Practical Christmas Gifts for Farm Life: 6 Things We Actually Use

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Shopping for someone who lives the farm life? Skip the cute mug.

The gifts that get used out here are the ones that hold up to cold mornings, mud, rain and barbed wire. So this list is only things our family actually put to work on our place in Oregon this fall: chores, the truck, hunting season and the coop.

Each one has our real life verdict, straight from the video we filmed. No guessing.

Who this list is for: the husband who's always outside, the farm mom doing chores before the bus comes, the hunter in the family, and anyone who keeps a pair of gloves in every coat pocket.

1. Waterproof winter work gloves (for the chore person)

Cold, wet mornings are when you find out if gloves are any good. The animals don't care what the weather's doing.

My son tested these doing the jobs nobody wants: picking up after the dogs and feeding the chickens, on a morning around 32 degrees.

Real life verdict (our video): "His hands are nice and toasty." The palms have reinforced leather with extra padding, there's added protection across the knuckles and fingers, and they're touchscreen compatible. And my favorite feature? I'm not the one picking up dog poop.

Retailer info: VGO lists them as waterproof with a breathable lining, 3M Thinsulate insulation and pre-curved fingers.

The pick: VGO waterproof winter work gloves.

See the VGO winter gloves on Amazon →

2. A multi-pack of work gloves with a clip (for the one who loses one glove)

Every farm has a pile of single gloves. This pack fixes that.

Real life verdict (our video): "I wore them for chores this morning and they kept my hands pretty warm." I worked around some barbed wire and the gloves didn't get punctured. They come with a clip, so when I take them off I can hook them together instead of losing track of one. The large fits me surprisingly well, and I usually wear a medium. "I am very happy with these."

Why it's a good gift: it's a 7-pair pack. Split it into stockings, or keep a pair in the truck, the barn and by the back door.

See the 7-pack work gloves on Amazon →

3. Retractable ratchet straps for the truck (for the truck guy)

If the truck bed is full of tangled straps, this is the gift.

Real life verdict (our video): The brand sent us these for our F-150, and installation was pretty simple. My husband took off the old hooks and put the new straps on... upside down, because he doesn't read instructions. Once you flip them around, they worked perfectly. "They're a handy upgrade for securing things in the truck bed, and they get many thumbs up from us."

Good to know: the kit comes with what you need to install them. We reused the truck's original black screws because we liked the look. Check the listing for your truck before you order.

See the Maxzina ratchet straps on Amazon →

4. An extra-long auger drill bit (for the fence and barn projects)

I tried to get my husband to review this one on camera. Here's how that went:

Real life verdict (our video): His words on camera: "It works like it's supposed to." After I stopped filming, he told me it was much easier to use than one of his older bits. With the old bit he had to put a ton of weight into it to get it to drill. This one took so much less effort. His verdict? "It's a great auger bit."

Why it's a good gift: it's the kind of tool people don't buy for themselves until the old one makes them miserable.

See the long auger bit on Amazon →

5. A roll-top dry bag backpack (for the hunter)

They were calling for rain, so my husband packed his dry bag for a hunt. Watch what fits:

Real life verdict (our video): Rain pants, rain jacket, balaclava, a base layer, parka liner, beanie, knives, a sharpener and a headlamp. Roll the top down and buckle it shut, with his fold-up stool strapped underneath. "My favorite part is the front pocket." That's where his poncho goes, so he can grab rain cover fast without digging through the whole bag. MARCHWAY sent us this one to try, and it is so ready for the rain.

Retailer info: it comes in a few sizes, so think about what they'd really pack.

See the MARCHWAY dry bag on Amazon →

6. Emergency rain ponchos (stocking stuffer for every vehicle)

Not exciting. That's exactly why nobody buys them for themselves.

Real life verdict (our video): These went straight into our vehicles, because living where we do, you never know when you'll get caught in bad weather or have car trouble. My daughter tested the waterproofing by throwing water at me. My shoes got a little wet, but I stayed nice and dry. On a cold Oregon day, I could feel the warmth reflecting back at me. "When you're standing on the side of the road getting soaked, I guarantee you'll be glad you thought ahead."

Why it's a good gift: it's a pack, so one gift covers every car in the family.

See the emergency ponchos on Amazon →

How to pick for the farm person on your list

Always outside doing chores? Start with the winter gloves.

Always losing a glove? The 7-pack with the clip.

Lives in the truck? Ratchet straps, plus a few ponchos for the glove box.

Always building something? The long auger bit.

Hunts or hikes in the rain? The dry bag backpack.

More gift ideas

Still stuck? Try my Christmas Gift Finder and pick by person and budget. You might also like 10 useful gifts for the man who is hard to shop for and dog stocking stuffers.

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