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high-brow survival kit gift
LaPuzza
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My best friend is one of those impossible-to-buy-for types. He likes the finer things and buys anything that he wants for himself. So I have to get creative.
This year, I got my inspiration when I found this thing. http://www.swissarmy.com/us/app/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Camping/Cheese-Knife/80833 I’m going to make him what equates to a WASP survival kit. I’m thinking I want to find the right flask, a solar-powered USB battery/charger, maybe some nicely packaged high end seasonings, and a nice leather/wooden box for delivery and storage.
Any other suggestions? For shorthand, think snob, not nerd. I wouldn’t say price is no object, but I’m not above overspending.
This year, I got my inspiration when I found this thing. http://www.swissarmy.com/us/app/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Camping/Cheese-Knife/80833 I’m going to make him what equates to a WASP survival kit. I’m thinking I want to find the right flask, a solar-powered USB battery/charger, maybe some nicely packaged high end seasonings, and a nice leather/wooden box for delivery and storage.
Any other suggestions? For shorthand, think snob, not nerd. I wouldn’t say price is no object, but I’m not above overspending.
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I don't know where your line is on price is no object vs. thrifty, though. Tumi luggage is expensive.
You could remove the bottle opener and put the Swiss Army one in its place.
I just got a Tumi carry-on for free from work as a bonus. It makes me want to travel simply to use it.
Unfortunately, this is a guy that upgraded from his Tumi stuff years ago. I shudder to think what he spends on an overnight bag when the leather looks like it belongs in a Bentley.
I like the monogrammed hanky, I can roll up a few like gauze. Thanks!
Stay away from electronics. For someone who likes the finer things, form and function go hand in hand, and it's tough to find electronics that are stylish. In particular, I have never seen a solar powered anything that was stylish.
On Victorinox knives, my favorite is the Compact, modified with a different "Plus" scale off Ebay. Pick a color like white and it would be a unique gift, unavailable from any store.
Fun spices worth getting as gifts for foodies are spiced salts, like truffle salt, wine salt (try fleur de syrah), or saffron salt. Spiced salt lasts longer than a pure spice (especially a "wet" one like truffles or an expensive one like saffron), so you end up using it in everyday dishes, rather than trying to save it for special occasions (and forgetting about it).
Oh yeah, get him one of those. Wait, no. This, get him this.
The Spice House in Chicago has some nice box sets and individual spices/rubs, etc.
Best made has pretty excellent packaging in combination with nice blades, which make them good gifts. Personally, I would get an axe, if I had that kind of cash on me.
Also a card on the inside of the box, so when he goes "uh, did you by me an axe?" I can point to the card that says "Yes I did" on the front, and "You're welcome" on the inside. Or, if he wouldn't appreciate the humor of a sassy card, stick these guys in there: http://www.bestmadeco.com/collections/gifts-under-125/products/us-army-field-manuals
You could get him a Hario skerton ceramic coffee mill (hand powered as to not spoil the beans from the heat of an elecrtic grinder), a Hario woodneck drip pot (so he does not sully his coffee with filthy paper), a Hario buono kettle (to perfectly control the rate the water is poured at), (plus hario is a Japanese company so he can sneer down at filthy western barbarians), an electric kettle (so he can control the exact temperature of the water) and an electronic scale (so he can control the amount of beans and the water poured down to the exact gram).
Pretty darn snobby.
This uh... may or may not also be my exact coffee set up (I went with the hario stuff because I live in Japan so it was what was available on store shelves).
I can vouch for these axes being very well made.
If electricity is an issue - there are wood stoves that power a USB socket: biolitestove.com/
This is a pocket grappling hook for all those times you wish you had one but left it at home because it was too bulky (collapsible): countycomm.com/hook.html. That site has lots of cool stuff like that if you think it's the right tree to bark up.
Knives, Watches and Torches are three things that are all useful, as well as having the option to look really nice and cost a lot. I don't know much about watches and he's probably got some by the sounds of things. Here's a couple of options for the other two though.
Friction folder - nice handmade folding knives. I would love one of these: michaelmorrisknives.com/9.html
Spyderco maybe? Nice knives - all prices really: heinnie.com/Knives/Spyderco-Knives/c-1-pricedesc-92-191/. That's a UK site but if you see one you like they are more available in the US.
Klarus make really nice torches of all sizes: http://www.klaruslight.com/
Of course, lots of other people make nicer torches and knives than these, but these are ones that I've used. I would have a look at candlepower forums, edc forums and british blades forums if you this this is a good idea and want to really investigate more. Here's a good thread for examples: candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?184009-Knife-amp-Light-pics
I got Stale a similar knife to this or this for Secret Satans last year. They're very pretty, and Stale reported that it was quite nicely made and seemed rather durable, but if you want something more than just a pocket knife, if you want a work tool that you can beat the shit out of every day and it will cut beautifully in 20 years time, then get something more like this.
WASP so i assume christian enough to enjoy an advent calendar?
i stumbled across this recently and really want to buy one for next year...
http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/drinks-by-the-dram/the-whisky-advent-calendar/?gclid=CJ3mwKWel7sCFag7OgodJBYAmQ
That is awesome. I wish I had seen that to give him at Thanksgiving!