THE LOAM WOLF BUYER’S GUIDE
BEST FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS
FOR MOUNTAIN BIKER DADS
The first and best gift you can give to any mountain biker dad is a few uninterrupted hours of time to go ride his bike. Seriously. But if you want to get him something that’s a little easier to wrap than a day on the trails, we’ve rounded up a few pieces of cool gear to showcase below. These are some great gift ideas for your #1 Dad.
A NEW MULTI TOOL
Fix it Sticks Ratchet Handle 3-Way Wrench
$40
Fix It Sticks is a highly modular tool system that gives you the leverage and functionality of a professional T-handle wrench with the portability of a small multitool. The Ratcheting T-Way Wrench has magnetic holders on all three ends that accept any standard 1/4″ bit. Reversible ratchet allows for quick tightening / loosening, even with limited clearance. The Ratcheting T-Way Wrench is a home / shop / auto tool that allows you to build bikes, furniture, motorcycles, etc, and has gotten us out of more trailside mechanical mishaps than we can count.
Website: Fixitsticks.com
FANCY SPARE INNER TUBE
Tubolito Ultralight
$30
Inner tubes used to be one of those items that riders couldn’t have enough of. They were basically consumables that lost all functionality as soon as they they received even a pinprick hole from a thorn on the trail. With the advent of modern day tubeless systems, the lowly inner tube has been relegate to only dutifully serve as a last resort fix to limp home so that you can fix your tubeless tire setup in the comfort of your garage. As such, most riders only have one tube they keep in their pack as a spare, and it goes with them on every ride.
As the saying goes, ounces make pounds, and pounds make pain. When it comes to making a ride better, packing as light of a kit with you could mean the difference between a great day and a half-dozen ibuprofen before bed. Tubolito makes the most expensive, nicest, and lightest inner tube we know of. But, more than just being lightweight and spendy, the tubes are way stronger than standard inner tubes so you’ll not only save weight, but also be able to keep riding hard knowing that the tube’s ability to withstand puncture is much better than a standard butyl rubber tube.
Website: Tubolito.com
A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF SEALANT
Black Ox
$18 for 16oz
$28 for 32oz
Most every serious riders use tubeless tires with sealant to prevent flats and leakage. All sealants dry up over time and must be replenished every few months to be effective. A larger size bottle of sealant is an invaluable thing to have in the garage and is much more cost effective than buying the little single-serve bottles from the bike shop. It’s also one of the things many riders forget about until the night before a big ride when they realize their bottle from last year has all dried up on the shelf over the winter. Black Ox is a North Carolina company that makes some of our favorite sealant that seals holes up to 3/8” (9 mm) with a carbon fiber particulate enhanced formula.
Website: Blackoxsealant.com
FRESH THREADS
Zoic Sessions Kit
Jersey $60
Shorts $95
Dads are notoriously cheap when it comes to fashion. If your dad insists that his cargo shorts over road biker shorts he acquired when he was just getting into the sport are getting the job done fine, he will be forever grateful the first time he tries a pair of performance shorts. Zoic has a line of performance lined chamois shorts, and baggy trail threads too. The Session shorts and jersey are a thin, lightweight and breathable kit that Zoic made for trail and enduro riders looking to have performance clothing without the flash and noise of some wilder kits.
Website: Zoic.com
Loam Wolf Jersey (On Sale!)
$39 – $43
All of our jerseys are designed in-house and made in Los Angeles, California. These full sublimated jerseys have a slim, race-fit and will have your dad looking like the coolest shredder at the trail!
Loam Wolf Gloves
$27
Gloves are one of the most expendable items in most mountain biker’s wardrobe. Despite their size and perception, an astute rider knows that good gloves can make the difference between a pleasant ride or blisters. They could make the difference between holding on for that huck to flat landing, or slipped grips resulting in a tumble. Get some fresh paw protectors that look good, feel good and will most definitely help your Dad ride good!
A HYDRATION PACK
USWE Airborne 9 Race Edition
$129.99 (On Sale for $97.49)
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been testing a lot of products from the Swedish pack brand called USWE (yous-we) and have been liking them more and more. Started by a group of off-road motorcycle riders, they’ve focused on making packs that keep rider’s gear and accessories securely placed on their backs. One of their claims to fame is the “No Dancing Monkey” technology that keeps the packs held comfortably in place.
The Airborne 9 Race Edition pack is a limited edition pack that offers 9L of storage capacity via eight pockets. There is a smart organizer pocket to keep smaller things in order while larger pouches easily hold rain shells, snacks or knee pads. This pack will also easily hold a trail or full-face helmet. If your mountain biker prefers a fancy enduro hip pack over the more traditional backpack, USWE has a couple of options worth checking out.
Website: USWE-sports.com
A DROPPER POST UPGRADE
SDG Tellis
$269.99
If dad doesn’t already have one, a dropper post is all but necessary for modern mountain bikes. The SDG Tellis offers smooth function and great reliability with an infinitely adjustable height design. Low lever force and great modulation make it easy to regulate return speed and small height adjustments. Cable actuated with tool-free quick disconnect for easier installation and removal. Low lever force provides consistent actuation pressure even with saddle weighted or unweighted. Dropper posts have been one of the best advents to the mountain bike world, and if you’ve been holding out, now’s the time to make the move!
Website: SDGcomponents.com
A SPRINGTIME TUNE FROM HIS FAVORITE BIKE SHOP
GooseWorks Mobile Bike Tuning
$50-200
Even the most DIY dad out there needs a little help when it comes to servicing complex parts on his bike. Components like suspension forks, shock linkages, and hydraulic disc brakes require special tools and supplies that not even the best at home mechanics will have. If he has a favorite shop, or a trusted mechanic he usually uses, a gift certificate for a specific service might be just the medium-priced item that he won’t buy for himself, but will make his bike run like new. Keeping up on maintenance on these expensive components will also prolong their life and save money in the long run. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, check out our good buddy GooseWorks for mobile tuning services.
Website: Gooseworks.com
GEAR TO EXPAND DAD’S RIDING HORIZONS
Bike Packing Bags from EVOC
$ Variable
If your dad has everything for the trails he every day, why not get him some gear to explore new trails. Bike packing is a fun and adventurous way to combine cycling and camping with all the adventure you can handle. EVOC’s line of bike packing bags make it easier to carry your gear with handlebar, seatpost, and frame mounted bags. The nifty designs use BOA and Velcro straps and closures to not only keep things secure and stable, but also give tons of mounting options that are purpose-built to work with full suspension mountain bikes instead of gravel grinder or touring bikes.
Website: EVOCsports.com
A NEW GEAR BAG
Thule Roundtrip Bike Duffel
$119.95
We recently reviewed this bad ass gear bag and highly suggest it as a gift to help keep your dad’s stinky gear from miraculously ending up all over the house. With 55L of storage capacity, neatly organized dividers and separate dry compartments for wet and messy gear, the Thule Roundtrip is an easy recommendation for us.
Click here to check out our full review and video of the Roundtrip Bike Duffel. It’ll definitely stoke out both neat and messy riders alike!
Website: thule.com
FRESH VISION
Leatt 4.5 Goggles
$39.99
Seeing the trail clearly is one of the most important parts of riding fast and safely. Leatt’s 4.5 goggles blend high-dollar performance in a budget-friendly package. Lens changes are quick, the frame is comfortable and Leatt offers the goggles in a large variety of colors so you can be sure to pick the right specs to match Dad’s gear or bike! We love our 4.5 goggles and they’re the workhorse goggles we wear when the weather and conditions mean we’re gonna be abusing out lenses and don’t want to risk damaging $100 eyewear.
Website: Leatt.com