Top Ten Gifts for the Outdoorsman

The best gifts are those from the heart. Give the farmer, hunter, or outdoorsman in your life one of the following heartfelt gifts and he/she will smile for years.

(1) Carhartt Insulated Clothing
Carhartt has been a leading brand name in farm wear for years. Their brown Insulated Coveralls are very heavy duty and warm. The coverall is made of 12 oz., 100% cotton duck and lined with mid-weight 100% nylon quilting. (Now do you believe me about being warm and comfortable?) The Carhartt coverall has a two-way front zipper with a wind flap and snap closures. The coverall also has a two-way leg zipper that opens to the waist and has protective wind flaps and snap closures. Carhartt coveralls have five-pockets, including two covered zipper chest pockets. The corduroy top collar has snaps on the underside for a detachable hood.

An insulated jacket also makes a wonderful gift for this upcoming cold season. Carhartt jackets are available in many sizes, linings, and colors. One of the more popular models is the brown Carhartt Duck Active Jacket that is fleece-lined. The Carhartt jacket features lined sleeves, an attached fleece lined hood with adjustable drawcord, zipper front, front hand-warmer pockets, rib-knit cuffs, and a bottom band that keeps the cold drafts out on chilly, windy Winter days.

Carhartt clothing can be found at Tractor Supply Company and online by doing a Google search for Carhartt. Prices are very affordable.

(2) Magazines
Know a farmer or outdoorsman who doesn't read enough? When they get their hands on one of these magazines, they won't put it down! What activities does your farmer or outdoorsman enjoy? There is a magazine out there for all types of activities, animals, and sports. Browse the magazine racks at your local bookstore or in the grocery store line. There's Sport Fishing for saltwater anglers, Horse Illustrated for Equine lovers, Progressive Farmer and Acreage for farmers, and Field & Stream and Outdoor Life to name a few more popular titles. Buy them a year's subscription to a magazine or two. Sometimes magazines offer special free items for new subscribers.

(3) Bug Repellent Clothing
Hate mosquitoes and other pesky bugs? BUZZ OFF is a new line of clothing that actually repels bugs! This new product combines Permethrin (a man-made form of a natural insect repellent found in the Chrysanthemum plant) with a new patent pending process. BUZZ OFF apparel is a smart way to protect yourself and family against annoying insects that can carry the West Nile virus WITHOUT any Deet or typical repellent smell. Simply wearing a short sleeve BUZZ OFF shirt with BUZZ OFF shorts and socks will provide substantial protection. In heavily infested areas you will get increased protection by wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants. BUZZ OFF clothing provides protection from insects through 25 washings. You can wash with laundry detergent, iron, etc, but DO NOT dry clean because doing so will remove the active repellent ingredient. The cost of BUZZ OFF clothing is no more than a regular garment.

(4) Carhartt Waterproof Work Boots
The Carhartt 9'' Insulated Waterproof Work Boot keeps your feet warm and dry on cold, snowy winter days. The 9'' Carhartt Work Boot features waterproof leather, Dri-Lex lining, a watertight membrane, and 400 Gram Thinsulate Lining to ensure dryness and warmth throughout the toughest and wettest work days. The oil/slip-resistant, removable, polyurethane sole keeps your footing stable and comfortable. Prices range from $120 to $170 for a pair.

(5) Apple iPod
According to a recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters' (NAFB) study, farmer use of iPods has grown to about 5 percent. An iPod would be a great gift to give anyone this Christmas. They come in different colors and storage capacities. For those who are outdoors a lot, the iPod can plug into your car's stereo, tractor stereos, and some iPod-capable portable radios. An iPod that's playing favorite tunes would make any outdoor job more fun!

(6) Truck Bed Storage
Give the gift of a low profile tool box this Christmas. If your recipient has a truck full of junk or expensive items that may be stolen, a tool box is the storage answer. They come in white, silver, and black, as well as in aluminum and steel construction. Most can be locked for safety.

Another option is a Tonneau bed cover. It runs the entire length of the truck bed and allows for quick access to items beneath by folding, lifting, or rolling the cover over. They are made in hard tops, fiberglass, retractable, and soft materials. Tonneau covers come in many colors as well (some shops are able to match the color to your factory truck paint color).

(7) Uniden Two-Way Radios
Feel like a kid again with walkie-talkies (adult term = Two-Way Radios)! Prices start at about $20 for a pair of Uniden radios that work up to 10 miles and $90 for a Uniden pair that have a range of 18 miles. Check the amenities of each model because some offer animal calls for hunters and also weather alerts, both of which can be important to outdoorsmen.

(8) eTrex Legend Portable GPS
This hand-held Global Positioning System navigation unit shows position and will lead you anywhere in the world and back. And, it tells you the time required to get there! It's just like a marine GPS, but with these hand-held models, you can take them with you in the woods and on trips. The map contains lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads and coastlines already installed but you can add more using your computer. This would be a great gift for the person who is always getting lost!

(9) Penn Captiva Reel
Simple, yet necessary stuff for all outdoorsmen includes new fishing rods and reels and tackle boxes. Since the waters are cooling down on the Atlantic and Gulf waters, a lot of fishermen will stay in the bays and a few miles offshore to fish. A wonderful gift to give would be a Penn Captiva series spinning reel. I own three of these and they are excellent, smooth reels that catch and land lots of big fish with ease. Depending on the size you choose, prices range from $40 to $60. Many tackle stores sell the reels already on a rod. Those prices run about $80.

(10) Deep Fry Turkey Cooking Equipment
Other items that will make great holiday gifts are outdoor cooking items. Deep-frying turkey cookers are a popular item. Companies are even making electric models now, which is an alternative to the typical propane. You can find these fryers at WalMart and most any retail store. Prices start at $70 and can go as high as $200, depending on size and included accessories.