Best Outdoor Gifts for the Adventurer in Your Life

It’s not difficult to pick out the perfect outdoor gift for that special adventure seeker in your life. A great gift should help with an adventure, inspire, or make time spent outside more enjoyable. Every gift on this list should do that and more!

After years of exploring the great outdoors, we share our favorite outdoor gifts and products that will make any explorer smile! There’s something here for everyone from climbers, backpackers, hikers, powderhounds, and mountain bikers.

Here they are in no particular order!

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The Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers

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Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit

It’s tough to do much better than a Solo Stove as a gift. The smokeless firepit lives up the hype and it’s one of our favorite items we own. Solo Stove is a wood-burning fire pit that is so efficient that it reduces smoke and creates a hotter fire.

It’s a great gift for car campers, van lifers, or anyone with a backyard! It’s really great for camping as it is a good way to have a safely contained fire. We love our Solo Stove and we’re so stoked when they opened their Canadian store!

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Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody

Arc’teryx makes this list of hiking jackets a lot, but it does carry a big reputation for a reason. One of their best-selling jackets is the Atom LT, a tremendous lightweight, and warm mid-layer jacket.

They’ve taken the stance that it’s not broke, don’t fix it, and the jacket has remained the same for years now. The Atom delivers everything you could want in a mid-layer between warmth, mobility, and fit.

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Wacaco Nanospresso Maker

If your loved one is anything like us they cherish their coffee. One of the best gifts for outdoor lovers that we can think of is a Nanopresso maker. This thing is genius, pocket-sized, and pretty inexpensive for a portable espresso machine! It’s great for an early morning pick-me-up at the trailhead or campsite.

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GSI Camp Stove Toaster

One thing that can be pretty difficult to obtain while camping is the humble slice of toast. Toast is a piece of bread – easy, you think. No, it’s not. Before you know it, you have a square of literal charcoal on the end of a skewer.

Make life easy and get the GSI Camp Toaster as a gift. It’s got neat holsters for your bread and sits on top of your butane stove, making sure the bread is not actually touching the flame. It folds away, too, making it easy to carry around.

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Reusable Utensils

We always keep some of these in our car, backpack, hiking, or with us when we’re traveling. Single-use plastic utensils are wasteful so we take aim at reducing where we can with reusable utensils. It’s a great sustainable gift that’s inexpensive and can be used by anyone.

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MR300 Mosquito Repeller

Mosquitoes. You can’t do much about them other than holing up in a mesh net when outside and covering every inch of your body in clothing and/or DEET spray.

One awesome way to not be bitten to death by these awful critters is to invest in a mosquito repeller, namely the MR300. Using heat, this cool camping gadget disperses repellent into the air and creates a 15-foot no-mosquito zone around you. It’s one of the coolest gifts for outdoor lovers.

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MSR PocketRocket 2 Deluxe Stove

This is the latest backpacking stove from MSR who has been designing these burners for ages, and the Deluxe is their best one yet. It’s not the lightest burner on the market, but at only three ounces, it’s pretty close.

It’s a significant update to the old RocketPocket 2 with new recessed burner holes, a regulator, a piezoelectric lighter, and pot supports. The result is a burner that is easier to light, burns consistently, and handles wind very well that feels nothing like its predecessor. This is a great gift for those that love camping.

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Portable Solar Panel

This is great for adventurers, outdoors lovers, or even beach bums as it is a portable solar panel that can charge your phone, tablet, or small devices.

It’s rugged and built for backpacking adventures so it’s made to stand up to being thrown into a dirty pack. What better eco gift than a solar panel to reduce energy consumption. It’s also a great lifeline for adventurers who like to get off the beaten path.

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Bee’s Wrap

Give the gift of being eco-friendly! Ditch the silly single-use plastic cling wrap for something that is both natural and reusable. They’re made from organic cotton, beeswax, oil, and tree resin for a fully natural product.

They work a lot like traditional cling wrap except you’ll need to warm them up in your hands to shape and stick, plus and most important they’re washable. It’s a tremendous sustainable gift and we love these ones with the bear print!

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JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth Speaker

Weighing just over one pound it’s pretty lightweight and the JBL Flip 5 is a good quality in just about everything. It’s durable, waterproof, and suitable for 12 hours of music. Toss it in your bag, then connect your phone via Bluetooth to have whatever awesome music as a soundtrack to your camping trip.

