Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This year, my advice is skip the too-sweet holiday cards and put your cash towards an outdoor-oriented gift that she can use on a run, a hike, at camp or wherever her adventures take her. Here’s a few Mother’s Day gift ideas to consider.

Healthy Chocolatey Goodness

Raaka Chocolate

A Penn State study found that people who ate a diet rich in dark chocolate had lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol, higher antioxidant levels, and higher levels of good HDL cholesterol. So why not give mom the gift of better health in the form of some of that dark chocolate? There are numerous options and we found a nice one in Raaka 71% Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt. The cacao comes from the Dominican Republic and Bolivia. The actual bars are made in Red Hook, Brooklyn. And they’re vegan, nut free, gluten free and organic. Available at Amazon.

Plush Comfort

Smartwool Sock

We normally wouldn’t suggest socks as a Mother’s Day gift. But lately the ladies around GearGuide HQ have been raving about SmartWool socks. Again. The plush cushioning.The warmth. The fit. They love the merino wool blend that alternatively keeps them warm on breezy hikes and wick moisture to keep them cool and comfortable on hot weather runs. The wool is itchless and reinforced with nylon and elastane. The faves include the SmartWool PhD Run Ultralight Micro Socks. Find them at Sierra Trading Post.

Warm Coziness

North Face Hoodie

The ladies at GearGuide dig the hoodie (well, who doesn’t?). And here’s a cool one from the crew at The North Face. It’s the Go Seamless Pullover Hoodie. This nylon, poly, spandex blend is good looking enough to wear around town on the weekends. It’ll stand up to a cool morning run. Or you can use it as an all important mid layer when hiking and camping. We like the seamless design that guards against chafing. Find them at REI.

Bright, Shiny Jewelry

Running Necklace
There’s nothing like the sense of accomplishment from finishing a milestone race. Could be a 5K, 10K, half or marathon. Or maybe it’s an epic hike. Or maybe it’s just the love of camping and the outdoors. Whatever it is, you can celebrate it with a piece of jewelry. Numerous companies, craftsmen and women make a range of charms and necklaces designed to showcase your wife or mother’s passions. You can find them at the Amazon.

Good luck on your search for an outdoor-oriented gift for your mom.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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