2024 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Campers
Over 60 Gift Ideas For People Who Go Camping, According To Campers
November 13th, 2024
When it comes to finding the perfect gift for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, there's something inherently charming about gifting items that resonate with their passion for the great outdoors.
Camping, in all its forms, offers a remarkable sense of freedom and a chance to reconnect with nature. It provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, an opportunity to unplug, and a stage for forging memories that last a lifetime. And when you gift something that amplifies this experience, you're not merely presenting an item; you're giving the promise of unforgettable moments, shared stories, and a deeper connection with the great outdoors. The joy of gifting camping-related items is knowing that your present will facilitate exploration, comfort, and adventure.
In this gift guide, we'll explore a diverse array of ideas tailored to the needs and desires of campers, be they seasoned outdoor enthusiasts or novices taking their first steps into the wild. Whether it's the joy of starry nights under a tent's canopy, the allure of the crackling campfire, or the simple pleasure of communing with nature, camping holds a unique place in the hearts of those who embrace it.
Looking for more gift ideas? See our Best Gifts for Hikers guide.
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Gift Comparison Table
| CATEGORY | GIFT IDEA | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Pratical Gear | ||
| Tents and Shelters | ||
| The North Face Wawona Tent | ||
| Mountain Hardwear Mineral King | $279 | |
| REI Half Dome SL 2+ Tent | $349 |
What To Consider Before Buying A Gift
Treeline Review contributing writer Katie Hawkes (left) and editor-in-chief Liz Thomas (right) around the Takibi Fire pit at a dispersed campsite in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Before embarking on your quest to find the ideal camping-related gift, consider the following factors:
Camping style
Understand the recipient's preferred camping style. Are they into minimalist backpacking, comfortable RV camping, or something in between? This knowledge will guide your gift choices.
Season and climate
Take into account the typical weather conditions during their camping adventures. Gifts like insulated clothing are perfect for cold climates, while lightweight, breathable options suit summer camping.
Experience level
Determine the camper's experience level. Seasoned campers may have specific preferences, while novices might appreciate versatile and easy-to-use gear.
Personalization
Consider personal touches. Engraving their name on a camping tool or choosing gifts that align with their interests can make the present more meaningful.
Space and portability
For backpackers, compact and lightweight gear is a must. RV campers have more space to spare, allowing for bulkier items. Consider the storage and transport needs of the camper.
Safety and health
Safety is paramount in the outdoors. Gifts such as first aid kits or emergency communication devices can be essential for any camper.
Practical Gear
Tents, shelters, sleeping gear, and other basic camping equipment make great gifts for campers as they are essential for enjoying the outdoors. You can learn more about what they may need in our Camping Gear Checklist.
Tents and Shelters
The North Face Wawona camping tent is so spacious, we could fit a camping table and camp chairs and our mountain bike all inside the vestibule.
The overall winner in our Best Camping Tents guide, The North Face Wawona is the most popular tent among campers everywhere—and with good reason. You can stand up in this tent. It's got a massive vestibule. The space is incredibly generous. This is a home away from home that will last many years for the whole family with all the features you can dream of while at camp, without sacrificing stability or durability in tent construction.
Why it's great for campers:
Steep walls peak at over 6 feet tall, leaving plenty of space to stand and move around the tent.
The spacious vestibule is about half the size of the tent itself, leaving room for gear, bikes, or even space to sit when the weather rolls in.
Loaded with stash pockets and hooks in the interior of the tent to keep you organized.
Sturdy structure holds up to wind gusts, which is impressive for such a large and tall tent.
"If you frequent the campground and space and features are your top priorities in a tent, then this one should be at the top of your list."
Liz Thomas camping in the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 camping tent on Mt. Hood in Oregon. Photo by Kate Hoch.
If you don't need to stand up in your tent and are looking for a spacious camping tent that can sometimes double as a backpacking tent, The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King tent can't be beat. It's the winner for Most Versatile tent in our Best Camping Tents guide. With easy set-up, full coverage in rain (actually a rarity in camping tents), this well-designed tent pleased us so much, we wrote a long-term review on how well the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King has held up over the years.
Why it's great for campers:
Easy set-up
Full coverage in rain and weather-proofness
Stargazing mesh
Excellent ventilation
Packs smaller than other car camping tents
Generous headroom with near vertical walls and lots of usable space, including spacious vestibules for gear storage
The REI Half Dome 2+ Tent is another one of those gold-standard items found in almost every outdoor household. If someone is going to own only one tent, the Half Dome Plus 2 tent can handle car camping to backpacking and will last a long time—a near miracle in the tent category.
What makes the Half Dome one of the best tents is the thoughtful additions like color-coded poles to make set-up easy, plenty of pockets and hang-loops to store gear, and tension-truss architecture that keeps tent walls vertical and out of your face.
This roomy tent has enough room for two, plus your gear or a dog. The Half Dome 2 Plus tent is so beloved it won Editors' Choice 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame by Backpacker magazine (2018). We couldn’t agree more.
Check out more of our favorite tents in our Best Backpacking Tents and Best Camping Tents guides.
-Treeline Review Team
Sleeping Gear
Treeline Review writer Shawnté Salabert holding up the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight on a backpacking trip in Joshua Tree National Park.
For years, I used a stuff-sack packed with clothes for a nightly head cushion during backcountry ramblings. Sometimes, if I was feeling especially tired or hardcore, I skipped the stuff sack.
All that changed when I was given a Sea to Summit Aeros ultralight pillow as a birthday present during a backpacking trip in Utah’s canyonlands. The next morning, I awoke a changed man, shocked at how comfortable the pillow had been and how rested I felt. Why had I suffered all those years?!
Some of the best gifts I’ve received have been things I would have never bought for myself, like a pillow. I needed a pillow. I just didn’t know I needed a pillow. Now I wouldn’t go camping, backpacking, or overnight boating without one.
All inflatable pillows pack down to a size that fits easily in the palm of your hand. Pillows like the Aeros and the Air Head are available with down or fiber-filled tops for additional comfort. These are the perfect stocking stuffers for even the most ounce-conscious backpacker on your gift list. And believe me, they’ll thank you.
-Dean Krakel, Contributing Writer
The Sea to Summit Aeros is a winner in our Best Backpacking and Camping Pillows guide.
The Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is one of the best gifts you can get camping couples—including yourself! It's our winner for Best Camping Mattress for couples and serves as a true two-person solution. It is one of the bestsellers and most popular camping mattresses out there. With generous dimensions and comfort good enough for first-time campers, super durable material, and backed by a lifetime warranty and repairs, there's a reason this mattress is so famous in the outdoor world.
Why it's great for campers:
Its thickness, ease of use, and generous width make it a great choice for two campers who want to share a mattress.
Boasts some of the best warmth, insulation, and durability of the mattresses we tested.
