11 perfect outdoors picks for Father's Day gifts

Dad's big day is coming up soon, and you're still wondering what to get the outdoor lover of the family?

I've got 11 can't be beat Father's Day gifts to keep him happy on the next summer camping, hiking, fishing or outdoor trek:

Dad always needs a compact, but yet complete cook and eat system for the food he prepares at the backcountry camp site, and the MSR Quick 2{trade} System Fast and Light Cookware ($99.95) is the perfect solution. The insulated mugs and DeepDish{trade} plates combine with both nonstick and uncoated hard-anodized aluminum for the ultimate in lightweight, cooking gear. The cookware is available at any REI store or Outdoor & More, 510 Westlake Ave. N. in Seattle or www.rei.com or www.mountaingear.com or www.backcountrygear.com.

The family owned 85-year-old matriarch of Columbia Sportswear Gert Boyle knows high quality and value are key to their products.

Take the Columbia Sportswear Mid Omni-Tech Boots ($90) for example, which can handle the most rugged days on the trail or the wettest of days out on the fishing boat.

The boots are made of a waterproof breathable material to keep you protected from the elements, yet allows perspiration to escape so you stay dry. You can purchase them at the Columbia Sportswear Store, 290 Pine St. in Seattle (206-443-7639) or www.zappos.com.

The REI Halo Plus-25 Sleeping Bag ($179) is almost as light as a feather, and you won't even know you're carrying this on a long backpacking trek.

The goose down insulated sleeping bag was presented the 2009 Best of Adventure Gear Award by National Geographic Adventure, and was honestly rated to sleep comfortably down to 25 degrees. Details: www.rei.com or visit any REI store.

The ecoSensitive{trade} REI Lookout 40 Daypack ($89.50) is made from 100-percent recycled post-consumer recycled PET polyester fabric, and each pack keeps 26 16-ounce plastic bottles out of landfills.

The durable daypack has plenty of pockets for gear, and a free-flow egg crate foam back panel designed to improve comfort, with channels for air circulation to keep your back cool and dry. Details: www.rei.com or visit any REI store.

The Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Jacket ($200) is the perfect jacket to beat all the elements. It is made with Gore-Tex(r) PacLite(r), which is engineered specifically to be light, packable and more breathable. An attached, rollaway hood wicks off the wetness. Details: www.rei.com or visit any REI store.

The Le Towele ($12.99, includes free shipping) is a must have for fishermen who needs their towel right at their side to wipe off your hands after baiting a line. The 14" x 16" microfiber towel attaches to a retractable cord which draws back into a clip-on waistband device. Details: www.argeecorp.com/HTML/letowele.htm.

The Gerber Crucial Tool ($44.95) is a stylish compact, lightweight knife that is crammed with essential features like the Multi-plier, wire-cutters, flat head screwdriver, half serrated and half fine edge blade, a blunt knife tip for prying and scraping, cross head screwdriver, bottle opener and carabiner. It also folds to a compact size of 3.5 inches. Details: www.gerbergear.com.

Have you ever found yourself looking for a must have item in your backpack? The Coghlan's Camper's Kit in a Bottle ($13) is jam packed with everything you need to take on your next camping trip. It includes a 1-liter shatter resistant polycarbonate bottle (carabineer attached); a camper's multi-tool; a sheath; flashlight; first aid kit pack with first aid guide, multi sized bandages, gauze pads, alcohol pad, moleskin, travel towel and steel needle; and a poncho. Details: www.coghlans.com.

When the sun goes down there are two ways to keep things lit up in your campsite or hiking trail. The Energizer Trailfinder Series 6 LED Headlight ($14.99-$17.99) offers a bright white, spotlight and flood light for maximum lighting, plus a red LED for lowlight conditions. Those looking for even more power can check out the Energizer Ultimate Lithium Headlight ($54.99) that packs 80 to 100 lumens of light boosted to 140 lumens for a short period of time. The Trailfinder Series Headlights are available at Wal-Mart, and the Ultimate Lithium Headlight is available at Target. Details: www.energizer.com.

A must have item on your next family outdoor trip are the Motorola Talkabout MR350R two-way radios ($79.99). With a coverage range of 35 miles, NOAA weather alerts, hand-free operation, an emergency alert button and even flexible charging from the car, PC or desktop or backup AA batteries do the job make these the perfect gift for fathers to share with everyone. The radio also has a built-in LED flashlight, and boasts 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes for 2,662 combinations of clear, uninterrupted connections. Details: www.hellomoto.com.

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers Lake Washington Trout Derby is June 13 at Coulon Park in Renton. More than $800 in cash prizes will be awarded. Details: 425-823-0704 or www.psalakewashington.org.

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. June 11 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. on Mercer Island. State Fish and Wildlife's Mark Baltzell will discuss selective salmon fisheries in Puget Sound. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Renton Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 6:15 p.m. June 10 at the Kennydale Memorial Hall, 2424 N.E. 27th St. in Renton. Buck Setera of E-Z Pull Products will discuss crab/shrimp traps and gear. Details: 425-235-4297 or www.rentonpsa.com.

• The Mountaineers Adventure Film Festival is 6:30 p.m. June 11 at The Mountaineers Building, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E. in Seattle. Cost is $10 general and $8 for members. Details: 206-521-6001 or www.mountaineers.orgor www.adventurefilm.org.

• The Puget Sound Anglers Sno-King Chapter meeting is 6:30 p.m. June 11 at SCSC Building, 220 Railroad Ave. in Edmonds. Guest speakers "Tower Todd" Schwartz and Tommy "Cornfed" Donlin will discuss coastal tuna fishing. Details: www.pugetsoundanglers.org.

• The Eastside Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 7 p.m. June 17 at North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E. Guest speaker is Robbie Tobeck, former Seahawk and co-host of ESPN 710 Outdoor Line Radio Show. Topic is tuna fishing off the coast. Details: 425 562-9180.

• The Eastside Audubon Society is hosting a Birds of Summer Class 6:30 p.m. June 9 and June 11 at the Eastside Audubon office, 308 4th Ave. S. in Kirkland. Class teaches basics of bird identification, birding etiquette and ethics, equipment selection, field guides and local birding areas. An all-day follow-up field trip is planned in mid-June to Eastern Washington. Cost is $80 members, and $85 nonmembers. Details: 425-576-8805.

• Don Langlois with Ridge Explorations is hosting a Washington State Boater Education Class, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 13 at the Enumclaw Expo Fieldhouse. Cost is $49. Details: 360-663-2343 or www.RidgeExplorations.com.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for new members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. until June 15 with 12 trails for intermediate or above skill level. Starting June 20, the hours will be extended until 8 p.m. Cost is $40. Details: www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

• The Mount St. Helens Institute offers a free Sunday Hiking Program series of 14 hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now through Oct. 25. The hikes range from east to difficult, and are 4 to 10 miles round-trip. Space is limited and reservations are required. While the hikes are free a $5 donation is suggested. Details: www.mshinstitute.org.

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com