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10 brands you didn’t know you can shop for friends and family

EmmaW
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May.20.25
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Your expert pricing isn’t always just for you — it’s open to your favorite people, too. With ExpertVoice’s Friends & Family deals, members can share the savings, whether you’re picking a birthday gift for your bestie, gearing up your kid for a new sport, helping your adventure partner refresh their worn-out kit or giving your sibling a reason to stop “borrowing” your stuff.

We rounded up 10 expert-favorite brands that are open to friends-and-family shopping — and their top-recommended products — so you can match your people with the best gear.

Gift like an expert

Start with this list, then keep exploring even more Friends & Family deals now through June 10, during our spring giving event.

💡 Expert Tip: Some brands allow Friends & Family shopping year-round. Look for the blue “Friends & Family” label in the store.

1. Chaco

Why your friends and family will love it: Legendary comfort and support with podiatrist-approved options, adventure-ready footwear that transitions easily from trail to town, and rugged durability that stands up to dirt, water and daily wear.

Experts’ product pick: Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal

With an adjustable strap system, grippy outsole and podiatrist-approved footbed, Chaco’s OG adventure sandal is perfect for the friend who never turns down a river trip, shows up to happy hours fresh off a hike and looks like they should have a Chaco tan.

Best Sandal I have owned – I wear these almost all summer for fishing and hiking. They are so sturdy and offer a secure fit. It is rare you will find me out and about not rocking my chacos in the summer time”

Graeme McIsaac
Canadian Mountain Holidays Retail Employees
ExpertVoice member since 2018

2. Mammut

Why your friends and family will love it: Swiss-engineered performance that holds up, season after season, one of the most trusted brands by outdoor pros and a strong commitment to sustainability.

Experts’ product pick: 9.5 Crag Dry Rope

Dry-treated, abrasion-resistant and lightweight, this Mammut rope is an easy choice for sport climbs on any rock, in any conditions. Gear up your climbing partner with this versatile option and be ready to send it all, from sandstone towers to granite slabs. 

My favorite rope for sport climbing – Whenever a friend asks for advice on buying a rope, this is what I recommend. Great quality from mamut — super durable and good water resistance. It has held up much better than some of the other ropes I have had. The rope stretch is perfect, comfy falls that help take…” Read more

Owen McAllister
NOLS Alumni
ExpertVoice member since 2023

3. Cotopaxi

Why your friends and family will love it: Bright, bold gear that’s both functional and fun, one-of-a-kind pieces made from leftover fabric and a mission-driven brand committed to sustainability and giving back.

Experts’ product pick: Sombra Sun Hoodie

This lightweight, breathable, UPF 50+ rated layer is made for sunny hikes and river days. Grab it for your friend who’s always chasing the sun — and often forgets sunscreen.

Great Sunshirt – I wear this almost every day — hiking, commuting by bike, gardening. My kids wore theirs at tennis camp, while they were out in the baking sun all day. It’s not as heavy as most other UPF50 material, such as the REI sunshirts, and it hangs a little looser than other sunshirts. I pull the hood up under…” Read more

Anne Pizzi
Colorado Mountain Club Members
ExpertVoice member since since 2024

4. Smith

Why your friends and family will love it: Innovative technologies that make a difference (like ChromaPop lenses and Koroyd impact protection), sleek designs that look as good as they perform and trusted protection for biking, snow sports and daily adventures.

Experts’ product pick: Guide’s Choice Sunglasses

Your friend doesn’t have to be a guide to enjoy the Guide’s Choice sunnies. With polarized, glare-cutting ChromaPop lenses, a wraparound design and stay-put grip, these shades are ideal for fishing trips, road trips or quick trips to the store.

Amazing Coverage and Clarity – I have the Matte Black with ChromaPop Glass Polarized Bronze Mirror lens. Absolutely love these sunglasses! Came from the Oakley world and wanted something with better clarity, coverage, and durability. These are the ticket for all three of those! The glass lens is just about…” Read more

Stephen Lapinski
Colorado Mountain Club Members
ExpertVoice member since 2022

5. Municipal

Why your friends and family will love it: Versatile apparel and shoes for busy, active lives, technical fabrics and smart features designed for performance and comfort, and clean, modern designs that look good everywhere.

Experts’ product pick: Monochrome Origin Shoes

Hook your friends and family up with these limited-edition Origin sneakers. With Municipal’s proprietary M. FLOAT comfort tech — four layers of three kinds of foam! — and a standout monochrome look, this shoe is sure to impress the sneakerhead, athleisure lover or trendsetter of your friend group.