Backed by lifetime warranty and repairs that are considered among the best in the industry.
"We found the Exped MegaMat Duo comfortable enough for first-time campers skeptical of sleeping outdoors. On a camping trip in Joshua Tree, one New Yorker who had never been camping before told us the next morning, "That actually wasn't bad!" We consider that a victory." -Liz Thomas, Treeline Review co-founder
It can be surprisingly difficult to keep a camping sleeping bag dry (especially in wet climates), so if they're a newer camper, it’s often best to start with a synthetic bag that can handle some moisture.
And it can be even more difficult to find a two-person sleeping bag that is warm and comfortable for both campers.
If you want a quality camping sleeping bag, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bang-for-your buck than the REI Siesta Double Hooded 20. As a synthetic bag, it will continue to keep them warm, even if it gets wet. Its innovative rectangular design feels almost as comfortable as a bed while also having a hood to keep their face warm. This is rare in camping bags and creates a warm and comfortable bag that takes the best of both worlds from mummy bags and camping bags.
Why it's great for campers:
Synthetic insulation will keep them warm even if the bag gets wet
Innovative double bag system has two separate hoods so both people can keep their head warm but still be together
Full of clever features that make it easier to regulate temperature on a camping trip like a good for colder nights or two-way zippers to vent or turn it into a quilt for warmer nights
"Of the numerous synthetic bags out there, we like the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded for its large size and comfortable rectangular shape. Best yet, rare among sleeping bags, this sleeping bag is rectangular and hooded. It's also among the most affordable sleeping bags we considered."- Micah Leinbach, Treeline Review writer
The Disco 15 Endless Promise is a great camping sleeping bag that is designed to feel less constricting and roomy.
The Nemo Disco 15 Endless Promise Bag is a luxurious sleeping bag we obsess over and they will be thrilled to receive as a gift.
If they’ve ever felt cramped and restricted in traditional sleeping bags, this is the bag for them. With an innovative SpoonShape design, it's the roomiest sleeping bag we've tested. It's made of high quality materials that actually will keep them warm.
Comfortable for side sleepers and some plus size campers and backpackers, it is a winner in our Best Camping Sleeping Bags and Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guides for best hybrid bag.
Although not specifically designed for bigger bodies, the roomy design snagged it the award for Best Plus Size Backpacking Sleeping Bag. We even wrote an in-depth review on the Disco sleeping bag because we like it so much. And we think that if you get this for them as a gift, they'll like it, too!
Men's
Women's
Why it's great for campers:
Generous and roomy SpoonShape works for people who have always found sleeping bags too constricting, as well as side sleepers and some plus size campers
ThermoGill zippers allow easy venting on warmer nights
Light and compressible, it can double as a backpacking sleeping bag
Comes with an excellent warranty and repair program as well as a take-back program at the end of its life
"As an outdoors person who prizes versatility in my gear, comfort both in fit and temperature, and price, I find the Nemo Disco 15 Endless Promise (and 30 F, though I only tested the 15) to be a great bag that I see myself using for years to come. And when the Endless Promise sleeping bag is worn out, it will be able to be recycled again. " -Gabi Reyes-Acosta, Treeline Review writer
Normally, at Treeline Review we don't boast about brand new stuff. But after testing the NeoLoft sleeping pad for just a few months, we knew this was going to win all sorts of awards in our book.
The brand new Therm-A-Rest NeoLoft sleeping bag is thick. At 4.6 inches in height, you won't bottom out. Yet it miraculously folds down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle while weighing less than 2 pounds. While this is technically designed a backpacking sleeping pad, we think it would make an incredible camping pad for anyone who lives in a small apartment or reaches campgrounds in smaller vehicles.
And it bears repeating, it's ridiculously comfortable! You can read our in-depth review on the NeoLoft pad to hear just how well we slept on this pad.
Why it's great for campers:
The NeoLoft is thick, lofty, and light and packable.
It can keep them warm in fall into winter with its higher R-value (insulation)
No noise, no sliding off the pad, no bottoming out
"The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Sleeping Pad is a sleeping pad that pushes the innovations of our current sleeping pad options. It was impressively comfortable for its packed and unpacked size and weight." -Mary Murphy, Treeline Review editor
While writing our Best Sleeping Pads guide, I learned up to 55% of your warmth on a night under the stars comes from your sleeping pad. After years of spending the first 30+ minutes of any night camping just lying awake and fighting to warm my feet, legs, and hands, I knew it was time for a change. While it’s pricey, the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max changed my outdoorsy life.
While it might be a bit overkill for those who sleep warm, the XTherm’s R-value is the highest on the mainstream market. It’s technically meant for winter camping—it’ll safely see you through nights well into the double-digit negatives—but I’ve used it on summer nights at higher elevations without overheating.
Plus, as a partial side sleeper, I’ve never bottomed out on the horizontal baffles, and it’s easy to find an inflation-for-comfort sweet spot using Therm-A-Rest’s new WingLock valve.
The XTherm is available in several sizes and shapes, including rectangular (which they call the Max) for camping. There's also a more minimalist mummy style for backpackers. Max is available in regular, regular large, and regular wide.
If someone in your life wants to sleep outside year-round or they’re tired of being cold when they camp, the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max is a great investment in a good night’s sleep.
-Amanda Jameson, Senior Editor
For more sleep-relating gift ideas, check out our guides on The Best Sleeping Pads and The Best Camping Mattresses.
The Rumpl blanket is a classic camping blanket because it's warm, has fun designs, and is super functional. It may seem like overkill having a camping blanket in addition to a sleeping bag, but after testing more than a dozen for my Best Outdoor and Camping Blankets guide, these would make an awesome gift for anyone outdoors.
I love that these blankets provide just warmth for hanging out around a campfire without requiring me to get my down sleeping bag smoky (and they're much easier to wash when I get home, too!)
Why it's great for campers:
The Rumpl Original Blanket is the brand's most popular, so it comes in so many fun designs. You can really tailor your gift to their personality.
Comes with a cape clip so you can wrap it around you and corner loops so you can stake it down if using it as a picnic blanket
Refined stitching and quality—no skimping on insulation like many blanket brands
The Rumpl Artist Division (RAD) line supports artists, sometimes with a portion of sales from certain prints going to support nonprofits.
"The Rumpl Original Blanket is soft, comes in beautiful designs, is well-stitched, and comes with a convenient tote bag that makes it pack down to a small size. It's a share-able alternative to a sleeping bag on warm days and adds extra warmth on top of a sleeping bag on cold nights. We even used it as a picnic blanket at festivals because it's so packable." -Liz Thomas, Treeline Review co-founder
Cooking Equipment
Using the GSI Rakau Knife set to cut tomatoes on a camping trip in the Mojave desert.
