Do you know someone who basically lives at the local climbing gym? Are you friends with a person whose only personality trait is taking their dog hiking? Or maybe your partner is obsessed with the idea of living in a van (#vanlife) and traveling the country?
If any of these groups sound like you or someone you know, you’ve been exposed to the granola lifestyle. Similar to gorpcore, folks who fit the granola aesthetic are typically into camping, hiking, and kayaking, and have probably talked about moving to Colorado one day (guilty). They love to be outdoors, sip craft beer, and of course, wear Patagonia fleece sweaters.
Outdoorsy folk have taken to TikTok with the hashtags #granolagirl, #granolaboy, and #granolacheck over the last few years to show off their adventurous, outdoor-oriented lifestyles. For many, getting into nature was a direct response to feeling cooped up during the lockdowns of the early pandemic. The summer of 2021 saw record numbers in Americans visiting national parks, so it’s clear that the granola lifestyle has a pretty far reach these days.
How to shop for an outdoorsy gift
For people who are unsure about adventure gear themselves but still want to find the perfect granola gift this holiday season, we chatted with outdoor expert and REI softgoods Lead and Virtual Outfitter Mike Kreis for some outdoor gear shopping tips.
Kreis suggests that you consider how long your giftee has been into their activity, whether it’s hiking, skiing, camping, or climbing. “The longer they have been doing the activity, the more gear they will have,” he says.
If your gift recipient already owns some gear, Kreis says it’s best to go for nonessentials. “I always like to go with items that aren’t necessarily needed for the activity, as they most likely have that,” he says. So opt for a portable charger, a cozy outdoor blanket, or extra camp cooking gadgets. Really, anything that can make outdoor life more comfortable will make a great gift.
If you find yourself shopping for the outdoorsy person in your life, look no further. We’ve rounded up 30 of the best presents out there, whether their version of adventure is having a picnic in the park or roughing it in the back country.
