Gift Guide: 15 Great Camping Gift Ideas

View of tent overlooking mountains
View of tent overlooking mountains

 

When finding the perfect presents for your loved ones, the more tailored the gifts are to their interests, the better. If you’re shopping for any camping lovers, take this opportunity to improve or add to their collections of outdoor gear and accessories!

 

When someone is a self-professed lover of all things camping, they’re usually all-in on this year-round activity. Yep, that means packing up and camping in the winter, and it also means perhaps hauling the friends and family along to for some epic National Park adventures—organized from a campsite, of course! 

When you’re buying for a camping lover, let these gift ideas lead you toward a gift they will not only love, but they’ll use for years of outdoor adventures to come.

 

A Sturdy Tent

The flexible and lightweight  Kaiju 4 ($299) tent by The North Face creates snug and comfortable conditions for outdoor sleeping. It fits up to four people and is built to handle any kind of weather, thanks to its roll-up ventilation system. 

 

A Carryall Duffel

Eagle Creek’s  Cargo Hauler Rolling Duffel 110L ($179) is a great gift for travelers who fly to reach their camping destinations—or drive, or off-road, or parachute into their chosen spot. It’s a bag with serious durability meant to easily haul a lot of gear. Side grab handles make handling it a breeze, and the six heavy-duty lash points are perfect for storing gear en route to a camping spot. This bag’s water-repellant Bi-Tech™ Armor Lite fabric stays dry and weighing in at just over four pounds, the duffel won't strain your muscles.

 

An Ergonomic Carry-On Backpack

The 40-liter (carry-on sized)  Global Companion backpack ($159) is all about maximizing access and space. It’s accessible from the top or bottom, and also features middle access to a wide butterfly opening with dual interior compartments. A padded electronics pocket extends use beyond those rough-and-tumble camping adventures, while other features are all about safety and comfort. Reflective accents and a sternum strap safety whistle pair well with side mesh slip pockets, moisture-wicking backpack straps, and strap adjusters and top load adjusters to ensure a good fit during long hikes. Better yet? It’s also available in a women’s fit backpack ($159).

 

A Cozy Hat

The elements catch up to even the toughest campers, so it’s important for anyone who is heading into the great outdoors to be prepared for a chill. Smartwool's  NTS Mid 250 Cuffed Beanie ($30) is made from the brand’s 100% Merino Wool fabric that's super soft and traps lots of warmth.

 

A Multi-Purpose Organizational Set

Campers are often digging through their bags—taking items out, putting items in, and then packing up and moving to another spot. So organization is crucial. Eagle Creek’s  Pack-It Specter Tech™ Sac Set  ($40) includes three sacs (in varying sizes) that will make it easier to keep everything properly sorted within a larger bag. The washable sacs are lightweight, and water-repellant, and come with carry clips so that you can attach them to your gear. If your friend who camps is particularly messy and tends to lose or break items on the go, this present may be especially useful!

 

A Travel-Friendly Laundry System

Just because your camping-loving friends might go without a shower for a few days doesn’t mean they should smell like it. Eagle Creek’s  Pack-It Specter™ Clean Dirty Cube ($30) is an organizational must-have for any camper who is keen on keeping his or her clean clothes and gear, well, clean! The durable packing organizer has a built-in floating divider to separate dirty clothes from clean ones. 

 

A Durable Jacket Fit for the Season

Lightweight and highly packable, the  Thermoball Ball Jacket from The North Face is available in both men’s ($199 and up) and women’s fit ($199).  It will keep your camper warm and looking stylish through the winter (or for those high-altitude summer treks). This quilted, short jacket is made with ultralight ThermoBall™ insulation tsecure-zip hand  pockets that are ideal for securely carrying necessities. 

For summer or rainy season camping, The North Face’s  Resolve 2 Jacket ($90) is a lightweight raincoat that will also work as a windbreaker, making it super hand for any type of trip your camper can dream up. It’s available in men’s and women’s fit, it’s waterproof and windproof, and it has a breathable mesh lining perfect for outdoor adventures.

 

A Comfortable Shirt Fit for the Season

Campers can button up and stay warm with The North Face’s  Campshire Shirt ($109) for men—it’s a heavy-duty shirt, made of plaid woven flannel with a Sherpa fleece liner for those extra chilly nights. Meanwhile this  versatile short-sleeved shirt from The North Face ($35) is best for summer camping. 

Women campers will love the  Women’s Glacier ¼ Zip Fleece ($59) in the cooler months, or the  Hyperlayer FD Short Sleeve Tee ($35), a versatile, breathable, and lightweight knit training tee that manages moisture.

 

A Warm Bottom Layer

SmartWool’s  Intraknit Merino 250 Bottoms for women ($130) and  Men’s Merino 250 Base Layer ($100) are made with No-stink Merino that works as a temperature controller and moisture regulator. Female campers can even wear the tights as a single layer during the milder months, and as a base during the depths of winter.

 

A Handy Toiletry Kit

Since your camper might be bathing in a river or lake, why not gift them a handy toiletry kit like the  Pack-It Specter™ On Board ($46), which features ultra-light water repellent silnylon ripstop and a stow-away swivel non-slip hook for versatile hanging options (like from a tree branch!)

 

Need other travel gift ideas? Our Ultimate Gift Guide: 25 Best Gifts for Travelers shares more ideas for both men and women.

 

Related Products:

Cargo Hauler Rolling Duffel 110L

Pack-It Specter Tech™ Sac Set

Global Companion 40L

 

Related Links (from Eagle Creek blog):

Buying Guide: Duffels

Best Adventurous Gift Ideas for Him & Her

Best Travel Gifts for Men

 

By Duke Stewart on April 11, 2019

Duke Stewart is a recovering American expat who writes about life through travel—and wants you there with him—through captivating stories and guides at Travel Through Life. In the meantime, you can follow his adventures on Instagram.