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Yeti’s Lowlands Blanket

Another fantastic gift for outdoor lovers is the Yeti Lowlands blanket. It’s a great multi-use we’ve taken to using in the mountains. Of course, with the Yeti names comes premium products with a high price tag. However, what you get is a blanket that’s use extends far beyond the beach we regularly use ours in the mountains on the cold ground, a wet riverbank fishing, or when we’re out at a friend’s lakehouse.

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BioLite Headlamp 330

Traditional outdoor headlamps have used disposable batteries such as AAs or AAAs. Batteries require a lot of minerals and resources. A great sustainable gift is a headlamp that is rechargeable via USB, such as the BioLite. If you combine this with the solar panel above a backpacker could be off the grid for ages without the need for extra batteries and everyone likes a lighter pack!

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GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist II Cookset

GSI is our go-to for lightweight camp cookware. Their Microdualist Set is everything you need to cook for two campers. It’s an exceptional cook set that saves space and is ultralightweight. It’s large enough to cook meals for two the cookware heats efficiently and quickly. It’s perfect for any through hiker, camper, or bikepacker.

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ALPS Mountaineering Eclipse Table****

This is an all-in-one snacks ‘n’ drinks bonanza, one of the coolest camping gear products we’ve seen. It may not be a utility knife or some other nifty gadget, but sometimes simple is awesome. There are drinks-holders, a central holster for all your snacks, and the lowest part is for keeping stuff as cold as can be. Perfect for sitting around a fire or rocking up at a music festival.

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Personalized Ski and Snowboard Wall Art

We recently got our hands on this incredible wall art that is great for ski and snowboard couples and families. Powder Addicts creates awesome personalized metal chairlift wall decor. It makes the perfect adventure gift for snowbound enthusiasts. Check out their site, they have something for every ski and snowboard lover! Use the code TWP15 for 15% off!

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MPOWERD Luci 2.0 Solar Lantern

A small outdoor gift is a solar lantern. These sweet little solar lights are sure to be loved by anyone. MPOWERD makes small solar rechargeable lights that are great for camping, emergencies, outdoor adventures, or the backyard. However, what really makes them great is the initiative behind them that uses a portion of the profits to bring solar power to those in need around the world.

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Yeti Tundra 45

Yeti is renowned for its durable coolers that keep ice for days one end. The Tundra is their flagship cooler and the 45L is the most popular size for good reason. Being Yeti, this is one of the more expensive gifts for outdoor lovers, but it is sure to put a smile on someone’s face. Pack this holy grail of coolers with ice packs, food, and refreshments, and your camping trip will turn into a veritable banquet.

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Scrubba Wash Bag

No more excuses for having dirty clothes when you’re in the wilderness. The Scrubba Wash Bag is basically a dry bag, but on the inside, it’s coated with rubber nodules; mix in some water and soap, throw in your clothes, seal the bag up, and knead the bag like dough for a regular wash cycle in just a few minutes. Simple but awesome.

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UCO Stormproof Matches ($12)

Lighting a fire in damp conditions is not fun. Get some UCO stormproof matches, ones that light even in the wind and rain – and will even light after being submerged in water – is a no-brainer. As long as there’s phosphorus (the orange bit), these things are virtually invincible!

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REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 ($100)

Everyone loves a comfy jacket and we think packable down jackets make a tremendous gift. For several years, we have loved REI’s affordable 650 down Jacket, but now they’ve taken it a step further. Their latest iteration of the jacket employs a shell of recycled nylon taffeta and is ethically sourced down. The end result is a more environmentally conscious gift with great performance and value.

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Smith Mag 4D Goggles

The Smith Mag 4D are the latest and greatest in snow goggles and what we’ve been using for three seasons now. With that new technology, expect to pay a premium at $320. Of course, they are arguably the best ski goggles on the market. If you don’t want to drop $200-300 on goggles, there are some excellent budget options.

For only $60, you can grab the Giro Semi that includes two lenses for low light and sunny days. Or you can try out a relatively new brand Outdoor Master that gained a lot of traction on Amazon.

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United By Blue Steel Creek Reusable Straw Case

We love products that take aim at reducing or solving a problem. A reusable straw is a great place to start as the vast majority of plastic straws never see a recycling plant.

Straws may be a bit of selective empathy, but we’re firm believers that every bit counts! Instead of just gifting some silicone or reusable straws check out this straw and case from United By Blue.

