Wondering what to get for your favorite adventurer – or what to add to your own wish list? In the run up to the holidays we’ve asked our Alpha Pack to share their favorite pieces of outdoor gear. This is the essential outdoor gear – the best outdoor gear – the stuff they never leave at home. Of course they’re not likely to leave everything else behind, but the running and camping gear below are the pieces they just can’t go without. So, just in case you were worrying about what to ask for from Santa, here are some outdoor gear ideas perfect for last-minute gifts.

Tobias Mews, Adventure Athlete

“The verdict is still out as to whether or not compression actually aids your performance during an event. But I can swear by it aiding my recovery after one.  As a result,  whatever the event, I never go anywhere without my Compressport calf guards. I probably should replace them now as I’ve had them a while, but they’re a godsend – whether it’s on long haul flights to prevent DVT or after after races and long runs. I go from a hobble to a walk – which in my book – is a miracle!“

Dustin Hinton, Ironman

“Over the years I’ve taken on Ultra marathons on rugged dirt trails, freezing cold 140.6 mile Ironmans, and blistering hot 140.6 mile Ironmans… but one thing has been consistent. Since their inception, I have worn my Merrell Bare Access running shoes  for at least part of every single race I’ve done. Sometimes I have performed shoe changes during an event, where I went from Merrell Vapors to Bare Access or from the original Bare Access  to my Ascends or Trails. Regardless of what shoe I changed into, or from, one of them has always been the Bare Access. It’s a staple item – my essential outdoor gear. I call it my very own “swiss army knife” of shoes. It seems like as long as I have a pair of them in my bag, nothing is going to stop me.”

Alan Martin, Amateur Runner

“For someone with a casual interest in running and getting fit, there can only be one piece of outdoor gear to recommend, though it is a bit of a cheat: a smartphone!

Bonus points if you have a holster to keep it stuck to your arm (and I say that as someone who lost a screen once when I decided going without would be fine – lesson learned.) A smartphone – even a basic model – has pretty much everything you need to get started, with GPS built in to measure distances, maps if you manage to get lost and plenty of apps to track your progress and to keep you motivated with music. Couch to 5k, Runkeeper and Zombies, Run would be my picks to get you started. And for outdoor winter runs, make sure your gloves have the touchscreen-compatible fibers in the fingertips so you can work the screen without your hands freezing! They’re another essential outdoor gear gift!”

Emily Bell, Adventurer

“When I go on an adventure, I like to leave most technology behind. But there is a pull between wanting to run away from technology and a desire to share your journey. So the GoPro is my must have piece of outdoor gear. You can pack it away and barely notice it, but at the same time, you can attach it to anything on the water, under the water, your bike, a pole, or your head and capture all those shots with an epic curved lens. This video was all shot on a GoPro as I was paddling down the Missouri River supporting Dave Cornthwaite:”

Max Wilcocks, Endurance Athlete

“This might be a testament to my 21st century spirit, but I would never dream of heading off on any sort of adventure without my Suunto Ambit 3 Peak. My GPS watch is the first thing I make sure I’m not without and for good reason. With a bit of a tendency to stray from the well-trodden path, I can often find myself a little lost. More than once I’ve had to use it to get myself out of a tricky situation. It might not be navigating from the stars but it’s definitely helpful in times when things can turn bad quickly. With options like ‘track back’ and a compass, you should really be able to get yourself out of most troublesome situations. Also, what’s an adventure if you can’t make it into a Suunto Movescount Movie?”

What about you? What’s your essential outdoor gear? Share in the comments below to give your fellow adventurers some ideas for last-minute outdoor Christmas gifts.