RECOIL OFFGRID Gear OFFGRID Holiday Gift Guide – 2025 Edition
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Christmas is a time for warmth, wonder, and if you’re like us a dash of wilderness grit. Once the lights have been strung and the hearth is ablaze take a moment to slip into the relentless cold under a star cast sky twinkling brighter than your holiday tree. It’s there the frigid wind blows and gasps telling stories older than carols and time. Out there among gently falling snow settling on pine bows are distant frozen trails calling to us for adventure.
Survival isn’t simply about skills or gear; it’s also a celebration of self-reliance and respect for the wild and wooly places often unencumbered by man’s footfalls. This year I’ve taken much of the guess work out of shopping for your favorite outdoor adventurer and preparation minded loved ones. From stocking stuffers to show stopping main gifts. I’ve spent time in the field with these items, used them in my daily life, and visited some of the facilities where they’re made. After much consideration thereof have found them worthy of your trust and use on the next calling to adventure.
The preparedness enthusiast in your life doesn’t want another sweater – get them (or yourself) what they need! To help you out, the Offgrid team went out to Santa’s Workshop to test the latest survival gear. The result is this Holiday gift guide with some of the best survival gear we tested!
We have items for every budget, and each one is sure to please the survivalist, prepper, hunter, or outdoor enthusiast in your life!
Faraday Bag For Satellite Phones – MSRP: $86
Details
Santa isn’t checking in with Mrs. Clause with a HAM radio. He’s using his Satphone. To be positive you’re not tracking his whereabouts he tosses his device in a GoDark Faraday Bag For Satellite Phones. Whether you’re blocking signals to stay under the radar, protecting your privacy from piracy, or simply to protect stored electronics GoDark has you covered. GoDark shields against wifi, bluetooth, GPS, cellular, EMF, and EMP. The Satellite Phone Bag features water resistant durable 600D shell, a padded felt lined interior and dual Molle straps for a multitude of mounting options.
Defender MK-3 Level 3 and Defender DECON MK-4 – MSRP: $20 each
Details
Black Friday deals can be very attractive to a lot of people. The problem is that there are often desperate people out looking to take advantage of those of us who are only looking to take advantage of sales. Not every violent encounter should be responded to with lethal force oftentimes regular force such as pepper spray can be the answer you’re looking for. This option gives the benefit of maintaining distance from an assaulter while being defensive. Choose from gel, spray, or fog contents. The DECON is important to have on hand in case you’re the victim of a ne’er-do-well who uses pepper spray to assault you. The elements combined in the DECON aid in breaking down active ingredients in pepper spray to reduce recovery times.
In Wall Safe (Tall) – MSRP: $440
Details
If your wife and kids are like mine they can’t seem to wait to find out what you’re getting for Christmas. That’s why I started hiding every gift possible behind a lock and key. This In Wall Safe Tall by SnapSafe has a 16 gauge steel body and 8 gauge door. The locking mechanism makes full use of interior space. At 44” tall and 4” deep you can choose to secure anything from jewelry to your battle rifle. On the outside of the safe you’ll find a programmable electronic lock powered by 4 AA batteries and a backup mechanical locking should the unthinkable happen where you need to manually retrieve your treasures.
MaxMadCo Design Bolt Action Pen Gen 2 – MSRP: $70
Details
If you’re going to stretch the truth about how good you’ve been this year at least use a nice pen to do it. County Comm has breathed new life into the 25 year old bolt action pen design from MaxMadCo. This meticulously crafted brass bar stock pen has a stout grade 5 Titanium pocket clip with torques head button screws and is tough as it is alluring. Measuring 5” x 0.37” and weighing 1.56 oz. you know you’ve got a quality item in hand as soon as you put pen to paper. County Comm chose to use a German made Schmidt 9000M ink cartridge which are generally known to be excellent and provide a smooth and consistent writing experience. Make a statement this season with your own MaxMadCo pen.
Ebike Drone – MSRP: $1300
Details
When the big guy can’t get down all the side streets with the reindeer driven sleigh he’ll send out his army of silent mechanized elves to get the light work done. Buzz Ebikes Drone is a Moto-style Ebike for those that want to ride in comfort and style .With a top speed of 20mph and a range of up to 40 miles the Drone is perfectly capable of transporting riders 4’10”- 6’1” and a payload up to 300lbs. Charging takes 4-6 hours so consider buying an extra battery to swap out should you plan on not using the manual pedal regenerative drive too often. Take advantage of that great big comfy saddle as it is going to be much more plush compared to your typical bike seat.
