Mikey Hernandez’s Mobility Gift Guide:

Christmas is just under 3 weeks away. Yes, 2021 is over and it is time to purchase gifts to celebrate the holidays. The top recovery gear pieces I recommend are a Winch kit, Kinetic Rope kit, Hi-Lift Jack kit, and a Tire kit.

A quality kinetic rope should have up to 40% stretch and have a breaking strength 4 times the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of the GO-rig you are using. A synthetic kinetic rope uses momentum as opposed to a tow rope that is gently pulled taught before applying force. Any quality product will have the rating labeled on the rope. If it does NOT have the rating DO NOT buy it. WLL (working load limit) and MTS (minimum tensile strength) ratings help to reduce the danger of overloading the rope. You can find Kinetic ropes in 20’ or 30’ lengths and 1” and 7/8” diameter thickness. 28,000lbs should be the minimum breaking strength rating.

The kinetic rope is a favorite within our group and can be seeing used to pull out the “sunken Gladiator” on our YouTube page. I will admit it did take some getting used to. Getting a running start at a recovery pull does feel unnatural. Know your ratings and vehicle weights and you will be amazed at how well this piece of kit works for you.

Remember to have fun and do not let fear of getting stuck keep you from taking the trail less traveled.

Amber Elle's Prepared Women’s Gift Guide:

Good Quality Knife

As with most gear, quality doesn’t come cheap, and a good knife is no exception. The holidays is the perfect time to add that blade you’ve been eyeing to your wish list. There’s nothing duller than a cheaply made EDC knife (see what I did there…). My staples for an everyday carry knife include a featherlight feel and steel that will sharpen and age well. My current favorite everyday carry is the Benchmade full sized Bugout. It attaches to my purse pocket or pant pockets so very discreetly, plus it’s easy on the eyes!

Wool Garments

Merino wool is the most incredible regulator of your body’s microclimate. Excuse? It means it keeps you warm, keeps you cook, keeps you hygienic. It’s the best natural layering fabric for all weather and while genuine merino wool, especially ones make in the USA are pricier investments they’re an extremely practical (and luxurious) addition to your outdoor adventuring and emergency bag supplies. I would start with a great pair of merino wool socks and build your wool wardrobe from there. I love Duckworth, it’s made in Montana and they’re the world's only source-verified, single-origin Merino Wool clothing company.

Quality Cookware

Part of preparedness includes getting in touch with some antiquated culinary skills. You’ll want to know how to brown it, sauté it, water bathe it, ferment it, and purée it. Thankfully I was raised around a stove in a very Cajun culture, so I’ve tried all the tools and a kitchen is where I won’t tolerate impracticality. Good kitchen supplies are perfect Christmas list items and my top 3 items I would recommend are:

-Large enamel coated Dutch oven (I love my 9.5-quart oval Le Creuset)

-Kitchen Knife Set (I love the Case 9-piece block set)

-Water purification device-whether you use a reverse osmosis setup or a gravity filter-clean drinking-cooking water for your kitchen is a non-negotiable. I love my Berkey Royal filter and I can load it into my car if I’m traveling or displacing from my home.

An EDC Purse + Wallet Setup

Your everyday carry is something you carry EVERYDAY. It should be a pleasure to throw it onto your shoulder before you leave to conquer the day. For practicalities sake, the more you love your purse and wallet, the more likely you are to use it/carry it. The more likely you are to carry it, the more likely you are to have it on hand when emergencies arise, and you need access to the contents you have so diligently prepared. As a woman who is often busy and fighting distraction like many of you, I also advocate for a purse and wallet that you can keep organized and that doesn’t pose as a liability as you’re fumbling to retrieve contents. An organized, beautiful purse and wallet will be your best friend in more ways than one.

Y’all know my favorite wallet is our Fieldcraft Leather Clutch. Genuine, American made (top shelf) leather can’t be beat. I have high hopes for an incredible coordinating purse to come out of our Heber City Leathersmith shop so very soon (no pressure, Kenny).

Kevin Estela’s Survivalist’s Gift Guide:

It’s that time of year again. Some of you have barely pushed away from the Thanksgiving dinner table and some of you have already put up the Christmas lights like Clark W. Griswold. During this time of year, I often field questions about gift ideas, and building off of my Fieldcraft Survival recommendations posted from last year, I submit these general categories and some possible items you may want to consider. These categories will offer you greater flexibility when selecting the perfect gift for your friends and family.

