Desperate For Last-Minute Gift Ideas? Here You Go, Outdoorsy Types

Starting my Christmas shopping now pic.twitter.com/ShJit85MTG

— College Football Zone (@CollegeFBonX) December 24, 2025

We’ve all been guilty of procrastinating to get that last-minute gift shopping done. So why not let our seasoned veteran outdoorsy savants Scott and Tiffany Haugen assist you with some great ideas to satisfy the hunter and/or wild fish and game chef in your life. Here’s a story from our December issue to give you some desperation-heave ideas:

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

When we lived on the North Slope in the 1990s, plus Hyder, Alaska, earlier this decade, we loved winter. It was a time to rest, catch up on sleep and dream of upcoming hunting and fishing adventures. It was also a time to shop.

Back in the early 1990s, catalogs were our lifeline to the outside world of hunting and fishing gear. Now we have the internet, making for easy, fun Christmas shopping. With that, here are some pieces of hunting gear I put to the test this fall – in many in parts of Alaska. It’s stuff I’ll keep using because it works, and I like it.

BENCHMADE MEATCRAFTER AND MINI CLAYMORE OTF KNIVES
Benchmade’s quality steel and their knives’ ability to hold and regain an edge make them appealing to me. Enter their Meatcrafter. I broke down multiple deer and a bear in the field with this knife. I butchered several animals with it too. The fine trailing point made the blade easy to make precise cuts with, be it separating quarters, fileting backstraps and neck meat, or disarticulating muscle groups, including shanks. It’s sharp and smooth enough to cut perfect steaks. The Meatcrafter comes in three handle and three blade finish options.

Benchmade’s Mini Claymore OTF (Out The Front) is my personal carry knife. This double-action, low-profile knife is easy to operate with one hand, and durable so as to achieve countless tasks. It’s lightweight, holds firmly in any pocket and the Grivory handle makes for easy gripping when your hands are wet or covered in blood. I used this knife on multiple hunts last fall and it achieved numerous jobs, including field dressing and caping big game when in a pinch. Info: benchmade.com.

LIFESTRAW GO SERIES STAINLESS-STEEL BOTTLE
I got the LifeStraw 24-ounce stainless-steel water filter bottle for a two-week trip to the Alaska Peninsula. I ended up using it on multiple big game and bird hunts throughout the West too. The double-wall-insulated, stainless-steel bottle keeps water cold all day, and the integrated two-stage filter removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt, sand, chlorine and odors. The water always tasted good. Info: lifestraw.com.

JETBOIL FLASH 1.0-LITER FAST BOIL SYSTEM

It’s been over 15 years since I got my first Jetboil. When I saw the new Flash 1.0, I had to try it. The boasted fast boil time is for real, which made everyone happy in camp when the coffee was ready in a couple minutes – before they even rolled out of their sleeping bags. The turn and click igniter is a simple but much-appreciated luxury, as are the colored grip zones that make handling easy in low light conditions.

The drink-through lid and heat indicator make it nice for making quick, hot drinks. The three locking points stepped up the pot to burner connection, making it safe and easy to handle. Info: jetboil.johnsonoutdoors.com.

LEUPOLD BX-4 PRO GUIDE BINOCULARS AND SPOTTING SCOPE
The best Leupold binoculars I’ve used are the new BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42s. They’re incredibly lightweight, the eye cups stay put and are extremely comfortable, and the clarity of this glass ranks them up there with the elites. I spent countless hours looking through these in a 10×42, and put in a bit of time gazing through the 12x42s of the same model, which are just as impressive.

Their best spotting scope I’ve gotten behind is the SX-4 Pro Guide HD. I have the 15-45×65, and I have also used a buddy’s x85-millimeter model on a week-long deer hunt. I used the bino and spotter combination on many deer, bear and elk hunts this fall, sometimes looking through them up to six hours a day. When they say HD, they mean it. No eye fatigue, exceptional clarity and both performed well in rain, high winds, blowing dust and when the sun was low on the horizon. Info: leupold.com.

THERMACELL E65 RECHARGABLE MOSQUITO REPELLER
Twenty years have passed since I first used a Thermacell repellent unit on the Nushagak River chasing king salmon. I got to test and help in their development, and did so for two years before they hit the market. Since then, I’ve used them throughout Alaska. I still use them, and the new E65 has me excited.

This version of the E65 is a rechargeable repeller that’s great for early-season camps. It takes only two hours to fully charge and runs for six and a half continuous hours, offering a 20-foot zone of protection. The repellent cartridge burns for 36 hours. The entire unit is airline travel-safe, as there is no butane cartridge like in previous models. It works great for mosquitos, no-see-ums and white socks. Info: thermacell.com.

SITKA DEW POINT RAIN GEAR

Sitka now has rain gear made to withstand the harsh demands of Alaska. I tested the new Dew Point Pro series in driving rain for hours and day after day in the Pacific Northwest. This is their toughest rain gear yet. The Dew Point Pro Pant offers ample legroom for layering. The reinforced knees are great for breaking down game and crawling on the ground. The bellowed pockets are a nice feature.

The design of the Dew Point Pro Jacket is long in the tail to maximize the shedding of rain, and the large hood is nice when layering and combating high winds. Uniquely designed pockets and zippers maximize space and temperature control. It’s easy to add too many layers under the Pro series, so go light if planning on hiking all day. Info: sitkagear.com.

