DESPARATE - 21st Birthday Gifts, Ideas for DS

[Eggybreadwithnuts]

Not one for parties we might do a small family meal, works so has everything he wants really...just buys it.

What he likes is:
Trekking
Mountain climbing
Fitness

Going abroad soon to climb some mountains, so very adventurous but organises himself (if country doesnt require a guide) rather than expensive tours.

Has most of if not all of the gear for above hobby.

Family are asking what to get him, don't just want to give him money, but just looking like it at mo 🤷‍♀️

A membership of The Alpine Club?
Nb. It's not just about the Alps 😀
https://alpineclub.org/about

This is old fashioned but a good woollen blanket for his bed.

https://yorkshireblankets.co.uk/collections/blankets-pure-wool?page=3

Thank you for above ideas.

Anyone else any ideas????

A satellite based communication device eg Garmin Inreach Mini

A membership to YHA or similar

A food dehydrator so he can make his own meals and snacks

Smart watch
A fancy water bottle/thermo cup
If he's filming or taking photographs while hiking, you can get him something for his camera if he has one (a camera bag? a portable tripod?) or a subscription to a video editing or a photo editing app
A gift card to a store he gets his equipment from
If he's a gamer, then a Steam gift card
A good backpack?
A box of protein bars or high quality protein powder if he watches macros.

National trust life membership
good rucksack/ weekend bag/ travel cubes
cuff links
hip flask
ryanair vouchers

Tickets somewhere? Venice? Prague? Paris? Peru?!

Various presents I gave for 21sts that went down really well:

a) Flights to Rome with a 5 star hotel booked and spending money (family paid for extras like museum tickets)

b) An online cookbook, which had all the recipes I cook that they like, so a roast, spag bol, fairy cakes etc. I added my own narrative and gave them a QR code so it's on their phones. It does take a while to type them all out but apparently dd uses hers.

c) we collated loads of photos from when they were babies to now, loads of which they won't have seen, and saved them online so they can look at them any time. These went down really well, it's their whole lives to date.

d) Concert tickets, Billie Eilish for dd

e) Football tickets, Arsenal for ds

Have a look at sportspursuit, they have good clothing and equipment for various sports and they have lots at cheaper prices and you can search by sport. Ds has had better quality buts from there for climbing and travelling including a fab one man tent that he has used lots when hiking.

(Cash for) ultra lightweight gear upgrades?
IME best not to buy gear for them unless explicitly requested.

Personalised number plate? Can stay on retention until they have an appropriate vehicle to put it on.

A watch - either a functional one (eg that does mapping/navigation) or a dress watch to accessorise a smart outfit.

@Irememberwhenitwasallfieldsroundhere - I may be 45 now but can you please adopt me, what thoughtful gifts!

These went down well with our well travelled 20 something

https://elcaminobracelets.com/collections/bracelets?srsltid=AfmBOorV1jkbU6i9ZOR4CpO2pZk4Fn-QfKFYkGXxzN7sHXKYbGCxZRCq

Flight/train vouchers?
A pair of binoculars if he likes watching wildlife while he mountaineers? He might not, of course.

Does he everything he needs for trekking, or everything he wants?

I'm thinking of things where an upgrade might be really nice:

Down filled inflatable pillow
Down filled inflatable mattress
Lightweight sleeping bag
Sleeping bag liner
Lightweight pot with heat exchange ring: https://amzn.eu/d/jcaMlTQ
Big battery pack - Anker does good ones, preferably 20000mA, I have a good one called Zolo.
A really good knife/multi tool
Really nice waterproof trousers/jacket etc etc
Merino wool base layers maybe - don't need washing too often and don't smell? He might have a technical base layer he prefers of course.

You'd probably have to check all of the above with him though!

Or things he might not have:
Some sort of GPS/emergency beacon?

Does he have a subscription to OS maps for the UK? Or you might be able to buy the physical maps that come with the app version as well?

This book is a good one for knowledge in the back of your head in case of emergency: https://amzn.eu/d/aNErfkP