Vermont Gift Guide 2023
Gift giving is one of my favorite part of the holidays. It’s so enjoyable picking out the perfect gift for your favorite people. I love seeing the joy in their face as they open the gift and the happiness it brings them. Finding that perfect gift, however, can sometimes be a challenge. And if you’re anything like me and save your gift purchasing to the last minute, it’s stressful..
This Vermont Gift Guide is a list full of things to give to your Vermont and outdoor loving people. From hats, to Vermont made wreaths, there is truly something for everyone.
Contents
For the Outdoor Adventurer
For the Vermont Lover
For the Outdoor Adventurer:
Seadon Baselayer
Every needs a merino wool base layer. And by everyone, I mean EVERYONE. A base layer is what keeps your body warm without all the bulk and merino wool is the best kind of layer to have. Why? Because of it's dry wicking properties which means it keeps your body warm on cool days and cool on hot days. Changing my cotton base layers to merino wool base layers has been game changer .
Seadon makes one of the lightest and softest merino base layers around. Plus they are a carbon neutral company committed to sustainability and offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions each year. They also donate 1% of every sale to environmental nonprofits.
Use code “KEEPVERMONTWILD” for 25% off your purchase.
Bivo Water Bottle
Bivo has the perfect water bottles for your gravel, road, mountain, or spin class bike lover. Made right here in Richmond, Vermont, Bivo's water bottles are made out of stainless steel with a non-toxic silicone nozzle so we can ditch harmful plastic and fuel our fun with better. They are a carbon neutral company offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions, and give 1% of their sales to charities that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prices start at $44
Darn Tough Socks
No matter what you do, and who you are gifting to, everyone (including your grandmother in California) needs a pair of Darn Tough Socks this winter.
Darn Tough is a Vermont made sock company whose socks are perfect for any adventure. Their wide variety of adventure socks makes it easy to pick and choose thickness, height, type. Plus, there are endless color options to spice up the old sock drawer. I exclusively wear Darn Tough. I use their socks for working out at the gym, hiking (summer and winter), skiing, walking around my house, you name the activity and I'm most likely wearing Darn Tough.
PLUS Darn Tough socks have a lifetime warranty. So you can go to a local retailer near you to exchange or mail them in for store credit. It's a win all around.
Prices start at $18
Crampons
Living in Vermont where it gets icy in the winter months, it's always a good idea to have a pair of crampons on you. One, for being able to go on a walk in icy weather, but also for winter hiking. Spikes, whether or not the steep trails are icy, help grip the snow and make climbing up a hiking trail muchhhh easier. No one wants to take two steps forward and one step back!
You can find these online at any outdoor retailer (like Backcountry here), or you can get at your local outdoor gear shop. Outdoor Gear Exchange has them here. While they might look like too much, trust me, when the ice weather comes, you’ll thank me.
Price $75
Vermont Glove
Vermont Glove has the perfect gift for your outdoor worker/adventurer. These leather gloves are all hand stitched right here in Randolph, Vermont and have been making these gloves since the 1920s. Vermont Glove uses goat leather which is hearty and can go through years of wet/dry cycles. They are a net-zero factory that runs 100% on renewable energy supporting their local community. They have a range of gloves to choose from, some being lined with wool or recycled poly.
Price $90-$130
Sherpa Mittens
US Sherpa creates authentic sherpa mittens (amongst many other things like socks, slippers, scarves, blankets, etc.) seeking to connect Vermont and Nepal supporting over 300 artisans in Nepal. The mittens are made out of sheep wool with a sherpa fleece lining. Hands will stay nice and warm in these mittens.
Price $30
Skida
A great gift idea for any outdoor activity. Skida's headbands, neck warmers, and hats are not only super stylish in the cooler months, but are very effective at keeping your head warm. Skida is another Vermont-made product which all started when one woman started making hats for her ski team teammates. They became so popular and now are sold all over the country and have collaborations with brands like Oboz, Stio, and Wild Rye. They also donate hats to hospitals across the US to help chemotherapy patients stay warm (click here to learn more)
Price ranges from $10-$50
Collapsible Chair
Have any camping or fishing lovers to give gifts to this year? Well, look no further than this portable chair. I have used mine in all sorts of situations. Because it is lightweight and packs up small, I bring it on camping trips (or remote camping trips), bring it to friend’s houses to sit by the fire, and bring it to sit in the river on a hot summer day.
REI has one here for $69
Backcountry has one here for $56 on sale
Outdoor Dog Bowl
Outdoor portable dog bowls make the perfect gift for your adventurous friend who brings their dog everywhere with them. It’s great for those long hikes or walks where they may not be near any water sources for the dog to drink. Also good for long road trips and hang outs at friends houses. I bring mine everywhere. You never know when the dog may need a drink.
Outdoor Gear Exchange has them here
Price is $10
For the Vermont Lover:
Vermont-Made Prints
Give the gift of Vermont by gifting Vermont-made prints to celebrate the outdoors and the beautiful state we live in. Here are a few of my favorites
Jewelry
Cravn Jewelry is locally hand-made jewelry made from up-cycled materials like cork, leather, and wood. The jewelry is great for anyone on your gift list. On the website you'll find earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Gosia Meyer Jewelry. Moving to the Vermont mountains from Poland, Gosia Meyer creates beautifully crafted jewelry and has a bridal line of her own. She has everything from earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets. She offers permanent jewelry too if you want to pay a visit to her store in Burlington.
Canvas Bags
Red House creates homemade, Vermont waxed canvas bags that will be a stable in anyone’s bag collection. They are durable, functional, and scream Vermont. They have a variety of small hand bags, shoulder bags, travel bags and more.
Silk Flower Wreaths
Kate’s Flower Market creates beautiful, local, handmade, silk flower wreaths for any occasion and for any place in the home. Kate is a very close friend of mine and I know she puts everything in these wreaths and they are stunning!
Barnes Made Candles & Soap
Barnes Made is a women-owned and Vermont based candle and soap company using all organic, Fair Trade, non-toxic materials. The candles are truly amazing and make the perfect gift for anyone. The soap is perfect for your body not using any harmful chemicals.
Maple Syrup
Golden Dog Farm is a maple syrup farm in Jeffersonville that makes some delicious maple syrup. Not only can you purchase their maple syrup from a variety of stores throughout the state, you can also visit their farm and the golden retrievers! Golden Dog Farm partners with Butternut Farms to bring you the best experience by playing ball, taking pictures, snuggling up to these beautiful Golden Retrievers.
