25 Gifts for Mother's Day

Published May 8, 2017 12:00AM

Ali Carr Troxell is a former Outside editor, athlete, and style-forward mom with two beautiful babies (she just had her second last week). So we thought she'd be the perfect person to put together our Mother's Day buying guide, which features 25 active and lifestyle products below. Make sure to check out some additional staff picks at the end.

Adventure

Gazelle Tour Populair Bike ($1,100)

Made in the the Netherlands, this comfy cruiser is good-looking and ideal for getting to and from home and the office.

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music Fitness Watch ($250)

In addition to monitoring heart rate, step count, and calories burned, this watch also comes with GPS, storage for 500 songs, and Bluetooth-enabled wireless headphones.

Brooks Women’s Launch 4 Running Shoe ($100)

This is a solid all-arounder, with lots of cushioning and an easy-fit upper. It’s ideal for neutral-stride runners.

Mountain Hardwear Lithosphere Jacket ($140)

Tiny perforations in this rain jacket’s face fabric aid mobility and breathability. Softshell fabric on the hood trim, cuffs, and zippered hand pockets ups the comfort.

Woolrich Women’s Outside Air Eco Rich Skort ($70)

This airy Peruvian-style skirt has a secret: a pair of silky performance nylon-spandex shorts underneath.

United by Blue Women’s Skyline Boardshorts ($55)

These four-inch board shorts are scalloped for a flattering look. Bonus: United by Blue picks up a pound of trash for every item sold.

Prana Caraway Tight ($90)

These tights have a flattering wide waistband and flatlock seams that prevent rubbing and chafing during workouts. The fleece lining is super comfy when just hanging out.

Outdoor Research Athena Wrap ($65)

It looks like a normal wrap, but the Athena is actually a performance piece, thanks to the quick-wicking cotton-polyester fabric and anti-odor coating. Mom can wear it hiking then out to dinner.

Cotopaxi Kusa Bomber Jacket Women’s ($190)

This slim-fitting bomber is reversible and stuffed with llama wool. Proceeds from the jacket go to help alleviate poverty, improve health, and expand literacy rates.

Travel

Wild Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Live Her Best Life, Escape Traditional Parenthood, and Travel the World ($18)

Author Carrie Visintainer writes humorously about her travels from Colorado to Turkey to a jungle in Mexico during a trip she planned as a way to recover from postpartum depression.

Rifle Paper Co. Travel Essentials Journal ($15)

The illustrated linen cover on this notebook makes it stand out compared with a drab Moleskine. And each page has a spot to record location and time, so you know when and where those memories happened.

Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler ($30)

We’re big fans of Yeti’s drinkware, but the 20-ounce Tumbler hits a particular sweet spot. The double-walled insulation ensures that your coffee stays hot and water stays cold, and the stainless-steel body means it will last a lifetime.

Nau Women’s Strie Short Sleeve T-Shirt ($50)

Ultra-soft organic cotton and recycled polyester makes this a comfy, high-performance tee.

OluKai Pehuea Shoes ($80)

Classic, comfy, and built with support, the mostly mesh Pehuea Shoe is a no-brainer whether you’re running errands or boarding a long-haul flight.

Toad & Co Women’s Sunkissed Maxi Dress ($95)

This dress fits in with a book on the beach or with a margarita at dinner. The quick-drying, sun-blocking, featherweight performance fabric is our favorite.

Style

Shinola Coin Edge Locket ($250)

Shinola makes great bikes, watches, and now jewelry, all in its Detroit factory. This petite sterling-silver locket is the perfect blend of classic and hipster with just a touch of heart-melting sentiment.

Le Creuset Stoneware 27-Ounce French Press ($70)

Replace your mom’s coffee maker with this stylish French press that comes in several bright colors. Bonus: it’s dishwasher-safe.

Coyuchi Organics Striped Wool Blanket Throw ($200)

Made in a small family-owned Canadian mill that was founded in 1870, this blanket has the feel of your favorite summertime cabin—cozy and familiar. The classic design works in bed, in the living room, or out on the porch swing.

Ursa Major Sublime Body Care Set ($45)

Ingredients like fir needle, lime peel, and aloe make this body wash and lotion set smell great and work even better. And there’s the packaging, which features Brooklyn artist Aimee Wilder’s depiction of Vermont’s Mad River Valley ski area.

Soma 10-Cup Pitcher ($40)

A beautifully designed addition for an office or home fridge, this 10-cup pitcher has a filter that uses coconut-shell carbon to clean your water.

Hestra 72470 Garden Dip Gloves ($5)

Hestra makes some of our favorite ski gloves, and now they make our favorite gardening gloves, too, with six loud, fun patterns.

Kavu Women’s Clutch N Go Bag ($30)

Equipped with slots for credit cards and zippered pockets for Chapstick and keys, the Clutch N Go can be thrown in her bag while hiking, then slung on her wrist for a drink at the brewery.

Columbia Women’s Early Tide Scarf ($25)

This cotton scarf comes in four colors, is incredibly soft, and is the perfect accessory for a dinner party or a walk on the beach.

Shwood Bailey Acetate Sunglasses ($130)

With frames made from cotton and wood pulp, Shwood’s sunglasses are just as strong as their plastic counterparts but more environmentally friendly. Handsome wood inlays, crystal-clear Carl Zeiss optics, and a mix of modern and classic design create a pair of good-looking, high-quality glasses.

Kiehl’s Calendula and Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask ($45)

Mom deserves a little R&R, and Kiehl’s Calendula and Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask will provide cooling hydration when she’s done getting after it on the trail.

Outside Staff Picks

GSI Outdoors Stainless Steel Wine Glass ($14)

Whether she’s out in the woods or on her lanai in Florida, she’ll never have to worry about breaking another precious wine glass again. And we’ll never have to listen to how her cheap plastic cups do an injustice to her favorite Two Buck Chuck. — Mitch Breton, video production curator

Nite Ize BugLit LED Micro Flashlight ($13)

This bendy and lightweight flashlight is perfect for late-night reading. Mom can just lay back, set it on her stomach, and read away. It can also be used as a regular flashlight, with an effective range up to 50 feet. — Olivia Harlow, editorial producer

Patagonia Houdini Jacket ($100)

The wind- and water-resistant Houdini is the perfect accessory for crisp morning runs or drizzly afternoon coffee walks. My favorite part: the lightweight jacket folds up to the size of an apple, disappearing into her pack or purse until the weather turns bad. — Ben Fox, assistant editor

Osprey Ariel AG 55 Backpack ($290)

My mom was an avid backpacker but had to quick a couple years ago, when she got chronic back and shoulder pain. This pack was the only solution. The body-wrapping Anti-Gravity harness carries better than anything she’d ever tried and allowed her to get back on the trail. Happy hiking, mom. — Jakob Schiller, associate editor

The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift Guide