Camping Gifts
Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For some people spending time outdoors under the stars and brewing cowboy coffee at Sunrise are an integral part of a lot of their weekends. And those campers, who already have a garage full of gear are often the hardest to shop for. That’s why this holiday season, we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts that are sure to get them dreaming about their next camping adventure.
UCO Gear Rechargeable Arc Lighter and LED Flashlight
Never be caught in the wilderness with no way to start a fire again. The palm sized UCO Gear Rechargeable Arc Lighter and LED Flashlight uses dual-arc emitters to spark a flame at the touch of a button, lighting campfires, stoves, and more with ease. This simple to use, USB rechargeable, weatherproof lighter also features a built-in flashlight for clear illumination in the dark and a strobe for enhanced safety on night adventures. MSRP $19.99 www.amazon.com/ucogear
Therm-A-Rest Air Head Down Pillow
Skip the whole ordeal of jamming clothes in your stuff sack as a makeshift pillow and grab the Therm-A-Rest Air Head Down Pillow for your next camp outing. This camp pillow features a brushed polyester cover filled with down insulation and a baffled core, providing a stable, compressible foundation for plush support at night. Its inflatable so it expands big and packs small into its drawstring stuff sack for easier loading and carrying. The large measures an agreeable 18″ x 12″ x 4″ for an at home comfort wherever your adventures take you. MSRP $59.95 – $69.95 thermarest.com
CamelBak eddy+ 32oz. SST Vacuum Insulated Filtered by LifeStraw
Unsure if the camp site will have fresh drinking water? Bring along the CamelBak eddy+ 32oz. SST Vacuum Insulated Filtered by LifeStraw and it won’t matter. This durable 18/8 stainless steel is finished in a sweat-proof powder coat and keeps water cold for hours with double wall vacuum insulation. And the integrated LifeStraw filter takes the worry out of wondering where you can get drinking water from. Simply fill up the bottle and let the LifeStraw filter do all the work. It’s effective against bacteria, parasites, and microplastics, and reduces lead, bad taste, chlorine and other unwanted chemicals, delivering a steady stream of clean and safe hydration. The CamelBak eddy+ 32oz. SST Vacuum Insulated Filtered by LifeStraw makes a great choice for camping and other outdoor pursuits to faraway places where water is suspect. MSRP $70 camelbak.com
Grayl Geopress Purifier
Water is the number one backcountry camping necessity, which makes the Grayl Geopress Purifier worth its weight in gold. This all in one water bottle purifier makes a great choice for any camper’s gear kit. It’s incredibly easy to use – simply fill up the Grayl Geopress, Press and Drink. This press-action purifier will let you clean 24 ounces of water in as little as 8 seconds, while eliminating bacteria, viruses, protozoa, chemicals, and heavy metal sediment. With Grayl’s GEOPRESS Purifier on hand, you will be able to drink from nearly any water source without the fear of contamination or poor taste, and without wasting time. MSRP $89.95 grayl.com
RTIC Ice Bucket
Cover all of your beverage needs for the camping weekend with the RTIC Ice Bucket. This Ice Bucket is built for the outdoors thanks to its rugged stainless steel exterior which also makes for easy cleaning between uses. It holds 3 liters of ice and retains it for up to 24 hours while remaining sweat-free and can even keep camp stews warm for 6. From the Double Wall Vacuum Insulation, a heavy duty lid seal that locks in the cold, and 3 liters worth of storage, the RTIC Ice Bucket is the ideal kit addition for those that want to keep their drink ice separate from their cooler ice. MSRP $65 rticoutdoors.com
Victornix Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife
Keep your camping cutlery separate from your home kitchen cutlery, and use the Victornix Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife solely for camping purposes. Victorinox made this stainless steel blade versatile for slicing, dicing and mincing; but its biggest talent is being multitalented – and its true specialty is doing everything well, making it the only cutting utensil you’ll need on all your future camping trips. MSRP $47.99 swissarmy.com
ManCrates Chef Making Knife Kit
