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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW OUTDOOR JOURNAL Play local, pay local Here's a holiday gift guide for your favorite nature lover Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 12, 2014 at 1:15 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 12, 2014 at 1:15 PM » Social News 'Tis the season to shop at the small boxes. Rogue Valley outdoorsmen and women sure like to play local, and now's a good time to pay local, too, while checking off those gift lists and helping put some dead presidents in area cash registers. Last year, Oregon Outdoors leaned on outdoor writers from across the Pacific Northwest to weigh in on what they thought was cool stuff for presents, and the ensuing list provided a slew of excellent offerings. But it was all stuff available at big-box shops or online retail mavens. This year we're doing an about-face for our shopping ideas. We asked the good folks at several locally owned outdoor stores what they thought might make good holiday presents, and their list is not only clever and useful but also keeps your money in the Rogue Valley. From stocking stuffers to regular presents to big-ticket items, here's what local retailers think local outdoors people might enjoy to give or receive this holiday season. Many of the gifts can be found at any local outdoor store. Solar-powered lantern — The Luci inflatable solar-powered lantern is great for backpackers, campers and those floating the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River. Ultralight and compact, it inflates to the size of a beach ball. Leave it in the sun for a while and get yourself 40 lumens of light at night. $15, Ashland Outdoor Store. Clic readers — Face it, your eyesight isn't what it used to be, but it's not so bad that you want to bring your spendy prescription glasses while wading the Rogue on a steelhead fishing trip. These sassy cheater-glasses have their own strap and attach by two magnets between the eyes. They easily pull apart to put on and off. $15.97, The Black Bird Shopping Center. Banana-Saver — "It's exactly what it sounds like," says Casey Carlson at the Ashland Outdoor Store. It's a plastic casing shaped like a banana that protects it from bruising while being bumped around in backpacks or lunchboxes. "It's pretty practical," Carlson says. "We sell a surprising large number of these to Pacific Crest Trail hikers and parents to put in their kids' lunches." $6, Ashland Outdoor Store. Camo dog leash — Every outdoor dog needs a chance to flash some true outdoor bling with that distinctive camouflage flair. Remington makes a high-quality, inch-wide dog collar that sells for $13.59 at the Grange Co-op in Medford. Toss in an inch-wide leash that's strong and fray-resistant for another $13.59. Water flask — Hydro Flask of Bend makes a nifty set of stainless steel, insulated water bottles that are some of the best at keeping hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold. "Fill it with ice water at 8 a.m. when it's 100 degrees in Medford, leave it in your truck all day long, then go out at 9 p.m. and you still have ice in it," says Scott Keith, owner of the Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford. $19 small, $49 growler, Northwest Outdoor Store. Hop Along Spider Box — Every Christmas needs at least one gag gift and this takes the cake. The Black Bird Shopping Center has a guy in Arkansas make these boxes with a sliding top. Open it and a fake spider jumps onto your hand. "I think it's horrible because people get really scared by it, but we do sell a lot of them at Christmastime," Black Bird's Joy Erickson says. "Once in a while you'll hear someone scream downstairs (on the store floor) and you know what's going on." $15.97 at Black Bird. Winterized CamelBak — Using day packs to keep hydrated has been a staple for hikers, mountain bikers and others in the summer, but the packs have taken awhile to translate into winter use because water can freeze in the drinking tube. CamelBak's Zoid comes with an insulated tube perfect for snowboarders, snowmobilers and even hunters who need water but don't want to move in their blind. $55, Northwest Outdoor Store. Duffel bag — Hunters, anglers, rafters and hikers can spend hundreds of dollars on their gear and clothing but transport them in the traveling equivalent of a Hello Kitty backpack. Carlson at the Ashland Outdoor Store raves about Patagonia's Black Hole series of duffel bags. They're water-resistant, very light and ultra-durable and come in a wide range of sizes. 30-liter sells for $60, 100-liter for $220, Ashland Outdoor Store. Camp featherbed — The Exped Downmat is the blow-up mattress to end all blow-up mattresses. It rolls up into the size of a loaf of bread and when inflated it forms a 3-inch cushion. But the trick with this one is that the chamber is full of goose-down, creating not only extra comfort but also a thermal barrier that allows you to sleep on snow. Perfect for old bones in elk camp or a way to coax pampered sleepers into the outdoors. "You know the saying, 'If mamma ain't happy, no one is,'" Keith says. $89 to $149, depending upon size and whether it contains a built-in air pump, Northwest Outdoor Store. Commercial-grade vacuum sealer — Standard vacuum sealers tend to wear out after a few chinook salmon seasons, and there's nothing worse than a sub-standard sealer because they can cause freezer burn on your best catches. The Weston Pro 2300 is a commercial-grade sealer that has a wide sealer and the ability to create custom-sized bags. If it's good enough for marijuana growers, it's good enough for fishermen. $399 at Black Bird. Nano Air Hoody — This isn't your skater-son's hoody. Patagonia has come out with a new insulated jacket that has become a new rage in Ashland, more for its usability than looks. The fabric and insulation are extremely breathable and stretchable so it's probably as good as you can get for mountain bikers, hikers and cross-country skiers. $299, Ashland Outdoor Store. Inflatable life jacket — For adults in Oregon, life jackets have to be accessible while on the water but not necessarily worn. For adults in Oregon, that means not wearing them, largely because of bulk and comfort issues. An inflatable life jacket, particularly one worn around the waist, solves both issues. It feels like a belt until crunch time, then a quick tug triggers a CO2 canister that quickly inflates it to where it has more buoyancy than the Class V vests worm by serious whitewater rafters. Northwest River Supply makes an excellent one for $99. It's reusable with replacement cartridges, but if you find you're using your emergency life jacket too often, perhaps you better start reading gift guides for golfers. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 12, 2014 at 1:15 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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