There’s more good gear that I’ll try to highlight in future columns, but for now, take this shopping list and run with it. Admittedly, the items today are pricey, but each of these are built to last for years. Happy holidays and enjoy that winter shopping. ASJ

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular hunting and fishing books, visit scotthaugen@yahoo.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

BEST TOOLS TO CRUSH IT IN THE KITCHEN AND ON THE CAMP STOVE

BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

This month isn’t about recipes; rather, let’s look at some great gift ideas for the holiday season. These are items I used throughout the year, inside, camping and on the back porch. They’re tools I enjoy and will keep using, and many I wish I would have had during our time living on the North Slope in the 1990s, where all the meat we ate was what we hunted and caught.

BENCHMADE 3 PIECE SET

For over 20 years, knives have been a big part of how I’ve made a living. From processing big game and chopping vegetables while creating hundreds of recipes for magazines, to more than a dozen cookbooks, quality knives have always been appreciated. Enter Benchmade’s 3 Piece Set, which includes an 8-inch chef, 6-inch utility and 4-inch paring knife. Each is crafted with polished, stainless-steel blades that feature extra-smooth edges, which not only increases their sharpness but also their ease of ability to regain an edge. The handle designs are comfortable, no matter how long or how tough your tasks may be.

If looking for a serious knife devoted to breaking down and butchering big game, check out Benchmade’s Meatcrafter. I wish I would have had this knife over 30 years ago when Scott got stranded in another village and left me with a moose and Dall sheep to butcher. Info: benchmade.com.

DURACELL 3,000 LUMENS SOLAR LANTERN

When camp-cooking in the dark, there’s no such thing as too much light. I’ve used a lot of lanterns over the years, and the rechargeable Duracell 3,000 Lumens Solar Lantern is impressive, both in performance and price point. It’s bright beyond belief and makes chopping, slicing and handling hot items safer, and it works great outdoors as well as inside – think power outages and cooking in a dark house in the middle of winter.

This lantern is tough, weather-resistant and has a crazy-long runtime. It features multiple power options, including solar, rechargeable battery and Qi wireless charging, and it’s compatible with D batteries. Info: myproduct.duracelllights.com.

YETI FOOD JAR, FRENCH PRESS AND INSULATED FOOD BAG
Hot soup tastes better when you’re hunting or fishing and it’s cold and wet outside. This summer and fall I used both sizes of Yeti’s new Insulate Food Jars – 8 and 16 ounces – and loved them. Scott’s also been using them on multiple hunting and fishing trips. The double-walled vacuum insulation keeps food hot all morning – well past lunchtime. The two-piece lids mean no leaks or drips inside my backpack, and they’re easy to clean.

Yeti’s new French Press helped make mornings extra comfortable in camp. I like the 34-ounce model. It’s tough, features a DuraSip ceramic lining and double-wall vacuum insulation, and it makes great coffee.

On a summer trip to the coast I packed our lunch in the 3-liter version of Yeti’s Daytrip Insulated Lunch Box. It kept our egg salad sandwiches and freshly cut vegetables cool all day. I’ve used it many times and in many places since. Because I was putting in so many miles on the road this year, I also got their Daytrip Insulated Lunch Bag. The magnetic closure made for easy access when one hand was full. The 6-liter model is perfect for two people, and with a little ice pack the food stayed cool all day. Info: yeti.com.

DEMERBOX DB1

I was tired of working in the garden and in camps with ear buds that prevented me from hearing others talk. And to properly keep track of our dogs, I looked for a sound system to fit my needs. I found it in the DemerBox DB1.

This single-speaker model offers ample volume for personal entertainment, and I love the fact it’s built into a Pelican case, which equates to durability and being waterproof. In camp, being able to store my phone and truck keys inside the DB1 made keeping track of them easy and worry-free. It features a built-in USB port to charge phones and other accessories, which is a great bonus. Each charge equates to an impressive runtime, plus they’re made in the United States. Info: demerbox.com.

PAKA HOODIE, THERMAL BASE LAYER

Last year, Scott got a hoodie and thermal base layer from Paka. The thermal top and bottom have become his go-to base layer that he’s worn on hunting and fishing trips around the world. He liked the hoodie too, but our oldest son used it once and Scott hasn’t seen it since! Our son has worn that hoodie on multiple trips all over the world; he practically lives in it. Those were my excuses for getting one of each.

On a camping trip last fall, the weather forecast was wrong. I was glad I had both the Paka lightweight hoodie and thermal base layer. They kept me warm all day in the cool, windy conditions. The base layer was comfy in the sleeping bag on cold nights.

Paka apparel is crafted from 100-percent natural materials. The thermal tops and bottoms consist of 40-percent royal alpaca, 40-percent merino wool and 20-percent eucalyptus-based tencel.

What I love about the base layer and lightweight hoodie is how they keep you warm when inactive, yet move moisture and prevent overheating when hiking. In addition to trying this apparel line, you must read the inspiring story behind this great product. Info: pakaapparel.com.

With limited days of shopping until the holiday rush, these are some items worth a closer look. Have a joyous holiday and a happy New Year. ASJ

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular books, including Cooking Big Game, Cooking Game Birds and Cooking Seafood, visit scotthaugen.com.