Stuff a Stocking Right This Season
Just because stocking stuffers are little doesn’t mean they can’t make for perfect gifts! Behold, 19 goodies that’ll lavish lean, clean, green style on your loved ones.
It’s been a big year for envisioning the art of the possible for our society—one built on philosophies of mutual aid and social justice. A coloring book featuring the vibrant, radical work of the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, Be the Change ($15) contains 35 illustrated depictions of resistance, celebration, and pathways toward a more just and climate-resilient future.
What could be better than reminiscing about some fave national park adventures (and adding other parks to the old bucket list) over a game of Gin Rummy or Hearts? We love the aesthetic of these Minimalist National Park Playing Cards ($14) from Parks Project. Plus, the purchase of this gift benefits the National Parks Conservation Association. 
Our sense of smell can send us spinning back through time, rekindling visceral memories of people and places. What if you or a loved one could relive a cherished adventure within the enchanted forests of Sequoia National Park on a daily basis? Not only is The Sequoia Personal Fragrance, crafted by the master perfumers of New York City’s Abbott ($75/50mL; $25/8mL), woodsy, smoky, nontoxic, and unisex, but five percent of proceeds go to The Sequoia Parks Conservancy. That’s right—it’s possible to champion the forest while wearing eau de foret.
Idol Light Jewelry artisans upcycle glass that astronomers and other scientists have rejected for their telescopes and lasers (even the slightest imperfection renders it useless to science) into mesmerizing and singular “eco-bling”($15 to $250). These pieces make a stunning statement about the beauty to be found in “waste.”
Know of a llama-loving coffee drinker? Good news: two certified B Corps—outdoor industry mainstays Miir and Cotopaxi—teamed up to create this 16-oz. llama-inspired tumbler ($22). Help your loved ones cut out single-use plastic. Sales contribute to Water First, a nonprofit that provides water access to communities in Honduras.
Now think of the loved ones on your list who are as addicted to dogs as they are to good coffee. Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. was created to pay canines’ contagious joy forward—20 percent of all profits from these small-batch, organic Arabica coffee products fund a variety of innovative and impactful rescue endeavors throughout the United States. Because this past fall was such a cataclysmic hurricane season, for instance, Grounds & Hounds teamed up with The SATO Project to rescue, airlift, and re-home abandoned dogs (see photo, above) from the streets of storm- and earthquake-ravaged Puerto Rico to New Jersey. For the giftee who likes to mix things up, we’d recommend the Three Blend Starter Kit, which comes with the medium light “Morning Walk,” medium “Paper & Slippers,” and dark roast “Alpha Blend” ($28). And for those who like to kick off the morning with true purpose, there’s Rescue Roast ($15), a full-bodied medium blend with notes of caramel, dark chocolate, raisin, and toasted pecan. Through January 15th, a full 100 percent of Rescue Roast profits will benefit New York’s North Shore Animal League America’s Humane Relocation Program, which transports at-risk shelter dogs to safety. 
OK dog people, we know exactly who your preferred adventure buddy is. Only problem is, Fido’s idea of a grand time in the Great Outdoors probably involves some prancing and rolling through dirt and mud. Give your favorite dog people the gift of a tidier car and home with the gift of the Mud Dog Travel Shower ($13) from Kurgo. Simply screw this magical little dishwasher-safe silicone device onto just about any water bottle, and voila, you’ve got yourself an instant, two-minute shower for dogs… or, well, for anyone. (On that note, this gift might be a game-changer for the smelly backpackers in your orbit… )
Beyond Good’s Flavors of Madagascar Set ($85) is perfect for baking wizards, chocolate fiends, and adventurous foodies. The chocolatiers behind Beyond Good work directly with Madagascar farmers, helping them to gain organic certification, and then grow, ferment, and dry heirloom cocoa according to agroforestry practices designed to optimally behoove both cocoa plants and surrounding wildlife (especially lemurs!). Your giftees will be blown away by this set’s six different bars showcasing the singular flavors of Madagascar heirloom cocoa (which tastes nothing like most store-bought chocolate), not to mention its premium vanilla extract and bourbon vanilla beans.
