UKC

Anyone care to suggest some Christmas present ideas for the keen mountaineer? Stuff I'm interested in is new bits of kit that make a difference, good books on all types of mountaineering, magazine subscriptions, etc...

What I'd recommend to others is:

Summit Fever by Andrew Greig (cheers Graham!)
Alpkit Goudron 25l rucsac.
Games Climbers Play by Ken Wilson
Skytech Argon Insulated Gloves for Scottish Winter
Dickies Insulated Work Gloves for Summer Alps
Venitex Gloves for Skiing
Superlight Nuts
Vertical Magazine
DMM Revolver carabiners
Montane Featherlite Smock
Metolius Refillable Chalkballs
Ultrapod camera tripod

In reply to jonnie3430:

A year's subscription to a local wall?

In reply to jonnie3430:

any other suggstions?

others I can think of are:
Ice screws
BMC Mountain Maps

In reply to Trangia:


That'd be very expensive here! Plus there are two good walls that it is good to split time between...

In reply to jonnie3430:

A good acoustic guitar,for when weather is too bad to go out...

In reply to jonnie3430:

Mirrors in the cliffs the 2nd Ken WIlson compilati
guidebooks they haven't got, the new Skye cuillan one particularly impressed me
Peak rock the new history of climbing from vertebrae
decent socks for moutaineering all to easy to spend all week in the dame pair.
dechathalon short gaiters or soft shell trousers

In reply to jonnie3430:

Whats our Maximum Budget per Present?

In reply to jonnie3430:

Under £5
Primus gas Stand.
Petzl plastic Carabiner pulley wheel.
Survival bag.
Knit them a Scarf or hat.

Under £10
Book.
Silva watch strap Compass.
Material Repair Kit.
Make them a boot bag.
Cam Repair Kit.

Under £15
First aid Kit.
Guidebook cover.

Under £20
A Tricam.
A petzl pulley.
Laminated map of their favourite area.

Under £25
Latest guidebook to their favourite area.
guidebook to somewhere theyve not been.
A Hammock.
New Gaiters.
BD Magnetron krab.
Petzl elite

In reply to jonnie3430:

A framed print of a favourite mountain/location or of a shot they've taken themselves
A 'one pot' recipes book for culinary inspiration
Gift vouchers for PYB / local provider
Pieces of kit that you probably wouldn't buy for yourself (smartphone speakers, lantern for inside the tent, camping coffee machine etc)
A night or 2 in a B&B/bunkhouse/hostel/hotel in the Lakes/Peak/Snowdonia

Basically, something a bit different. I'm sure I'm not alone in being quite particular about the technical kit I use and, unless the present buyer was suitably au fait with the vagaries of that sort of thing, I would n't want to risk disappointment or being overly prescriptive with what I want. For me, the joy of getting (and giving) presents is the thought behind them. If someone knows I like being in the outdoors and buys me a thoughtful present that reflects that, or allows me to do it, then that is worth much more to than someone buying me 5 x DMM revolver krabs because I have asked them to.

Just my 2 cents worth.

In reply to jonnie3430:

I would second the Gourdon recommendation and the comment about not buying kit that they might not want.
If they don't have one, what about a hipflask? I take mine camping a lot, not because I need one but because someone gave it to me. Now when I'm having a dram under the stars, I remember my mate, their thoughtful gift and feel all kinds of glad that I have a supply of alcohol I'd never have carried bar for them!

In reply to jonnie3430:

I have my eye on one of these in the field nano filter flasks things for my daughters to buy me as a present.

After years of just drinking water out of springs and streams,( I have perhaps watched too many episodes of Monsters inside me' ) I have thought I might use one of these if it is quick, and saves the gaff of tablets on really dodgy looking water .

Anyone recommend a good one?

Or am I wasting my money?

In reply to Jim C:
I use a waterstraw from this company and have not experienced any problem - http://www.drinksafe-systems.co.uk. Only practical problem is you need a depth of water of some four inches to work easily hence why the company recommend carrying a plastic bag.
They do the bottle filters also, but I went for the straw as it was only for backup on hills and is light and easy to carry. I did not want to carry an empty filter flask.
> Or am I wasting my money?
Depends on where you are drinking! Near to regular camping area and it makes sense to me if you don't want to boil or use tablets etc.

In reply to jonnie3430:

avalanche transceiver and probe
lightweight shovel
emergency shelter