If you follow my blog, chances are you’re going to need to buy at least one gift for a female rider this holiday season. Or, maybe you’re looking for gift ideas for yourself. I’m not here to judge 😉
Either way, it can be hard to sift through the clutter of big box items to find quality gifts made by great companies that your favorite female rider will truly appreciate.
So, I’ve collected a bunch of gift ideas for anyone from a Secret Santa to your significant other, that are sold by solid companies that deserve your business.
Let’s get started with my favorite category this year…
Multitools
IMO, every rider should carry a multitool. You never know when you’ll need to tighten battery terminals, open up a side cover or tighten your rearview mirrors (*cough* all the time *cough*).
A couple of my favorites are the Leatherman Tread, which lets you carry all the tools you need around your wrist, and the Mininch, a pen-shaped multitool that allows you to carry several screw and hex bits of your choice (think 90s colored pencils).
Urban EDC Supply also has a great assortment of modern keychain tools that are both beautiful and useful ⎯ my favorite combination.
Of course, this is more important for riders with an old, grouchy bike like mine, but even riders with newer bikes will be able to appreciate these sleek, super-useful multitools.
Bags
I don’t think I’ll ever have enough bags! And no, I don’t mean purses 😉 Every rider needs at least one quality backpack that can comfortably fit a good-size load (like your work laptop and gym clothes), and maybe even a hip-pouch (a.k.a. fanny pack) for the essentials if you’re short on secure pocket space.
Personally, I love Everlane‘s selection of inexpensive, well-constructed backpacks. I own the Modern Zip Backpack myself and love the minimalist structure. It’s also a good canvas for my patch collection 😉
If you’re looking for something more durable, however, check out Looptworks, a company that makes bags from upcycled leather. Their whole Moto collection is awesome, but I particularly like the simple, modern hip pack ⎯ which nobody would dare call a fanny pack. Probably 😉
Books
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s wintertime, and that means riders in many parts of the Western hemisphere won’t be riding at all. It’s depressing, I know. So, to help your moto babe get through the winter, maybe consider getting her a book that will help keep her spirit of adventure alive.
Motorcycles I’ve Loved by Lily Brooks-Dalton is a light, fun coming-of-age story about a young woman struggling to find her identity, and many women will find her story relatable.
Although it’s usually listed as one of the best motorcycle books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is really more philosophy than motorcycle epic. However, I’m still including it because I think many riders resonate with the ideas Robert Pirsig shares. I know I did.
If the rider you’re shopping for loves working on her bike, she’ll probably fall in love with the ideas shared in Shop Class as Soulcraft, by Matthew Crawford.
Apparel & Jewelry
If I allowed it, this section could be it’s own whole blog post. In the past few years, cool apparel and jewelry for women who ride has been popping up all over! There’s tons of great choices out there, but I’d like to put forth my favorites.
Never Ride Bitch has some super-rad, girl-power-to-the-max tees and patches. I’m totally in love with the “We Are Wanderers” design and the bandana babe (above). It looks like the shop is currently under construction, so you can check out her stuff on her Instagram account. Hopefully she’ll be up and running again soon!
Hinterland Empire is also a great choice for outdoor-friendly, American-made tees. If their designs don’t make you want to Go Everywhere, you must not ride a motorcycle 😉
For more t-shirt and apparel goodness, check out Scotch and Iron’s women’s selection, Inked Iron (they also have awesome prints!), Strange Vacation, and my favorite motorcycle builder ever, GT-Moto. I seriously dig my GT-Moto tees and hoodie and wear them all. the. time.
If you’re looking for a jewelry option, I recommend checking out Steve West at Silver Piston and Adrienne VanSchoonhoven at Pistons & Poppies. I’ve bought from/met both of these people, and they are quite wonderful folks who make quality jewelry.
Gear
Gear is expensive, so it’s a little daunting to put it at on a holiday gift guide, but if you want to splurge on your favorite lady rider and keep her safe on her 2017 adventures, you’ve come to the right place.
Beyond the gear I’ve reviewed on my blog from awesome companies like Worse for Wear, Knox Armour and Black Arrow Label, I recommend that you check out Atwyld (super modern, high quality gear from the creators of Babes Ride Out) and GoGo Gear (kevlar hoodies and leggings, yes please!).
If you’re not looking to drop a bunch of money, you might consider helping to boost your lady rider’s cold-weather gear collection. Glove liners, heavy scarves, and thermal baselayers all make a big difference during the chilly early months of the year.
P.S. Promo code RIDEWELL10 is still valid for 10% off at Worse for Wear jeans through the end of the year!
Whew, that was a lot! Do you have any great ideas for the female motorcycle enthusiast in your life? Have you ever received an awesome motorcycle-related gift? As always, please feel free to tell me about it in the comments, and ride safe, friends!
Leave a Reply