Sometimes, shopping for the outdoor enthusiast in your life can be tricky. You know they already own most of what they need, so the key is finding something they want or didn’t know they needed.
The best gifts for outdoor lovers (from weekend warriors to vanlifers, casual hikers to peak baggers) should always do three things: fuel adventure, maximize the stoke, and keep them outside longer.
Whether it’s hiking, biking, camping, climbing, skiing, surfing, or simply just exploring, I’ve rounded up a collection of my favorite outdoor gear that checks off all the boxes for every kind of adventurer and helps them get outside, living their best life.
Don’t forget to check out my other outdoorsy gift guide, 22 Unique Non-Cheesy Gifts for National Park Lovers, as well as my gift guides for people who just love to be outside: 35 Genius Gifts for Gardeners They’ll Really Dig and 25 Perfect Stocking Stuffers for Gardeners Under $25.
I hope they help simplify your shopping this holiday season so you can spend more time doing what you love.
Disclosure: If you shop from my article or make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive commissions on some of the products I recommend.
The Route 66 Cookbook – I’m kicking off this list with my own book that was just released in October! It’s a cookbook, history book, travel guide, and love letter to America’s most iconic highway. Route 66 is truly the road trip of a lifetime and I know of no other scenic roadway in this country that’s as diverse or tenacious—plus it celebrates 100 years in 2026. If you know an enthusiastic road tripper, history buff, or lover of all things Americana, this is the gift they need.
The New Camp Cookbook – The second book I ever wrote has been a bestseller each year since it was released in 2017. If your idea of a good time in camp is great food and even better friends around a fire, this book is for you. It offers a variety of modern, easy-to-make (yet gourmet) recipes from breakfast and snacks to dinner and drinks to take your camp dining up a notch. It also serves as a camping guide of sorts, with tips and tricks for stocking your camp kitchen, packing your pantry and cooler efficiently, washing dishes (without using a ton of water), and cooking in bear country.
The Backyard Fire Cookbook – I wrote this book to focus on one of the things I love most about outdoor cooking: making food over a fire. This book shares techniques and recipes for cooking over every type of live fire: ember roasting, planking, cast iron, foil packets, and more. There’s also a step-by-step guide on building your own fire pit, tips for cooking over coals if you don’t have space to make a fire pit, a rundown on the best types of wood and fire starters to use, secrets to stocking an indoor and outdoor pantry, and my favorite tools and accessories to help you master the flames.
Ignik Firecan – In the western part of the country, one of the issues we always have while camping in the summer is fire restrictions. We’re not allowed to have wood-burning fires, but we also don’t want to haul a traditional propane fire pit with us. Enter this firecan: It’s extremely portable (the size of an ammo can) and multifunctional too. You can hook it up to a propane can (or refillable propane tank) and use the fire for warmth or roasting marshmallows, or add the grill insert and use it to make dinner. This is the coolest accessory if you love sitting by a fire while camping!
Solar string lights – This is such a fun and useful light to have at camp! There are actually two lights in one unit: an area light that functions like a lantern, and a strand of fairy lights that you can hang to illuminate your campsite. (I also own and love the standalone string lights, which I bring backpacking. They just plug into a USB power bank and can run for several days.)
BioLite AlpenGlow – This is my absolute favorite camping lantern! I have both the larger 500 version and the mini 150 version. Both sizes are similar in function, but what sets them apart from other lanterns is their ability to cycle through several color modes. You have bright white, warm white, and a rainbow of colors, but give the lantern a shake and access even more color modes that transition through a range of beautiful ombre light. My kids love using it as a nightlight (by adjusting the dimness to low).
Bose Soundlink Micro – It’s hard to beat a Bose in terms of sound quality, and even in such a petite package, the sound blows away all other Bluetooth speakers in this size range. (Yes, I own this!) It’s the perfect portable speaker to take on a road trip, set up at the campsite, clip onto a backpack, or even just use at home if you’re tight on space. (The waterproof rating makes it a great shower radio.) You can also pair it with another Bose speaker for stereo sound.
Packable quick-dry towel – I bought myself this towel for backpacking this year and loved it so much that I just bought two more as Christmas gifts for my kids. They’re ultra-lightweight and packable, very absorbent, large enough to dry you off, and—most importantly—they dry fast so you don’t have to deal with a sopping wet towel after beach days or pool days. This would also make a great gym towel or just-in-case car towel.
Water-resistant festival blanket – If you love picnics, playing on the beach, or spreading out in the grass, you need this blanket. It’s super packable so it won’t add to all the other weight you’re already carrying, the top side is soft for lounging and snoozing, and the bottom is water-resistant so you stay dry. Sand and dirt also shake off easily when you’re done, making clean-up a snap.
Rumpl fleece puffy blanket – I’m already a fan of the original Rumpl puffy blanket and their ultra-packable travel-sized version, but I might just have to add this new style to my collection. It has their familiar water-resistant puffy shell on one side, but mixes it up with super snuggly fleece on the other side. This would make such a great car blanket, stadium throw, or extra layer of warmth in camp!
