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There are plenty of reasons to love camping — fresh air, communing with nature, breathtaking views, and sticky and delicious campfire s’mores. However, finding the best camping gifts can be more challenging than you may think, especially if you aren’t into camping. To help save you time and help prevent your gifts from collecting dust in the corner of the garage, we’ve compiled this list of awesome gear that is sure to make any happy camper even happier. Whether you’re looking for the ideal gift for a hardcore backcountry backpacker or someone more into luxurious glamping, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Helinox Sunset Chair
Meet the camp chair that is as comfortable as it is compact. Unlike most folding chairs that sit low to the ground, the Helinox Sunset Chair has longer-than-average leg poles that make getting in and out a breeze, even when your legs are tired from a long hike. For extra comfort, this chair features a high back for increased neck and shoulder support and a convenient headrest flap that perfectly holds a rolled-up jacket in place for more head support. It is hands-down my favorite camp chair ever.
Chêne Scout Boot
Built with premium natural rubber over insulating neoprene for durability, flexibility, and complete waterproof protection, the Scout Boot from Chêne is great for mucking around a wet campsite. It features a quick-drying and moisture-wicking liner that keeps your toes dry and your feet comfortable, as well as a non-slip rubber sole with a unique tread pattern to prevent slipping and sliding, even in demanding terrain.
Yeti Loadout GoBox
A heavy-duty storage box might not be the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for camping gifts, but it’s a solid option. The Yeti Loadout GoBox is fully waterproof and extremely durable, with dividers, pockets, and trays to keep all your gear perfectly organized. I use mine for stowing all the essentials, including extra rope, batteries, flashlights, tent stakes, sunscreen, and a first aid kit.
Forloh BTM Pro Pant
Engineered to endure harsh terrain, from brush to mountain tops, Forloh’s all-terrain BTM Pro Pants are made from waxed nylon and cotton blend ripstop fabric that is water- and tear-resistant. They’re comfortable and easy to move in, and offer exceptional breathability. Basically, they are everything you could want in a trail pant.
Bonus: These Forloh pants are made in the USA and have high-tech features like Polygiene Stay Fresh antimicrobial and Odor Crunch to help keep camp stink at bay, even after several days of wear.
Solo Stove Titan Camp Stove
The Solo Stove Titan makes whipping up your favorite comfort foods easier, no matter how far your campsite is off the nearest blacktop. This petite, portable camp stove uses wood instead of fuel canisters, making it super backpack-friendly. And it won’t require slaving away over an open campfire. Instead, this gasifier stove creates a smaller but hotter fire by running on nothing but twigs, leaves, and pinecones.
Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller
Few things will ruin a camping trip faster than being swarmed by biting mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks. If you’re a warm-weather camper and your destination is anywhere there are bugs, you need a Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller. All you have to do is push a button on the side to emit a synthetic allethrin formula that wards off pesky bugs so you can focus on enjoying the view instead of swatting mosquitoes. I always keep one with me.
Rumpl National Parks Blanket
Rumpl’s sleeping bag”“style outdoor blankets make fantastic wraps for any excursion. Water-resistant and easy to wipe down, the Original Puffy is made from post-consumer recycled polyester. You can throw it on the ground for some midnight stargazing, shake it clean, and then wrap up in it the next morning for tent-side coffee sipping.
While Rumpl blankets come in a huge array of colors and styles, I’m a fan of their National Parks Collection, which features designs inspired by the country’s iconic public lands from Yellowstone to Yosemite. Each National Park Blanket purchase also helps support public lands through Rumpl’s partnership with 1% For the Planet.
Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack
Multi-day camping adventures often involve a day hike or two, and hauling a big backpack on short hikes is really a drag. The ultralightweight Osprey Daylite Plus solves that problem. This 20-liter bag weighs just over 1 pound yet has plenty of room inside for all your gear. It features two side mesh pockets perfect for water bottles, space for a 1.5-liter hydration bladder, adjustable shoulder straps, and durable zippers.
Mpowerd Luci Solar String Lights
Add a little extra light to any campsite with these solar and rechargeable string lights from Mpowerd. They are shatterproof, water-resistant, and solar—or USB port-powered, so they’re always ready to hang, whether between trees, under an RV awning, or inside a backcountry tent. The lights feature four warm, clear light modes and six color modes—blue, violet, turquoise, green, pink, and cool white. They even have a color cycle mode to bring an instant party atmosphere to any campsite.
Sitka Drifter Duffle
Sitka is known for its technical, hardcore hunting gear, and their duffles live up to the brand’s reputation. Whether hiking through a bustling urban airport or heading to a rugged and remote landscape, the Sitka Drifter Duffle is up for the job. The luggage comes in three sizes: 50, 75, and 110 liters. The bags are built to withstand harsh weather with water-resistant 150D TPU-coated ripstop fabric and a waterproof 450D welded TPU-coated ripstop floor. My favorite feature is the zippered top pocket, which unzips in a large U—convenient when you have to dig through all your stuff to find something specific.
Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp
As an avid camper, I’ve learned from experience that you can never have too many headlamps. In fact, it’s a good idea to pack a backup for your backup so you never get caught in the dark. Black Diamond’s Astro 300 headlamp is a versatile hands-free lighting option that comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and features three convenient lighting modes. It also has IPX4 stormproof construction, so it can survive wet conditions without breaking a sweat.
Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Two Socks
I’m a sucker for wool socks, having developed a deep appreciation for them on rough hikes in harsh weather. A good pair will also earn their keep when you’re resting your dog-tired tootsies back at camp. While socks are often overlooked in favor of more glamorous camping gear, they can make or break a camping trip.
These Swiftwick hiking socks are my all-time favorites. They are some of the most technologically advanced socks available today. They are made from soft blended merino wool and feature supportive AnkleLock Technology and GripDry Fiber, both designed for extra support and comfort. These socks are built to prevent blisters, and the Olefin footbed helps wick away sweat and keep your feet cozy both on the hike and while you’re sitting around at camp.
Wiley X Ovation Sunglasses
Whether I’m relaxing at a public campground or backpacking over rough terrain, I appreciate gear that is both functional and stylish, especially when it comes to eyewear. It’s hard not to love a pair of sunglasses like the Ovation series from Wiley X. They feature top-notch polarized lenses and comfortable, fashionable frames that stay put while I’m adventuring in the outdoors.
They are available in several different frame/lens style combos. I’m partial to the matte woodgrain with polarized green mirror lenses, which feature 100% UVA/UVB protection and filter out ambiguous light to increase clarity, definition, contrast, and vivid details. If you want to spot wildlife on the trail, these glasses will help you do it.
America the Beautiful National Park Pass
Give the gift of free access to over 2,000 stunning landscapes with the National Park Service’s America the Beautiful National Park Pass. The card covers entry fees to all 63 National Parks plus national forests, national recreation areas, national seashores, many state parks, federal wildlife areas, and more. The average cost to enter a U.S. national park is $30 per vehicle, so it can save a savvy camper hundreds of dollars a year.
Garmin inReach Mini 2
The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is one of the best gifts you can give a camper. The compact and lightweight two-way satellite transmitter turns any smartphone into a two-way texting machine you can use even when you’re far beyond a cell signal. It has an SOS button to alert Search & Rescue immediately in an emergency, along with cool built-in navigation features and a digital compass. It also pairs with other Garmin devices (like watches and handhelds), so campers can use them to send and receive messages or trigger an SOS. All that is packed into a manageable 3.5-ounce package, so even the most minimalist camper won’t complain about it weighing them down.
Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight Inflatable Pillow
In my younger camping days, I believed hardcore campers didn’t need creature comforts like pillows. I was perfectly content to cuddle up with a pinecone at night. Now that I have more camping experience, I’m not ashamed to bring some lightweight comfort items. The Aeros lightweight inflatable pillow from Sea To Summit is a game-changer in the backcountry. It packs down to about the size of my palm but inflates quickly when you’re ready to rest. The firmness is adjustable, and it helps me wake up feeling far more rested, energized, and ready for the next adventure.
MSR Flex 4 Group Camping Cook Set
The Flex 4 Camping Cook Set from Mountain Safety Research has everything you need to prepare meals for up to four people. The set includes a 3.2-liter pot, a 5.3-liter pot, two strainer lids, four deep-dish plates, four insulated mugs, and a pot handle. It all nests together like Russian dolls, and the whole kit and kaboodle weighs less than four pounds, making it a solid option for hiking in remote locations, although it performs just as well even if your camp stove is only a few feet from the car.
Forloh Deep Space Tech Legging
Forloh makes excellent outdoor gear for both men and women, and the brand’s Deep Space Tech leggings are my favorite camp wear. These comfy high-waisted leggings are made with a four-way stretch, offering full range of motion whether hiking, scaling rock walls, or just lounging around a campfire. They’re made with a moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabric made of Trizar yarn, which uses NASA technology to capture body heat and regulate temperature to keep you warm longer. They also feature 50+ UPF sun protection.
Born Outdoor Mud Mat
Although there definitely isn’t anything flashy about the Born Outdoor Mud Mat, it has been the oft-unsung hero on most of my camping trips. If you’ve ever had to change into hiking boots, climbing shoes, or other footwear at a dusty trailhead parking lot, at the beach, or outside your tent, you know what a messy affair it can be. The Mud Mat is light, packable, and waterproof, and it does a fine job keeping feet, socks, and the insides of tents and RVs clean. This is easily one of my most used (and most loved) pieces of outdoor gear.
THE 1871 CLUB