Small Waxed Canvas Travel Tray – MSRP: $39
Details
When the elves need to keep small game parts and pieces close at hand what do you think they reach for? You’re right! Santa’s little helpers go right for the PNW Bushcraft Waxed Canvas Travel Tray. These are great to toss in your overnight bag or camping kit for the same reason the elves use them. Made of 10.1 oz canvas with Martexin Wax that is environmentally friendly and non-hazardous feel free to set Santa’s cookies right inside yours. It’s up to you whether or not to fasten the antique brass snaps. After some use this piece will begin to show a patina only fun and love will expose.
Diverge 38” Rifle Case – MSRP: $160
Details
The “Big Guy” may be hitting every house on the planet in one night, but he still has to follow the law. When he’s running the latest and greatest “Don’t shoot your eye out!” He has to keep them cased up. That means all long guns that fit the 38” mark will be toted via Plano Outdoors NEW Diverge 38” Rifle Case. It’s a TOUGHSHELL, but not a hard shell. It’s soft enough to dampen impact noise and hard enough to keep from being crushed. DROPZONE work station molded trays on the case lid act as a catch for loose ammo and small parts. Lockable zippers and non-slip shoulder pads to keep things in place as they head down the chimney.
Mid Weight OTC Socks – MSRP: $32
Details
No one wants socks for Christmas but EVERYONE WANTS socks for Christmas! Sikta stalked in to secure the shot as the number one sock this year. Luckily they got word in time from the North Pole to up production on the OTC and Crew medium and heavy weight versions of their merino wool toe cozies. Made with Cordura reinforcements at the heel and toe box to reduce wear and extend the life of your favorite outdoor socks. No need for thick bulky wool socks when Sitka is weaving in PrimaLoft yarn for added warmth and cushion for added comfort over rugged terrain and spilled Legos.
Boning Knife – MSRP: $350
Details
Santa is bringing the goods this year from Montana Knife Company! We’ve been working hard and we’ve been good! No more struggling to get your harvest ready for the freezer with a hunting knife or run of the mill kitchen blade. This is a purpose driven precision tool to make the most of the animal you’ve taken. Ethical hunters understand that not wasting any usable scraps of meat is what sets them apart from Elmer Fudd. Working with AEB-L steel MKC offers an 11” over all length full tang construction, 5 ⅞” blade, and at .090 thick this blade will get the smoothest of slices out of your meat not only for a better overall yield, but also for a beautiful plate presentation at Christmas dinner!
R18 – MSRP: $1700
Details
When Krampus rears his ugly head trying to get a taste of one of Santa’s 9 reindeer Santa cannot compromise their safety with the wrong tools. Ravin has armed St. Nick with the uber compact and venerable R18. Perfect for a packed and cramped sleigh measuring in at just 25” in overall length the R18 is a Crossbow in name only. The limbs lift up instead of out horizontally and the stock can be removed to drop the length to just 18” to shoot the R18 as a pistol. We made sure Ravin ran him through a quick training course on the use of the R18. When every shot counts there is no compromise.
Girsan Influencer X – MSRP: $709
Details
As an added precaution Mrs. Klause has snuck a bit of fire power into the sleigh this season. After all, keeping the reindeer team safe and in the air is top priority. The EAA Influencer X 10mm and is as close to a sure thing you’re likely to see when the delivery team finds themselves under attack from flying monkeys, rouge elves, or Krumpuses legion of goons. Fitted with a bull barrel, full light rail, competition style iron sights, and factory cut to accommodate a micro reflex sight. The Influencer X is a single stack 1911 style pistol that brings all the flair and innovation of today and mixes it with the class and reliability of the old classic war horse 1911 of years past.
Pioneer – MSRP: $300
Details
Let it never be said that a fixed blade knife doesn’t come in handy on Christmas day or at holiday parties. I may have to split packing tape, break down kindling for the fireplace or maybe even carve the Christmas bird. Leatherman has brought a line of fixed blade knives this season that includes the Pioneer. Features like a Magnacut sabre grind blade with a stonewash finish and tapered Blaze Orange G10 scales make for a winning combination on this seemingly do-it-all bushcraft knife. The sheath is a hybrid of a Kydex front and leather backing and snap loop to keep the Pioneer riding where you want it.
