With the holidays just around the corner, days getting shorter, and mountain bike season coming to an end, it can feel as if our trail riding dreams are just a distant memory. However, the off-season is also a great time to consider gearing up for the longer days ahead! With plentiful sales, new product launches with surplus inventory, and more time to plan out your gear, now is often the best time to consider stocking up! It’s also a great time to get some small gifts for your riding buddies to pulse-check their riding interests for the season ahead.

If you are looking for a gift for yourself or to get your buddies some gear for the holidays and you aren’t in quite a committed enough relationship to buy them a $6,000 bike, then read ahead. These are ten gift ideas that will not only make your riding partners stoked but will also give them a source of guilt next time they want to turn you down for a ride. Invest in your on-demand riding partners for the season ahead with these awesome gifts!

1. Five Ten Freerider

The Five Ten Freerider has been a staple in mountain biking longer than dropper posts or 12-speed drivetrains and for good reason! With multiple color options, a simple design, ample padding, plenty of grip, and a look that doesn’t scream “I’m here to win,” these shoes are comfortable enough to wear both on and off the bike. Unlike the Freerider Pros or the Freerider DLX, these shoes come in at a budget-friendly price of only about $100. They also come in options made specifically for women.

2. Smith Wildcat Sunglasses

Ever want to wear goggles when you are riding in a half shell, but you are afraid to be called “Enduro”? Want to show off your tongue-in-cheek sporty style in a pair of speed glasses that aren’t made for the Tour de France? The Smith Wildcats are your option! With plenty of protection, easily swappable lenses, and an adjustable nose bridge, these glasses are great for all of your riding adventures. For riders with smaller faces, consider the Smith Bobcat instead.

3. Smith Engage MIPS Helmet

Do you have that one riding partner who refuses to replace an old helmet? The guy who wears a full face on your longer trail rides? Or the gal who wants to wear her visorless road helmet because “two helmets are too many”? Well, get them the Smith Engage MIPS Helmet! With plenty of vents, MIPS protections, and ample sizes and colors to choose from, this helmet is sure to fit everyone’s style!

4. Dakine Hot Laps Stealth Waist Bag

The Dakine Hot Laps Stealth Waist Bag is a great option for carrying your essential tools and a small snack without making your back feel claustrophobic. Designed to be worn under your shirt or jersey, this waist bag is a great option for riders who like the feeling and look of their shirt flapping in the wind and who prefer to not look like they are headed on a backpacking trip. Riders looking to drop the added weight of their bulky hip packs and who don’t love on-bike storage will love this sleek solution.

5. Lezyne HV Drive Hand Pump

Do you have the one riding buddy who asks for your CO2 every ride? The friend who manages to snap a valve stem when fixing a flat on a trail and always needs your spare tubes? The Lezyne HV Drive Hand Pump is the solution for them! This pump offers a high volume of air with every stroke, perfect for mountain bike tires. Unlike CO2, it is reusable and better for the planet. Plus, it has a hose that attaches to the pump to make pumping easier on you and your valve stems.

6. CamelBak 70oz Rogue Light Hydration Backpack

The CamelBak Rogue is a great option for riders looking to carry additional water but who also want to spare some weight! With a 2L carrying capacity and the ability to keep some extra tools, buying this for your riding partner will make sure neither of you ever gets thirsty on a ride again.

7. Blackburn Pro Plugger Tubeless Tire Repair Tool

The Blackburn Pro Plugger is a convenient CNC alloy tubeless plug tool that will allow you to get down the hill without the need for a tube! This tool is easily stored in a pocket or pack but also comes with a bike mounting option. Get your buddies back on the trail without having to donate another one of your tubes!

8. 7iDP Sam Hill Knee Pads

Do you have that one buddy who refuses to wear knee pads no matter the train conditions or type of riding? Are you tired of donating your gauze and medical tape? Get your friend the 7iDP Sam Hill Knee Pads! These low-profile pads are easy to slide on and off and require no adjustments. They are comfortable enough for most types of rides yet protective enough to keep you safe no matter what.

9. Mucky Nutz Face Fender

The Mucky Nutz Face Fender is the perfect gift for a fickle riding buddy who you want to guilt trip but don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on. For under $20, this fender is an awesome upgrade to any bike. Offering protection from flinging dirt and mud off of your front tire, this fender limits your buddies' excuse to skip riding in inclement weather and buys you an excuse to demand their attendance on a ride.

10. Thule T2 Pro Hitch Bike Rack

Are you tired of being the only one who drives to the trailhead? Do you wish that your friends would finally use their own gas to transport you to the trails? The Thule T2 Pro XTR is the perfect solution! This two-bike hitch rack is safe and secure and works for many types of bikes (including e-bikes)! Also, integrated cable locks mean there is no longer an excuse to skip the after-ride beer.

With the season of giving rapidly approaching, now is a great time to think about giving. But in the true holiday spirit, why not consider a gift that will give back to you in return? Kit your riding buddies or your mountain biking family members out this season and invest in a season of riding partners ahead! Still not sure what to get your buddies? Consider buying them a gift card!