Outdoor Gift Ideas for Everyone On Your List

One of the best lessons my dad ever taught me was to make the holiday season about those you love most. To do this, he would have us all gather together, to help decorate my parent’s tree in early December and then again on Christmas Day to exchange gifts. Not content to sit back and let my mom do the shopping, my dad would always take an active role in picking out the perfect gifts, putting a lot of thought into selecting items that spoke to the interests, passions, and personalities of his kids and grandchildren.

My dad passed away a few years ago, but his dedication to thoughtfulness and gift giving is something I carry forward today. I take so much joy in coming up with awesome outdoor gift ideas for my family members who love to hike and finding useful gifts for those who love to go boating and fishing. To do this on a budget, I find my way around holiday deals to save money on adventure gifts, camping gear, and outdoor gifts for my family and friends.

From the coolest sports gear to backyard gifts for nature lovers, here are some of the best outdoor gift ideas for everyone on your list this year.

Hiking Boots

I adore the boots that I’ve been wearing for almost 8 years now. They took me across England when I hiked the Hadrian’s Wall Trail with 11 friends to raise money for charity in 2016 and today, they still carry me forward when I hike locally with my youngest daughter. Being the person who buys a friend or family member the perfect pair of hiking boots is a gift in and of itself — you’ll be remembered fondly for many, many years! Consider scoping out deals on great brands, or find more affordable, high quality gifts for outdoorsy women, like these boots which I am giving my kiddo this holiday season — shhh, don’t tell her!

Socks

Okay, so socks might not be the most glamorous of outdoor gift ideas, but every outdoorsman and outdoorsy woman will tell you that when it comes to hiking, trail running, camping, or spending any meaningful amount of time outside in nature in a variety of weather, a great pair of socks is low-key crucial to being comfortable, happy, and safe from the elements. From wool socks for hiking to socks for everyday outdoor activities, find holiday sales and invest in only the finest socks that will last a long, long time.

Bluetooth Audio Outdoor Gear

Whether you’re shopping for camping gear or sports gear, modern Bluetooth audio tech makes for excellent outdoor holiday gifts for everyone on your list. Speakers make being in a tent and having friends gather on a pontoon boat more fun and Bluetooth earbuds are essential for enjoying a trail run with upbeat music, fishing to avoid the winter blues, or listening to the best outdoor podcasts during a hike.

Hammocks

Hammocks are great gifts for nature lovers because of the variety available, from portable camping gear hammocks hung between trees in the woods to chairs that can be set up in the backyard in minutes or easily put into the included backpack and taken on camping and fishing trips.

Books

From Mary Oliver poetry books that use the beautiful language of nature to transport readers into the great outdoors to Bill Bryson books like The Lost Continent, I’m A Stranger Here Myself, or A Walk in the Woods that take readers on epic and hilarious journeys, books are superb outdoor gift ideas! Books are naturally portable, perfect old-fashioned entertainment when there is no cell signal while camping or boating, and books can keep a person connected to the outdoors even when they’re stuck indoors.

Quality Outdoor Gear

Looking for the perfect outdoor gifts for backpackers? Do you have climbers in your family or friends who like to go bouldering? Outdoor gear and hiking gear make for great outdoor gift ideas, because there is a variety of gear for every budget, from carabiners, ropes, crampons, and slings to alpine packs, helmets, and other essential mountain gear.

Firepits

When it comes to gifts for outdoorsy women and nature lovers with a backyard they love to spend time in all year long, a fire pit is a tremendous holiday present! From a stainless steel backyard bonfire for staying warm out on a deck to a tabletop s'mores maker that serves up sweet campfire memories both outside and indoors, a fire pit helps to extend the backyard fun deep into the wintertime.

Video and Camera Gear

If you are working with a bigger budget to buy the perfect adventure gifts this year and want to blow your mountain biker, climber, skier, or boater’s mind, new video/camera equipment has many great features! They’ll be able to capture every moment of their adventures in crystal clear 5.3K HD video, whether up to 33 feet underwater or at the top of a mountain and then even grab 24MP still photos from those videos! These types of equipment are a game changer for snorkeling, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and any outdoor sport and pursuit.

Digital Frame

Finally, do you want unique, fun gifts for outdoorsmen? While he’s out fishing, boating, hiking, climbing, or camping, a digital frame lets him stay in touch with his family back at home by quickly and easily sending photos of the massive fish he caught, the beautiful leaves on the trees, the rock he just bouldered, the way the light reflects off the lake, and his incredible campsite setup. I gave both my mom and my wife digital frames so that I could send them pics of me while I’m traveling, of the street cats I was hanging out with, colorful gardens, pretty flowers, and more that I think they’d like and so that they still feel my love even when I’m away.

Need more outdoor gift ideas? Check out these five universal fishing gifts for the angler in your life!


We’ve linked to Amazon for most of the best outdoor gifts, because AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF). Every time you shop, and at no cost to you, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit of knowing that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to RBFF’s mission!