For those of us who live to explore beyond the beaten path, the holiday season brings the perfect opportunity to gear up for the next adventure. Our 2024 holiday gift buyers guide has something for every rider, whether you’re shopping yourself, another adventure rider in your life, or just looking for a means to drop a hint. All of the suggestions in this Christmas curation are for rugged, adventure-proof items that include convertible heated grips, an essential mid-layer puffer and a dedicated off-road GPS navigation system. Whether you’re charting your next cross-country ride or dreaming of Sunday morning single track, these gifts will help support year-round adventures. 

DoubleTake V2 Dual Sport Mirrors

It was just last summer that DoubleTake completely revamped its famous mirrors, releasing Version 2.0 (V2). The next-gen mirror features a larger 1.125-inch base mount ball, which uses “no-crush” technology via an aluminum core with a thin nitrile coating to prevent distortion with prolonged use. Additionally, the V2’s joints are 42% stiffer than the RAM ball system it replaced. 

Anyone who has dealt with a spinning stock mirror understands why DoubleTake mirrors are ideal, and best of all, they are virtually unbreakable and fold down tight to the bar when you’re ready to sow your off-road oats. There are three versions of V2 mirror sets, but the advantage of the “Dual Sport” design is it features the shortest stalks and most compact design, which means they are extremely stable and stay out of your field of view if you want to keep the mirrors up in rough terrain.

TecMate Optimate 2 Duo x 4 Bank

It’s obvious that adventure bike riders love variety, and that often means having more than one motorcycle in the garage, be it a dedicated dirt or trials bike, something on the sporty side, or even a classic or two. Of course, the more bikes in the stable the more maintenance required, but with a TecMate Optimate 2 DUO Multi-Bike Battery Maintainer, you won’t need to worry about your batteries staying charged and healthy. The advantage here is that in addition to keeping up to four batteries topped, this unit can manage 13.2V lithium batteries as well as 12V and 12.8V regular, gel, and AGM batteries found in motorcycles, trucks, cars, boats, etc. The Optimate 2 Duo x 4 Bank (also available as a 2 Bank) is weatherproof, safe for full-time connection, and rated for temperatures down to -40°F. 

REV’IT! Solar 3 Puffy Coat

T’is the season for chilly adventures, and nothing keeps your vital organs cozier than a nice insulated layer under your waterproof shell. The great thing about giving REV’IT! is you know you’re gifting a high-quality piece of gear that’s also flattering thanks to a slimming, European cut. The Solar 3 is lightweight and insulated with injected Primaloft Silver synthetic down for breathability and warmth. It’s also an extremely lightweight piece and can be packed down small into its own carrying bag when not in use. There’s one chest pocket and two slit pockets at the waist, as well as elastic at the waistband and cuff to discourage drafts. While the black Solar 3 (available in sizes S-3XL) is designed to supplement a riding suit, it also doubles as a sweet piece of going-to-town gear when you’re off the bike. 

Mosko Moto Pinner Tool Roll

Does anyone remember the slang term “pinner” from back in the day? For those who don’t, let’s just say it was the opposite in size compared to today’s XL blunts. In the world of tool rolls, however, a fatty isn’t always your best option when you want to carry a minimalist set of tools for close-to-home adventures.

The compact Pinner is small enough to fit in pockets, tank bags, and MOLLE pouches, yet it holds enough tools for most roadside repairs. Features include multiple tool sleeves with elastic loops, mesh pockets to protect tire patches, and two large zippered pockets for oddly shaped or larger items. On the outside, there are webbing pass-throughs to allow the Pinner to be connected directly to a bike or a bag, while a waterproof rain cover protects your valuable tool collection. The Pinner can also be purchased pre-rolled with an exclusive blend of CruzTools sold exclusively through Mosko.

Garmin Tread 2 Motorcycle Navigator

Nothing can beat satellite GPS mapping for uninterrupted, off-grid travels, and in that world, Garmin remains one of the go-tos. Unlike the company’s XT2 zūmo Navigator, the Tread 2 is a more rugged design intended for off-road adventures, while its mapping is dialed to favor unpaved roads and trails. A 6-inch high-resolution full-color IP67 display is ultra bright and glove-friendly, providing turn-by-turn satellite imagery that can include high-definition elevation maps, which are especially helpful when you’re exploring new trails.