The need for food and beverage-related camping items varies depending on the person’s camping style. Ultralight backpackers may not have a need for a nice Yeti cooler, but will appreciate a lightweight cooking set. In any case, these are some of our favorite camping food and beverage gear.
The hardest part of camping is keeping your gear and camp kitchen organized. In our Camp Kitchen Essentials Checklist, we fell in love with the Gregory Alpaca storage box. It’s waterproof and dustproof and sturdy enough to stack stuff on top of it. But what really makes it different than other storage solutions is that it has hinges on both sides of the box. Dual-entry means you can access what’s inside no matter how you loaded your car or set up your campsite.
Why it's great for campers:
Good dimensions for loading into the trunk of a vehicle and maximizing space.
Dual hinges open from both sides so you can store in your vehicle in any direction and still access
Durability and sturdiness. We’ve had gear boxes fall apart over time and this is much more rugged without weighing a ton.
Lifetime warrantee
“I didn’t think the simple gear box could ever be improved upon but boy, does the Gregory Alpaca make a real difference in keeping my camp stuff organized! This is way better than the old Tupperware and Rubbermaids that I used to store my gear in!” -Liz Thomas, Treeline Review co-founder
Here at Treeline Review, we are committed to reducing waste to enjoy all the natural world has to offer. Unfortunately, when it comes to camping gear, one single-use item seems to appear everywhere: the green propane canister.
But, a couple of years ago, we gifted our housemate the Ignik Refillable Gas Growler. It comes in a stylish and durable carrying case with molle webbing, so there are many options for securing the case onto a vehicle or raft. Included is a 4’ hose compatible with all stoves and heaters that use the green canisters. It’s also a favorite in our Ultimate Camping Gear List.
Beware: the tank does not come filled! Some propane fillers are also reluctant to fill smaller tanks. Ignik recommends either letting them know that it holds 1.2 gallons or going to larger chain businesses that generally have no problem filling a smaller tank. If you plan on gifting the Ignik Gas Growler, make sure you let the recipient know they’ll need to fill it before they can use it. Or, just do them a solid and fill it before gifting it to them.
For the outdoorsy coffee connoisseur in your life, why not give them something that levels up their morning ritual both at camp and at home?
Brew some of the best coffee you’ve ever tasted with The AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker. This durable, long-lasting machine is just 16.5 ounces and packs smaller than a pint glass.
The beauty of the AeroPress is its versatility — you can use this coffee maker at home or camp to make great coffee. It also brews espresso-like shots for lattes and cappuccinos. It’ll whip up a quick cup of cold brew on a hot summer day. That’s why it is the overall winner in our Best Camping Coffeemaker guide.
You (probably) can’t bring the barista from your favorite coffee shop into the backcountry with you, but you can always bring the AeroPress. For campers who want an even more lightweight and packable option, there's the AeroPress Go. And what’s better than perfect coffee enjoyed in the open air?
We fell in love with the GSI Pinnacle Pro 2 stove the first time we saw it—a camping stove that looked sleek and modern with the slimness to fit into a small apartment. I'd been resistant to buying a camp stove for years because they tend to be bulky and finicky. The two-burner GSI Pinnacle—a mere 1.4" thick—easily fits even the most minimalist gear closet.
When using the Pinnacle Pro in camp, it has two spacious burners and 10,000 BTU, so it doesn't feel like a sacrifice to have such a slim stove.
For more camping stove inspiration, check out our guide to The Best Backpacking Stoves. We also offer great recommendations for camping cookware in our The Best Backpacking Cookware Pots guide.
-Treeline Review Team
This 25-liter waterproof roll-top gear bag is an incredibly versatile tote for hauling gear that your recipient will find a ton of use for outside of camping, like foraging and grocery shopping. It’s heavy-duty, with fully welded seams, a compression strap, a comfortable carrying strap, and lash points throughout so you can tie it down to just about anything (like your bike rack or paddleboard).
The tote fits inside Rux’s larger collapsible 70-liter gear haulers, which makes organizing camping gear even easier. If you really want to go all-out this year, the Adventure Set gets you the entire system, which is all designed to work together. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.
The Status Symbol Cooler: Yeti Tundra
While many brands can keep food cool, the name-brand camping cooler that everyone wants is the YETI Tundra 35. We don’t like to let popularity contests sway our gear choices. But in metric after metric that we used for testing, the YETI Tundra blew us away on performance.
For our Best Camping Coolers guide, we reviewed dozens of camping coolers to find the best hard-sided coolers for weekend camping trips, multi-day rafting trips, and backcountry basecamp — and even casual day trips to the lake. We nerded out about ice baskets, locking latches, and whether the drinks on the bottom are reachable when there's stuff on top.
While certainly a luxury gift, the YETI Tundra is something they can get a lot of use out of—camping, sports games, backyard get-togethers, and everything in between. They'll hold onto it forever, too—after all, not even a grizzly can destroy it!
-Treeline Review Team
The Yeti Hopper Flip 12 was durable enough to be played with by the author’s dog, Champ. He appreciated the ice cube snacks after a full day of river play, while the author enjoyed ice-cold beers from a local brewery.
If the YETI Tundra is out of your price range, but you like the idea of a cooler, we've got an idea for you! YETI makes a soft coolers that took our top prize in our Best Soft Coolers guide: a rectangular-sided cooler that is easy to carry. Both are excellent options that will thrill the camper in your life.
The YETI Hopper M30 weighs a mere 7 pounds out of the box and sweeps the board in terms of being leakproof. Two longer handles make this cooler bag easy to pick up and go, while an easily clipped and detached cross-body strap makes walks down to the shore or across the park even more comfortable.
Yeti Hopper Flip 12
Why it's great for campers:
Lightweight, easy to carry with an included shoulder strap
Multi-day ice retention with a robust leakproof zipper
Available in fun colors and multiple sizes
"The Hopper Flip 12 was the perfect size and design for overnight camping trips and long beach days. I take it nearly everywhere—from road trips to overnighters to the grocery store and gourmet ice cream shops."
Using the Hydro Flask bowls to store kebabs to grill over a campfire at Joshua Tree National Park.
Hydro Flask is widely known for its high-quality double-wall insulated water bottles and mugs. In recent years they have expanded their selection to include everything from koozies to cutting boards. One of the most practical items is their set of lidded camp bowls. These bowls make a great gift because many folks, like myself, may want them but feel like they’re a luxury item.
The bowls are sold individually in 1 qt, 3 qt, and 5 qt, so you can get the size you need. They are double-wall insulated stainless steel with a plastic lid. The rubber gasket on the lid ensures that it stays relatively sealed when pressed down.
We’ve all dealt with warm potato salad or cold chili when camping or living that van life. These bowls keep food warm while preparing meals with multiple components. The 1qt bowl fits well in a cooler for storing leftovers. And the lids keep out yellow jackets or other insects. They’re just as durable over time as Hydro Flasks bottles and mugs, but unlike a water bottle, your friend or family member likely doesn’t have these bowls.
