5 Holiday Gifts That Give Back

’Tis the season of giving! When it comes to gifts, consumerism is out and conservation and social support are in. Give gifts that mean more by purchasing from companies that stick by their morals and put their money where their missions are. Here are 5 great gifts for your loved ones that’ll make a big impact.

1. Bombas Compression Socks

If your loved one is a regular traveler, consider upgrading their sock game. Bombas makes men’s and women’s compression socks with fun colors that might help reduce swelling and risk of blood clots, especially on flights 4 hours or longer. Wearers say they’re comfortable, supportive, and don’t fall down. Nobody wants to constantly pull their socks up while carrying luggage and running to catch a connection. Bombas donates one essential clothing item – like a pair of socks – to partners serving people experiencing homelessness. They’ve donated over 200 million items so far. Looking for a gift for someone with pizzazz? Go for one of Bombas’ collab lines. They’ve partnered with household names like Sesame Street and Marvel for some seriously cute and comfy socks. Think: Spider-Man and Oscar the Grouch.

2. BioLite Solar String Lights

Know a friend headed into the wilderness during the holidays? Help them get festive with solar string lights from BioLite! Go for the 44’ color version or 18’ white set. These easy-to-store lights are packable and surprisingly bright. Plus, BioLite says, “For every BioLite product sold, a person living in energy poverty gains access to safe lighting and charging.” The string lights are also fantastic for traveling in areas with questionable power or at-home use during unexpected outages. I particularly love the ways these lights easily wind up for no-tangle storage and ease of packing. No one wants camp to go dark while they fiddle with a mess of cords!

3. Anything from tentree

You may have seen their iconic Juniper Hoodies at your local outdoor retailer, but tentree offers much more. The men’s and women’s fit clothes are comfy, and made of soft, sustainable materials like TENCEL, organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester. The brand plants 10 trees for every purchase and is aiming to plant 1 billion trees by 2030! In 2024, customers helped plant over 9 million trees for a lifetime total of 110 million. tentree focuses on reducing energy, water, and chemical use in their manufacturing to further mitigate their environmental impact. Give your comfy, cozy, active loved ones a gift card or stick to staples like the Ralston Jacket or Vintage Mountain Patch T-Shirt. Summer and winter accessories are also great options, like a brimmed hat or a hip pack.

4. Sunglasses from Ombraz

Everyone has a pal or two who constantly break and/or lose their beloved sunglasses. Make it harder to destroy or lose this critical piece of outdoor gear by gifting a pair of Ombraz armless sunglasses! These beautifully designed, stylish sunnies feature a cord that goes around the head and connects to the frame, holding the front frame in place. The cord design was inspired by boat cleats and lets users quickly pop the glasses off and stash them around their neck without extra retainers that can fall off or feel clunky. The company plants 20 mango trees per pair purchased. They picked mango trees because the species are excellent at storing carbon. The brand notes that each pair sold is carbon-negative because the mango trees sequester 1,713 times more carbon than what it takes to produce and deliver the sunglasses. Reach for the Classic polarized pair (perfect for snow and water sports) in a frame and lens color that make you think of your loved one.

5. Anything from a Local Guide or Outfitter

Supporting local businesses is one of the best ways to give back year-round. Consider an activity or adventure your loved one has mentioned in the past. Maybe you were out fishing together, and they mentioned they’d love to try ice fishing next winter. Gift them a couple of hours of ice fishing with a local guide who can show them all there is to know about ice augers, staying warm, and catching those elusive winter fish! Or support a local outfitter by gifting a couple of hours of gear rental for an upcoming season. Your loved one will think of you as they take their whole family kayaking or cruise the town with their significant other on a tandem bike. Local spots often have great stocking stuffers and smaller gifts too, like regionally appropriate fishing flies or socks, hats, and stickers themed around a favorite local public land or animal species.

Pro tip: Want to support a cause without buying a product? Donate in the name of someone you’d like to give a gift to. Most charities will create an email/message to share with the loved one, letting them know you donated in their honor. Pick a conservation organization in an area the person loves to recreate or one that supports a critter they dig. This idea is especially great for people who already have a ton of gear, move a lot (hello, guides/pros), or who live in a small space (vanlife, tiny house, rental apartments, etc.)!