Give them treats

(Courtesy Photo) There are many new energy products as well as mainstays that are introducing new flavors to make for an interesting and tasty stocking stuffer.

Fill up a stocking not with candy, but with samples of various energy products. There are many new items as well as mainstays that are introducing new flavors to make for an interesting and tasty stocking stuffer. Some of our favorites include ClifBloks, which has three new flavors: spearmint, salted watermelon and ginger ale. SaltStick Fastchews Chewable Electrolyte Tablets and Trail Butters are good options to boost electrolyte intake and protein, respectively. If you want local, go with Prober, which has protein bars as well as nut butters that are very convenient.

— Lya Wodraska

High and dry

With a font of feminine potty gadgets out there, the days of squatting are over. The pStyle ($12, thepstyle.com) is the classic, but Shewee ($10.50, shewee.com) gets points for versatility. These are great not only for hiking, but also for gross public bathrooms, boating or any other setting that requires more discretion than a full moon.

— Erin Alberty

Make them glow

Making your loved one visible on outdoor adventures is a priority for many. Luckily there are some good options that are not only effective, but fun. We like the NOXGEAR Tracer360 LED vest ($69.95, noxgear.com) for running as well as the Nathan Lightspur RX LED Foot Light ($29.99, nathansports.com) that helps runners be seen from behind.

For bikes, you could get a typical blinking light that attaches to the bike or rider, but why be conservative when you can trick out your bike to the point it should have a role in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” There are a lot of fun brands out there, but we are partial to the DAWAY A08 LED lights ($15.75, daway.cc), which turn off when you stop riding, or the GlowRiders, which come in a variety of colors. Most of the lights can be purchased for under $20, making them a relatively inexpensive, fun gift.

— Lya Wodraska

Safety options

Road IDs, individualized wrist, ankle or necklace tags that carry your vital information as well as safety contacts, have long been popular among outdoor enthusiasts and are always a great gift. But another to consider is the Utah Search and Rescue Assistance card (https://secure.utah.gov/rescue/), which helps fund search and rescue services in the back country. The lack of funding for such rescues has forced some counties to bill rescue victims for costs, which can costs thousands of dollars. For instance, according to the Utah.gov site, rescues in Grand County, which includes the popular destination town of Moab, average $2,000.

But the card can be had for just $25 for an individual one-year subscription or $35 for a family. A five-year subscription is just $100 for an individual and $140 for a family.

— Lya Wodraska

Accessorize

(Courtesy Photo) The Thermonet by Buffs provides protection from the cold in a breathable yarn.

Buffs might have reached new popularity with the TV show “Survivor,” but their practicality has kept them mainstream. This stocking stuffer is the height of simplicity: a piece of stretchy fabric in a loop. You can wear it as a neck gaiter, a face mask, a full-head wrap, a sweatband, a balaclava, a beanie, a pirate scarf and other styles. Models are available in different weights of Merino wool, with added UV protection and bug repellent. A popular one for winter is the Thermonet by Buff, which provides protection from the cold in a breathable yarn. They range from about $20 to $40, depending on the size purchased.

— Erin Alberty & Lya Wodraska

Quick-change artist

Anyone who has had to hunker down in a car seat and perform a sort of magic trick to change clothes without being seen will appreciate the orangemud.com’s transition and seat wrap. At $39.95 on the website, this product serves as a car seat cover and changing towel in one. The wrap has a secure clip to allow one to change in a bit of privacy, then works as a cover to keep dirt off the seats. Considering car detailing can cost more than $200, this is a nice way to extend the life of your car upholstery.

— Lya Wodraska

For the techie outdoors person

Face it, even in the backcountry we are accustomed to having our technology gadgets, but how to charge them? One good option is a solar charger such as the Voltaic Systems Portable Solar Charger. It is waterproof and needs just 3.5 hours to charge a smartphone. Found for around $99, it isn’t the cheapest gift, but might make the most sensible for some.

— Lya Wodraska

Brush away

(Courtesy photo) For the climber in the family, consider the Sublime Climbing brush.

For the climber in the family, consider the Sublime Climbing brush, which is made of boar’s hair and comes with a 1-year guarantee. Some of the features that make it stand out are the density that helps clean holds well and a secret compartment made for a skin-care bar or something else one might want to carry. The brush can be attached to a stick brush, so no need to make a makeshift adapter. It retails for about $18.

— Lya Wodraska

For the biker

If you have a biker in the family, consider springing for a new helmet, or at least a gift certificate he or she can use to put toward the purchase of one. Let’s face it, most bikers probably only replace their helmets when they crash, when in reality they should be replaced every three to five years depending on manufacturer recommendations. Some studies show the foam remains intact and works well beyond those years, but why chance it? At the very least, your rider might enjoy some of the new technology upgrades such as vents and lightness. Helmets can range from $75 to more than $200, so giving a certificate or money to put toward a helmet might be the best way to go.

— Lya Wodraska

Go “experiential”

(AP file photo) An America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass is shown at Bull Dog Caynon in the Tonto National Forest in Fort McDowell, Ariz., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017.

Many people are turning to “experiential” Christmas gifts that involve getting a pass or making a promise to do something or travel somewhere. One of the best bargains is the federal America the Beautiful Pass, which sells for $80 a year and is good at most National Park, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineer and Bureau of Reclamation sites.

Fourth-graders can get a one-time free Every Kid in a Park annual pass. Senior passes are $80 for a lifetime pass or $20 for an annual pass.

These passes are available at most federal land-management agencies or online. Visit nps.gov.

Utah State Park fans can obtain an annual day-use pass for $75 or a senior annual pass for $35. Visit utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Hunting and fishing licenses can serve as a popular gift as well. Licenses can be purchased by calling 1-800-221-0659, or at the Division of Wildlife Resources website at wildlife.utah.gov/utah_license.html.

Most museums, zoos, aviaries and aquariums offer season family passes. So do recreation centers. Lagoon or Disneyland season passes are popular gifts as well.

— Tom Wharton