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Uinta Mountains Notch Lake

American Made Gift Ideas: Over $100

By Matt Mullins  Last updated: November 3, 2021

Below you will find gifts proudly built by craftsmen and women in the USA with careful attention to detail. I’ve selected the best performing gear that would bring a smile to any outdoors enthusiast. The following sellers were chosen for their competitive pricing, affordable and often free expedited shipping, and ease of returns.

Gift Guide Sections

​Council Tool Wood-Craft Axe

This is a superb bushcraft axe with top notch fit and finish that easily competes with the premium Swedish axes like Gransfors Bruk. It comes with a beautifully finished 2 lb 5160 steel head and a premium American Hickory handle. If you’re OCD and looking for a flawless American made general purpose forest axe then this is the one for you. Council Tool’s Wood-Craft Axe earns our Editor’s Choice for its excellence. I prefer the 24″ handle version but some will prefer the shorter 19″ handle.
Last observed price range: ~ $160

 

Click for Current Pricing at Amazon.com

Click for Current Pricing at Forestry-Suppliers.com

American Optical Original Pilot

The AO Original Pilot sunglasses are the original aviators.  These high quality classics have been issued to millions of U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen since 1958.
Last observed price range: ~ $189 – 200

Click for Current Pricing from Amazon.com

Women's Danner Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boot

The Women’s Mountain Light is a stylish yet burly hiking boot. This is the same boot as worn in the film and found on the cover of the best selling book, “Wild“.
Last observed price range: ~ $360

 

 

Click for Current Pricing from Amazon
Click for Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
Click for Current Pricing from REI.com

Surefire Titan Plus

Three hundred blinding lumens make the Titan Plus the best and brightest little AAA battery flashlight made. It’s nearly indestructible, fits on a keychain, and has three brightness levels of 300, 75, and 15 lumens. The Titan Plus comes with a rechargeable AAA battery but also takes alkaline batteries.
Last price observed: ~ $116

 

Click for Current Pricing from Amazon.com

Best Buy Ultralight Backpack

ULA Ohm 2.0

Ultra Light Adventure’s well thought out design, comfortable suspension, durable materials, and ultra light weight make the Ohm 2.0 a favorite on long distance thru-hikes like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, and earns it the Best Buy Award for backpacking. This is the most comfortable ultralight pack around and happens to be my personal go-to backpacking pack. It’s a very close contest for Editor’s Choice between the HMG 2400 and this pack. I ultimately believe the ULA is the better value but you will need to cover it up in wet weather unlike the HMG. I’ve happily carried my Ohm 2.0 all over the Rocky Mountains and deserts of home and also through Nepal and Thailand rain or shine. ULA provides a variety of sizes and colors (including multicam) to suit your preference. While the the Ohm 2.0 is my top choice, I believe most folks will prefer the slightly larger Circuit or Catalyst packs depending on the compactness of your gear. My gear tends to be as light and compact as it gets.
Last observed price: $225

 

Click for Current Pricing from ULA

Editor's Choice Best Folding Knife

Zero Tolerance 0452CF

My favorite knife of all time and the one I carry most, the 0452CF has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. It may be a little big for some people but it’s just right for me. I love the sleek Sinkevich design, premium materials, and precision craftsmanship. I’ve field dressed elk and mule deer with it, carried it most days for a couple years and even lightly batoned wood with it in a wet pinch on multiple occasions (I don’t actually recommend batoning with folding blades, you WILL eventually break it). Though it boasts a relatively large 4.1″ blade made of awesome CPM-S35VN steel (my favorite blade steel for folders), it still weighs a comfortable 4.4 oz. It’s slim design and deep carry pocket clip make it feel like carrying a smaller knife. The blade detent, ball bearing pivot, frame lock, and flipper combine perfectly for a fast, silky smooth flipping action. The secret of it’s great size to weight ratio are the handle materials, with carbon fiber on one side and titanium on the other. It might be a bit pricey but I doubt you can find a better premium knife costing twice as much, including Sebenzas in my opinion.
Last price range observed: $240

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com

Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool

The Leatherman Signal has practically everything you could wish for in a survival tool. It is an innovative full featured multi-tool that contains a fire starter and a diamond coated sharpener. The Signal features 19 tools including: Needlenose pliers, regular pliers, 154CM replaceable hard-wire cutters, wire stripper, 420HC combo knife, saw, hammer, awl w/ thread loop, can opener, bottle opener, 1/4″ hex bit driver, bit driver, 1/4″ box wrench, carabiner, 3/16″ box wrench, safety whistle, ferrocerium fire rod, diamond coated sharpener.
Last observed price: ~ $110 – 120

 

 

Click for Current Pricing from Amazon

Click for Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com

Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping Bag

The Ultralite is a cozy 850+ fill down (guaranteed min. 850 fill but typically 900+) bag accurately rated to 20 degrees F and weighing in at just 1 lb 13 oz (reg). I find 20 F bags to be the most versatile bags, comfortable over a wide range of climates from alpine to desert. The Ultralite is a narrow and efficient mummy bag, if you’re shoulders are wider then I recommend the roomier but similar Alpinlite. I use an Ultralite for my personal bag and love it.

Last observed price: $525 – 540

Click for Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

Topo Designs Klettersack 25L

Do you just want a simple day pack that’s well made, affordable, and good looking both on hikes and in town? The Topo Designs Klettersack fulfills those needs. Importantly for your daily commute pack, the Klettersack includes a protective internal sleeve for your laptop and plenty of room for daily essentials. You can find these packs in a bright variety of colors and materials.

Weight: 30 oz

Volume: 25 L

Last observed price: $169 – 189

 

Click for Current Pricing at Backcountry

Click for Current Pricing at Moosejaw

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad

Do you want the lightest 3-season pad? Do you also value comfort and durability? The NeoAir Xlite is your pad (and my pad). It weighs 12 oz (reg size), packs to the size of a 1L nalgene bottle, and has thick 2.5″ cushioning with a warm R-value of 3.2. I’ve personally used an Xlite and XTherm pad for the past three years and highly recommend them for a super comfy ultralight pad. One thing to note is the Xlite and XTherm pads produce a crinkly sound when you move around, it doesn’t bother me but it might bother some sensitive sleepers.
Last observed price range: ~ $150 – 230 (depends on size)

Click for Current Pricing from Amazon
Click for Current Pricing from Moosejaw.com

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