7 Gifts the 5280 Staff is Giving This Holiday Season

It’s literally our job to be up-to-speed on all the coolest Centennial State swag, so when it comes to gifting our friends and family unique Colorado-made goods, we have a bit of a head start.

But it’s the season of giving, not gatekeeping, so read on to find out what we’re buying for our loved ones this year. (Loved ones, look away!)

Apex Mountain School Gift Card

There are a few reasons why you may want to follow my lead and start giving everyone on your Nice List gift cards (starting at $50) to Apex Mountain School, a guide service based in Vail. For one, any of your powder-obsessed pals would be pleased with the menu of guided skiing, snowshoeing, and climbing trips around the Rockies. For another, proper mountain safety training is expensive, and your aspiring backcountry bud would appreciate your help allaying the cost. And, perhaps most importantly: There is no easier way to grow your own backcountry ski crew than to create more disciples of AIARE Level 1 certification. Available online  —Maren Horjus, digital director

Bjorn’s Colorado Honey

Growing up, my Midwest mother made one thing clear: You never show up empty-handed. So, when I found myself in violation of this rule of etiquette at the airport, staring down the barrel of a litany of social gatherings during my impending trip, I panicked. Bjorn’s Colorado Honey’s DIA outpost saved me. The Boulder-based honey producer’s new space—in Concourse B—is packed with many honey varieties and honey-themed gifts. I purchased a couple of 10.5-ounce jars of California orange blossom honey ($19) for my best girlfriends and nabbed whipped cinnamon honey ($19) for my sister-in-law and mother. The bonus find? Honey sticks ($12) for the nephews. My family always keeps a jar of the double propolis honey ($29) in the pantry, so getting to share a favorite local product with my out-of-town crew was, well, sweet. Available online and at various retailers —Sarah Banks, photo editor

A Treatment at Jalan Facial Spa

One of my favorite forms of self-care, facials are on my wish list for every gift-giving occasion, but, at often over $100 a treatment (in this economy?!), they’re rarely in my budget. One place I can always count on getting my money’s worth is Jalan Facial Spa in Uptown. Its extensive list of facials (starting at $99) caters to every skin type and concern, but what really sets the spa apart is its complimentary Japanese-inspired amenities. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to your appointment to indulge in a cup of lemongrass tea, a soothing foot soak, and access to the meditation garden. After each treatment, your facialist will offer a warm neck wrap and a final moment to relax in a zenned-out lounge. It’s the perfect indulgence for busy parents or anyone on your list who loves a good glow or a much-needed hour of peace and quiet. Book online —Michelle Shortall, senior editor

Adventurist Classic Backpack

I discovered Adventurist Backpack Co. a few years ago and was immediately drawn in by the vintage-meets-minimalist aesthetic of the Denver-based company’s classic pack ($65). But after learning that the husband-and-wife founders donate 25 meals for every bag sold, a mission sparked by their experiences witnessing food insecurity during their travels, I was all in. These days, my mustard yellow backpack is my go-to, whether I’m downtown on my way to the 5280 office (its front and back padding keeps my work laptop secure, sparing me from a stern word from IT) or hitting the trails (it’s water resistant and holds two water bottles). And the real-time counter on Adventurist’s website, which displays how many meals the company has donated so far, is just the inspiration I needed to buy one for everyone on my list. Available online and at various retailers —Barbara O’Neil, associate editor

Daddy’s Homemade Syrups

If my bank account allowed it, I’d buy bougie lattes from a coffee shop every morning. But since I haven’t won the lottery to fund my fancy caffeine addiction (yet), Daddy’s Homemade syrups ($5 per bottle) are the next best thing. These small-batch, all-natural syrups made in Evergreen come in 60 different flavors, ranging from boysenberry to sugar cookie, making them a versatile addition to your pantry. Whether you pour a splash of cinnamon vanilla in your morning cup of Joe, use the raspberry habanero to make a killer cocktail, or dump the dark maple bourbon directly onto a pile of pancakes, the syrup always seems to disappear too soon. But when it does, you can bring your bottle back to their stand at farmers’ markets around town to get a discount on your next purchase. Available online and at select retailers —Jessica Giles, senior associate editor

Tipsy Jigger Bar Tool

Even if the whiskey lover in your life has evolved from stocking Jim Beam to locally made organic rye, odds are they’re still using a Spring Break 2008 shot glass from Cancun to measure it. (That’s not just me, right?) At $85 apiece, Tipsy Jigger’s rollover cocktail-crafting tools will set you back quite a bit more than souvenir shop vessels, but the heirloom-quality, chrome-finished beauties will upgrade your giftee’s home-mixology game—and look gorgeous on their bar cart—for decades to come. Handmade by fourth-generation Denverite Chad Roark, each jigger comes in two styles: the Nick (pleated ridges, more angular) and the Nora (smoother and curvaceous), named after characters in The Thin Man movies of the 1930s and ’40s. I particularly like this as a gift because it falls into that coveted category of things I’d never spend so much money on for myself but would love to be given (hint, hint). Available online —Jessica LaRusso, editor

Re-Walk Dog Leash

Made by a small, family-owned business near Parker, WALK’s roots are set in youthful entrepreneurism. As the story goes, teenagers Ashlynn Mojica and Cameron Mojica wanted a dog, but their parents said the kids had to pay for the pup themselves. Instead of whining, the duo started selling sustainable leashes to fund their very own furry friend. The 6-foot Re-WALK leash ($30) is not only stylish and made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, it’s also a Swiss Army knife for dog walkers: There’s a close handle for rambunctious dogs, a poop-bag sleeve, a clip for used bags, an adjustable waistbelt for hands-free strolls, and a swivel collar clip. The 1-inch webbing is extra thick, so it can withstand all those times when your dog walks you. Macy, one of my 75-pound golden retrievers, has put more than 7,500 miles on her Re-WALK leash. I’d love to buy another, but this one might last forever. —Robert Sanchez, senior staff writer