Want to gift a fun project and ensure that the camper in your life has the most unique Chefs knife at the campground? Look no further than the ManCrates Chef Making Knife Kit. The kit comes packed with tools, everything from rasps and files, a portable bench vise, epoxy and sandpaper. And with the step-by-step instruction booklet, crafting the knife is as fun and effortless as cutting with it. The finished VG-10 Damascus blade chef’s knife will be as every bit as distinctive as the camp chef who made it. MSRP $179.99 mancrates.com
FosPower Emergency Weather Alert Radio
If you regularly camp off of the cell phone grid, the FosPower Emergency Weather Alert Radio will come in handy. It includes AM, FM, and pre-programmed NOAA weather channels. The ALERT function will listen to the 1050Hz tone 24/7 for All-Hazards alerts and emit a siren sound to notify you that a warning message is being sent out by the local NOAA channel. The radio is equipped with a rechargeable 4000 mAh power bank that supports listening up to 20 hours, it can also charge phones or small electronic and power the LED flashlight. In addition three AAA batteries can be used as backup power while the hand crank and solar charging can be used as a last resort. MSRP $79.99 fospower.com
BioLite AlpenGlow 500
Light up the night at your campsite while ensuring your smart phone doesn’t run out of juice with the BioLite AlpenGlow 500. This semi-compact lantern provides well dispersed lighting with an easy to adjust brightness button and the “shake the lantern” for an instant rotation of fun colors and light modes, while also offering a USB output that allows you to recharge a phone, portable speaker, headlamp, and any other small devices. A built-in hook at the bottom of the AlpenGlow lets you hang it up in the nearest tree branch or in your tent, and it has an IPX4 rating so it can withstand rain and splashing. So whatever lighting situation you find yourself in, you can be sure that the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 will adapt to it. MSRP $79.95 bioliteenergy.com Also available at REI
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
When you want serious sound that’s easy to take with you to your camp site, look no further than the highly portable Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. This bass favorable Bluetooth wireless speaker pumps tunes for up to 15 hours, while the included micro USB cable recharges the unit in just under 3 hours. The sound stage that comes from the BOOM 3 is so wide and rich that you won’t believe it’s coming from this little speaker. But don’t let its size fool you, the BOOM 3 is an adventurous speaker that’s not afraid of what Mother Nature has to offer. It is waterproof and dustproof with an IP67 rating so no rain storms can spoil your audio experience. Made for the outdoors, the BOOM 3 from Ultimate Ears is the perfect solution to enjoying your favorite songs and podcasts anywhere your camping adventures take you. MSRP $149.99 ultimateears.com
Goal Zero Torch 500
Never find yourself in the dark again with the Goal Zero Torch 500. Lasting up to 50 hours from a single solar or USB charge, it ensures a reliable light source wherever you are. It features 500 lumens of bright LED light dispersed across spotlight and floodlight options and an IP67 rating to withstand any weather condition. Simple to recharge from the sun with the built-in solar panel or from any USB source, making it perfect to bring along on any camping trip. MSRP $49.95 www.amazon.com/goalzero
GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker
Crank up your campsite comfort levels to new heights with the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker. This slightly lower seat height chair boasts a powder coated durable steel frame, smooth rocking, and a quick and easy set up to keep you happy when you’re lounging at the campsite. The Spring-Action Rocking Technology and armrests provide excellent comfort so you can experience porch worthy relaxation by the campfire, while the drink holder and phone pocket keep your hydration and tech within reach. Its compact, foldable design makes it easy to bring along and thanks to the frame attached carry strap there is no need to stress about fitting it back into a carry bag. With a GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker in your gear collection you have no excuse to not relax on your next camping trip. MSRP $65 gcioutdoor.com