Gifting a knife for the holidays is classic. A folding knife can save the day on a camping trip and last for decades. I've used my Opinel knife in the camp kitchen, to fix a sleeping pad, and remove splinters. A folding knife is also helpful for everyday life, like for opening packages or bottles.
It can even be personalized with custom engraving on the handle or front or back of the blade to make an extra special gift. The stainless steel blade option has wooden handles in oak, walnut, olivewood, beechwood.
For the campers who love to forage for wild plants and mushrooms, it's also sold as a mushroom knife with a special mushroom brush (see our What I eat on a thru-hike article to learn more about foraging). An Opinel knife is small enough to be a stocking stuffer and is a practical gift that your person will use for years.
-Treeline Review Team
For people who are less than enthusiastic about camping, sometimes all it takes is a fun tool to get them to start having fun. Enter the GSI Rakau Knife Set.
The GSI Rakau Knife Set is so nice, I always get compliments on it from people I camp with. It has chef-quality tools, easy organization, and everything you need (including a knife sharpener) in a zip bag.
Knife sets are a classic present and this one is ideal for people who love camping (and people who are skeptical about camping, too).
Why it's great for campers:
All the components for a camp kitchen included from three kinds of chef-quality knives (santoku with Granton scallops for thin slicing, serrated bread knife, paring knife), a cutting board, dish towel, and knife sharpener
Excellent organization with pockets for each item and a fully-zipped carrying case
Compact and fully contained so your knives won't damage your other camping gear
"Honestly, the knives in this kit are better than what is in my kitchen, so it's a treat to open up my camping kitchen equipment and get to use this set." -Liz Thomas, co-founder
There's nothing like grilling in a campsite and the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill was our favorite in our Best Portable Grills guide. This grill is cooking at home quality but with unbeatable portability. It's the winner for Best Charcoal Grill in our Best Portable Grills for Camping guide. Not only does it make an excellent burger, but the plated steel grate is easy to remove, clean, and heats up evenly, too!
Why it's great for campers:
Excellent handles and a locking lid for taking to and from the campsite with a rectangular design that is easy to pack in a vehicle
Plenty of room for lots of burgers and a built-in thermometer to make sure they cook correctly
Easy to clean
Integrated ignition and attached hose means it is ready to go right out of the box
Pizza? While camping? Your dreams have come true with the portable propane-powered pizza oven. We tested several and the Cuisinart 3-in-1 pizza oven was our favorite. It includes a pizza stone and easy-to-use and easy-to-read temperature gauge.
Unlike many pizza ovens out there, this one is multi-functional (which means you can cook burgers and non-pizza stuff on it, too). That means you can use the same grill for burger night as pizza night, making packing for your campsite easier. It's the winner for Best Pizza Oven in our Best Portable Grills for Camping guide.
Why it's great for campers:
Versatility means you can use it for pizza night and burger night by switching between the included pizza stone and cast iron grill (it's all included in a self-storage rack)
It can get very hot and has an easy-to-use, easy-to-read thermometer. The best pizzas come from hot ovens so this can make a great pie.
Easy to set up, cook with, and clean up afterwards
Do you have someone in your life looking to reduce the amount of trash they create? Recently, I gifted Stasher reusable silicone zip bags to my friend and fellow Treeline writer, Kate Hoch.
I’m particularly fond of the stand-up versions, which are convenient for backpackers and have the same stand-up functionality as the single-use mylar bags found on dehydrated backpacking or camping meals.
As great as Stashers are for outdoor use, they make a great stocking stuffer for anyone looking to introduce more reusables into their life.
Hydration
A water filter is an excellent gift for campers—especially those who like to stay in more remote campsites. While many campers like to bring along all the water they need, it's nice to have the option to treat water in case of an emergency or if they're at an out-there campsite without faucets.
The Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L is our winner for Best for Groups in our Best Water Filters guide. This group camping water source has a 0.2-micron filter, is easily differentiated between the clean and dirty bags, and filters quickly. This is ideal for a group campsite or a camp that you'll be at for a long weekend.
-Treeline Review Team
The Rambler will make an impressive holiday gift; it will change the mind of any devotee of the other big brand stainless steel bottles. I wrote about the Yeti Rambler in my guide to the Best Water Bottles for Hiking last year, and it is still one of my favorite things to drink out of.
In my original writeup, I recommended the 26 fl. oz. We have since added the 36 fl. oz. size to our collection and find that the 36 fl. oz. is a better size for our preference as it can provide more hydration for hikes and long days at work.
The entire Yeti drinkware line is worth looking at, as they are constructed similarly to the Rambler and are likely equally as tough and effective.
You don’t have to be outdoorsy to appreciate the Hydroflask Tumbler's quality. This heavy-duty but lightweight double-wall vacuum-insulated drinkware was designed for rugged trips. But its sturdiness translates to commutes, sports games, or families with small kids. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps smoothies, kombucha, or beer cold all day. Chai and lattes or that double shot of espresso stay hot for 6 hours.
Coming in a range of colors, you could gift a rainbow of Hydro Flask tumblers to different people (or to one lucky friend who wants matching-but-not-too-matching drinkware).
-Treeline Review Team
Lighting
The winner for our best battery-powered camping lantern has unbeatable battery life: 60 days. It's bright with 1200 lumens of light. It has a handle and square shape for easy portability and storage. This lantern is a no-nonsense solution to a too dark campsite. If someone in your life has complained about the dark, this lantern will brighten their campsite (and it's batteries won't poop out, either).
Why it's great for campers:
60 day battery life means that you don't often have to worry about replacing batteries or getting to your campsite in the dark
IPX4 water resistance means it can handle a splash or some rain in the campsite
1200 max lumens keeps your campsite bright
Easy storage with a square shape and portability with a sturdy handle that can be hooked above a camp kitchen
After four years of testing and almost 5,000 backpacking miles of data, we think the Black Diamond Spot is a no-brainer gift to get for the headlamp-needing camper.
It seems like every outdoorsy friend has a story of a headlamp that has failed them in some way: batteries run out too quickly, gave them a headache, light modes became uncontrollable, and more.
That’s not the case with the Black Diamond Spot. The 400 is a trusty, reliable headlamp that is easy to use with little fuss. It’s our overall winner above 27 other headlamps in our Best (and Brightest) Headlamps guide.
Whether you need a gift for a camper that wants a comfortable and reliable headlamp that angles well, the Spot 400 hasn’t failed us in almost 500 nights of daily use.
-Treeline Review Team
Solar lanterns light up your camp, backpacking trip, or home emergency kit without requiring batteries or remembering to charge the night before. We’re fond of the LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1, a solar lantern that packs flat and is waterproof (it even floats!) and will charge your phone.
