Looking for last-minute Christmas gifts? Panic ye not! Our gift guide has loads of suggestions….
Are your presents wrapped and under the tree or has your Christmas gift shopping list been woefully neglected?
If it’s the latter, fear not, as there’s still time to order online or make a speedy trip to the shops.
Whatever you do, don’t be the person who ends up buying gifts in desperation at the service station on Christmas Eve.
Whether you’re buying for walkers, gardeners, skiers, avid readers or fashionistas, here’s our last-minute gift guide…
Best gifts for hikers
Jacket
Need a hard-wearing reliable piece of kit? OutDry™ Extreme is Columbia’s first ever waterproof and breathable fabric technology constructed with a waterproof layer on the outside and soft, wicking fabric inside. Traditional raingear uses interior waterproof membranes which don’t allow for air flow, and water-repellent coating that degrades over time. With OutDry™ Extreme, the rugged exterior is an incredibly water-tight membrane with millions of microscopic perforations that let water vapour escape through a wicking membrane directly fused to the shell. The bonded, horizontal baffles keeps the 700 fill power goose down in place and eliminates the cold spots. This versatile down jacket is perfect for just about anywhere it’s cold and wet. The Men’s Outdry™ Ex Gold Down Jacket retails at around £220. www.columbiasportswear.co.uk
Boots
The Men’s Grand Canyon Mid OutDry Hiking Shoe, £100, from Columbia, is a durable and supportive hiking shoe that is super-comfortable, fully waterproof and that features a grip that just won’t quit. www.columbiasportswear.co.uk
Jacket
Brighten up the winter with a vibrant lilac Didriksons Niki Jacket, £159-£175 for women. The insulated waterproof is perfect for so many winter activities, whether skiing, walking, hiking or simply walking round town! Swedish brand Didriksons are renowned for their waterproofing and quality with STORMsystem™ designed to withstand the harshest weather conditions, With fully adjustable hem, cuffs and hood to give you the perfect fit. Available www.didriksons.com or www.outbacktrading.co.uk
Best gifts for dog walkers
Torch
Know someone who walks the dog in the dark? Then he or she needs a brilliant headtorch! The Tikka headtorch from Petzl is down from £35 to £17.50 at Blacks. Also great for night running and camping trips! www.blacks.co.uk
Wellies
Who doesn’t covet a pair of Hunter wellies? Rugged and durable. Hunter’s Norris Field collection is designed to perform against the elements while being uber-fashionable at the same time. Despite its hard-wearing qualities, the core boot is made from a new, softer rubber compound making it even more comfortable. The durable Argyll sole has a wide zigzag construction for grip on rough or varied surface. Try the Norris Field Side Adjustable Wellington Boots, £95, www.hunterboots.com
Best gifts for gardeners
Gardeners Set
The Dobbies Gardeners Set, £17.99, is a great gift for any gardener. The set includes a hand fork, hand trowel and patio knife. All come with crafted ash handles which feel natural in the hand and offer a secure but comfortable grip while the polished stainless steel heads ensure that they’re built to last – this is one gift set that will be used for years to come. www.dobbies.com
Best gifts for cyclists
Be seen
The Altura Nightvision Waterproof Jacket, £80, is a superb waterproof commuter jacket. Offering 360 degree reflectivity for maximum dark light visibility, Altura Shield EVO fabric technology is engineered to provide protection from wind and water, while still offering superior levels of breathability in a soft touch two layer fabric. www.tiso.com
Socks
The Boardman Men’s Cycling Socks, £7.99, provide all-day comfort while racking up those miles. They are fully moisture wicking to help keep your feet cool and dry, and have padded heels for extra comfort. www.halfords.com
Best gifts for pet owners
Dog jumper
You might have your look sorted, but what about your loyal furry friend? Enter RI Dog, River Island’s adorable new canine collection. Try on the cheery RI Dog red Christmas knit jumper, £16, for size. In small, medium and large. www.riverisland.com
Cat toy
Spoil your cat with the Pets at Home Christmas Catnip Santa Cat Toy, £3. This plush toy contains the magical catnip that will drive your cat crazy! www.petsathome.com
Best gifts for fashionistas
Watch
Meller has launched a stunning, minimalist new unisex watch collection, Balk, which is sure to impress. The Japanese mechanics, sapphire crystal and leather strap are interchangeable, so you can choose a style to suit. The Maori Nag Camel design, £85.47, won’t disappoint. mellerbrand.com
Superdry
Treat the man in your life to the funky Superdry Surplus Goods crew neck jumper. This knitted crew neck jumper features a ribbed crew neck and cuffs and is finished with a leather Superdry Surplus Goods logo patch on the sleeve and signature orange stich in the side seam. Right now, it’s reduced from £54.99 to £38.49. www.superdry.com
Glitter bag
No need to break the bank with this cute gold glitter mini chain bag from River Island, £18. Perfect for parties and festive get-togethers. www.riverisland.com
Best gifts for bookworms
Colson Whitehead
Described as a “luminous, furious, wildly inventive tale that not only shines a bright light on one of the darkest periods of history, but also opens up thrilling new vistas for the form of the novel itself”, The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, is among the critic’s choice Waterstones list of books for 2016. In Whitehead’s razor-sharp imagining of the antebellum South, the Underground Railroad has assumed a physical form: a dilapidated box car pulled along subterranean tracks by a steam locomotive, picking up fugitives wherever it can. Cora and Caesar’s first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. £11.99. www.waterstones.com
Ian Rankin
