By The Apogee Elves
Happy Holidays from your friends at Apogee! Here in Maine, we have a perfect winter day – snow on the ground and the air is delightfully crisp and clear! We had our first big snow on Monday and are still enjoying its beauty. As the holiday season approaches, we’re making our own lists and checking them twice – mostly for next summer’s trip logistics – but also for goodies that may be given this holiday season and used out in the field on an Apogee trip!
What better way to gear up your child for their Apogee summer – and work on that trip equipment list – than with a trip-teaser gift or two? (As a reminder, enrolled families can login to their CampMinder accounts and click on “Forms & Documents” and find each trip’s Equipment List as one of the top PDF documents available to download.) We put our heads together here in the office and came up with the list of items below that could fit the “small gift” bill regardless of your traditions and celebrations. Enjoy!
ALL TRIPS
Wool Socks – Our office loves Darn Tough socks. They’re not cheap, but they’re guaranteed for life!
Apogee Hat – We, ahem, recommend the trucker’s cap found in our Gear Store.
Spork – The amazing spoon-fork combo, perfect for camping meals! Here is an example from Light My Fire.
Apogee Nalgene – We’ll toot our own horn one more time and recommend the Apogee Nalgene as the perfect way to stay hydrated – and stay stylish! Also found in our Gear Store.
Headlamp – A crucial item for any Apogee trip – here is a good product made by Petzl.
Small lip balm with SPF in it
Buff – A great accessory for any trip – regardless of whether it’s cold out. Buffs are fashionable, keep you warm, and soak up the sweat. You name it, it does it! (Check out Buff’s website for many fun color and pattern options)
Sunglasses & Croakies – Croakies or “leashes” are helpful so you don’t lose your sunglasses while riding, kayaking, hiking, etc.
Collapsible Bowl – Handy because it packs down well – here is a good example from Sea to Summit
Dry Bag Stuff Sacks – Generally a good item for organization and waterproofing – here is a good example from Sea to Summit
BIKING TRIP-SPECIFIC
Rear Tail Light – One that can be clipped to a hydration pack, shirt, helmet or pannier – the Cat Eye TL-LD135-R is recommended
Bike Water Bottle – Here is a good example by CamelBack
Cycling Gloves – Optional but highly recommended – check out the Giro Bravo gloves.
Bike Shorts – A must for any trips other than Cape Cod & the Islands. And even on CI, it’s nice to have a pair. Visit Bike Nashbar to review great options.
HIKING TRIP-SPECIFIC
Safety Whistle – A leash to wear around neck is important – here is a good example.
Carabiners – A great little device to externally hang items from your pack whether that’s a water bottle, sandals, or a hat. Check out these at REI.
Gaiters – Not a necessity, but they definitely help keep boots dry during muddy hiking days and provide warmth to calf muscles on chilly mornings. LL Bean, down the road from us, carries them including the Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters model.
Hiking Poles – For anyone who experiences occasional knee pain or soreness, hiking poles are an excellent idea. You also look like a pro when you use them. Leki makes a well-rated pair called the Makalu AS.
We hope you find this list helpful – feel free to call our office if any questions come up or email us at info@apogeeadventures.com. We know this list is good for procrastination – and if you need another couple of minutes away from more pressing matters, enjoy this little holiday ditty with the compliments of the Apogee office. From all of us here at Apogee to all of you all around the world – we wish you happy holidays and a wonderful winter!