Stuffing any backcountry gourmands’ stockings? The brainchildren of an Iron Chef-winning artisan and her wilderness therapy counselor/wildland firefighter/ski patroller/nurse husband, Good To-Go trail meals require only hot water and 15 to 20 minutes. All Good To-Go fare, which ranges from Thai curries and Indian veggie kormas to traditional pasta marinara and clam chowder options, is protein-rich and clean (i.e., there aren’t preservatives and additives). This year, two new entrees (vetted and enthusiastically approved by Sierra editors) rolled out: chicken pho and a Cuban rice bowl (both $15 for a double serving).
A highly sustainable crop, hemp requires zero pesticides and has deep root systems that boost soil health and prevent erosion. This magical plant, it turns out, also makes for a sock that’s darn soft, cozy, and naturally odor-resistant. Longtime adventure outfitters Royal Robbins harnessed hemp’s bona fides to create unisex Hemp Socks ($16 to $28). They donate portions from every sale to the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund to support projects that help local economies that are dependent on tourism to remain resilient during these challenging times, and also protect cultural and natural resources.
We can all stand to reduce our impact by taking better care of our electronic devices, so as to forgo wasteful “upgrades” and replacements. The OtterBox Mobile Device Care Kit ($8) helps giftees keep their phone in good, spiffy shape, with three screen and port brushes, a microfiber cloth, and alcohol cleaning wipes.
And then there’s the issue of phone cases. In an effort to curb the production of virgin plastic and keep existing plastics from clogging up the ocean, Lifeproof earlier this year introduced the WĀKE ($40), made from plastic caught in commercial fishers’ ropes and nets. Lifepoof has since upcycled plastic into an array of other cases custom-made for various smartphone sizes and models. Once your giftee’s done with their case, they can give it a second life through the company’s Life Cycle program.
Research shows that neck gaiters can protect wearers and others from COVID-19 just as well as cloth masks. Great news for runners, climbers and other athletes, because the comfy, lightweight Face Covering/Neck Gaiter ($16) from ORO can be worn around the neck (where it actually looks pretty stylish) until needed—which is way easier and safer than whipping a mask on and off. ORO’s quick-dry material stays put, no problem, can be thrown in the wash, and comes in 16 fetching colors.
Vegans and carnivores alike will be grateful for Gordini’s new Cache colletion animal-free “leather” and “suede” mittens ($90). Not only do they keep paws toasty and dry, but they’re made from a synthetic leather called Clutch, which has actually proved to be more highly durable, abrasion-resistant, and breathable (no sweaty hands!) than cowhide. What’s more, these mittens’ manufacture requires 60 percent less water than their leather counterparts.
Whether your loved ones have found quarantine comfort in staying up all night reading or social distancing in a tent, Snow Peak’s Mini Hozuki LED Lantern ($43) will enhance the experience. It’s compact, comes with a powerful magnetic fastener, and radiates a warm, candle-esque glow.
Wanna hear a not-so-pretty truth? Waste from disposable beauty and personal care products, by some estimates, accounts for a third of all landfill real estate. Made from recycled plastic, the Original High Fiver ($39) is a leak-proof vessel that’ll let loved ones bring any goops on the go, eliminating the need for tiny travel bottles and problematic “minis.”
Even (and perhaps especially) the person who has everything will delight in a stocking stuffed with plant-based aromatherapy body butters. The butter-churners behind Brossily Bath and Body whip up plant-based, non-toxic varieties in four lovely scents—citrus, lavender, vanilla, and cedarwood ($24 each). These butters will leave your loved ones’ skin unbelievably velvety while sending their senses on vacation.
Love giving uberpragmatic gifts? The ultralight, compact, and intuitive-to-use CLEAR2O Personal Water Filter ($37) reduces 99.9 percent of all biological contaminants and microplastics from water—ensuring that your loved ones stay hydrated while backpacking, traveling, and in the event a hurricane or other natural disaster ravages their city, threatening fresh water supplies. Plus, it comes with a one-liter collapsible bottle with a sport cap and carabiner—easy to clip to any backpack or travel bag.
Made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, Nomadix towels ($44 to $55) make great gifts for yogis, swimmers, campers, parents, and anyone else with an on-the-go lifestyle. They’re lightweight (17 oz.), pack down small, sand- and pet hair-resistant, buttery soft, and available in a ton of fun (yet dye-free!) prints.
Read more: sierraclub.org
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