MegaStream HP USB – MSRP: $219
Details
We’ve all tried staying up late to catch a glimpse of Santa or his reindeer. Not even a jingle have I heard, yet the Christmas tree always had gifts spilling out from underneath. This year we can all be ready with Streamlight’s brand new MEGASTREAM! You could land a jumbo jet with this thing. On high the MegaStream pushes out 1,350 lumens and 310,000 candela for 2 hours. Megastream can really throw that light too. It looks like a single lane highway in the sky. If you’re looking to sneak around to see if presents have been delivered without waking anyone use the low setting at only 145 lumens.
Nomadic Coffee Scale – MSRP: $35
Details
Christmas morning growing up at my house always started with a pot of coffee. Nothing and I do mean nothing happened before the first cup of coffee was poured into mom and dad’s cups. That same sentiment has carried over to my home. On Christmas morning you want your coffee to be right. Starting with good beans is key, but what is so often missed is making sure you have the right amount by weight. Don’t chance eyeballing this key detail on Christmas morning. Get a VSSL Nomadic Coffee Scale. The Nomadic Scale is powered by a rechargeable internal battery with a USB-C cable and has an easy to read LED backlit display. Just like Santa this scale can go anywhere.
Smart-Torq Adjustable Limiter & X3 Driver Kit – MSRP: $120
Details
Real Avid has been an industry leader in innovation in the gunsmithing and armorer world for years. No wonder Santa tapped them to help get torque specs right on so many toys this year. The Adjustable Limiter & X3 Driver Kit is not only great for working on firearms it’s also great for the causal backed out deck screw catching socks, drooping pre hung door, or Christmas morning spent assembling the gifts delivered by the jolly man in red. This Smart Torq kit comes with a variety of commonly used bits used by armorers and gunsmiths and as rumor has it most of the fasteners on the sleigh.
Titanium Folding Camp Saw – MSRP: $240
Details
It’s time for a hayride to pick out a tree! Grab the best folding saw available this holiday season and get a Brautigam Expedition Works Titanium Folding Camp Saw. This saw is made from high strength tubular titanium alloy and packs down into a tidy package and rests inside a coyote brown canvas case. Don’t worry about your hands getting cold. Titanium will stay as warm when working through the trunk of your freshly cut tree. These are fully welded construction with no pop rivets waiting to fail and render your saw worthless. Available in 21, 24, 30, and 36” you could cut a runway for Santa if you had the notion to get it done. I can almost smell the pine!
Pro-Series Tripod Kit Lightweight – MSRP: $800
Details
Watching everyone tear into gifts on Christmas morning is a memory I cherish. If I could do it over I’d have had a time lapse camera set up to catch those precious moments. Zeiss has a rock solid and lightweight tripod perfect for cameras, binoculars or your favorite hunting rifle. Made for the back country the Pro-Series Tripod Kit Lightweight weighs in at just 4.6 lbs. Zeiss uses 10 layers of rigid carbon fiber for the three section legs which have three adjustment angles being 25, 55, and 85 degrees which gives a lot of leeway to get the right setup. The fluid head pans 360 degrees and tilts to give freedom of movement when tracking moving targets.
Spice Tube – MSRP: $25
Details
Other people’s cooking can oftentimes be found lacking. Sometimes dinner will be too bland, over cooked, or from a can. Terrible Christmas meals might make for funny family stories years later, but they’re a real bummer at the time. Do yourself and those close to you a favor and grab a Spice Tube from Father Nomad. I’m filling mine with salt, pepper, and maybe a mix of cayenne pepper and garlic salt when I shove off to the in-laws house this jingle bell season. Made from food grade material and 3D printed by Father Nomad himself the Spice Tube has two shaker vessels and one open ended container to hold larger spices like rosemary, thyme, or parsley.
Intrepid 1000 & Reliance 100W Solar Panel Kit – MSRP: $1500
Details
The power is out on Christmas? Not to worry. Grab your Nebo Intrepid, plug in the tree, and get the gift giving underway. While solar generators can certainly be used during emergencies they’re also handy for overlanding, regular old car camping, or running power tools on a job site. The Intrepid has 15 different ports to send out power if your power needs are high. Power input is a two way combined maximum of 1200W. The Reliance Solar Panel has a high efficiency 22% energy conversion, lightweight, and can charge multiple devices at once. Water proof and foldable, the Reliance also has a storage pocket for various charging cords.