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Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Water bottles are one of the simplest things to cut back on waste. We never buy single-use plastic water bottles. We have a wide selection of water bottles, but our favorites are from Hydroflask. The insulated aluminum water bottles keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours.

It doesn’t just do a good job at this, it does an excellent job and we’ve often enjoyed piping hot tea on cold morning hours after making it. As a big plus, aluminum is one of the best materials to recycle after the bottle has lived its very long life.

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Epic Journeys: 245 Life-Changing Adventure

Who doesn’t love Nat Geo? We just got our hands on this gorgeous coffee table book and it inspires us every time we open it. With a curated bucket list of life-changing adventures and 350 vivid photographs, 225 detailed itineraries, and more than 20 “top ten” lists it’s the perfect travel gift for outdoor adventurers.

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GoToob Travel Bottles

No traveler wants to lug around a full-sized body wash container. So give the gift of GoToobs the perfect travel accessory. GoToob bottles are made with durable silicon that is food safe and airplane carry-on. Of course, they are 100% BPA-free and also a great eco-friendly gift idea.

The GoToob is made by HumanGear who produces a wide range of reusable products. We love their eco-friendly product line for things like their FlexiBowl, GoBites, and GoTubbs. It’s all gear made to be reusable, thus eliminating one-use plastic products.

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Natural Deodorant

There are all sorts of nasty stuff in your average deodorants such as aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, and triclosan. That’s why we long ago decided to make the switch to natural deodorants both for our health and the environment. Giving the gift of natural deodorant isn’t particularly exciting, but given its higher price tag, it’s sure to be appreciated as a stocking stuffer.

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Pela Case

Almost everyone these days has a case on their phone to protect it drops and falls. A phone case may be far from single-use, but it definitely has a shelf life. These cases made from Pela are 100% compostable and made from plants!

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Raw Elements Eco Sunscreen

Modern sunblock has a slew of damaging chemicals in them that have proven toxic to coral and marine life. It’s been estimated that a whopping 14,000 tons of sunscreen make it way into coral reefs each year.

In that sunscreen are chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate that are known to be toxic to coral. Sun Bum is a sunscreen manufacturer whose aim is to produce coral-safe sunscreen. Help save our reefs and give the gift of one of our favorite eco-friendly products, reef-safe sunscreen.

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Canvas Tote Bag

Ditch the plastic bags for a super cute canvas tote! There are a plethora of fun designs and prints you can find anywhere. If you want to make it a full set consider giving mesh reusable produce bags as a sustainable gift.

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ENO Travel Hammock

This is a unisex outdoor gift, but anyone who loves nature is going to love a travel hammock if they don’t already own one. It’s the perfect gift for backpackers or those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

The hammocks are super lightweight, strong, and easy to use. I suggest picking up the ENO SlapStraps too, as it makes it easy to throw the hammock up anywhere. If you’re looking for travel and outdoor gifts for couples make sure to get the larger one!

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Travel Yoga Mat

I love to travel everywhere with my yoga mats. If your loved one happens to be a yogi know that often when traveling yoga studios can be found. We’ve found places to practice in places like Costa Rica, Bali, and Hawaii. I love traveling with my Manduka travel mat when I just want to do a couple quick stretches.

The Manduka travel mat is super light and thin. It can fold up into a square and easily be packed away in luggage. I bring this in my carry on so when I’m enduring a long layover I can stretch at the airport. At $42 it won’t break the bank and has super grip technology for those sweaty times. You can also see all our favorite travel yoga mats here!

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Hiking Backpack with Raincover

The most important thing on a backpacking checklist. A proper hiking backpack supports the weight of your load and should hold everything you need for a trip in the great outdoors. A good hiking backpack should be comfortable, have a nice design, proper material, and correct volume and weight for your trip. We break down all the best hiking backpacks here.

Our new favorite hiking backpack is made by Gregory. The Gregory Baltoro Gregory backpack is a workhorse designed to be used and abused. The Baltoro/Deva is designed to carry a heavy load without breaking your back on the trail. It has a superior suspension system with plush padding and great organization.

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DayPack

Any nature lover needs a good daypack. An adventure a daypack should be more than enough to hold your belongings. My daypack usually consists of a shell jacket, down jacket, hiking poles, bear spray, snacks, water, gloves, chapstick, a buff, first aid kit, navigation, and an emergency blanket.

