Colorado 14er Gift Ideas | 29 Presents for Peak Baggers
If you’ve got a 14er peak bagger among your friends and family, it’s a great opportunity to find a gift that fits their unique hobby and interest. As an avid 14er climber myself, I spend a day collecting some of the best Colorado 14er gift ideas I could find from all over the internet. I’ve sorted the best 29 ideas according to their type below. Happy shopping!
RELATED READ: BEST HIKING BOOTS FOR HIKING 14ERS | MY THREE TOP PICKS
Colorado 14er Gift Ideas: Hiking & Camping Gear
1) Emergency Bivy
There’s no better present than safety and security on the trail. An emergency bivy can be lifesaving if you have to spend an unplanned night outdoors in alpine terrain if you get lost or injured. A basic starter bivy only costs $50 or less, but provides far more value than that if you ever need to use it in the field.
2) Water Filtration System
Water is another critical requirement to survive in the mountains if something goes wrong. A water filtration system provides a backup source of water from the many streams and alpine lakes that dot the Rocky Mountains. While some people prefer other methods of water treatment, a filtration system is among the most widely used.
3) Kahtoola Microspikes
If you hike in the spring or fall in Colorado, microspikes come in handy following snow showers that make the trail slick. If you’re hiking in winter, they’re an absolute necessity for navigating snowy and icy terrain. I recommend the Kahtoola brand specifically, known for the high quality and dependability of their products. They perform when you need them.
4) Osprey Talon 22 Backpack
This day backpack from Osprey has all the features you could want for a 14er hiking bag. The 22 liters of storage space is perfect for extra layers, first aid kit and other gear needed for short day trips. Plenty of room to store all these other Colorado 14er gift ideas! A stow-and-go trekking pole attachment and ice tool storage, along with tons of pockets, provide a spot for everything. On top of that it’s extremely comfortable.
5) Salomon X Ulta 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
I’ve used these hiking boots for all of my 14er climbs and have never regretted the purchase! They’re an amazingly comfortable pair of boots with good ankle support and gore-tex material to help your feet breath. They’re waterproofed too, which is great for stream crossings and muddy, snowy trails.
6) Adventure Medical Mountain Kit
A lot of 14er hikers never take the time to purchase a proper first aid kit. A small little kit from the store likely lacks a lot of the supplies you need in the alpine environment. A more sophisticated first aid kit like this series provides everything you need to stay safe and secure when climbing the Colorado 14ers.
7) Jet Boil Backpacking Stove
The Jet Boil Stove System is one of the best on the market for mountaineers and backpackers alike. The system boils water in a matter of minutes, providing liquid for coffee or rehydrating meals faster than ever. It also makes melting snow speedy at altitude where that’s your only source. This is one of the pricier Colorado 14er gift ideas on the list, but it’s worth the cost.
8) Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
Trekking poles help a lot when hiking and climbing in the mountains. On the way up they allow you to use your arms to propel yourself forward and upward. On the way down, they help reduce the impact on your knees and joints. Even better, the provide stability and balance for creek crossings or patches of snow and ice on the trail.
Colorado 14er Gift Ideas: Tracking Climbs
9) Magnetic 14er Accomplishment Map
This stylized map features a horizon with all fifty-eight of the Colorado fourteeners stenciled in. It also comes with fifty-eight red magnets that you can use to track your progress as you climb to keep track of your completed summits.
10) Colorado Fourteener Scratch Off Poster
This poster with all of the fifty-eight Colorado 14ers has a section to peel off following each of your ascents, revealing a new design underneath. It’s a fun and unique way to track your progress towards climbing them all, especially for younger climbers like your kids!
11) 14er Pin Tracking Map
This board comes in three different color schemes and features all fifty-eight fourteeners. Choose the colors you love most. Use pins to track your summits and display your progress on your wall.
