The 2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Real Gear, Local Shops, and Skills That Last
Let’s not pretend 2025 has been a walk in the park. Between the tariff wars spiking the price of imported steel and that government shutdown in October that left us all wondering if the national parks would even be open, it’s been a weird, turbulent year. The cost of living is up, patience is down, and the last thing any of us needs is another piece of disposable plastic destined for a landfill.
But turbulence has a way of clarifying things. It cuts through the noise. It reminds us that when the supply chains break, it’s the guy at the local bike shop or the mechanic down the street who keeps you taking Side Quests either solo or with family and friends, and hell, isn’t that what this season is all about?
This isn't your standard list of shiny objects. This is the 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for the rest of us. We are pivoting away from big-box bloat and looking at what actually matters: supporting the small businesses that keep our culture alive, investing in skills that don't depreciate, and digital tools that help us get lost.
1. The Local Pivot: Keeping the Lights On
Let’s be honest about the tariffs and the squeeze of 2025. While the corporate giants have armies of accountants to dodge the fallout, the independent shops…the places with grease on the floor and Chester the Cat behind the counter…are taking it on the chin. Rising parts costs and supply chain chaos aren't just headlines; they are the difference between a shop staying open or turning into another vape store.
This holiday, we vote with our wallets. We aren't just buying gifts; we are buying the continued existence of the experts who bail us out when things go sideways.
For the Cyclist: The Sacred LBS
Stop! Do not click "Buy Now" on that faceless mega-retailer. Walk into your Local Bike Shop (LBS). It should smell like rubber, chain lube, and stale coffee. That is the smell of competence.
Take my friends over at The Bikeshop at Woodward Park in Fresno, California. This place isn't just a retailer; it’s a cornerstone. You see fathers walking in who bought their first bike there decades ago, now standing at the same counter, wallet in hand, to buy a first bike for their own kid. That isn't just a transaction; that is a lineage. You can't get that kind of history from a warehouse robot.
Inventory might be thin this year across the board…that's the reality of the market. But shops like this have what actually matters: consumables and expertise.
The "Unsexy" Essentials: High-end tubeless sealant, brake pads, and a premium lock make for perfect stocking stuffers. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps the machine moving.
The Golden Ticket: Buy a gift card for a full tune-up. You aren't just giving your friend a smooth ride; you’re investing in the mechanic who will be the only one willing to straighten your derailleur hanger five minutes before your race next July. You are paying for a relationship.
For the Overlander: The Wizards of Steel
The unsung heroes of the overland world aren't the influencers posting perfectly clean trucks on Instagram. The real heroes are the independent mechanics and custom fabricators trying to run a business in a year where steel prices have gone vertical. These are the people with grease permanently etched into their fingerprints who diagnose the rattle that’s been driving you crazy for 3,000 miles.
You want a prime example? Look at the crew over at Extreme Offroad and Repair.
This isn't a place where they just slap on stickers; these are the surgeons of the 4x4 world. Whether it's complex fabrication or fixing the suspension geometry you messed up in the driveway, they do the heavy lifting that keeps you safe on the trail. You can check out their work on their Facebook page to see what real craftsmanship looks like.
The Gift of Labor: Parts are expensive and delayed this year. Labor is valuable and available. A gift certificate for a suspension alignment, a rigorous multi-point inspection, or a consultation for custom fabrication puts cash directly into the pocket of a skilled tradesperson.
Shop Merch: It sounds small, but buying a hoodie or a hat from your local 4x4 shop keeps the lights on and spreads the word. It’s a badge of honor that says you know who the real experts are.
2. Experiences Over Things: The Gift of Competence
Let’s be real for a second. We live in a culture obsessed with the artifact—the lighter carabiner, the brighter light bar, the carbon-fiber-whatever. But when the trail runs out and the sun goes down, none of that plastic junk matters if you don't know what you're doing.
When gear gets expensive—and in 2025, it is painfully expensive—knowledge remains inflation-proof. As the old adage goes, "Skills weigh nothing." You carry them in your head, not on your back. They are the only gear you can’t lose at the airport or break on a rock. This year, give the gift of not being a liability in the backcountry.