Fire

The gift of fire is powerful. The first time my father purchased me a lighter, I felt immense responsibility. I only felt it for a short while as I used it up in a single day. Over the years, I learned to appreciate all sorts of fire gifts. Custom Ferro rods, engraved lighters, water-resistant lighter sleeves, all of it is appreciated Christmas morning. Fire gifts will be used around the tree. Someone will rush to try out their new gift the same way Ralphie rushed to the backyard with his Red Ryder BB gun before almost shooting his eye out. For this reason, make sure you know how to put out a fire and have the tools on hand to snuff it out. Trust me, someone will love their gift, but it could get interesting and unforgettable.

Training Gift Certificate

If you’re unlucky or careless, you can lose, break, or have your gear stolen. If you’re a good student, something that will never be taken from you is your training. It is something you can trust. I’m a fan of giving the gift of training. Whether that training is personal training sessions with someone who will whip you into shape and teach you how to stay in shape, or medical training that you hope you’ll never have to use, or firearms training to improve your performance as a marksman or hunter, training is an incredible gift. Sometimes, it is hard to determine what people want from a particular training institution. In these cases, just get them a gift certificate and let them decide. I’ve given a gift certificate to my sister for one training academy for Christmas and her birthday for the past few years and she has loved the experience. You’ll find experiences that are memorable and held onto longer than that gear you can’t find suddenly. Here is where you can purchase that gift certificate for your friends or family that love to extend their knowledge- Fieldcraft Survival Gift Certificate

Gear Bag

Pocket organizers, visor panels, backpacks, gear duffels, I promise you, a good gear bag will be appreciated. There’s something about receiving an empty bag that screams possibilities. I have many gear bags that have a lot of character from use over the years. My wheeled duffle bag and medium canvas duffle bags were both gifts and I’ve traveled with them for thousands of miles over the years. That same empty gear bag can be filled with the two previous gift suggestions presented here as well as other items as a “stuffed” gift. Consider who you are buying for, what their interests are, where they will be using their bag, and think about what they will be carrying. That should help you narrow down the type of bag they may want. If you are really stuck, simply google their interest and the word “bag”. You’ll get some results right away.

Vehicle Kit

The average person spends a cumulative amount of time measured in days in their vehicle each year. Vehicles are highly personal and a necessary aspect of life. Some vehicles have earned names and others, some great “war wounds” from miles of unbroken trail. Despite our connection to our rides, the vehicle is often overlooked. Many will not purchase creature comfort items or emergency kit items for their cars and trucks in the same way people don’t like purchasing expensive lithium batteries or cleaning supplies for their firearms. The whole suite of Fieldcraft Survival vehicle products goes over well as gifts. This includes visor panels, mobility bags, and loadout bags. Other gift ideas include emergency battery chargers like the NOCO, recovery ropes like those from Bubba Rope, and homemade Rubbermaid bins of emergency items like LED lanterns, bottles of water, hand warmers, chemical light sticks, etc. Emergency items and the gift of preparedness are great ideas for Christmas and the holidays.

Leather Goods

Over a decade ago, my late mentor taught me how to make leather goods like knife sheaths, belts, pouches, EDC valets, and key chains. As a hobby leather-smith, I never sold my items but I did give them away. When the recipients recognized the items were handmade, they almost always commented on how they appreciated my time and effort. There is something to be said about leather goods that develop a patina over time. The leather takes on a sheen and looks better with age. A good leather gift will last for years. Think of adding leather accents to someone’s life. A leather watch band, a leather passport carrier, a belt pouch for a folding knife, a leather holster for the Texas BBQ, the list goes on and on. Leather goods can be stamped with initials or symbols like the American flag for increased personalization.

If you’re still on the fence about what to get your loved one this holiday season, remember, it is the thought that counts. I’d recommend providing gift receipts for everything you purchase as the recipient may have packed on a few pounds, acquired new tastes, or have a different item in mind from a manufacturer. Also, don’t be afraid to poll their nearest friends and family to get a better idea of what they may be talking about at the water cooler, dinner table, or when out in the great outdoors. Gift buying should not be stressful, but it is. Hopefully, these ideas provided you with an additional level of comfort before you swipe your card or hand over cash in an attempt to provide a gift that will be truly appreciated.