Looking for the perfect gift for someone who loves hiking, camping, or other activities in the great outdoors? Here are some great gift ideas the outdoor enthusiast in your life!
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1. Park Pass, Recreation Passes, and other Tickets
A park pass is an ideal gift for those who head out on outdoor adventures frequently. Gifting an annual National Park Pass grants the pass holder access to so many national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and other lands around the U.S. They’re also available for parks in various other countries. We find it so worth it if you even hit just a few national parks in a year! A pass to your loved one’s favorite state park is also a great option.
Other pass ideas might include a season or day ski pass, fishing license, or short-term passes to various state and national parks.
2. Graphic Apparel
A shirt or hat with a design featuring the person’s favorite national park or commemorating a trail they have completed or peak they may have climbed is a great way bring back memories of the adventure. There are various brands that sell shirts with graphics highlighting everything from Zion National Park to the Appalachian Trail. You can also often find these themed apparel options in park visitor centers and souvenir shops in the towns near to the park.
3. Camp Stove
Recent summers have seen even more fire restrictions with the dry conditions. With campfire cooking being less of an option, a camp stove is more of a necessity! There are many options, from compact and light backpacking stoves to two-burner systems. We use a simple two-burner stove (an old Stansport stove similar to this one) for car camping and this MSR stove for backpacking or when we’re traveling light.
If the person in mind already has a camp stove, fuel compatible with their stove is another useful gift option.
4. Games
We love to have games on hand whether it be for a rainy night where we’re stuck in the tent, for picnics and outdoor gatherings with friends, and to play while hanging out at camp. Smaller, portable games, like a deck of cards or Farkle are great to bring while traveling light or with limited space and to play in the car or tent.
Other fun yard game options include TerraDarts, cornhole, ring toss, a bocce ball set, and ladder ball. Many of those games are available in models that break down/collapse to be able to take with you when going camping or for easy storage.
5. Specific Gear and Performance Apparel
Outdoor gear can get pricy, but if you’re looking for something extra special to gift someone, gear specific to their favorite outdoor activity can be a great option. This could be anything from ski goggles, fishing equipment, or ice crampons to climbing shoes, a kayak paddle, or hiking poles. When buying gear, it may be a good idea to consult with the gift recipient to make sure the gear is compatible with gear they may already have or that it contains the features they desire.
Being out in the elements also often requires a range of apparel. So a rain jacket, hiking socks, fleece, light layers, beanie, winter coat, etc. are ideas to consider.
6. Backpack
A backpack is very useful for a wide variety of outdoor activities. Following are a couple things you should keep in mind when looking for a backpack to gift.
- Space: Choose a pack that can hold essentials plus any layers or gear.
- Extra Straps/features: Extra straps or carabiner loops can be helpful to attach hiking poles, additional shoes, skis, or other gear to the outside of the pack.
- Water Resistance: Choosing a waterproof pack or a pack with a rainfly can be helpful for rainy days to keep the contents of the bag dry.
- Comfort: For longer excursions, we recommend a bag with thicker straps and some back support. If you intend to use the bag for walking a short distance with little belongings to carry, something lighter and simpler might do.
We usually carry a 40-liter pack for day hikes, but sometimes carry a smaller CamelBak. We also have a couple backpacking packs for multi-day treks or for travel.
7. Water Bottle
It’s important to stay hydrated while hiking, skiing, kayaking, etc. We consider a water bottle another essential when adventuring in the outdoors!
We prefer a stainless steel bottle because they’re durable and easy to clean. They don’t retain the taste, odor, and color of any beverage you may put in it like some plastic bottles do. Plus, insulated options are great for keeping your drink cold for long periods.
Another great option to consider is a water bottle with a filtration system, like a LifeStraw Bottle. These are great for those who enjoy backpacking trips or long excursions where filtering water on the go may be necessary.
8. Collectibles Items
Like a graphic tee, collectibles are a great way to remember visits to national or state parks, states and countries, or various attractions. These could be stickers, pins, patches, magnets, ornaments, etc. that can be attached to hats, backpacks, and other apparel or displayed at home.
9. GPS System or Subscription
GPS systems are popular among backpackers and hikers, cyclists, ski tourers, hunters, and others. In addition to smartphones, there are various handheld GPS systems for those who want more durability, better battery life, higher accuracy, and functionality in the absence of mobile data. Garmin is a popular and well-rated brand.
Phones nowadays do have great GPS functionality, so for those who would rather use their phones than a separate handheld unit, there are GPS apps that have subscriptions available and detailed maps available for purchase to use when you don’t have cellular data. Some of these include Gaia, AllTrails+, CalTopo, and Avenza maps.
10. Snacks or Dehydrated Meals
Outdoor enthusiasts often bring along something to fuel their adventures. Consider gifting packs of their favorite protein bars, trail mix, beef jerky or meat sticks, dehydrated meals, nuts, or other snacks and food items that can be easily packed for excursions.
11. Food Flask or Thermos
Know somebody who frequently takes their meals or favorite beverage on the go? Food flasks and drink thermoses are great for bringing already-made meals and drinks while traveling or heading out on an adventure while maintaining their temperature. They can also be used while cooking at camp.
12. Emergency Car Kits
If you know someone who loves to go off-roading or drive into remote areas to camp or adventure, emergency car kits are a great gift option. Some items to consider including might be a tire inflator/air compressor, tow cables, a shovel, and a tool kit or multitool.
Jumper cables are a popular thing to include; however, this only works if you have another power source. When off the grid, a portable jump starter is handy to have. You hope you never need it, but it has proven useful for us!
13. Hammock or Comfy Camp Chair
Kicking back and relaxing among nature is one of our favorite ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether sitting along the shore of a lake, chilling by the campfire, or reading a book by the river, a hammock or comfy camp chair make the relaxing a whole lot more enjoyable!
14. Journals
If you know somebody who enjoys recording memories from their adventures, a journal or scrapbook may be a nice gift. In addition to simple blank-page journals, there are also more tailored options, like a National Park Passport, 50 States Traveled Journal, or Hiking Log Book.
15. Lantern or Headlamp
Whether you’re heading out on an evening fishing mission, going for a sunrise hike, or just hanging at camp, a lantern or headlamp can be very useful. There are so many different options out there, varying in size, brightness, how they’re powered, and other details.
We have a variety of lights we use at camp, including a couple lanterns (most commonly this one and something very similar to this), a simple smaller tent light, and some flashlights. The headlamps we use for hiking in the dark are from Petzl, but there are many other headlamp options out there too.
Check out our other post on great gift ideas for travelers!
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