Not sure what gift to get the veteran or other person with SCI/D? These ideas will help
No matter how early the holiday season comes (and it looks like it starts earlier all the time), almost everyone seems to have the same problem — what to get for someone on your list.
Adding to the struggle of finding a great gift for someone is dealing with the crowded stores and malls where the holiday spirits can sometimes be in short supply. Shopping online certainly helps make things a bit easier, but you can spend hours surfing the web and still not find anything.
Save yourself the headache and let PN offer a helping hand with our annual gift list. These ideas were chosen with veterans and others with spinal-cord injury or disease in mind.
Some of these gifts can help make life easier for any wheelchair user, while others are specific ideas for veterans. At the very least, this list may help spur some ideas of your own. Happy holidays!
Rod & Reel Recovery
Taking part in a Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Tour event is a good time, but the fun ends quickly when a costly rod and reel gets pulled or dropped into the water and is lost.
GetterBack is a simple device that promises to end the frustration of losing a fishing rod to the depths. Weighing just ½ ounce, the device attaches to the rod just below the first guide via a high-grip Velcro strap.
If the rod falls into just a few feet of water, a safe, eco-friendly reaction jettisons the high-visibility recovery float to the surface. Grab the float and the attached high-strength braided line and pull the fishing rod back up to the surface.
For more information, visit Amazon
Lace ’em Up
Few things can be as frustrating as having a shoelace come untied during a workout or at some other inopportune time. It’s not always easy to bend over to re-tie them. A simple and easy-to-use device may put an end to that issue.
Lock Laces are elastic, no-tie shoelaces. They fit in any athletic shoe like regular laces, but rather than tying them for a snug fit, you simply pull both laces at the same time from the single cord clip and secure them into place with the lock device.
The laces come two to a package and are available in a number of colors and lengths.
For more information, visit Locklaces.com
Get A Grip
Whether you’re cranking out some miles on your handcycle or just out for a stroll in your chair, a pair of good gloves can keep your hands from getting sore or even injured.
Fitjo gel-padded sports gloves are designed to protect your hands from problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome while providing a stronger grip. The gloves have a cushioning gel pad in the palm that is covered by a synthetic leather called Amara that is said to absorb less water, dry quicker and not dry out.
The Fitjo gloves also feature loops at the end of the fingers to help you pull them off and reflective piping for better visibility at night.
You can find this item at Pimpmychair.com
Picture This
A framed picture is always a great way to decorate a room, but it’s extra special when that photo has some deep meaning to the owner.
Allposters.com offers a wide range of military posters and prints that feature planes, ships, vehicles and more from World War II, up to today’s modern equipment. Think of getting a Navy veteran a great photo of the ship on board which he or she served or a nice poster of the plane an Air Force veteran worked on or flew.
All branches of the U.S. military are available, including the Coast Guard. Posters and prints come in a wide range of sizes and a variety of mediums. Prices range from $5 to more than $300.
Visit Allposters.com for more information.
Stone Cold
Good whiskey or bourbon isn’t cheap, so why water any of it down by putting ice in it?
A set of three large engraved whiskey stones from The Ultimate Man Shop is a great way to keep a drink chilled while also honoring your favorite branch of the military. The stones are made from 100% U.S. soapstone and come in a muslin storage bag.
The pictured stones feature the Marine Corps’ globe and anchor, USMC and Semper Fi. However, the stones can be engraved with words and symbols representing other branches of the military.
For more information, visit etsy.com/shop/TheUltimateManShop
Toast The Holidays
The holiday season usually means lots of parties, and this gift won’t only be a hit with the wine-loving veteran on your list, it’ll also be supporting charities that help vets.
Honor Winery in California was started to pay tribute to the men and women who serve or have served our country with a goal of donating some of the profits to military charities. Since 2012, the winery has donated more than $225,000 to groups that provide help to the families of those who’ve fallen or have been severly injured.
The winery features several reds, whites, blends and other styles that range in price from $19.99 to $150 a bottle. Ritz Carlton hotels and the Capital Grille restaurants are among the places where Honor wines are served, but they can also be shipped to most states.
For more information, visit honorwinery.com
Smart Mount
The many functions of smartphones make them a must when you’re out and about, but constantly pulling the phone out of your pocket is a hassle.
The RAM Handlebar Rail Mount is a good way to keep your phone secure on your wheelchair or handcycle and within easy reach to use GPS, answer calls, play music or anything else you need from it. The mount includes a zinc-coated U-bolt base, double socket arm and universal X-Grip cradle.
The mount itself has a rubber ball-and-socket system that allows for adjustments at both ends of the double socket arm. The spring-loaded X-Grip cradle expands and contracts, allowing for a custom fit of your smartphone.
For more information, visit rammount.com