Designed by women architecture students for relief work in Haiti and Doctors Without Borders, LuminAID has won multiple Social Venture and Clean Energy design prizes. It’s also a Shark Tank winner.
Learn more by reading our guide to The Best Camping Lanterns.
-Treeline Review Team
This portable 150-lumen light is a palm-sized version of my favorite lanterns for car camping and road trips, the AlpenGlow 250 and the AlpenGlow 500. It’s fun and functional, making it a big hit among both kids and adults, and features a dimmable warm white light, a single color mode, a color-cycling mode, and a “horizon” setting that blends hues together slowly or quickly to create calming or party-like vibes.
It operates with a single button and is USB rechargeable (unlike the larger versions, you can’t charge out on the Mini). The durable bungee strap on the underside makes affixing it to tent poles, tree branches, or your backpack easy. It also acts as great overhead lighting when reading in your tent and as a soothing night light when putting kids to bed. All versions of the AlpenGlow get plenty of use around my home and backyard, too.
Clothing and Accessories
Weather-appropriate outdoor apparel can make the difference between a bad camping experience and a good one. Having moisture-wicking clothing that helps regulate one’s body temperature makes spending time in the outdoors all the more enjoyable.
Outerwear
Got a person in your life who is always cold? One of our most popular gear items this year is the Rab Positron Pro down jacket. When it comes to extreme cold weather jackets, Rab is one of the most respected companies in the industry. And the Positron has established itself as the new gold standard for warmth.
The Positron has extra downfill to make it extra insulating. The Pertex Quantum Pro shell fabric on the outer layer keeps it durable. Our editor Amanda Jameson took it for a solid year of adventure: road-tripping, camping, and living out of a Subaru, driving back and forth across the country. Now that life has calmed down, several years later, that same jacket is still going strong for everyday around-town winter living in Denver. —Treeline Review Team
The Rab Positron Pro is the winner for Best Upgrade Down Jacket in our Best Down Jackets guide and Best Down Jacket for Extreme Cold.
-Treeline Review Team
Men's
Women's
This hoodie is the softest and most luxurious piece of “outdoor” clothing I own. Once I get to camp and put this on, I don’t take it off. This hoodie can do it all: camp chores, relaxing around the campfire ring, sleeping, hiking, and even looks great for a stop for food on the way back home.
Alpaca fiber is odor-resistant, so I can wear it for several days (maybe longer) without washing it. This makes such a nice gift because it isn’t something most people would purchase for themselves, and it is a different take on the traditional sweater gift for the holidays. This is a sweater that your camper will actually love to wear over and over again. There is a crew neck version too, and they have super soft warm socks that make great stocking stuffers.
Footwear
The winner for best winter camp shoes in our Best Camp Shoes guide, the Feathered Friends Down Booties have quickly become a favorite for Treeline writers who get cold feet. There are certainly other down booties out there that will keep your feet toasty, but we love Feathered Friends because they’re a smaller brand with very high quality products made in the USA and with sustainable materials, like ethically sourced down.
Why they're good for backpackers:
Extremely warm, especially for their lightweight
Durable and water-resistant for use around camp, a cabin, or ski hut and the company goal is to produce gear that lasts decades if not a lifetime
Easy to slip on and off
"These booties are down sleeping bags for your feet. "
It seems like every year, we always recommend Darn Tough socks in our gift guides because they’re that perfect.
When an outdoorsy person receives a pair of Darn Tough socks, it’s a level of excitement that exceeds the value of the present.
These plush, perfectly fitting socks are made in the US, come in fun colors and patterns, and feel incredibly comfortable and cozy on the feet. They come in all sizes and for all sorts of activities—from hiking to running to camping and hunting to business casual.
“First off, they feel amazing. No other wool sock I’ve found comes close to the plush, luxurious fit of a Darn Tough—whether at home or on a hike,” says Treeline writer Gianna Starble.
Best yet—Darn Tough socks have a lifetime guarantee. If you don’t love them or they get holes, Darn Tough has the best warranty in the outdoor industry.
Darn Tough socks won our Best Overall Hiking socks in our Best Hiking Socks guide and Best for Ski Touring and Best Synthetic Socks awards in our Best Ski Socks guide.
So if you want a no-brainer gift for the outdoors person in your life, grab them some Darn Tough socks. You’ll be surprised at just how thrilled they might be about receiving a pair.
-Co-Founders Liz Thomas and Naomi Hudetz. . .and pretty much everyone on the Treeline Review Team
The Birkenstock Arizonas are a well-known, well-loved, classic sandal. I live in mine during the summer. But what about fall and winter, when it’s no longer sandal season? Enter the Birkenstock Arizona Shearling sandals!
I eyed these for years before buying them, and I couldn’t be happier with them! Their versatility is endless-around the house, around town, car camping, après ski. They keep my feet warm without socks except on the coldest days of winter. I also gave a pair to my mom, and she squealed with delight when she opened them. They’re luxurious and more expensive than regular Arizonas, making them the perfect gift!
-Naomi Hudetz, Chief Operating Officer and Treeline Review co-founder
Find out about other hiking sandals we love in our guide for The Best Hiking Sandals. Birkenstocks are featured in our Best Recovery Shoes and Slides guide.
Women's
Men's
Clothing Accessories
I love gear that is super functional and technical for outdoor activities, but I prefer that it doesn’t look like it should be worn only while claiming Fastest Known Times (FKTs). Fast glasses are simply not for me, but whether I’m camping, backpacking, or casting my fly rod, I appreciate good polarized lenses and comfortable frames that stay put while I’m adventuring in the mountains.
The Smith Sway sunnies check all those boxes for me while having a fun yet still subtle style. The polarized Chroma-Pop lenses are sharp, and the fit is comfortable for all-day wear. The slightly oversized frames have a modern, casual look, and those larger lenses do well to block high alpine sun rays. This is one pair of sunglasses that can be worn for any outdoor adventure, and you’ll look good while doing it, too.
Do y’all know what a big barrier to people getting outside is? Being able to pee and get back to it comfortably. With Kula Cloth, people who use toilet paper after peeing don’t need to settle for the lie of “drip dry.”
A Kula cloth is an incredibly practical gift for someone who pees outside and wants to wipe afterward. It’s also an affirmation (by way of accessorizing) that celebrates all human forms.
There’s seriously no product I use so regularly that holds function AND reminds me of goodness in the world. Sex-positive designs? Absolutely. Wonderful absurdity? Got you covered. Occasional meetups with other Kula/outdoor enthusiasts? Yep. Never-ending memes of Victorian cats?... yes, even if you didn’t know you needed that in your life (you do).
I’ve got one in my car for when rest stops are few and far between. I’ve got one in my daypack and my waterproof roll top. I lost one with a masked and grumpy Bernie on it (PSA to those on logging roads around Rangeley, Maine, keep a lookout). Thankfully, they’re affordable enough to replace and make a great stocking stuffer.