Zulu 6 – MSRP: $1600
Details
Staring into the night sky looking for a team of flying reindeer pulling a sleigh can be a daunting prospect for your eyeballs. If you want to catch a glimpse of Santa in flight consider picking up a set of Image Stabilizing Binoculars from Sig Sauer. The Zulu6 ISB offers great light transmission through clear HD-X glass for higher resolution and great edge to edge clarity. Scan the night sky with Sig Sauer’s Zulu6 and engage the ISB feature to steady your view. The Zulus require two AA batteries which should be in heavy supply during the Christmas season.
Matrix 2.0 Trail Camera – MSRP: $120
Details
Years spent staying up late at night need not go to waste. With the Matrix 2.0 Trail Camera you will finally be able to catch the kindest B&E artist the world has ever known. Definitive proof of who is eating those cookies might come in handy down the road. Muddy has cellular plans starting as low as $4 a month to view who or what is walking around in your neck of the woods. If your main concern is to spot that prize game animal or to keep an eye on a far off property in the North Pole you should opt for the solar battery option to remove the need for 16 AA batteries.
KA600 Voyager Pro – MSRP: $90
Details
Weather reports are important to know before and during any flight. This goes for sleighs as well as planes. At the rate they’re going up there Santa needs to have weather reports fast at hand. Katio gives you several ways to stay on top of important information. Made for everyday use or emergencies, the Voyager Pro can be powered by the internal battery, 180 degree tiltable built-in solar panel, 2 AA batteries, or even a crank handle. This radio receives AM, FM, short wave, long wave, NOAA weather stations, and has a built-in flash light flashlight.
Adjustable Rifle – MSRP: $650
Details
Christmas morning never seemed to be complete without an awesome game or a gun as a young man. It was always the gift that was held for last especially if it was a new BB or pellet gun. GAIM checks both those boxes. The stock is incredibly nicely done and is what you’d expect to see on some of the pricier production long guns. You’ll need a Meta VR headset to use this training aid slash gaming system. Once you’ve got an account set up you’ll be able to choose from different steel shooting and training scenarios as well as a variety of hunts. This is something for the entire family to take turns on.
Shemagh – MSRP: $40
Details
When the mercury drops and the snow flies some of the first things you’re going to need are a top hat, scarf, carrot, and a couple charcoal briquettes. No snowman is complete without a scarf though. Combat Flip Flips didn’t end the fight when they left the frontline. These shemaghs are loomed from cotton by the ladies of Afghanistan. Providing work and helping to ensure the little girls of the nation receive an education. Summer, winter, or fall there is no wrong time for a shemagh. Use it to retain heat in the frigid cold, shade yourself from the blistering sun, or allow your imagination to run wild with possibilities in survival mode.
Vennox – MSRP: $185
Details
Some smartaleck put a lock on the sleigh or a boot on Rudolph’s hoof? That’s not a problem with the Vennox from Sparrow Lock Picks. Sparrow has chalked this set full of picks, rakes, tension wrenches, and even the full set of custom laser engraved picks. This set is great for anyone who wants to learn about lock picking and bypassing. My own little elves have learned this skill with Sparrow gear over the last few years. If for no other reason than to learn about what locks are quality versus what are easy to remove without keys; this is a great set to snap up!
HE507K-GR X2 – MSRP: $376
Details
This is the reflex optic Santa mounts on his pistol before takeoff. When speed and target acquisition are at the top of the list Holosun delivers. Your gear needs to instill confidence when it’s time to lay down fire to protect his small airborne herd of reindeer. Holosun offers the HE507K-GR X2 in a concealed carry size and footprint. A 2 MOA reticle dot encased in a larger 32 MOA circle aids in faster target acquisition and the green light further assists in that speed by rapidly drawing the eye in. With a battery life of 50,000 hours you won’t have to swap it out for around 5 years or more with the shake awake feature baked in.
