Gift's For An Adventurous Dad That Don't Suck
We all know at least one adventurer Dad in our lives who we want to spoil. Luckily, for me, that is my Dad. He’s a big fan of hot rods, not much of a camper, but always down for a hike. While I don’t always get him gifts for Father’s Day, his birthday, or the holidays, when I do he smiles and is grateful. Sometimes that gift is a pair of socks, he often laughs, but I figured it was time to get him something rad and thankfully, with my career as an adventure content creator, I have had the opportunity to test a lot of gifts that Dad’s would like. Heck, if I was a Dad, I would love these gifts! Maybe, I am just selfishly putting together a wishlist? Okay, let’s not go there. Here are epic gifts to give your Dad:
My Dad messing around on the edge near the top of the Chief in Squamish. Photo by Dalton Johnson, go follow him on Instagram
Our standards for testing and reviewing gear at The Travel Journal:
Here at The Travel Journal we have a dedicated group of gear testers [mostly myself, Dalton] who put hands on all the products we recommend below. Our recommendations are not sponsored, unless noted, and speak from the heart about every product. We share both the good and the bad. If you have any questions, or comments, about the product reviews, you can write me at dalton@dalton-johnson.com
The Lost Explorer Mezcal & Tequila:
Starting this off with a bold choice in a world where people are moving toward the NA world and neither me, or my Dad, drink often. However, The Lost Explorer award-winning mezcal and small-batch tequila, is not something to pass on. While most Dad’s struggle to sip on their whiskey, either the tequila, or mezcal, from The Lost Explorer is a great addition to any liquor cabinet that wont last long. I gave a bottle to my Dad this year, so we could drink together, and I’ve gotta say, after the first sip we both looked at each other with those, “damn, this is good” look. So, if your Dad is in the market for some tequila, or mezcal, add this to the list!
A few things I appreciate about this brand:
They market to the adventurous type… I mean, that name, come on so sick, and they have a blog worth reading, not just filled with SEO B.S.
They are winning awards for good there mezcal and tequila
They put craft front and center, not just another rebranded average agave drink
Orca Tango Wetsuit:
Orca has been making wetsuits for triathletes and open water swimmers for years. I love and use my open water wetsuit for swimming in Lake Tahoe, CA during the colder months of the when the water drops below 60F. So, if your Dad is into open water swims, check out that line of wetsuits, but, that’s not what I came here to talk about.
Orca just entered the surf world with a splash. Taking their incredible knowledge from triathlons and open water swimming, to enter the surf world. Orca’s new surf wetsuits, the Tango and Kabuki, are a perfect way to spoil any surfer Dad out there. Ideally, he wouldn’t just be riding white water, but, hey, you have to start somewhere.
Sonos Ace:
Quiet is the most under-rated gift one can give and these Sonos Ace noise cancelling headphones are hands down the best on the market I have gotten my hands on. These headphones block out all of those distracting noises that you really just don’t want to hear… like a baby crying (only half kidding, be responsible and tend to your kids correctly), dogs barking, vacuums, street noise, the roar of a tracker, etc. With these headphones, your Dad can plug into his favorite podcast and leave the stressful outside world out of his head.
Kristin cruising around Lake Tahoe’s bike path on the way to the beach. Photo by Dalton Johnson, go follow him on Instagram
Juiced E-bike:
There is nothing like ripping around on an e-bike and Juiced Bikes has made one of the most fun e-bike on the markets. I have personally tested six different brands of e-bikes and the Juiced Scorpion is hands-down my favorite because the seat is plush, the throttle makes you feel like you are on a motorcycle, and the suspension makes on-and-off road fun. I am not sure if Juiced intended for users to jump this beast, but I have taken it over a few jumps and landed smoothly every time. Long story short, if I can’t break this thing, your Dad is going to love it and enjoy it.
Ideal ways to use this bike:
Commuting to the beach
Afternoon trail rides are a delight, but this isn’t a mountain bike
The perfect addition to any RV trip where you park the RV and head out via bike
Blizzard
Blizzard Zero G Skis:
Does your Dad ski the backcountry? If so, it’s time you spoiled the hell out of him give him the gift of access. That is exactly what you are giving when you gift the Blizzard Zero G backcountry skis to the adventurous person in your life. I have been riding on these skis for a season now and will never look back.
They are incredibly light, work in powder, and function at a resort if he choses to ski those groomed runs at the resort. As a ski, this might be the one ski quiver you will ever need. The only draw back to these might be riding waist deep powder… but let’s be real, if you are in Japan, or Jackson Hole, gliding through pow like that, you are most likely going to have some powder skis.
Isle Switch Inflatable Sup:
When it comes to spoiling somebody who loves the water, the Isle Switch inflatable SUP is just that. Switching between a SUP and a sit-on-top kayak this playful design give the paddler the best of both worlds. I have used this to fish from and enjoy a day of kayaking with my dog on Lake Tahoe and haven’t been disappointed. Overall, the design is simple and clean. It is easy to switch between SUP and kayak on land; and the material is very durable, so I don’t worry when I am tossing it in the back of car with some sand on it or my dog is gripping his nails into the front while we paddle.