Compressed towel tablets – I discovered these tablets this year while looking for a practical way to pack toilet paper on backpacking trips. Yes, you could just bring half a roll with you, but compressed tablets are a much better solution! All you have to do is add a squirt of water and the tablet magically expands into a soft, thick, moist wipe. The “bathroom wipes” version is 9×9 which I find to be plenty big, but there’s also a “body wipes” version that’s 12×12. My husband scoffed when I bought this but guess what? He ended up loving it and we found it very useful for wiping down faces, hands, dishes, and more. (So it’s not just for going to the bathroom!)
XL lap warmer – You know those small squares of air-activated hand warmers you can stuff into your gloves or pocket for slow, steady warmth? These lap warmers are just a larger version of that and give up to 8 hours of constant heat that’ll keep you toasty and comfortable at camp. Even though they’re meant to be placed on your lap, they would also work well in your sleeping bag if you find yourself needing a bit of extra heat at night. Grab a few of these for stocking stuffers!
Aluminum trekking poles – I took a chance on these Montem collapsible poles when I was in the market for new hiking poles last year, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well-built they are. (And this is coming from someone who’s owned Black Diamond poles in the past.) They’re strong, durable, and lightweight, and come in a range of fun colors with multiple tips included. (I got the purple ones!) If you’re looking for even lighter weight, Montem also makes carbon fiber hiking poles at a super reasonable price point.
Binoculars – I’ve had these Nocs compact binoculars for a few years and taken them on nearly every camping and road trip. They’re easy to stash, have excellent focus, and provide crisp views—not to mention they’re super stylish! The bright colors means I never lose them either. I’m such a big fan of Nocs that I bought each of my kids their own monocular from the same line.
Mini air pump – Don’t be fooled by the size. This tiny rechargeable air pump works surprisingly well for inflating pool toys, innertubes, camping mattresses, camping pillows, and other small items. We always bring our mini air pump on backpacking trips and can blow up all four of our sleeping pads and four inflatable pillows in just a few minutes. It also has a built-in LED lamp, so it’s a handy gadget to tote along!
Waterproof power bank – Anyone who spends any amount of time on the road, away from everyday conveniences, could use a power bank or two. This one has enough juice to charge your phones, headlamps, and POV cameras, and even comes with an emergency flashlight. I especially like this rugged version from Goal Zero because you can take it on an adventure without worrying about getting caught in the rain or forgetting it overnight on your picnic table.
HydraPak Stow – My husband originally bought this collapsible water bottle for me so I could take it snowboarding, and we’ve since gotten more for the kids. They’re just the right size to tuck into a jacket or hang on a backpack strap, and we really like them for hiking, backpacking, and any adventure where we want to save on space and weight. They also make this narrower 1-liter version that can fit in a pack pocket.
Pour-over coffee kit – What makes great coffee even better? Brewing it in the great outdoors with this Stanley pour-over set, either in classic hammertone green or in black, bronze, or silver. Coffee aficionados won’t have to be without their favorite grinds now when they’re RVing or heading into the backcountry. An easy-to-clean, reusable filter, and insulated mug complete the kit.
The best koozie cup – It’s a koozie… it’s a mug… nope, it’s a Hydro Flask Cooler Cup. I have a whole collection of water bottles and coffee mugs from Hydro Flask that my family uses every day, and this is one of my most-used items. It’s super versatile as a cold or hot beverage mug, and can keep both bottles and cans cold for several hours.
Soft-sided cooler tote – For a long time I wanted a Yeti soft-sided cooler, but couldn’t justify the high cost. Then I found this company, which also makes accessories that I use for paddling (like dry bags and sand anchors), and took a chance on their version. After using it the last four summers and toting it with us to lakes, rivers, and dozens of trails, I can say it was a decision well made! This cooler is airtight, leakproof, lightweight, and keeps things cold for an entire weekend.
First-aid kit – Every adventurer needs a first aid kit or two, and I love this one with its stylish metal storage tin that can be refilled and reused. The kit comes with most things you’ll need to mend yourself on the go, including an assortment of fun printed fabric bandages, medical tape, non-stick pads, triple antibiotic cream, and ibuprofen.
Milo Action Communicators – I bought these wireless communicators for my family a couple years ago and can say, without a doubt, they’re one of the best purchases I’ve made for our outdoor pursuits. We often go biking, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking together, but don’t always stay within earshot of each other. These units allow us to talk freely without having to push a button, which is a vast improvement over walkie-talkies and so great for kids to use.
Garmin inReach Satellite Communicator – If you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone who means the world to you, no gift says “I care about you” more than this compact satellite communicator. I got this for my husband for the days he heads into the backcountry, but we also bring it on long RV trips when we know we’ll be passing through areas with no cell reception. Having a link to emergency services gives us peace of mind, whether we’re on the road or on the trail.
