Gift Ideas: The Outdoorsman

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Here’s for the guy who takes every available moment he can to get out there — far out there. Backpacking, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing — just beyond the line where civilization ends and the wild begins is where you’ll find him.

We just made shopping for that guy a whole lot easier. These 30 gift ideas for the outdoorsman on your list will give him the tools he needs to start fires, cook food, stay warm, gaze at the stars, and even kayak. Whether he car camps, thru-hikes or just really likes being prepared, these ideas will turn any outdoorsman into a happy outdoorsman.

BioLite Campstove 2

BioLite Campstove 2

BioLite makes some unassailably cool camp gear. This camp stove warms you and cooks your food — like a good camp stove should. It also turns its (highly-efficient) fire into usable power. Charge your phone or a camp light by burning sticks and twigs you find on site. – Shop Now

Pelican Elite Wheeled Cooler

Pelican Elite Wheeled Cooler

Two inches of polyurethane insulation and a freezer-grade gasket will keep beer cold for ten days. Worried about bears? This cooler is also certified bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. – Shop Now

Solostove Portable Fire Pit

Solo Stove Bonfire Portable Fire Pit

The SoloStove Bonfire Portable Fire Pit burns wood efficiently and easily, with sharp looks fit to finish off any backyard BBQ set-up. It’ll be a point of pride, what with its stainless steel construction and eye-catching design. – Shop Now

Howler Brothers Merlin Jacket

Howler Brothers Merlin Jacket

The Merlin Jacket delivers end-of-year weather protection on all fronts – a water-resistant ripstop construction, lightweight Primaloft insulation, ribbed cuffs, and hand warmer pockets – while a built-in pocket stuff sack allows it to be packed down tight for traveling light or for tossing into the trunk of your car. – Shop Now

Stanley Classic Vacuum Camp Mug

Stanley Classic Vacuum Camp Mug

Stanley thermoses are legendary, so it only makes sense that you’d hammertone it up when seeking a tough, long-lasting mug to accompany you on all of your outdoor adventures.  This beauty in classic green or navy is good for up to 16 ounces of your morning coffee at the campground.  Vacuum insulation keeps it piping hot to the last sip and a leak-resistant lid ensures you won’t lose a drop. – Shop Now

Danner Gritstone Work Boots

Danner Gritstone Boots

For more than eight decades, Danner has made a name for itself by providing boots designed to go where other boots just simply can’t. The Gritstone Work Boot even has “grit” in its name, and that echoes the toughness you’ll get when you lace these guys up. Made with full-grain waterproof leather and featuring lighter construction (but the same classic durability), this is a pair of boots you’re going to reach for over and over any time you need gear to take on the toughest of jobs. – Shop Now

NEMO Helio LX Portable Pressure Shower

NEMO Helio LX Portable Pressure Shower

If you’ve used camping showers before, you might be underwhelmed by the water pressure, or notable lack thereof.  You won’t have any problem with this shower, which delivers your ideal water pressure with the use of an integrated foot pump.  A capacity of 22 liters means you’ll enjoy up to 7-10 minutes of water pressure at the campsite. – Shop Now

Filson Vintage Flannel Work Shirt

Filson Vintage Flannel Work Shirt

The details are exceptional, from the front chest flap pockets to the melamine button closures. The pattern? Perfectly rugged and ready to wear to your favorite brewery or on a weekend hike. The fit and the cotton twill fabric? Hard-wearing and easy to layer over a henley or a warm thermal shirt. And the versatility? It’s top-notch, well-suited to pairing up with rugged denim and leather hiking boots – Shop Now

Sea To Summit Pro Hammock

Sea To Summit Pro Hammock

You probably already know Sea to Summit from their extensive lines of backpacking and outdoor gear. The Pro is their entry into the camping hammock battlefield. They looked at what they saw other hammock companies doing, took the best ideas and improved upon them. The result is a GE hammock that’s plenty light and extra durable, with an integrated, siliconized compression sack that puts all others to shame. – Shop Now

Give'r 4 Season Glove w/ Wax Coating

Give’r 4 Season Gloves

Made with an all-leather waterproof exterior and a Thinsulate lining for plenty of warmth, you needn’t worry about braving the elements given the work that Give’r has put into these gloves. Hauling firewood, pitching a campsite, shoveling out of the snow — the 4-Season Gloves should definitely be your pick. – Shop Now


Suunto Traverse Watch

Suunto Traverse Watch

Give this to the adventurer who you want to make sure always comes home. More than just a watch with style, the Traverse has built in GPS navigation and a 100 hour battery life. The automatic breadcrumb feature makes sure getting lost is not an option. – Shop Now

Barebones Pulaski Axe

Barebones Pulaski Axe

Solid and handsome, this 2 foot axe has a hand-sharpened, 1055 high carbon steel, dual-blade head. A full steel core secures the head to pommel and tightens with a hex bolt. The guy who chops his own firewood? This is for him. –Shop Now

Matador Pocket Blanket 2.0

Matador Pocket Blanket 2.0

It folds up to the size of a wallet but unfurls to a large 5 feet by 3 and a half. Waterproof, puncture resistant and with a stitched on re-folding guide, this will fast become a requisite part of any camper’s gear. – Shop Now