Great athletic apparel – I have a pair of these shoes and they are extremely comfortable and great at the gym or at work. They make really high quality gym wear. I bought their shorts, shoes and gym shirts.”

Shahin Amirpour
Smelly Proof Employees
ExpertVoice member since 2023

6. Dakine

Why your friends and family will love it: Smart, comfortable designs, easygoing style that fits in everywhere and built-tough gear for biking, skiing, surfing and traveling.

Experts’ product pick: No Zone Hat

This water-friendly, UPF 50+ rated, floating sun hat is a must-have for paddlers, boaters, anglers, beach goers and backyard chillers.

Sun blocker – Brim provides good coverage for ears. Multiple sizes for great fix plus draw loop for exact fit. Stiff front and rear brim with chin strap works great on windy days to keep brim down over eyes and hat on your head. This hat provides excellent coverage for hiking, fishing”

Carl Cowgill
Professional Outdoor Instructors
ExpertVoice member since 2024

7. Jetboil

Why your friends and family will love it: Compact, lightweight options that are easy to pack and easier to use, fast boil times (which means they can enjoy meals or coffee sooner) and it’s the go-to stove brand trusted by outdoor adventurers.

Experts’ product pick: MiniMo Cooking System

This backcountry-ready stove boils fast and simmers slow — perfect for trail chefs, freeze-dried meal aficionados or that one friend who really needs to upgrade from granola-bar dinners.

“I’ve cooked with this, made coffee, boiled water and it does everything extremely well. I have a jetboil flash and I find myself reaching for this one every time now. It regulates the heat very well. I’ve used the pan to cook pancakes, steaks, eggs and much more. I’ve even taken it to work to French press myself…” Read more

Erika Coonce
U.S. Air Force – Military
ExpertVoice member since 2022

8. Klymit

Why your friends and family will love it: Lightweight, packable gear that’s easy to bring along on any adventure, functional designs that make nights outside way more comfortable and cushy products that upgrade any campsite without the bulk.

Experts’ product pick: Versa Camping Blanket

A packable blanket that doubles as a travel pillow, the Versa brings the coziness to campsites, road trips, red-eye flights and cold sidelines. Grab it for the adventurer, traveler or always-prepared sport parent in your life. 

Must-have for kids! – I don’t know about most people, but when I go camping with my kids, at least ONE of them is BOUND to be cold at night (even though they’re in super-warm sleeping bags). I’ve completely eliminated that issue by throwing one of these in with them in their bags. Now we all get to sleep…” Read more

Preston Reynolds
BSA – National Eagle Scout Association
ExpertVoice member since 2022

9. JBL

Why your friends and family will love it: Crisp, powerful sound you can take anywhere, long battery life for hours of pure listening bliss and noise-canceling options for tuning into music (and tuning out distractions).

Experts’ product pick: Live 770NC Bluetooth Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Spoil your favorite music lover, multitasker or frequent flyer with JBL’s comfy over-ear headphones. They’ll appreciate adaptative noise canceling, JBL’s signature sound and its incredible 65-hour battery life.

Get these!! – This was my first experience getting into noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones and wow, I can’t believe I waited this long. The audio quality is amazing but the noise canceling is by far my favorite feature. I use them in a shared office at work and at home when I need to focus. The usability…” Read more

Shane Bird
U.S. Navy – Military
ExpertVoice member since 2021

10. Nikon

Why your friends and family will love it: High-performance tools for photography, golf, hiking, hunting and more, precision optics elevate every shot, swing and scenic view, and trusted quality from a world leader in optics and imaging.

Experts’ product pick: Coolshot ProII Stabilized Golf Rangefinder

Unshakable image stabilization, instant yardages and a crystal-clear view make this Nikon rangefinder a total game-changer — and the ultimate gift for any golfer.

Absolute best Rangefinder in Golf – With so many golf rangefinders out in the market I have been searching for one that really separates itself from the others. Nikon’s Coolshot Pro II Stabilized rangefinder was the one that won me over. The stabilization technology in this rangefinder is impeccable…” Read more

William Keenan
Nikon Employees
ExpertVoice member since 2024

Ready for more Friends & Family shopping?

Whether you’re shopping for a birthday, a big trip or just to hook someone up with the best gear, there’s plenty more where this came from. Explore all the Friends & Family deals — while they’re still live.

Start gifting smarter with exclusive expert deals

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