Don’t Grinch Me!

My parents are dead. My kids are adults. And my wife says we should save our money for upcoming vacations. In short, this means I’m looking at a pretty sparse Christmas, one that sees me little in the way of gifts. This blows. Big time. Mainly because I like getting gifts. Nope, I’m not one of those Mariah Carey “All I want For Christmas” is you kind of people. I like stuff. I like getting things that I didn’t have to buy myself. So, with that in mind, let me appeal to all my readers by presenting the following list of ideas of goods that would make my morning under the tree a great one. And to prove that I’m not really a Grinch, this list is great for anyone who loves the outdoors and the outdoor lifestyle.

Gayne wearing Raised by Coyotes and Bajío.

Clothing

Outdoor / casual clothing has seen a Renaissance in years with new companies shaking off traditional norms by creating new styles, utilizing new fabric, and just having fun. One of these is Raised by Coyotes. I interviewed their founder Orlando Rios last week and after doing such I’m even more in love with their new take on hunting, fishing, and golf wear. Another company I’ve come to really admire (and covet) is Howler Brothers. This company’s take on pearl snap shirts, outerwear, pants, and T-shirts have seen them develop a rabid following over the years and I count myself among their biggest fans. I’ll gladly accept any gift from these two Texas founded companies.

Visit them at raisedbycoyotes.com and howlerbros.com.

Bajío Sunglasses

You’ve only got one set of eyes and once they’re gone - they’re gone. Protect what you have especially while afield. I was a Costa sunglasses guy for years until my fishing guide of two plus decades Captain Donny had me try on his Bajío sunglasses. I bought a pair that afternoon. These sunglasses are that great. I won’t pretend to understand anything about sunglass design or polarized lenses, but I will admit that none of the sunglasses I’ve been given to use on trips as a writer in the past 30 years have come close to being as quality and as great as Bajío. I’ve bought two pairs since that first afternoon and absolutely love them. But I could always use more as there are so many styles to choose from.

Visit them at bajiosunglasses.com

Ezee Freeze

This one falls under the idea of “why didn’t anyone think of this before?” Billed as the world’s first reusable bag of ice, Ezee Freeze is eco-friendly ice that looks like the ice you buy at the store. It’s used just like ice but doesn’t melt into a slurry of water that looks, smells, and tastes like whatever was in your cooler. Ezee Freeze is designed to stay frozen for up to 48 hours and can be used over 1,000 times. This saves you money, time, and hassle. I hope Santa brings me several 10.5 lb bags. I’d use and reuse this gift every weekend.

Visit them at ezeefreeze.co

Crotian Mafia Cigars

Founded by Todd Pribanic, Crotian Mafia Cigars are blended by fourth Generation Cuban Tobacco Grower, Eradio Pichardo in Esteli, Nicaragua. My favorite smoke is the Under Boss which offers earthy and floral fruit notes. It’s a fantastic smoke and my new favorite which means I need as many boxes as I can fit in my house.

Visit them at croatianmafia-cigars.com.

EX-T01 Tomahawk

Look, no one needs a tomahawk. I but I really want this one. This bad boy measures over 14 inches in length, weighs under 2 pounds, and is crafted from S7 Tool Steel. It can do just about anything and with the hammer, spike and pry bar accessories (sold separately) it can do anything. I need one for my house and another for my truck cuz ya’ never know when life is going to throw the kind of problem at you that only a tomahawk can fix.

Get yours at hogueinc.com

Expedition One Bumper

And speaking of my truck, I got a new Toyota Tundra 4 x 4 this year and the one thing it really needs is a Tundra 2022+ Rear Bumper w/Dual Swing Carrier System from Expedition One. This massive overland necessity is 100% designed and made in the U.S.A, weighs just over 200 pounds, and will allow me to carry my tire where I can actually access it without crawling under my vehicle. Plus, it just looks cool as hell. I really need one of these.

Visit at expeditiononestore.com

Hapy Holidays to all!

UPDATE December 26, 2026

I only received one thing off my list this year.

Special thanks to friend Al Stinson for a box of Croatian Mafia Cigars!

This piece first appeared in the Fredericksburg Standard.

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