Gift Ideas for Women Who Work Outside

The other day, someone asked for gift ideas for a young woman who just started working on a ranch.

She wanted to know which tools I use every day.

I carry a multitool that has a clip to hold it inside my pocket. This tool has pliers, a Phillips-head and straight screwdriver, a knife, and a few various other implements to pry, pick and cut things.

The key is to get a sturdy one. Cheaper brands will quickly end up in the trash.

Even sturdy tools have their limits. I snapped the pliers when I used them to pry something while the temperature was below 0. I mailed the broken tool back to the manufacturer and they replaced it.

I don't like the multitools that have a bizillion items because they are bulky in my pocket. I usually don’t need a corkscrew when I’m working.

Usually.

A good multitool will cost $50-$70.

I also use leather gloves every day.

It's difficult to find good leather gloves in women's sizes. Typically, I have to buy a men’s small size. Still the fingers are too long.

I look for leather gloves that feel soft yet use thicker leather. For this time of year, I wear lined leather gloves so I can use my hands and still pretend they might stay warm. Good gloves will cost $20 to $30.

While I'm on the topic of cold hands, I also use hand warmers. I use either one rechargeable handwarmer or two disposable handwarmers every time I go out.

The rechargeable kind warm my hands well, but they are bulky inside a glove, making it difficult to actually work. I use one and pass it back and forth between my hands. Look for one that will last 4-6 hours on high heat.

When I need to use both hands, I use two slim disposable handwarmers. I buy the kind that are rated for 12 hours. They usually last about 8 hours. I pick up a package of 20 for about $7-8.

I used to suffer through cold hands so these handwarmers are my special treat to myself.

Wool socks are part of my daily uniform, too, during every season.

Often, brands will declare women's socks as "wool socks" when they have only 18-24% wool in them. Eighteen percent wool will not keep feet warm. Ever. Unless one mentally convinces herself she is warm, using mind over matter. That never works for me.

Look for socks that have at least 80% wool.

Also, socks come in several thicknesses. The thinnest wool socks are for runners. They don't keep feet warm inside work boots that are not moving at 10 miles per hour. Buy the thicker style.

Good socks will cost about $25.

Wool longjohns are worth every penny and more. They are not scratchy like they used to be. They keep me twice as warm as synthetic long underwear and they don’t make me sweat and then freeze. I would trade all of my synthetic longjohns for a single pair of wool longjohns and never look back. A pair of pants will set you back $100.

I wear a 9-year-old wool hat with ear flaps and a bill, too. The duct tape on the bill is 8 years old. When my guard dog puppies were young and my hat was new, they played tug-of-war. My hat lost. Now both are old and still get their job done. That was the best $40.13 I’ve spent -- $40 for the hat and 13 cents for the duct tape.

So if you need a gift for a female who works outside forget the latest single-use kitchen utensil and get something she will really use.