The Armchair Adventure Festival’s ultimate Christmas Gift list.

Ho Ho Ho!

It’s that time of year again when we put together a list of adventurous stuff that you could buy for that special adventure traveller in your life! Tis the season for over eating and over spending on stuff you probably don’t need. Our advice: lean in to it and have a merry old time but instead of buying Bezoz another boat with some garbage off Amazon, why not support the festival and the small businesses that get involved with it every year?

So here’s our Christmas gift list. A selection of suggestions that will make for great gifts for that special someone but also support the small businesses that make the festival as good as it is:

1.      Retribe clothing – Gift some amazing upcycled/recycled clothing from the super talented team at Retribe. You’ll have seen them on adventure avenue at #AAF24 and might already know that every Retribe creation is meticulously crafted in their Sheffield Factory, nestled on the cusp of the Peak District National Park. They do all they can to come up with ingenious ways to reuse waste materials. They’re not just designing and making; they’re pioneering a new era in outdoor lifestyle clothing and you could support them with a purchase this Christmas!

2.      Our Ridiculous World (Trip) by Matt Bishop and Reece Gilkes – Still not read this banger? It’s the book that started it all. A journey around the world on a scooter and sidecar that led to founding the worlds best celebration of adventure travel. Gift our ridiculous founders story here. Leave any special Christmas messages in the delivery notes and we’ll sign it out to the lucky recipient!

3.      Moonstone and Salt – sustainable jewellery, handcrafted by the sea in Scotland and found on adventure avenue at #AAF24. Why not gift one of these super unique pieces this year?

4.      Armchair Adventure Festival tickets – alright, we have to include it! Lets face it the best gift you can give this Christmas is the gift of adventure and there’s no better way to inspire that than a ticket or two to #AAF25. It’s going to be our 5 year anniversary so we’re planning on making it our biggest and best celebration of adventure travel yet! Grab tickets here.

5.      Adventum subscription – Love adventure travel. Love motorbikes. You’ll love this brand new adventure motorcycle magazine! Beautiful photography with some great tales of adventure. Well worth a read and worth gifting to that adventure biker in your life. Expect to see the team from Adventum at #AAF25!

6.      Become a founding member of Wild North a new café for adventure travellers – we are opening a brand new hub for adventure travel in the North of England and you can become a founding member. All you have to do is support our crowdfunder. If you support by £50 or more you get a founders member t-shirt and sticker pack plus for every £10 you pledge you will get an entry in our prize draw to win a brand new motorbike and sidecar worth £28,000! Find out more here.

7.      A splash map – Is there someone you know who has an adventure planned to a specific place next year? Why not get them a custom splash map to use on that trip. It will help them find their way whatever the weather and act a cool souvenir too! Find out more and support one of the festivals longest serving sponsors here!

8.      A Sidecar Experience with founders of AAF! Why not join us for a ride out in the Northumberland countryside on a motorcycle and sidecar. When we’re not organising AAF we run the UK’s only place to try three wheels. You can come as a rider or just jump in the passenger seat for a spin around the countryside! Find out more here.

9.      Oceans Guests Apparel – Check out a banging range of organic clothing from AAF exhibitors the Ocean’s Guest. Perfect for any seafaring friends! See the full range here.

10.  Glamping at AAF – why not treat your partner or pals to a luxury glamping experience at AAF? Most sensible folk already have their tickets to #AAF25 so why not upgrade their experience with a luxury glamping bell tent. Expect oak beds frames, with proper mattresses and real sheets in these beautiful bell tents. Find out more here.  

11.  Photography course with Living Lens images – Learn to take pictures like the one above and support two amazing small businesses set up by adventure bikers. Simon and Lisa Thomas share the skills they’ve picked up from 17 years on the road and they do it at the beautiful MotoCamp Wales set up by adventure bike and previous AAF speaker, Steph Jeavons! Find out more here.

12.  Armchair Adventure Festival Merch – ‘Leave the Armchair and Start the Adventure!’  - grab your loved ones some official AAF merch to wear on Christmas day!

13.  Intrepid Explorer – revolutionise your washbag with these innovative powdered soap products from Intrepid Explorer. This stuff is witchcraft. You really have to see it to believe it. Proper bubbly soap from just a sprinkle of powder. Check it out here.

14.  Overland Adventures Land Rover Camper hire – Fancy a different kind of holiday? Why not grab yourself a Land Rover Camper experience in Northumberland. Hire one of their amazing campers and set off to explore England's most remote county! While you’re here why not drop by for our sidecar experience with us as the guys at Adventure Overland are based in the next village. Find out more here.

15.  Bounty Experience – ahoy there sailor! Take to the seas with none other than around the world yachtsman Conrad Humphreys on a sailing experience like no other. These will be available at #AAF25 but why not make a special trip down to do a longer sail with Conrad. More info here.

So there it is. 15 different gift ideas that could help you give a unique gift while supporting small adventurous businesses this Christmas!

Merry Christmas and happy travels!