The Tread 2 is purpose-built to survive extreme weather and dust and will pair with your smartphone as well as an inReach satellite communicator. Boundaries for national forest and BLM lands are clearly marked and a campground overlay is included. If Santa uses a GPS for his sleigh, this is likely the one. 

Alpinestars Vision 8 Goggles

New from Alpinestars, its Vision 8 goggles for motocross and off-road riding are the more budget-minded version of its pro-level Supertech goggles, delivering an extremely high level of clarity, comfort, effective moisture management, and optimized fit for about half the price. The swappable lens is polycarbonate, hard-coated, and offers anti-fog and 100-percent UV protection. A specially engineered Ram-Air ventilation system promotes airflow and moisture release, while 100 PPI reticulated vent foam helps enhance ventilation. The foam that touches a rider’s skin is 3D molded 17mm and multi-layered while an outrigger system ensures a direct pull against the face for the ultimate fit. Securing these goggles is the same 13-degree strap wedge as the Supertech and a 45mm wide woven strap. Vision 8s are available in a variety of colors and lenses. 

GIVI T520 18L Waterproof Seat Bag

An ideal gift for yourself or any rider in your life is this well-made add-on dry bag from popular, 41-year-old Italian luggage manufacturer GIVI, currently priced for the holidays at $36.67. Sounds good, right? After all, what rider couldn’t use an extra 18L of waterproof storage that can easily be strapped to the back seat, on top of your main duffle, or even on a rear rack?

The waterproof design not only makes it good for keeping your gear dry but also can double as an ice cooler for getting your cold beverages to camp. The extra-low price has us considering two of these bags — one for top of each pannier.  The high-visibility yellow GIVI T520 also adds a pop of color to your rig, making you more conspicuous to others sharing the roadways. Made of rip-stop nylon that’s been treated for UV resistance, GIVI says the roll-down-style Seat Bag can also be used to attach Molle compatible accessories like a first aid kit or multi tool. 

X-Claw USB-Powered Clip-On Heated Grips

You know the saying “cold hands, warm heart?” Well, we prefer our hands to be warm, too, especially while riding, where the ability to make quick and effective finger movements can mean the difference between life and death. Heated grips are the ideal way to retain dexterity in cold temps, though only newer, high-end bikes tend to come with the option.

Enter an affordable solution —  X-Claws — which requires no wiring as long as your bike is equipped with a USB power port. The C-shaped grip covers can be installed and removed in a matter of seconds, and their universal fit makes them ideal for swapping between bikes. While this type of grip gripper isn’t recommended for technical off-roading, these palm warmers will get you to the trailhead in comfort without breaking the bank. 

Barkbusters Open-End Grips

Barkbusters — famous since the late 80s for its finger- and lever-saving handguards, also knows a thing or two about how grips and guards need to integrate, hence the creation of this Open-End offering. Adventure bikes and dual sports typically have wrap-around handguards that require you to cut the end of the grips off to allow for the hand guards to be secured to the handlebar ends, yet cutting the rubber end caps off can leave them looking like Fido had a chew or two. To eliminate this problem, the Barkbuster grips come with a perfectly sized hole through which you can feed handguard mounting hardware. For comfort, a soft dual compound is molded to produce a slightly larger-than-stock outside diameter claimed to provide greater control of the bike while reducing fatigue. Color choices are black, grey, grey/black, and grey/yellow and the fit is universal.

Hydra Pack 6L Pioneer Water Carrier

While an extended backcountry camping trip can feel like the Christmas of adventure rides, a lack of carriable conveniences can dampen the fun. When deciding what can be lived without, water is one of the non-negotiable elements, therefore the Pioneer Water Carrier resides on the must-have list. While at first glance this Hydra Pack resembles a backpack bladder, it’s much larger and designed with a wide mouth for gathering H20 in the wild. Using its nylon cords the pouch can be hung from a branch or bike part to supply water via a push-button spout for cooking or cleaning.

Construction is robust, with an abrasion-resistant outer shell protecting the flexible, yet durable TPU bladder, which can be turned inside-out for cleaning. When not in use the Pioneer 6L packs down small for easy stowage. A handy 28mm filter adapter is also included.

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.