Every explorer needs a basecamp - a point from which all adventures originate and a place to reflect on adventures past. Some call it the cabin, or maybe hunting camp or maybe it's not a place at all. Either way, I've assembled 25 unique ideas perfect for these moments - both indoors and out. From a hot cup of coffee by the fire to clothing perfect for outdoor adventuring or a relaxing pipe on the porch to a vital paddle down virgin water, you're sure to find something that fits the bill.
1. Sandhill Coffee Mainstay Dark Roast ($14) - Named for the line on a sailboat that extends from the main-top to the foot of the foremast, this coffee is as steady as a body of water on a calm day. Coming from Finca El Terrerito in Honduras, this dark roast is perfect for warming up a cold winter morning at the cabin.
2. Jeff Currier Brown Trout Coffee Mug ($30) - The perfect mug for sipping your Sandhill Coffee. Made of 100% ceramic, this 15 oz coffee mug, featuring the art of the infamous Jeff Currier, is both microwave and dishwasher safe. And if you don't happen to love brown trout (you're crazy), there are over 100 other designs to choose from.
3. Whiskey Leatherworks Fish/Upland Print Adjustable Dog Collar and Leash ($40/$45) - Adjustable lengths and handmade with Latigo leather, solid brass components and one-inch webbing in a variety of patterns. These leashes and collars are as unique and beautiful as the dogs wearing them. Read the review here.
4. Matuska Taxidermy Pack Mount ($65) - Looking for a unique way to display your trophy on the cabin wall? Look no further. This sturdy, rustic pack frame is the perfect mount, featuring aged patina and twine corner accents for an old-school look. Get an idea of what the finished product looks like here.
5. Wyoming Whiskey National Parks Limited Edition ($67) - The National Parks Limited Edition celebrates Wyoming Whiskey’s partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. This first edition in an annual series honors Grand Teton National Park which is home to the majestic Teton mountain range on the western edge of Wyoming, where the idea for WW began. Order it here.
6. L.L.Bean Stainless-Steel Percolator, 14 Cup ($70) - Over the fire or on the stove, no camp is complete without a percolator. This 14-cup stainless steel model from L.L. Bean makes perfect camp coffee - just like the kind your grandfather made. The PercView top lets you gauge the strength of your brew so you know when it's ready. Perfect for large groups.
7. Sanborn Canoe Company Scout Cribbage Board ($75) - Handcrafted in Minnesota and matching their popular canoe paddle designs, this cribbage board is ideal for passing a rainy afternoon in the cabin.
8. Savinelli Bacco Rusticated 670 KS Pipe ($100) - sure it may seem a little "Tweedy" to a few of my friends, but there's nothing like a good pipe around the fire at camp. And you can't go wrong with a Savinelli. The Bacco is available in two finishes, smooth natural and rusticated burgundy color and in 8 different models. It features a burgundy variegated stem that recalls the color of red wine accompanied by a large band and a thinner one in aluminum to highlight the color of the stem. Pack it with "Trout Stream" tobacco blend ($26) and you are set to go.
9. Sight Line Provisions x Whiskey Leatherworks Copper Flask ($125) - What happens when you two of your favorite companies get together and work on a flask? Pure awesomeness. This one-of-a-kind leather-wrapped flask embodies a classic character sure to complement any adventure - indoors or out. Read the interview with Danny and Ally from Whiskey Leatherworks here.
10. Duckworth Men's Comet Crew ($130) - This base layer is perfect for the coldest winter days Mother Nature throws at you. Duckworth's proprietary Comet fabric is natural-technical mash-up, combining a pure, 100% Montana-grown Merino Wool outer layer and a polyester inner layer. Perfect for frigid days outdoors or comfy days indoors. Read a full review here.
11. Fjallraven Men's Lada Sweater ($155) - Hailing from the small town of Örnsköldsvik in Sweden, Fjällräven is an outdoor clothing and equipment company that’s committed to making nature more accessible with a focus on simplicity and respect for the environment. The Lada sweater is a timeless classic wool blend designed for a variety of outdoor activities.
12. Anchor Axe Co.1884 Hatchet ($160) - Handmade in Wuppertal, Germany, these hatchets are named after the region’s famous Rhein River Valley. The Rhein was a historically significant source of trade and growth for settlements in the region throughout the medieval period, and cutting axes like these were a daily necessity for people carving out towns and villages in heavily forested regions along the river. Featuring a traditional German wide-bit blade this hatchet performs well at limbing branches, making kindling, carving, and other light and fine cutting work around the cabin.
13. Faribault Woolen Mill Frontier Wool Throw Blanket - Gray ($195) - Perfect for the cabin or to keep in the back of the truck, this blanket is crafted in a historic mill nestled along the Cannon River in Minnesota. The 156-year-old Faribault Woolen Mill endures as one of the last vertical woolen mills in America. Here, fifth generation craftspeople take raw wool and create blankets of remarkable comfort and quality with century-old machinery.
14. Petromax 500 HK Chrome Lantern ($200) - German engineered with over 200 pieces assembled by hand, the Petromax lamp is the oldest and most well-known pressure lamp in the world. As beautiful as it is practical. They can be difficult to find, but you should be able to purchase here. A full product review can be found here.
