Gifts for Outdoor Lovers and the Adventurers in Your Life
Searching for fun gifts for outdoor lovers who hike, bike, or camp? Well, whether Christmas, birthdays, Valentine’s Day or just to say thanks, there’s always something the outdoorsy types in your life have on their wish list!
And remember, although it feels good to give to family and friends, it feels even better to give back. So, if you’re looking for an adventurous gift that also makes a difference, check out our Top 10 Non-Profit Outdoor Organizations that would love your support!
Top Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
We’ve selected our gifts for outdoor lovers based on items we love, already own, or can’t wait to purchase. We’re not sponsored or supported by any of these brands and make no commission if you make a purchase.
1. Storyworth- Write a Book Together!
In 2023, I wrote a book with my Dad. We used Storyworth, and it’s wonderful! You pay a one-year subscription fee of $99 and get an email delivered to you each week that prompts you to write a story. You can use their pre-planned weekly questions, or better yet create your own. Storyworth is perfect for memoirs, to better connect with family, a best friend, or a loved one.
After almost a year of writing down stories and new chapters of my Dad’s life, I have 286 pages! You can learn more about our book here. Once you feel ‘finished’, you can print the book. One book is included in the Storyworth subscription, and they take care of all the page layout, binding, etc. Keep in mind, you are responsible for the editing, and this does take some diligence! Additional books can be ordered as needed for about $39 a book, not including shipping and taxes.
We cannot express how much this meant to my dad and I, and our family. So, deliver one of the best presents you will gift all year with Storyworth!
2. Gift an Experience
Based on the amount of items we take every few months to Goodwill, we certainly do not need more clothes or shoes. So second in our list of gifts for outdoor lovers is to gift an experience. What might be a fun experience worth gifting? Here are a few thoughts:
- Ski trip- Ikon Pass Travel offers packages exclusively for Ikon Pass holders
- Book a Cycling Tour with Food.Stories.Travel.
- Cooking class
- Camping trip -rent an RV or sprinter van with Outdoorsy.com
- Farm stay- grab the cowboy hat and boots and spend a day or a weekend on a working farm with alpacas and sheep!
We love giving the gift of adventure and a night of camping is very easy and affordable!!
3. National Parks Pass-The Gift of Adventure
A National Parks Pass is not just a ticket to enter parks; it’s an invitation to explore, learn, and connect with the natural world. It’s a gift for outdoor lovers that keeps on giving, fostering a love for our public lands outdoors and a commitment to preserving our natural heritage.
A typical Annual Pass costs $80 and is good at all National Parks and Monuments. See below for all the different types of National Park passes available.
4. Keep Your Outdoor Lover Caffeinated with JetBoil’s Flash Java Kit
Mornings at camp are much better when the coffee is brewing! After years of traveling with all sorts of compact French presses and stovetop espresso makers, we’ve found JetBoil’s Flash Java Kit to be the bomb.
The perks: Super speedy boil- about 100 seconds!! Insulated container with coffee press neatly inside. Very portable. Easy to clean. Can be used to heat water for lots of other meals!
The cons: It’s small, so if there are more than 2 of you, you’ll need to make another batch. You need to buy the mini fuel canisters- although these seem to last forever, especially if you’re only using them to make coffee!
Our favorite addition to the camping kit? The JetBoil Flash Java coffee press!
5. Travel Books to Inspire Outdoor Adventures
Inspire your adventure buddy or your kids with a great travel book! From travel guidebooks to captivating stories of adventure, there are so many options. How about a coffee table-worthy collection or a great book to curl up with in your sleeping bag?
We love Falcon Guides, especially for rock climbing, but here are other books that make good gifts for the outdoorsy person in your life:
- Amazon’s best adventure books for kids
- Travel stories, travel guidebooks, or good reads that inspire.
- Here are the 50 Best Books to Read While Traveling by the Broke Backpacker!
- Magazine subscriptions to Nat Geo, Travel + Leisure, or AFAR Magazine
Someone will think of you when they settle in and finally read that book you gifted them on their next vacation!
6. Travel Bags and Backpacks
Gifts like travel bags, hip packs, packing cubes, toiletry kits, and duffle bags are great for adventurers who like to keep stuff organized! For those who love a more feminine touch, you can’t go wrong with anything from Aloha. They have so many tropical styles and are also plash-proof!
Do you want something more rugged for hiking or to withstand mountain bike park laps? We love Dakine’s Hot Laps Bike Pack. This hip pack comes with a hydration pack inside and is available in 1 liter, 2 liter, or 5 liter packs!
Hip packs are the perfect size for all your essentials while sightseeing around town or heading out for dinner. And keeping your hands free is always a bonus!
7. The Ooni Pizza Oven- Make Outdoor Dining More Fun!
Well, we all love pizza. I wasn’t a believer that the Ooni Pizza Oven could transform the way we make pizza, but it does. It’s incredible!!! The oven heats up to 950°F/500°C and within seconds your pizza is crisp and delicious!
Pros: You can hook it up to propane or use wood to fire your oven. In addition, the Ooni Pizza Oven can come camping with you. It’s portable and has a travel bag!
Cons: It takes some practice to get the pizza right. A lot of practice. You’ll need to buy a few tools in addition to your Ooni- a pizza peel, scraper, and oh yeah, you should learn how to make your own dough!
Love giving gifts that make people smile? Gift and Ooni, bring all the fixings, and start a pizza party!