Therm-A-Rest Argo Blanket
When you and your partner decide to leave for a spontaneous weekend camping trip, grab the Therm-A-Rest Argo Blanket Wolf Print Blanket, pack it in the included sack, and hit the road. A durable 30D Polyester w/ DWR shell and eraLoft insulation resists moisture and light rains when you’re cowboy camping, and the soft-touch polyester lining is velvety and warm to keep you both cozy. There is no better way to enjoy campfires than in the comfort and warmth of the Therm-A-Rest Argo Blanket. MSRP $99.95 thermarest.com
The Mozy
Sometimes the campfire doesn’t cover it for warmth, but the Mozy Blanket sure does the trick. It’s a wearable warm blanket that is the perfect weatherproof layer that provides adjustable warmth and moves with you as go. The Mozy’s outer shell is made of windproof, weather resistant, heavy duty nylon while the interior is a plush heavyweight fleece. We never go camping without The Mozy because it provides the comfort of waddling around in our sleeping bags in a far more practical package. A simple Velcro closure allows us to wear it around camp, and easily un-Velcro it to use as a shared blanket for sitting around the campfire. MSRP $99
Mozy also offers a lightweight softshell version without the heavy duty nylon layer, that is perfect for chilly Summer camp nights. MSRP $69 getthemozy.com
Lawson Blue Ridge Camping Hammock
Bring comfort to the campsite like never before with the help of the Lawson Blue Ridge Camping Hammock. Crafted with a rip-stop and poly pack fabric, this innovative hammock is headlined by its dual function design, switching between suspended hammock camping or staked and secured ground camping mode that matches your camping style to the environment. The Blue Ridge Camping Hammock is a highly unique framed hammock designed to deliver a flat sleeping platform, thanks to the spreader bar and arch pole system that keeps the hammock flat and more taut than traditional hammocks. The built in no-see-um bug net and attachable rainfly means there is no need to worry about pesky insects or unpredictable weather conditions. And it all packs down easily into its own stuff sack and is lightweight enough to allow for a purely minimalist setup in addition to the flat platform. MSRP $199.99 www.amazon.com/lawsonhammock
Therm-A-Rest Vela Double 20 Quilt
Whether you and your partner are sleeping under the stars or slumbering in the shelter of a tent, you will be grateful to have the cozy warmth of this two person Therm-A-Rest Vela Double 20 Quilt. Its packable design makes it perfect for any type of camping, whether you’re off into the mountains or hitting up the local state campground. The high loft 650-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down and full perimeter side baffle construction provides exceptional heating comfort for Spring backpacking trips, and the quilt can easily layer on top of sleeping bags when conditions are colder. The Vela provides a freeing feeling of unrestricted movement throughout the night, while the foot-box can be slipped over a Duo sleeping pad to eliminate drafts or over your feet for extra warmth. The Vela pairs extremely well with pads, sheets, and bags from Therm-a-Rest so you can customize a layering system specific to your camping needs. MSRP $369.95 thermarest.com
Rugged Road Outdoors 65 Cooler
The Rugged Road Outdoors 65 Cooler is heavily insulated, but extremely light in weight, coming in at just under 10 lbs., and darn near indestructible, making it perfect for camping trips. The RRO 65 is the ideal size for storing food and drinks for the whole camp crew on weekend trips. The Fridgite insulating core keeps ice frozen for days, and its Rigorite outer shell is virtually invincible, meaning it’s ready for any kind of camping adventure. This cooler can also pull double duty as a cup holding tabletop and extra cutting board thanks to it’s lid that is able to be flipped and locked on either side. Rugged Road Outdoors included a drain spout that makes it easy to drain water once the ice finally melts, so we don’t have to lug a sloshing cooler on the way home. Whether we’re camping with friends or taking a weekend road trip the ultra tough, ultralight Rugged Road Outdoors 65 Cooler exceeds all expectations. MSRP $299.99 www.amazon.com/ruggedroadoutdoors