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Give the gift of experience instead of more stuff.
Give the gift of experience instead of more stuff. (Photo: Sarah Jackson)
Gear Guy

Gifting Gear for Valentine鈥檚? Pair It with an 国产吃瓜黑料

Find the perfect coupling

Published: 
Give the gift of experience instead of more stuff.
(Photo: Sarah Jackson)

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! .

Gear generally makes a lovely gift for your adventurous guy or gal, but better to pair it with an experience where they can actually put it to use. Here are five ways to bring some of our favorite tools on your date.

Igloo Daytripper Cooler ($74) for a Picnic Hike

(Courtesy Igloo)

I tested the backpack last year, and while it鈥檚 a bomber cooler in its own right, the pouches for stowing cutting utensils, a corkscrew, and a Kindle-size cutting board (all of which come included) really stole my heart. It carries just enough food for a full meal and is plenty comfortable for sporty full-day hikes if you so choose. Stuff the Daytripper with your partner鈥檚 favorite bottle of wine and ask a cheese specialist what to pair it with. (Splurge. It is Valentine鈥檚 Day, after all.) Ideally, prescout your hike and pick a perfect landing spot for your picnic. Make sure to time it with a spectacular sunset, or at least check what the weather is doing so you don鈥檛 end up getting caught in the rain.

Leus Towel ($32) and Falcon Guides Hiking Hot Springs Book ($20) for a Soak in the Hot Springs

(Courtesy Leus/Falcon Guides)

Despite the occasionally farty sulfuric smell and potentially colorful (read: dirtbaggy) locals, nature鈥檚 hot tubs are infinitely more romantic than their man-made chlorinated counterparts. They鈥檙e also prime relaxation spots after climbing, skiing, or backpacking trips. For this gift, keep the hot springs in the forefront and plan a trip specifically to hit one or a few in a weekend. Get one of Falcon Guides鈥 solid regional hot springs guides鈥擨 love 鈥攁nd put a bookmark in a few spots and the date you plan to visit. Couple it with a big towel, like , in a fun print.

Black Diamond Apollo Lantern ($60) and Fugoo Tough XL Speaker ($200) for a Weekend of Car Camping

(Courtesy Black Diamond/Fugoo)

The difference between a romantic car-camping trip and one that reminds your partner of the forced family fun trips of their childhood can be summed up in one word: ambience. In the past, I鈥檝e used to set the mood, because it can dim to a sultry seven lumens. But since Ticla鈥檚 gone under, I recommend the for its frosted lens that produces a nice soft light. Pair it with the that can deliver the depth of Barry White鈥檚 lovely voice, making your tent feel like a French chalet.

The North Face Base Camp Duffel ($169) for a Flight to Belize

(Courtesy North Face)

Anticipating your partner鈥檚 needs can make or break Valentine鈥檚 Day. Say your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to get away from it all for a vacation. Preempt their impending burnout with a round-trip ticket to a Caribbean country (or somewhere else that鈥檚 warm in February). But you have to make sure all their precious stuff survives the trip, too. The is the most-used carry-on by 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 staff, thanks to its perfect mixture of durability and heavy-packer friendliness.

Smartwool PhD Seamless Boy Shorts ($40) and Darn Tough Merino Crew Cushion Socks ($21) for a Backpacking Trip

(Courtesy Smartwool/Darn Tough)

Though lingerie is an extremely popular Valentine鈥檚 Day gift, buck the trend and go for merino wool underwear and socks for your partner, along with a plan for a nice long backpacking trip. While they may not fit the traditional romantic aesthetic, and are a lot better at mitigating odor than whatever they鈥檙e making fancy underwear out of these days鈥攁nd they still look good, to boot. They鈥檒l make both of you much more desirable tent mates after a long day of hiking something like the in North Carolina (a good route for hitting those romantic vistas).

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