8. Garmin In Reach- A Satellite messenger for the truly adventurous
Does your outdoor adventurer disappear for hours, or days into the backcountry? Well, whether hiking, skiing, sailing, or rock climbing, having some sort of communication or location device is a necessity.
Therefore, a great gift for your outdoor lover could be a Garmin InReach which acts as both a personal locator beacon (PLB) and a satellite messenger device. REI did a great job of breaking down the differences between each. Here are a few PLBs and satellite messengers on the market:
Perks: By using satellite technology, you can send and receive messages, navigate your route, get the weather, share your journey, and send out an SOS signal to a global response center that’s staffed 24/7 if needed. Talk about peace of mind!
Cons: However, there is a downside to purchasing a Garmin InReach or Spot over the basic PBL or RescueMe device. You or your family member will need an active subscription when using the Garmin InReach, but you can pay only for the month you need it. As an example, Garmin InReach subscription plans can be annual or monthly and range from $15-65 depending on the plan you choose.
Garmin makes several products that can help you keep in touch via satellite when there’s no service.
9. Jackery Power Station- for Van Lifers or Outdoor Lovers Who Work From the Road
One of the biggest challenges we face while camping and on extended road trips? Having a reliable power source. You can opt for camping in spots with electricity hookups, but these are often hard to get.
Therefore, to charge everything from headlamps to laptops, gift your outdoorsy friend a Jackery Power Station and a portable solar charger! They can charge it when the sun is out, and if it’s not, the Jackery can charge off the car when it’s running.
Other brands that make portable power systems we like? Biolite, Goal Zero, and Anker.
Another emergency charger we were gifted and can’t live without? The HALO Bolt Charger. This baby has enough juice to jump-start your car and charge your laptop several times!!
When you need to work from the road or your campsite, keeping that laptop or cell phone powered is key!
10. Emergency Medical Kit- A Gift for the risk-taking, outdoor adventurer
What can you do to protect the outdoor adventurers in your life? Get them a medical kit for emergencies! Our favorite ones are from Adventure Medical Kits. And, they come in lots of different varieties based on where you travel and for how long.
We’re big fans of getting educated and being prepared. We took a Wilderness First Responder Course and wrote a blog about it, and we also took our Avalanche Level 1! And yes, I wrote a blog about Avalanche Safety on Backcountry Adventures! You get the point. We like to be prepared…the more you know and all…
Have friends or family that rock climb? Well, it requires A LOT of gear. And not only climbing gear, but everything you need in case of an emergency while 1,000 feet off the ground.
11. Headlamps, Lanterns, and String Lights to Brighten Up the Night
Light up the campsite, or any area outdoors that’s too far from a power source with a few sets of Bio Lite String Lights. In addition, Biolite makes portable table lamps or lanterns that double as a charging station. And we never go on any outdoor adventures without packing a Petzl headlamp. They are always great if you get caught out after dark, for setting up camp at night, or making dinner!
Most Petzl headlamps and Biolite string lights are USB rechargeable, lightweight, and easy to pack! Never be afraid to leave your tent to walk to the bathroom again!
12. The Meater- A Gift for the Grill Master
The MEATER is a Smart Meat Thermometer that connects to your phone with Bluetooth and works great for the BBQ grill or in the oven. For those who guesstimate the time to cook chicken or medium rare steaks, or those who wander from the grill because they are multi-tasking, the MEATER is perfect!
The app guides you through what you’ll be cooking and gives you the estimates on time needed, temperature, etc. It pings you when it’s time to take your meat off the grill, and then sets a timer for your meat to rest. Never overcook or undercook your meat again!
Got a friend or family member who loves to man the grill? The MEATER will be their new favorite!
13. Wool Blankets, Beanies, Thermals, and Socks to Keep Warm on Chilly Nights
Ever since we visited the Pendleton Woolen Mills in Pendleton, Oregon, we have been big fans! A nice Pendleton wool blanket, wool socks, thermals, beanies, and sweaters, all make great gifts for your outdoor adventurers!
Hre are a few reasons to buy gifts made from merino, alpaca, cashmere, or angora wool:
- Keeps you warmer than synthetics or cotton
- Insulates even when damp or wet
- More breathable
- Easy to care for
- Made from natural fibers
- Doesn’t smell the way your poly-stink-aline does! (That’s my word. You can borrow it.)
Some of my favorite outdoor brands that make lots of cool wool products besides Pendleton include SmartWool and IceBreaker. When in doubt, a gift card to REI lets your outdoor traveler shop for the perfect style and fit!
Whether beach, desert, or mountains, there are at least 2 wool beanies in my pack for every adventure!
Need Even More Gift Ideas for Outdoor Lovers?
Hope this gives you some unique gift ideas for outdoorsy family members and friends! Need even more?
- We Boost Cell Signal Booster
- Starlink for RVs- for those on the road for extended periods, or traveling to remote places where you need to work
- Noso Gear Repair Patches– Instead of replacing, patch those puffies, sleeping bags, and backpacks!
- Buff Neck Gaiters
- Ruffwear– for dog owners, Ruffwear keeps Lucy looking good and staying warm!
- Tailgater Tire Table
Don’t forget to check out our favorite outdoor non-profit organizations that would absolutely love your support. By supporting a non-profit, you can send a gift that is truly memorable! Here are just a few options:
- Provide a companion dog for someone in need, and save on your taxes!
- Grant outdoor recreational opportunities for low-income families and at-risk youth
Thanks for reading, and happy shopping!
Meredith McConvill, Top Rope Media
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