If I came into a huge sum of money, I would do three things: donate to ,聽save for my future kid鈥檚 education, and spend the rest on this amazing gear for my buddies.
Despite my gear-obsessed career, I鈥檓 a strong believer that the tools don鈥檛 make the athlete鈥攚ith a few exceptions. After skiing on a pair of ($1,750 and up) since February, I have to say that these skis actually聽made me a better skier. We can鈥檛 promise the following five products will up your game鈥攐r that they鈥檒l even fit under the tree鈥攂ut they will make you the best gift giver in the house.
Cricket Trailer (From $10,000)
The man behind our all-time favorite camper, the聽, wanted a trailer聽to keep himself and his two young kids safe, secure, and dry鈥攁nd away from standard RV campgrounds. The brilliant result: a trailer with more features than most camper vans and built to handle rough forest roads. The Cricket, inspired by designs used by NASA, features an indoor shower, a sink, and an electrical system that can power all of your appliances for about three days. At 1,460 pounds, it鈥檚 light enough to tow behind a four-cylinder Subaru Outback.
CMH Valemount Lodge Heli-Ski Trip ($221,000 per week)
No, it鈥檚 not a piece of gear, but with a price tag on par with most starter homes in the United States, the is the most luxurious gift I can imagine. The lodge houses 10 guests, who enjoy exclusive use of a Bell 212 helicopter. Along with two guides, the skiers can explore more than 870 square miles of skiable terrain in the surrounding Cariboo Mountains. A private chef takes care of the meals. Massage and hot-stone treatments are options after a long day of skiing.
Dynafit RC1 Ski Boot ($2,150)
Weighing just over a pound for the pair, is the lightest ski boot in the world. They have a carbon shell and cuff and can help you 鈥渟ki run鈥 (Dynafit鈥檚 term for their use) fast as hell thanks to 75 degrees of cuff rotation. Light, durable boots are key to ski-mo racing, and these boots, designed by French national ski mountaineer team racer Pierre Gignoux, are the best money can buy.
DJI Inspire 1 ($3,400)
The is DJI鈥檚 best drone yet, with pro-caliber features packed into an easy-to-fly package. We鈥檙e talking a built-in 4K camera with a 360-degree range of motion (made possible by the drone鈥檚 automated carbon fiber legs) and聽GoPro Hero4-like聽capabilities. You can control the camera and the drone separately, so the pilot doesn鈥檛 have to worry about capturing the perfect shot and missing the tree.
Arc鈥橳eryx Theta SVX ($750)
Why does the cost $750? We鈥檒l start with the materials. Its 80-denier Gore-Tex face fabric is one of the most durable, waterproof-breathable materials on the planet鈥攅xpect it to last roughly forever. Then there鈥檚 the pro cut. This thigh-length jacket offers the most coverage in the聽Arc鈥橳eryx line but still looks great on, thanks to its athletic cut.