Awesome tech features that are less flashy but super important for downstairs health and comfort: antimicrobial materials, careful design considerations, easy backcountry care, and quick dry. Sustainability points: Kulas help you ditch the stashed TP (at least for #1) and keep it off the trails! Use, wash out, and use again.
Any camper spending more than 20 minutes in the sun should have a hat. We tested more than a dozen sun hats the hat with the best protection with the KAVU Chillba Sun Hat. Best yet, it looks cool and can be used as a chip bowl at the end of the day when you don't need it. It's also insulated so keeps your head feeling cooler.
Why it's great for campers:
With a 4" brim in any direction (the largest of any hat we tested), it provides 360-degree sun protection
The insulation keeps your head cooler while the mesh design creates airflow between your head and the hat
Constructed in the USA
It's playful and fun with over 20 patterns and colors. They're bound to get compliments!
Technology and Power
Camping gadgets and technology are often very useful, but not always high on the list of equipment and gear people prioritize buying themselves. This is why they make great gifts—fun, useful items someone might not buy themselves.
GARMIN INREACH MINI 2
The Garmin inReach Mini 2 may be the best present you can get a loved one who is a camper. This two-way satellite transmitter turns a smartphone into a use-anywhere two-way texting machine. Plus, it has an SOS button to alert Search & Rescue in the case of an emergency.
At only 3.5 ounces, even the most minimalist backpacker or camper won’t grumble at the weight. It seemed that nearly every thru-hiker our staff saw on trail this year wore a Mini on their pack strap as part of their uniform. See our in-depth review for more details about the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
-Treeline Review Team
See our guide to personal locator beacons or read more in our in-depth review of the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
I got the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer for one of my first adventures in my campervan. At the time, I needed an affordable solution to power some string lights and recharge my computer.
This little Jackery won my heart. It’s so tiny that I grab it often so I can work outside all day long without worrying about my computer battery dying. And because it’s such a small power station, it can easily be charged using a 12V plug while driving.
When I want to work in a park, I often grab my Jackery. I can charge my computer and enjoy a day outside even if there aren’t outlets available.
It’s a perfect gift for anyone looking for extra power options while exploring the outdoors. I particularly love the ability to work on my computer at parks and even botanical gardens. But it would be an excellent accessory for car campers as well.
campers these days often use electronics like their phone, Smartwatches, and rechargeable lanterns. Yet the great outdoors has no electrical outlets. You can try running your electronics off your car, but that gets old fast. Enter the portable solar charger. We like the Goal Zero 50 portable solar panel, which is the camping winner in our guide to Best Portable Solar Chargers.
Why it's great for campers:
Can be linked with other solar panels for even greater charging
Kickstands to properly orient to sun
Can almost fully charge 2 laptops, so it could also be used to work a remote aid station during an ultramarathon or adventure race (or during a camping trip)
"If we’re powering all the devices a family needs on a week-long camping trip and they don’t want to drain a car or RV battery, we’d turn to the Goal Zero as our solar charger of choice"
Campsite Entertainment
Irocker Nautical Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board
I could not be happier with my iRocker Nautical SUP. It packs down small, so it is easy to take everywhere.
It comes with a nice backpack-style carry bag with plenty of room for extra gear. You can even buy a removable seat to use your board as a SUP or kayak, increasing comfort and versatility. Plus, it’s tough and stable enough for my Miniature Australian Shepherd to accompany me; he loves a good paddle.
Inflatable SUPs offer a wide platform, providing ample space for pups to get comfortable. My dog and I love to pack some snacks and find a far-offshore place to explore for the day.
An inflatable paddle board offers a lot of freedom. We have paddled all kinds of flatwater since I bought it because it is always with me. We’ve paddled alpine lakes, hidden lakes in the forest, bayous, and everything in between.
If you have a loved one who loves being out on the water, the iRocker Nautical Inflatable SUP is a great gift. Do them a favor, and get an electric pump as well.
If your friend or family member was a hiker before they had a baby, a hiking baby carrier is essential.
A comfortable and well-fitting hiking carrier is indispensable if they're day-hiking, backpacking, traveling, or exploring a new city.
The Osprey Poco Premium Hiking Baby Carrier is new for 2024 with improvements upon Osprey's previous top-of-the-line model and our former winner, the Osprey Poco Plus.
After months of testing, the Poco Premium has quickly become our favorite baby carrier backpack, surpassing our former winner. You can read our in-depth review of the Osprey Poco Premium
For new parents, the Osprey Poco Premium can be the ultimate gift to get back on the trail and experience the joy of being in nature with their loved one.
Factor in the storage space, built-in sunshade, easy adjustability, and the best comfort we've seen in one of these backpacks, it’s no wonder this is our preferred choice out of all the hiking carriers we considered.
There is nothing to make a camping trip more joyous than kayaking on a lake. But often, kayaks take up too much room in a vehicle to pack on a camping trip. Many campers turn to rentals, but that limits what lakes and what hours you can kayak. Enter the Oru Lake Sport folding kayak. This puppy is the lightest kayak on the market and folds to the size of a suitcase, making it easy to pack along on any lakeside camping trip.
Why it's great for campers:
At 18 pounds, it's the lightest and most portable kayak on the market
It folds to the size of a suitcase so takes up less room in your vehicle without requiring roof racks
It takes less than 5 minutes to assemble without any tools, so you can get on the water quickly
For more details, see our in-depth review of the Oru Lake Sport Folding Kayak or our guide Should I buy an Oru Folding Kayak?
A good pair of trekking poles is important for backpacking, but is often an overlooked piece of gear. Unlike a backpack or tent, which are essential for backpacking, many hikers may think poles are optional. But once backpackers start using poles, they rarely go back. Poles protect knees and joints and help with stability. You can read 14 reasons why we love trekking poles.
Of the poles we tested on the market, the Black Diamond Pursuit is our overall winner for Best Trekking Poles. They offer the best combo of durability, adjustability, comfort, and ease of use at a reasonable price.
Why it's great for campers:
Easy to adjust in the field because they have a built-in hex tool
They are lightweight and collapse to a small length, so you can put them away from sections of trail where you don't want poles
Ergonomic grip and wrist straps make them comfortable to use
"I've used these telescoping poles on hundreds of miles of well-maintained trails as well as rugged off-trail pursuits. They're tough and dependable, even on uneven terrain and with people who lean into their poles. "
Safety and First Aid
Giving your loved ones the gift of safety is also a gift for yourself! Below are some of our favorite safety devices for gear repairs to emergency situations.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight 0.7 Medical Kit
Call me over-prepared, but I don’t go out on any adventure without a medical kit. (Being a guide, volunteer firefighter, and W-EMT will do that to you.) I used to overpack a 10-liter dry bag with everything from a syringe to dozens of types of bandages and gauze to a SAM splint on a 2-hour hike or front country climbing adventure. The opportunity arose to test out an Adventure Medical Kit meant for camping, hiking, paddling, and climbing—and now I don’t pack anything more than this.