Scrub & Scrape – MSRP: $10
Details
No one likes cleaning up after a big meal. Not at camp and definitely not after a holiday dinner. Make life easier on yourselves and grab a Scrub & Scrape from Outdoor Element. Meant for the camp kitchen, but is still useful in grandma’s kitchen. A dual edge metal scraper makes quick work of baked on and uneaten food to prepare for cleaning. Grab your silicone mildew resistant sponge to sanitize dishes, pots, and pans without worry of scratching surfaces. Finally grab the fast drying micro fiber towel to finish the process. This is a great stocking stuffer for your favorite outdoorsman.
ThermoNeutral Down Jacket – MSRP: $400
Details
Building snowmen, hanging Christmas lights, or shoveling the driveway the ThermoNeutral Down Jacket from Forloh should be your first choice this frigid blustery season. From design to construction, manufacturing, and testing everything is done inside the borders of the USA. Water resistant, breathable, and down filled the ThermoNeutral Down Jacket traps the heat. At only 21 oz it is lightweight and the gusseted under arm panels allow for ease of mobility. A 40D ripstop shell gives you peace of mind should you find yourself walking through brambles and briers on a hunt. Add this puffer jacket to your daily repertoire or stuff it into your pack.
Micro T-2 w/Unity Tactical FAST Mount – MSRP: $1207
Details
A 2.26 inch riser might seem pretty high until you consider you’re likely using this setup with a helmet and night vision. Covering Santa Clause under NODs has its distinct advantages. AimPoint’s Micro T-2 has 4 night vision settings, 8 daylight settings, 1 off setting and runs off of only 1 CR2023 battery. Weighing in at only 6 Oz. for the mount and the optic is incredible. Submersible up to 25 meters you wont need to worry about a little rain or snow affecting your optic. The Unity FAST Mount has a set of backup sights just under your optic. Should the unthinkable happen and you need fixed sights they’re standing ready. The Unity FAST Mount comes standard with rail-grabber clamp mounts.
Sawtooth 45 – MSRP: $520
Details
Mystery Ranch is a name that is known and loved among the hunting, hiking, and military communities. No wonder it’s the preferred day pack this Christmas. The Sawtooth is a low profile pack perfect for securing your morning haul of Christmas gifts to your gingerbread house or helping keep you under the radar when on the move in the woods. While function is the goal with this pack, comfort was not at all out of focus. Thick air mesh shoulder straps and belt give you a big upgrade from most packs in this price range. Offered in three color combinations, this well thought out design makes for a pleasant trek through thick woods, on trails, or uneven terrain.
Heavy Duty Trauma Shears – MSRP: $42
Details
Christmas morning comes with a lot of wire fasteners, plastic packaging, and zip ties to contend with. XShear uses stainless steel blades coated with titanium to not only be a robust set of shears, but to also deliver shears sharp enough to shave with. Made for first responders to zip through motorcycle gear, fireman’s turnout gear, winter clothing, or wet suits. With a patented blunted tip and curved design the XShear is a gnarly cutting tool when it comes to removing gear to get to the patient, but smooth as silk and gentle on the skin. Finished off with a soft touch liner for superior non-slip grip and comfort. Upgrade your IFAK or make it part of your daily medical kit.
Mission Essential Plate Carrier – MSRP: $175
Details
If you’re planning to “Ranger Up” and take an airfield for the big man to have a secure landing zone you’ll want the best plate carrier you can get. Modularly means you get to set up gear the way you need it. Defense Mechanisms offers the Mission Essential Plate Carrier or MEPC in 16 colors and camouflage patterns with 5 bag sizes to accommodate your preferred plate size. Laser cut for precision and comfort the MEPC has chest MOLLE/loop field for ID patches or navigation boards, 3D mesh liner to augment comfort, QASM buckle for placard use while allowing G-hook placard capability. When you choose your separate cummerbund do yourself a favor and upgrade to the FIRSTSPEAR TUBES to make jocking up a breeze.
Hard Case – MSRP: $314
Details
So grandma got run over by a reindeer on Christmas Eve? While that is a real bummer you and gramps have a Dark Angel Medical Hard Case in the trunk of the car. Along with some in person training with Kerry Davis and his group of highly experienced cadre, you’ll likely pull her back before she goes towards the light. Sealed in a durable air and water tight floating hard case is the gear you want when responding to the smallest issues like Christmas morning paper cuts or witnessing a reindeer trampling on your way out for eggnog. Simplicity under stress is the key to good medical gear and training.
Nope, not really! We will be adding more items to our 2025 Holiday Gift List! Be sure to check back often to see more throughout November and December!
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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.
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