Beach LT Foldable Kayak

Beach LT Foldable Kayak

Get your outdoorsman a boat. That fits on his back. This foldable kayak assembles with snaps and straps in just a few minutes and has a modular paddle and an optional backpack to carry it all in. Weighing in at less than 30 pounds, this makes all bodies of water kayak-able. – Shop Now

Big Idea Titanium Pocket Tool

Big Idea Titanium Pocket Tool

Small, useful and made out of titanium, this is the EDC that will go everywhere and get used often. It’s just 3 inches long but packs eight tools including a screwdriver, bottle opener, mini pry bar, universal wrench and a fork. – Shop Now

Kikkerland Portable BBQ Suitcase

Kikkerland Portable BBQ Suitcase

Tell the camper in your life, “I got you a suitcase,” and you might get a little side-eye. Then show him this. Stainless steel with room to cook for two, this charcoal grill is fully portable and will become an essential part of any car-camper’s gear. – Shop Now

Titan Stormproof Match Kit

Titan Stormproof Match Kit

Fire can mean the difference between cold/wet and warm/dry. These matches will make sure fire is attainable in just about any condition. Twelve beefy, four inch matches are wind and waterproof, will burn up to 25 seconds and come in a floating case. – Shop Now

Marmot Tungsten Tent

Marmot Tungsten Tent

Know a backpacker or two? Get them this. Weighing under 5 lbs 5 oz with the fly, the Marmot is a trail tent built for two that offers a lot of room, easy set up, a vestibule for gear storage, and doesn’t cost the same as your monthly rent. – Shop Now

BioLite BaseCamp Grill

BioLite BaseCamp Grill

Another brilliant (literally, figuratively) invention from BioLite, this grill will cook a burger for eight people at a time using fallen branches and small pieces of firewood. While those burgers are getting woodfired, the grill is generating up to five watts of usable power. – Shop Now

Stanley Adventure SS Flask

Stanley Adventure SS Flask

For those who consider whiskey a non-optional addition to their pack gear, perhaps you’d like to introduce them to the Adventure Flask. Made by 100+ year old Stanley, this stainless steel flask will carry 8 oz of hooch just about anywhere. – Shop Now

Nordic Pocket Saw

Nordic Pocket Saw

Try bringing a chainsaw in your pack and you won’t get very far down the trail. Unless it’s this: a 25.6 inch saw made from heat-treated, high-carbon steel with double teeth on each link. Grab on to the heavy duty handles and saw through whatever needs sawing. – Shop Now

The Adventure Log

The Adventure Log

Where cell reception ends, the real adventure begins. Instead of documenting with a phone, the proud owner of this American-made three-pack of 48-page notebooks will use time-honored pen on paper to chronicle the where, when and with who details of their next trip. – Shop Now

Nemo Stargaze Recliner Chair

Nemo Stargaze Recliner Chair

This is a camp chair with a serious upgrade. It’s a set-it-up-anywhere camping chair that reclines, swings and holds your beer. Pick one up for the guy who likes to look at the stars, or for anyone who likes a good bit of outdoor relaxation. – Shop Now

Snow Peak Field Oven

Snow Peak Field Oven

Know someone who’s a fan of the Pack & Carry Fireplace? That’s the kit that lets you have a campfire and grill just about anywhere. And this new accessory turns the grill into an oven that can reach up to 500º. Camping pizza anyone? That sounds pretty good to us. – Shop Now

Lifestraw Steel Personal Water Filter

LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter

A backpacker can go just about anywhere, as long as there’s water. The LifeStraw weighs just 5.6 ounces and turns any water source into water that meets US EPA drinking water standards, clearing it of bacteria, protozoa and chemical matter. Drink up. – Shop Now

Recon 5 Sleeping Bag

Recon 5 Sleeping Bag

Heavy duty is too light a term. Made to be unrolled anywhere, tent or no tent, this can take the punishment of boots worn inside the bag. It’s got an antibacterial silver micro fiber barrier that ups the heat retention for operations up to -4º F. – Shop Now

Exotac nanoStriker XL Firestarter

Exotac nanoStriker XL

Always have a way to make fire. It’s a pretty good motto for an outdoorsman to have. This keychain striker houses a quarter inch ferrocerium and magnesium rod with a tungsten carbide striking tool that can start up to 3,000 fires. – Shop Now

Boreal21 Folding Saw

Boreal21 Folding Saw

A 21 inch hacksaw that packs down small. We can think of many situations where this will come in handy. So will the explorer in your life. Automatic tensioning makes for smooth sawing and the whole thing weighs just a hair over a pound and deploys in seconds. – Shop Now

ENO TechNest Hammock

ENO TechNest Hammock

If the backpacker on your list is still up in the air on the tent versus hammock debate, this might sway them in the hammock direction. The integrated carabiners make it easy to set up and since it weighs less than a pound, it’ll go anywhere there are two trees. – Shop Now

Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket

Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket

Honestly, this is a gift for any man on your list, outdoorsman or not. Made in the US of waxed 7 oz sailcloth, it’s fully flannel-lined and only gets better with time. The style is decidedly classic with a rugged/refined look that’ll go good on just about anyone. – Shop Now

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