This medical kit is compact, waterproof, and easily fits into the brain of a backpack or tucked inside of a small dry bag. It holds all of the necessary items—wound care, bandages, medications, moleskin, duct tape, tweezers—in a silnylon pouch that all weighs a mere eight ounces. My raft guides, ski partners, and climbing buddies will all be getting this for Christmas. Who doesn’t want to be prepared?
-Josette Deschambeault, Contributing Writer
Read more about outdoor gear that can double as your Home Emergency Kit.
A practical, inexpensive, and hilarious gift to give to any outdoors person is duct tape. Hikers and campers are infamous for fixing broken outdoor gear in a pinch with duct tape.
These days, it’s even possible to gift duct tape in fun colors and designs to give the gift some more personality. If you’re looking for a non-gear item that will be used and is worthy of a chuckle, go for an assortment of patterned duct tape.
-Treeline Review Team
Worried about a loved one going hiking or camping in a national park? Get them some Bear Spray! Bear spray is like pepper spray for bears and is a good idea for folks who enjoy spending time outdoors in bear country.
Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park highly recommend users who hike or camp in the backcountry have bear spray on hand. Most thru-hikers on the Continental Divide Trail will carry bear spray for 1,000 miles while in grizzly country.
If you’re thinking about giving bear spray, it may also be worth getting that person an inert bear spray to practice using the live canister. The inert bear spray is the same shape and size, but instead of having pepper spray inside, it has a harmless substance. It’s much less expensive than the real thing, so it’s perfect for training.
Note that not all national parks allow bear spray—notably Yosemite—so check to see what parks your friends or loved ones are visiting before getting this gift. Also, be aware that they can’t be brought on planes (they are an aerosol, after all).
-Treeline Review Team
Have you ever been on a group hike and somehow someone gets separated? This has happened to me more than once—so now we carry the Midland GXT1000VP4 long-range radios. While the unobstructed line of sight range of 36 miles is reduced considerably in the mountains, the range is still good enough most of the time.
These also receive all NOAA weather broadcasts, and have an SOS siren.
CAMPSITE COMFORT
Just because someone is sleeping under the stars doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable too! These are our favorite items for making camp more comfortable.
Thermacell EX90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
Mosquitos can ruin a camping trip—but the Thermacell EX90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repellers can help with that! Without having to put on bug spray, this mosquito repeller sits in your campsite and forms a 20 foot-wide protection zone. There's no scent or light. It's also EPA-approved for safety and effectiveness.
Why it's great for campers:
Uses heat to release repellent continuously and actually works against mosquitos
Portable and packable so easy to bring along in the campsite
Easily rechargeable
Helinox Chair Zero Camp Chair
The Helinox Chair Zero is the best camp chair for campers—or anyone who has to carry their chair more than just a few feet from the car.
Called ‘the best extra pound of gear I’ve ever carried,’ the Zero is also one of the best outdoor purchases you can make. The Zero Chair is comfortable, sturdy, and easy to set up. It turns even a rustic camp into a backcountry living room.
The Zero is so comfortable that many people prefer this for car camping instead of a bulkier traditional camp chair. Why? Because the Zero packs to the size of a 32-ounce Nalgene water bottle, so you can pack chairs for the whole family in the same space a traditional camp chair would take up in your car’s trunk.
The Chair Zero is one of the few products we’ve reviewed all year that has near-perfect reviews from a 100+ sample size of reviewers. To learn more, read our detailed review of the Helinox Chair Zero in our guide on The Best Camping Chairs.
The Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair was my favorite camping chair that we tested this year; it takes the packability and functionality (ex/cupholders) of a camping chair and marries it with the comfort of a hammock.
The Stargaze is a sturdy, personal swing that makes sitting around fun. It has hidden legs that allow it to work for picnic blanket set-up or at camp chair height.
The Stargaze feels like it was designed for maximum enjoyment and minimum fuss-and those are two of the best gifts I can imagine giving another person.
For more similar gift ideas, read our picks for The Best Camping Chairs and The Best Camping Tables.
We gifted our housemate and fellow outdoorsy friend the Nemo Helio LX Pressure Camp Shower a few years ago because it seemed like the perfect addition to her stellar car camping setup. She loved it and thought it was a fantastic gift. But we didn’t get a chance to use it until this summer. Now, it appears this is an awesome gift for anyone with outdoorsy kids, pets, or anyone whose idea of fun includes getting dirty. Additionally, it makes a great choice among camping gifts because it’s not something most folks buy for themselves.
Unlike traditional gravity showers, with their dismal water pressure and strictly-showering abilities, the Helio is great for all sorts of things. It’s a collapsible vessel that sits on the ground or table, and it has a long (7ft) hose with a spray nozzle.
Nemo also has a lifetime warranty, so they will send a replacement part if needed. That means this shower stays out of the landfill, and you get to keep cleaning off after many more dirty outdoor adventures. The Helio is a winner in our Best Camping Showers guide.
What we love most about the Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill as a gift is its versatility. It makes being outdoors fun, whether in the backyard or camp.
Because the Takibi has you build a fire above ground, there’s no scorched earth (or lawn). Clean-up is easy (just make sure the coals are cold). Best yet: It has a no-mess folding system for taking to the beach, desert, or woods. That’s why it scored a top place in our Best Portable Camp Grills guide.
The Takibi folds down flat to a small apartment-friendly canvas bag like an origami stove (it reminds us of the foldable Oru Kayaks that we’ve tested and reviewed). The system is modular, so you can snap in the included grill or extras like a half-deep grill pan or a round-the-fire table.
Camping hammocks, often called parachute hammocks, festival hammocks, or gathered end hammocks, are one of those “luxury” items that have crossed over into nearly essential territory.
Our favorite of the camping hammocks we tested is the ENO SingleNest Hammock. Camping hammocks are designed to be comfortable for napping, reading, and lounging. When you’re in a hammock, you’ll be the envy of every ground dweller around.
The SingleNest has a durable 70-denier nylon taffeta body and a weight capacity of up to 400 pounds. Still, it compacts down to smaller than a Nalgene bottle.
We also loved the wide array of color options (it comes in 14 different combos)!
For more hammock gift ideas, check our picks in our The Best Camping Hammocks guide.
-Treeline Review Team
Happy Pets In Camp
For those who camp with their furry friends, we’ve included some of our favorite pet-related camping gear. These make great gifts for anyone who camps with their pets and wants to make the experience more enjoyable for both the pets and themselves.
