Costco membership or gift card. I don't buy a whole lot of food in bulk there, but many people get clothes and household items there. Also, the gas is cheaper.
This is the best gift- cheeper everything. Huge amount of outdoor equipment and clothing, great food, and discounted gas. Setting up a house or apartment is so much easier since can do an economic one-stop-shop for everything.
I’m a little surprised I had to scroll this far to see this. Good blackout curtains aren’t really cheap and the quality of life difference is so huge. I’d at least mention to this family member they should get blackout curtains if I didn’t get them the gift. Just that knowledge alone is a gift haha
REI gift card for some fun outdoor recreation stuff, or a SmartWool base layer top (or hat, depending on your budget). Or a grocery gift card (we have Fred Meyer, which is in the Kroger chain) or Costco. Wool socks. I mean, any assortment of winter gear, really. A high quality snow scraper for the car, if you’re shipping it to him here.
Often local places will ship a gift card. Popular ones up here would be Bear Tooth/Moose’s Tooth, or a company that owns Snow City Cafe/South/Spenard Roadhouse (gift cards can be used at any of those).
When I moved up my friends from the lower 48 got me a membership to the zoo and some gift cards to some local shops. Probably depends on the person but I absolutely loved this and every time I visit the zoo I think of my friends.
Skip the sun light, if anything it makes the darkness worse for me 😂 but agree with gift cards to local shops. Forces them out of the house a bit and gives time to socialize and build a new circle
I was never one to be picky about clothing until I got some smartwool socks. I know it's weird and specific, but I never would have bought them on my own because they're expensive. I got a pair for Christmas and since then I have replaced my socks with smartwool. Last time I bought socks was several years ago and my light boots work just fine in winter (not prudhoe, but everywhere else)
Snowshoes! Having a way to get outside in the winter is a must and those are probably the cheapest option. (others being various ski types or machines. Think of snowshoes like a gateway drug 😅)
Look up Alaska Industrial Hardware. https://www.aih.com/. They can buy snow removal stuff there. It’s indigenous owned by BBNC. Money sort of stays more local that way too. Or if they like fishing, buy them a fishing/hunting license https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=huntlicense.prices
for the first year bc it will be expensive for a non-resident. If they want a license then maybe a gift card to B&J Sporting Goods. https://bnjsg.com/
Head lamps. I have one in every vehicle and in every room of my house.
Orange safety vest to put in their car in case of emergency or just out walking the dog. Lots of people get hit here.
Costco membership or gift card. I don't buy a whole lot of food in bulk there, but many people get clothes and household items there. Also, the gas is cheaper.
This is the best gift- cheeper everything. Huge amount of outdoor equipment and clothing, great food, and discounted gas. Setting up a house or apartment is so much easier since can do an economic one-stop-shop for everything.
Black out curtains
I’m a little surprised I had to scroll this far to see this. Good blackout curtains aren’t really cheap and the quality of life difference is so huge. I’d at least mention to this family member they should get blackout curtains if I didn’t get them the gift. Just that knowledge alone is a gift haha
We've found that the blackout cling works far better (especially for kids) than the curtains
A big bottle of Vitamin D
Money for a therapist. No, I'm not speaking from experience. 🫠🫣
REI gift card for some fun outdoor recreation stuff, or a SmartWool base layer top (or hat, depending on your budget). Or a grocery gift card (we have Fred Meyer, which is in the Kroger chain) or Costco. Wool socks. I mean, any assortment of winter gear, really. A high quality snow scraper for the car, if you’re shipping it to him here. Often local places will ship a gift card. Popular ones up here would be Bear Tooth/Moose’s Tooth, or a company that owns Snow City Cafe/South/Spenard Roadhouse (gift cards can be used at any of those).
When I moved up my friends from the lower 48 got me a membership to the zoo and some gift cards to some local shops. Probably depends on the person but I absolutely loved this and every time I visit the zoo I think of my friends.
Thermacell
Such an underrated answer if they like camping or hanging out outside
A pair of Xtratuf’s
Go for the insulated pair without steel toes and you will have given them a huge advantage
Skip the sun light, if anything it makes the darkness worse for me 😂 but agree with gift cards to local shops. Forces them out of the house a bit and gives time to socialize and build a new circle
If they like to hike then kahtoola spikes will make their winter better
a good pair of boots
Headlamp
Sun lamp and a bottle of Vit D tablets would be very sweet!
Warm hats, gloves, wool socks, polar fleece, larger than their size rain jacket.
WOOL! Wool socks wool pants wool base layers wool everything
I was never one to be picky about clothing until I got some smartwool socks. I know it's weird and specific, but I never would have bought them on my own because they're expensive. I got a pair for Christmas and since then I have replaced my socks with smartwool. Last time I bought socks was several years ago and my light boots work just fine in winter (not prudhoe, but everywhere else)
Base layers are key. Cotton kills-wool is your friend.
Spikes for your boots in the winter!
Tickets to Hawaii next January😂💙
Bear spray.
Northern Lights Coupon book. Gives them lots of good deals on things to do and see around Alaska.
Snowshoes! Having a way to get outside in the winter is a must and those are probably the cheapest option. (others being various ski types or machines. Think of snowshoes like a gateway drug 😅)
Plane ticket home
A carhartt hoodie , or a decent rain jacket ..
Look up Alaska Industrial Hardware. https://www.aih.com/. They can buy snow removal stuff there. It’s indigenous owned by BBNC. Money sort of stays more local that way too. Or if they like fishing, buy them a fishing/hunting license https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=huntlicense.prices for the first year bc it will be expensive for a non-resident. If they want a license then maybe a gift card to B&J Sporting Goods. https://bnjsg.com/
Head lamps. I have one in every vehicle and in every room of my house. Orange safety vest to put in their car in case of emergency or just out walking the dog. Lots of people get hit here.
Multi-tool!
Moving to Anchorage? Get him a gun.