Which has a stretch overflow pocket, trekking pole attachments, air support back panel, dual-wing belt, and is built for smaller torsos (I am short.) Their packs are lightweight and sit on the back so well. For Daypacks we love Osprey and Arc’teryx.

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MSR Hubba Hubba Tent

Does the person you’re getting a gift for love the backcountry? When backpacking something ultralight is needed. Our go-to is our MSR Hubba Hubba 2 backpacking person tent.

The Hubba Hubba is a top seller for MSR. It’s ultralight and has a super-fast setup system. This tent is waterproof and ultra-durable for any mountain adventure. It’s a great size for two people and there is even extra space to move around.

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Compressible Pillow

A pillow is a backpacking essential for a good night’s sleep in the mountains. Therm-A-Rest makes durable pillows from upcycled foam. These pillows are soft and expand large enough for a comfortable rest.

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Hiking Poles ($140)

My favorite outdoor and hiking gift on this list is hiking poles. Know someone that has plans to take part in long multi-day hikes? Then a pair of hiking poles are a great way to save the knees and prevent injuries. If you’re on a full day of hiking in the mountains you’ll gain and descend a lot of elevation. So, it’s easy for your legs to get tired and a pair of hiking poles will pay off. Although I don’t always need hiking poles, they are always in my pack. I almost ALWAYS end up using at least one while I’m descending a mountain.

Black Diamond is a company dedicated to mountain sports and has worked hard to craft wonderful products. I personally use the Black Diamond FLZ Hiking Poles, but there are some other great poles out there produced by companies like REI and MSR. “Z” poles are fantastic as they’re lightweight and can be stashed inside a backpack should you not need them.

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Patagonia Fjord Flannel Shirt ($89)

The difference between organic cotton and commercially grown cotton is massive. It’s easy to view “organic” as a marketing term these days, but in reality, organic cotton consumes far more water and is widely considered the dirtiest crop worldwide.

Conventional cotton accounts for 25% of all pesticides in use around the world. A great sustainable gift or eco-friendly gift is an organic flannel like the Fjord Flannel from Patagonia. It’s perfect for cooler weather and fits a wide range of activities.

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Helmet Headphones (Aleck 006)

Thanks to ski films, it feels like music and snowboarding go hand and hand. In reality, it can be tough to listen to music while you snowboard. There are two options, both of which come with significant downsides.

The first is a Bluetooth speaker in a backpack that is incredibly obnoxious and doesn’t sound all that great when riding. The other more dangerous option is earbuds that are uncomfortable with a helmet and hinder your hearing on the mountain. However, you can now opt for wireless audio housed within the helmet.

Aleck 006 headphones are audio pucks that slip into the padding of a helmet and double as comms. They are long-time partners with Smith and fit wonderfully in the helmets. Installation is easy, and the audio quality will surpass most expectations. They are comparable to far more expensive over-the-ear headphones.

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prAna hiking/Climbing Pants

prAna has some exceptional climbing pants, and we love them for hiking, travel, and everyday life. The prAna men’s Brion and women’s Halle pants manage to hit the perfect blend between technical features and style. Fabric in the pants is a mixture of nylon and spandex for tremendous flexibility and moisture management. That moisture management makes them a good pair of pants to wear in heat or humidity.

The pants have enough style that feels appropriate in everyday life. Since they are climbing pants, they have supreme flexibility and stretch. Although they’re flexible, do not mistake them for being loose and sloppy looking. Both pants offer exceptional flexibility, but the women’s Halle Pant takes it a step further with a roll-up capri design. Warning, these pants may become some of your favorites!

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REI Gift Card

You really can’t go wrong with a gift card. REI is our favorite outdoor retailer. REI has been one of the best places to grab outdoor gear since 1938. They are well known for treating their employees well, giving back, and running a sustainable company! So go ahead and feel good about that gift card!

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Donation to National Forest Foundation

Make the gift of a future for your loved ones or friend with a donation to the National Forest Foundation. They take action to help protect millions of acres of forest and replant millions of trees more.

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Glamping Hub Gift Card

Give the gift of unique accommodation and some travel inspiration with a gift card to Glamping Hub. The travel website operates as a portal for unique accommodation all around the world. You can book stays in a yurt (as we did in Hawaii), treehouse, eco-cabin, or even a converted airstream. Glamping hub specializes in “glamping” the art of luxurious camping. So expected to find properties in some gorgeous and secluded parts of the world. We love unique stays and would take a treehouse over a corporate chain hotel any day of the week.