15. Big D Speed Shop Sterling Thunderbird Zippo Lighter ($280) - The finest Zippo, the 1941, replica in sterling silver, combined with a handmade brass thunderbird. The lighter has been heavily patinad, almost black, in a reversible process. Includes a kit containing 4oz. of lighter fluid, a wick and flints. Perfect for all things that require lighting around camp. Totally unique and cool AF.
16. Duckworth Snowcrest Shirt ($300) - Duckworth's handmade, 100% Montana-grown Merino Wool Snowcrest Shirt is the epitome of fine wool apparel craftsmanship: American-made at one of the nation's oldest woolen mills (dating back to the 19th century) using a proprietary ultra-thick wool cloth, this shirt is naturally water, snow, and wind resistant - the ideal choice for days around the cabin - in any weather. Read the full review here:
17. Cody Richardson Vintage Trout License Plate Art ($350) - Cody Richardson is a Colorado native who grew up exploring the rivers and streams of the Rocky Mountains. He switched gears from a career in fire fighting to pursue a personal passion for fly fishing and unique artwork. Starting out by creating personal designs in his home shop for friends and family, these pieces caught on through local Colorado fly shops, and are now carried sold in shops around the world. The perfect adornment for the wall of any hunt or fish camp.
18. Schnee's Black Buffalo 10" Pac Boots ($370) - Special edition “Black Buffalo” 30th -anniversary pac boot. Featuring the same performance and design as the Schnee's Hunter II, but handcrafted from exquisite black bison hide. Inside are removable handmade 400g insulation liners. Underneath is exclusive Goodyear Advantage outsole, featuring high traction air bobs. These are the ultimate winter boots.
19. Filson Mackinaw Wool Cruiser Jacket ($495) - Originally patented in 1914 as the Wool Cruising Shirt, C.C. Filson’s Cruiser was designed for foresters and timber cruisers in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest forests. The Cruiser has become one of the most-imitated jackets on the market. Since its versatile performance was also appreciated by hunters, Filson also introduced a red & black plaid version, which was one of the earliest high-visibility camouflage patterns. Buy this and your outdoor cred increases exponentially just for wearing it. An absolute classic.
20. Duluth Pack Bison Leather Sportsman's Duffel ($700) - Proudly made in the USA and paying tribute to the beauty and power of the American West, the Duluth Pack Bison Leather Duffel will become a piece of your time-honored adventure gear. Outfitted with rolled leather handles, a dust flap to keep everything clean, and a webbed shoulder strap with bison leather pad - all optimized for a comfortable carry. Strong, durable, and, like all classics, even better with age.
21.Traeger Pro 780 Pellet Grill and Smoker ($1,000) - Traeger invented the Original Wood-Fired Grill over 30 years ago in Mt. Angel, Oregon. With Traeger’s 6-in-1 versatility, you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ like a true backyard boss. The always dependable fire and smoke produces consistent results and perfectly cooked food, every single time. From low and slow to hot and fast, cook it all with ease. The Pro 780 includes a D2® controller featuring WiFIRE® technology.
22. Goal Zero Yeti 1500x Portable Power Station ($2,000) - Tackle any project, indoors or out with portable power from Goal Zero. The 1500x features a new 2000W AC inverter, allowing you to run anything you can from a wall outlet. Power off-grid events, work sites, studios, base camps, essential circuits in your home, and more. If you want to go completely off-grid, the station can be recharged with solar panels found here or consider the full kit found here.
23. Merrimack + Sanborn Scout Canoe (Starting at $4,050) - The Scout is for those looking for the best-of-the-best: the finest blend of modern and traditional in the build of a Merrimack Canoe, with the next-level art and design that Sanborn Canoe Co. is known for. The stunning Scout livery, requiring many hours of dedicated time in the build process, is available on all Merrimack Canoe models. Customization abounds, from the layup materials to woodwork selection, floor prints and customized deck-plates. This is the canoe built for someone who wants something truly special and unique, not found anywhere else.
24. Artist Series Bonus #1 - The Artwork of George Hill: "The art that I love the most is such that a strong sense of likeness or truth is conveyed in the most abstract way possible." - George Hill. If you are looking for something extra special for the angler that appreciates fine art, you need to check out George's work. His originals are a breathtaking combination of color and texture, and his limited-edition prints are also incredibly stunning. I'm fortunate enough to own both. Contact the artist here, or read the interview here.
25. Artist Series Bonus #2 - the Bronzework of Ryan Smith: "As far as the passion for western wildlife, I spent as much time as I could fishing and exploring Arizona both as a teenager and as an adult up and until the time I moved to Washington, D.C. for work. I continue to be inspired by my travels out west. In fact, the bronze bison I recently completed was inspired by my trips through the Blackfeet Reservation, which is home to a herd of bison." - Ryan Smith. Ryan's Limited Edition bronzes would look stunning on the mantle in any cabin. Contact the artist here, or read the interview here.
The art that I love the most is such that a strong sense of likeness or truth is conveyed in the most abstract way possible." - George Hill. If you are looking for something extra special for the angler that appreciates fine art, you need to check out George's work. His originals are a breathtaking combination of color and texture, and his limited-edition prints are also incredibly stunning. I'm fortunate enough to own both.