Santa must have the mother-of-all to-do lists. We've all been busy before, working on complex projects, but delivering the right gifts to kids all around the world? Now, that's a project. It's no surprise then, that in many homes, Santa gets a little help.

Part of helping Santa is filling stockings. If you have a stocking to stuff for someone who's into the outdoors, then you might want to consider the stocking as an opportunity for giving small (at least in size) but appreciated items.

KISS is a great principle, even if you're not under the mistletoe. Keep It Simple, Stupid (or perhaps, more gently, Keep It Super-Simple), is generally a savvy way of thinking about outdoor products.

For instance, one small, inexpensive gift is a simple addition to wide-mouthed water bottles. Small plastic inserts are available that fit neatly into the opening of the Nalgene water bottles with wider openings. These inserts allow some water to flow, but prevent that gush of water that can overwhelm you and drip down your face. This way, you have discretion about the size of your bottle opening without giving up the functionality of a wider-mouthed container (wider mouth containers can accommodate more uses, such as acting as a hard case for breakable or sensitive items). Best of all, these little inserts nestle easily in a stocking.

Stocking gifts, in my family anyhow, tended to be on the less glitzy, more inexpensive side. I've since learned not all subscribe to this school of thought, but if you do, consider this gift combo for the low-impact camper in your household. The combination of panty hose and a small knitting hoop make a useful camp kitchen item. This gift could produce some raised eyebrows or blank stares, so here is the intended use: the panty hose acts as a strainer for food scraps loosened when cleaning dishes. The hoop is used to hold open the panty hose while you strain dishwater through the hose. If you then tie a knot above the toe, you've trapped one night's worth of food scraps that might have otherwise been left near camp -- where animals may be inappropriately and repeatedly drawn to. If you're out a number of nights, just tie a knot above each night's small bundle of food bits. Obviously, long trips may require more panty hose.

Here are few other thoughts for pragmatic outdoor type's stockings: Moleskin (for blister control), mini-sized trauma shears (scissors), wound care packets, or other items for first aid kits. Of course, you could just give a first aid kit, but often it is better to make your own. Plus, a lot of outdoorsmen and women have kits, what they may need are refills.

OK, so none of these items listed thus far are jaw droppers. That fits for a lot of peoples' idea of stocking stuffers (especially this year), but it may not fit for all. If you're a "big ticket" stuffer, there are plenty of options. Numerous companies make watches providing numerous digital functions. With altimeters, barometers, thermometers, compasses, weather trend indicators, alarms, and, oh yeah, clocks, these watches are like information Swiss Army knives for your wrist. On a similar note, GPS units, including many diminutive yet powerful models, make a significant stocking gift.

Knives and knife-tool combos, alluded to above, are yet another of the small in size but big in impact stocking gifts. As with cell phones, tools are getting smaller and lighter (but not cheaper). However, even the smallest, lightest models have at least a couple features. And while outdoor enthusiasts tend to adore these items, focus your purchase on combo units that have only what someone needs. A quality model with four key features will be valued far beyond one that doesn't, for example, lock well -- even if that model has 15 tools.

If your special ones dream not of sugarplums but of critters with fins, fur, or feathers, you might want to consider something that has become a tradition in my stocking (no, not coal). Each Christmas morning, I find a hunting-fishing combo license in my stocking. I've got to admit, it's great to just have that every year, without ever lifting a finger.

There are a multitude of items an "assistant Santa" could place in a stocking. Folding, laminated bird/wildlife guides, headlamps, camping kitchenware, performance (wicking) socks, camping friendly, reduced size games and playing cards, and an array of other outdoor products could make for an exciting stocking. As with the entire holiday, though, it's really not about the gift. Outdoor gifts can facilitate quality outdoor family experiences. That is the real gift.

Rex Turner lives in Augusta and works in the conservation field. He can be reached at rexpturner@gmail.com