For booksellers, few phrases are as evocative as Rankin and Rebus: simply put, it’s the promise of a master at work in his narrative heartland. So check out Ian Rankin’s latest offering, Rather Be The Devil, the 21st Rebus thriller. Forty years may have passed, but the death of the beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on the now-retired Detective’s mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria’s killer has never been found. Now Rebus has his own reasons to begin turning over stones, but the risks have never been greater. £12.99. www.waterstones.com
Best gifts for skiers
Ski jacket
The Isola Extreme Women’s Ski Jacket, £119.99, from Mountain Warehouse, has you covered all around. Made in IsoDry fabric with taped seams, it’s waterproof, warm and breathable. RECCO® reflectors, a detachable snowskirt and plenty of pockets ensure comfort and safety on the slopes. www.mountainwarehouse.com
Softshell pants
Mesa Extreme Women’s Softshell Ski Pants, £69.99, from Mountain Warehouse, offer functionality without losing on style. Feature packed, these pants are waterproof, breathable and insulated for added warmth, with RECCO reflectors, snow gaiters and pockets – perfect for your winter escapades. www.mountainwarehouse.com
Headband
The Faux Fur Headband, £8.99, from Mountain Warehouse, is a great winter accessory for skiing or cold days. Lightweight and very warm this headband protects your ears from the cold, whilst letting the top of your head breathe, making it excellent for active use. Faux fur is super soft against the skin and gives a high street style to this practical accessory. www.mountainwarehouse.com
Boxers
Men! Keep your essentials cosy with a pair of Merino Boxers, £14.99, from Mountain Warehouse. A high performance baselayer for ultimate warmth and comfort, they’re made with Merino wool, naturally antibacterial, breathable and wick away moisture from the skin, making them perfect for an active lifestyle in winter. www.mountainwarehouse.com
Best gifts for golfers
Gloves
Hands chilly on the first hole of an early morning tee off? You can’t beat Thermagrip gloves from Japanese manufacturer Mizuno, £14.99. The combination of leather palms and a flexible weatherproof upper creates a toasty warm glove that’ll serve them well through those chilly days on the course or at the driving range. www.amazon.co.uk
The GolfBuddy Voice 2 GPS RangeFinder, £114.95, is small enough to clip on your cap, belt buckle or even sit inside your pocket and will give you instant and accurate audio distances to the hole. The versatile design is lightweight, looks smart and features a durable clip that will secure the device onto wherever you choose. www.golfonline.co.uk
Best gifts for bathing beauties
Lush goodies
Get ready to fire up the shower with the Merry and Bright gift set, £15, from Lush. With a trio of spicy Fireside soap, chocolatey yuzu and cocoa shower cream and a pack of Red FUN, the avid bather will be dreaming of a Lush Christmas. uk.lush.com
Stardust
Become a star with the fabulous Stardust gift set, £32.95, from Lush that will turn your bath into the night’s sky. Sprinkle some Fairy Dust (dusting powder) and go back to when it all started with Big Bang bubble bar, go and shoot for the stars with Snow Fairy shower gel while watching a Rock Star (soap) in the Snowie bubble bar.
http://uk.lush.comuk.lush.com
Body scrub
Bean Body scrubs won’t just exfoliate your scalp but the peppermint will stimulate the hair follicle whilst coconut oil nourishes the hair to encourage growth and maintain health. Try Bean Body Coffee Body Scrub, £14.95 from Holland and Barrett. http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/
Best gifts for beauty buffs
Skin renewal
Aldi just launched Lacura Cellsation – a brand new, premium anti-ageing skincare range for mature skin. Containing a rejuvenating red algae extract which promotes restructuring of the skin, the products offer several strong anti-ageing components including innovative narcissus extracts which improves the appearance of skin in just four weeks. The range includes Lacura Cellsation Cell Renewal Day Cream containing SPF 15, Lacura Cellsation Cell Renewal Night Cream, and Deep Regenerating Serum. Each retail at £6.99 – a steal! www.aldi.co.uk
Pearly whites
Know someone obsessed with teeth whitening? Try Billion Dollar Smile – a luxury celebrity go-to teeth whitening brand that provides safe, easy-to-use whitening kits. Billion Dollar Smile (BDS) offers a range of products using non-peroxide ingredients which are clinically tested and gentle on your teeth and gums. Whiten your way from a choice of BDS Strips or LED Mini Light Kit and Top-up Gel. Start off with 28 strips from £22.50. billiondollarsmilecosmetics.co.uk
Health glow
A tan doesn’t have to be just for the summer months because, let’s face it, who doesn’t want a little bronze glow to help them get through the bleak winter weather? Look to Bondi Sands to ensure skin is prepped and ready to look it’s best all winter. Swap your moisturiser for a dry oil as they deeply nourish dry skin whilst giving skin a glow at the same time. Including coconut and organ oil, Bondi Sands Liquid Gold, £14.99, is sure to brighten the dark of days (and nights). Available from Boots nationwide. www.boots.com
Best gifts for travellers
Happy exploring!
The North Coast 500 – Scotland’s answer to Route 66 – has unveiled an exclusive Club 500 Gold Membership aimed at those who love to explore the Highlands. Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, the North Coast 500 naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire. Just 500 Gold Memberships, costing £250 + VAT each, have been released. They come with limited edition gifts and exclusive benefits including ten years’ worth of NC500 Explorer Memberships, transferable to friends and family, which give access to a concierge-style service to help visitors plan their trips around the route. The package – worth over £1,000 – also includes a limited edition bottle of NC500 Rock Rose gin, produced by NC500 partner Dunnet Bay Distillers and limited edition NC500/Johnston of Elgin fine merino scarf. Other key benefits include 10% off all NC500 online merchandising (to be launched in Spring 2017) as well as access to a crowd sourcing platform to shape the future innovation of NC500. www.northcoast500.com/club500