Certification Courses: The "I Want You to Survive" Gift
Buying someone a sweater says, "I thought of you." Buying someone a seat in a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Swiftwater Rescue course says something far more profound: "I want you to be safe, I want you to be capable, and I want you to come home." There are even online courses for those with limited physical access. I’ve taken the Survival Med Wilderness First Aid course and have gifted it to several of my trail mates.
Why it matters: These aren't just merit badges. These are critical life skills. Whether it’s with NOLS, Survival Med, or a local outfit, a certification course transforms a person from a passenger into a participant. It gives them the confidence to handle the chaos when things go sideways. It is the most loving thing you can buy.
These resources helped to create our own Side Quest Overland DIY First Aid Kit. Read that article HERE.
Clinics & Coaching: You Can't Buy Talent (But You Can Rent a Pro)
We all know that guy who buys the $10,000 bike but can’t corner to save his life. Don’t be that guy. And don’t let your friends be that guy.
For the Rider: A session with a local mountain bike skills coach offers a Return on Investment (ROI) that destroys any component upgrade. You think a new derailleur makes you faster? Wrong. Technique makes you faster. A two-hour clinic on body positioning or jumping will unlock speed and joy that no amount of anodized aluminum ever could.
For the Driver: Off-road driving instruction is cheaper than a tow truck and certainly cheaper than a rolled vehicle. Find a local 4x4 school. Learning how to actually read a line, when to engage lockers, and how to self-recover is the difference between an "adventure" and a "survival situation." read more about the ONE SKILL YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT
3. The Digital Toolkit: Subscriptions That Open Doors
Let’s talk logistics. Shipping a steel bumper across state lines right now is a fool’s errand unless you enjoy burning cash. And frankly, your friend who has been riding for twenty years doesn't need another titanium spork.
For the adventurer who has everything (or lives too far away to ship a crate to), digital subscriptions are the ultimate maneuver. No shipping containers, no customs delays, no "out of stock" notifications. Just instant access to the world.
onX Offroad: The Digital Permission Slip
In the backcountry, knowing where you stand is the difference between a perfect night of dispersed camping and a trespassing charge.
The 2025 Edge: With the updates to the onX Offroad Elite tier, the property boundary data is sharper than ever. It is essentially a digital permission slip to explore with confidence. It tells you exactly where the public land ends and the "Get Off My Lawn" begins.
Strava: Beyond the Ego
Forget the "King of the Mountain" (KOM) nonsense. If they are just using the free version, they are missing the point.
The Safety Net: The new "Adventure Maps" and improved winter routing make a Strava subscription a legitimate safety tool for 2026. It’s about planning a route that doesn't end in a rescue helicopter ride. It’s not just about tracking speed; it’s about tracking survival.
If you join the Strava community by reading this post, follow This Strava Account for some of our adventures around the world by bike.
Trailforks Pro: The Lifeline
If they ride dirt, this isn't optional. It’s mandatory.
Offline is King: We all love to get away from it all, until we are actually away from it all and don't know which fork leads back to the truck. The Trailforks Pro subscription unlocks unlimited offline regions. When the cell signal dies—and it will—this app is the only thing keeping them from pedaling in circles in the dark.
Outside+: The Whole Enchilada
Think of this as the "Netflix of the Outdoors," but useful.
The Bundle: It combines Gaia GPS Premium (the gold standard for serious navigation) with access to Outside TV and a massive library of adventure journalism. It is a massive buffet of culture and utility. Perfect for the armchair adventurer dreaming of the next trip, and the hardcore explorer plotting the coordinates.
The Way Forward
We don't get a vote on the global supply chain, and we certainly don't control the noise blowing out of Washington. The world is going to keep spinning, and the price at the pump is going to do whatever it damn well pleases.
But we do have dominion over our own driveway.
This holiday season is a choice between feeding the machine or feeding the ecosystem. You can send your money into the void, or you can invest it in the guy who stays late to fix your suspension. You can invest in the skills that keep you breathing when the weather turns. You can invest in the digital tools that help you find a quiet place to think.
Let’s make 2026 about resilience. Let’s make it about the people and the places that actually matter.
I want to hear from you. Who is the mechanic saving your rig this year? What is the local bike shop or small business in your town that deserves a shoutout? Drop a link to them in the comments below. Let’s build a directory of the good guys right here.
Happy Holidays. Eat well, travel safe, and “Take Time to Explore.”