12) Colorado 14er Map
This classic map features a stylized list of the 14ers, along with a list section where you can check or cross off each peak as you go. This no-frills option is great for folks who just want the basics for tracking their 14er journey over time.
13) Colorado 14er Summit Stamp Register
This innovative tracking map includes a more modern approach, with stylized pictures of each fourteener and an ink pad and rubber stamp to mark your accomplishment. This fun, creative way to remember your adventures has a sleek, modern appeal.
14) Fourteener Journal & Logbook
This tracking tool is a bit different from the other options. Bring this journal and logbook with you on your climbs to take notes and respond to prompts about your time in the mountains. The result is a record of your trips you can read and re-read for years to come.
15) Colorado 14er Checklist Flag
A more out-of-the-box checklist solution is this Fourteener Flag! With the name of each Colorado 14er and a spot to add a checkmark and date, you can bring the flag to each summit and ceremoniously sign and wave it from the top. This is one of the more creative Colorado 14er gift ideas on the list.
Colorado 14er Gift Ideas: Mountain Apparel
16) Colorado 14er Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
This long sleeve t-shirt is my favorite of all the clothing here, with a fun, stylized graphic that includes the names of all the Colorado fourteeners. Long sleeves are great for cool spring or fall evenings in the mountains so you can wear this piece out in the field or camping.
17) Colorado Flag 14er Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
This fourteener short-sleeved T-Shirt is a better option for hot summer days. Themed after the Colorado flag, it also features the names of all the fifty-eight Colorado fourteeners.
18) Colorado Fourteener Socks
Anyone who hikes appreciates the importance of a good pair of socks. These Colorado Fourteener socks aren’t just good at warming your feet – they also show off your love of the state and these tall peaks. This is one of the best Colorado 14er Gift Ideas here.
19) Hiking Squad 14er Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
This unique T-Shirt features a sketch of a group of hikers and climbers enjoying the view from the top of a Colorado fourteener. For anyone who has sat and enjoyed the summit view themselves, they’ll enjoy this t-shirt as a reminder of the experience.
20) Rocky Mountains Baseball Cap
Colorado 14er Gift Ideas: Mountain Books & Movies
21) Colorado's Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs
22) The Dawn Wall
The Dawn Wall tells the story of Tommy Caldwell’s world famous climb of the Dawn Wall, arguably the most difficult climbing route in the world. Located in the heart of Yosemite National Park, the movie takes you on a journey through mountain ranges around the world as Tommy prepares for the most difficult ascent of his life.
23) Colorado 14er Disasters
24) Touching the Void
25) The Colorado 14ers: The Best Routes
26) Free Solo
In the world of climbing today, Free Solo is probably the most well known movie, catapulted into popular culture after winning an Oscar. Join Alex Honnold on his quest to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without any protection or ropes, 2,500 feet off the ground.
27) Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled--and Knuckleheaded--Quest for the Rocky Mountain High
This book tells the story of one Peak Bagger’s adventures summiting all of the fifty-eight Colorado fourteeners. With stories that many Colorado climbers can relate to, it’s an entertaining read that takes place right here in the Rocky Mountains.
28) Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills
If Mountaineering had an official text book, this would be it. Freedom of the Hills is among the most well known instructional climbing texts in the world, now in its ninth edition. For aspiring mountaineers looking to advance their technical skills, this is the perfect holiday gift.
29) Roof of the Rockies: A History of Colorado Mountaineering
For the mountaineering history buff, Roof of the Rockies is a must have. The book tells the story of Colorado mountaineering, including some of the sport’s most famous legends like Albert Ellingwood and Eleanor Ehrman née Davis. It’s my personal favorite of all these Colorado 14er Gift Ideas.
Alex is an Eagle Scout, climber, and environmental policy expert located in Denver, Colorado. He created The Next Summit to help others stay safe exploring the mountains and advocate to preserve the peaks for the future. Follow him on Linkedin or Twitter or click here to contact him.
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