Tiny Tents Pet Basecamp Dome Tent
Let your house cat or small dog experience the camping life by giving them a tent of their own! This Tiny Tent allows them to camp out in your house while reminding you of the adventures that await. It's a good toy for outdoorsy kids, too.
The Tiny Tent isn’t a shelter you’d take into the backcountry with your pet—it has no rainfly and isn’t DWR-treated (Durable Water Repellent). But it’s a great resting place for your little buddy and is a fun talking piece.
The Tiny Tent proved that our favorite feline has an explorer’s heart. We’d tried other cat condos and apartments in the past. Like most cats, he ignored them and climbed into the boxes they came in. After setting up the tent, putting a cushion in it, and lacing it with some of his favorite treats, we found him curled up inside the tent more than once.
The Ruffwear Front Range harness is my favorite piece of dog gear and would make a great gift for any dog owner. It’s versatile and attractive, fitting in at the brewery and on trips deep in the backcountry.
My favorite part about this harness is the durable front clip. At first, I was skeptical: it’s made of webbing and looked like something my strong, 62-pound Juniper could easily break. But after about three years of heavy usage, it’s yet to give.
For dogs who pull or are working on heeling, a front clip is a vital asset, and this is the best one I’ve encountered in a dog harness. And while many harnesses are difficult to put on, this one is easy, with reflective trimming for late-night city or rural backcountry runs. It also works with the winner in our Best Dog Hiking Packs guide.
It barely shows wear and is easily washable, so it keeps up with all of your canine’s adventures without looking dirty or dingy. Whether this is a gift for a friend looking to start adventuring with their pup, or just a gift for yourself, you can’t go wrong with the Front Range Harness.
My current pup, a miniature Australian Shepherd, Siku, loves water adventures. I can hardly get our SUP in the water before he jumps on (mostly because he refuses to be left behind.)
As an adventure dog, he’s had his fair share of dunks in the water. Although he is a capable swimmer, it’s his least favorite activity. He much prefers wading or being in a floating vessel.
So I love having a life jacket that fits him well for those unexpected dunks in the water. Plus, it has a great handle on top that makes it easy to hoist him out of the water should he fall in.
Anyone on your list with an adventure pup as a companion would be thrilled to have a Ruffwear life jacket for their four-legged friend. And dogs look adorable in them. The Float Coat is the overall winner in our Best Life Jackets for Dogs guide.
-Amy Gravlee, Web Production Team
Axel the Boxer has a square-shaped body but the Approach fit him well, too! He (and we) liked the padded chest strap. Choosing a chest strap in orange also helps with visibility. Photo courtesy Josette Deschambeault.
Ruffwear Approach Backpack
The Ruffwear Approach Dog Backpack is the best way for you to hike with your four-legged friend. With excellent padding, the ability to adjust and fit to dogs of different sizes, it makes it comfortable for your dog to hike with you. Plus, it has lots of attachment points and reflective gear so you can keep your dog safe in the campground. It's the overall winner in our Best Dog Backpacks guide.
Why it's great for campers:
Plenty of attachment points for your dog's leash and loops for safety beacons
A padded Y-shaped chest piece for your dog's comfort with padding along the shoulders and spine
High-visibility color options with reflective features to keep your dog safe in the campground
You grab your water bottle for a hike, but what about water for Fido? Or your trip runs long, and Rex keeps reminding you that he’s hungry? BarkBowl silicone dog bowls are easy to clip to a backpack (or stored inside your dog’s backpack), durable enough to withstand puppies and old pooches alike, and microwave- and freezer-safe. (Read: you can take them out on a hot hike or a dawn patrol ski mission.)
They’re BPA-free and dishwasher compatible. When collapsed, the entire bowl measures 6 inches in diameter; you can pop it up to hold 2-17 ounces of water or just over 3 cups of food at full capacity. It’s easy to tuck in your backpack, raft, or under your car seat for any last-minute adventures. (And it fits in stockings pretty well, too.)
My canine companion has been grateful when we pull out that bowl for a mid-ski snack.
Get Ready For The Camping Trip
The road trip out to the campground is part of the fun of a camping trip. These road-trip-ready gifts will get them into the national park, help them navigate backcountry roads, and give them the skills and confidence they need to be out there.
National Parks Pass
The National Parks Pass is a little card that gets you FREE ADMISSION into every National Park and most other public land with entrance fees. When you get this online at REI, it’s the same price (actually, a penny less) than if you were to purchase it directly at a national park entrance station (plus, with this pass, they often let you skip the line to enter the park).
Technically called the “America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass,” the pass will also get you free admission to National Monuments and waived recreation fees at US Fish & Wildlife Refuges, Forest Service forests and grasslands, and Bureau of Land Management sites.
For example, Treeline Review editor Liz Thomas uses it as a parking pass at trailheads in Southern California in lieu of the Adventure Pass (which costs $5 per hike at trailheads).
Since the Interagency Pass only lasts a year—and is a near-essential item for every outdoors person—it’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything.
-Treeline Review Team
Whether your camper is planning new adventures, needing to figure out the next spot to vanlife, or just dreaming of taking a new adventure—using the Atlas and Gazetteer is a fun way to do it.
We’re fond of the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteers, which are map books that include obscure dirt roads, trailheads, and the sorts of details you’ll never find on Google Maps (including for places where you’ll never get reception).
Campers and van lifers have found new spots to crash. The Gazetteer provides a level of detail and accuracy not found on even USGS maps (which aren’t updated as often). Dirtbag campers and anyone who has spent 15 minutes driving back and forth to find an obscure crag know the Gazetteer is essential for driving on backroads.
DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteers are map books the size of a large magazine. They easily fit into a car seat pocket. Many outdoors people always leave them in the car.
-Treeline Review Team
Want to give an experience rather than a thing? REI has classes and events across the country covering a wide range of activities and interests. Bonus — they’re reasonably priced.
Here’s a small sampling:
-Treeline Review Team
Still unsure about what to give a friend or loved one? There’s always the traditional gift card. If the outdoors is their jam, the REI gift card is classic.
Still not sure what to get a friend or family member? Do what my family does and give the REI Gift Card. Even if you’ve got an excellent grasp on what a person likes, it can be tricky to know what gear they already own. REI Gift cards never expire and can be used on any item.
-Treeline Review Team
An Adventure Plan For A Trip Together in 2025
A heartfelt promise note describing an upcoming trip for the two of you. Detailed plans for a dream trip can be just the hope a friend needs. Best yet—plans are free.
Write a plan for a trip you’d like to take with this person. Be as detailed as possible. What’s on your packing list? How will you get to your destination? Where will you camp? What will you eat each night? What’s the weather like for the dream trip dates you have set?
Imagining adventures and planning trips give us all something to look forward to. Plus—this trip planning can be super fun for you!
If you’re looking for a little help in this arena, we offer our insights in our own Trip Reports & Destination Guides.
-Treeline Review Team
