Each year about this time, at least one of my relatives asks for stocking stuffer ideas for another family member. Because just about everyone in my extended family hunts and fishes, I’m usually never left without a few good suggestions.
This topic might be on your mind as Christmas approaches, so instead of sharing the three ideas below to only members of my family, I’ll pass them along to you, too. And each one will fit easily into a Christmas stocking. Enjoy!
This product caught my eye on my Facebook Feed one day. It has a strange name, looks weird (blackish/gray soap?), and claims to be scent-free and biodegradable. Interesting!
Well, I bought one and used it this fall during whitetail season, and I like it very much. Here’s the scoop:
The made-in-Vermont Char Goals Everything Bar Cleanser from Mil Usos is NOT soap — it's an effective scent-free and biodegradable cleanser. According to the company, it won’t damage groundwater or plant life, and can be used to wash in a lake or stream. The company calls it an “Everything Bar” because it replaces hand/body wash, shampoo, face cleanser and even shaving cream. Well, I don’t use face cleanser or shaving cream, so I can’t comment on its effectiveness in that regard, but for me, it did replace my usual scent-free bar soap and shampoo.
The company website states that these are the three most important ingredients:
MSRP: $26/5-ounce bar. Contact: www.milusosskincare.com
Yep, I’m recommending a sock as a sock stuffer.
A buddy of mine always seems to discover gear from the tactical world that works equally well for outdoor pursuits, and early this fall he sent me a text with this product link. I’ve used — and loved — merino wool socks for decades, so I was immediately interested.
The Reconnx merino socks from Viktos are some of the finest I’ve ever used. They are soft and warm, and even during rigorous hikes they kept my feet dry with their natural moisture-wicking properties.
Yes, merino socks are meant to be worn in cool temperatures, but I find they work well anytime the air temp is less than 70-ish. Features include: cushioned footbed and embedded arch support to reduce felt impact; ScentBlock anti-microbial treatment reduces odor; compression fit and vented instep help lessen fatigue.
The Reconnx comes in three colors; I went with the darkest choice, Nightfjall Camo, because I plan to wear them this spring turkey hunting with hiking boots.
(FYI, because there’s a decent chance you’ve never heard of this company, I’ll pass along this quote from its website: “Viktos was launched in the fall of 2017 by a combined force of industry and military veterans; our mission is to produce innovative gear for the tactical user. Our product transcends the typical boundaries of conventional tactical companies and addresses the entire black gun lifestyle, from combat to training, and everyday carry to R&R. It is a decidedly unique approach from a decidedly unique brand.”)
MSRP: $17. Contact: www.viktos.com
Because I do a lot of fishing during spring, summer and fall, almost every pair of sunglasses I own has polarized lenses. At some point or another, even if a pair isn’t my dedicated fishing glasses, I’ll end up on the lake wearing them, so they might as well help me see into the water.
With the Wiley X Twisted model, I specifically have the matte grey frame with Captivate polarized blue mirror lenses. Through experience, I’ve learned that blue lenses don’t alter the natural color palette of the outdoors; meaning, a blue sky still looks blue, green leaves still look green, etc. I’m not a fan of lenses that change the color palette; it looks funky to me.
I wore the Twisted sunglasses many times this summer and they work great. According to the Wiley X website, the Twisted is “one of our most popular styles in the Active Lifestyle category.” The lenses meet ANSI Z87.1 safety standards for optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact protection, as well as 100% UVA/UVB protection with distortion free clarity.
The lightweight but tough frame combined with polycarbonate lens material results in an overall feather-light combination. The Twisted are MUCH lighter than many other fishing-specific sunglasses I’ve used for years. So much so, in fact, that I can’t imagine a scenario when I’ll reach for those previous models again.
One more comment regarding fit/comfort: I often hate how some sunglasses fit too tight to my face, the frames pinching the sides of my head, and the lenses sitting too close to my eyelashes. The Twisted is designed for medium/large fit (head size), and for me, it’s ideal.
At the time of this writing, there have been nearly 110 reviews for the Twisted model on the Wiley X website, and the average is 4.4 stars. Common themes include lightweight, comfortable/great fit, and looks great. I couldn’t agree more. And as far as helping me see into the water, the Captivate polarized blue mirror lenses perform as well as fishing sunglasses I own that cost $100 more.
MSRP: $185. Contact: www.wileyx.com
