The Best Camping Gifts, Field Tested
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Outdoor Life staff loves to camp, and we’ve systematically tested a ton of outdoor gear. If you’re shopping for future adventures, or an outdoorsy loved one, this guide includes all of our favorite products. Everything on this list has been tested and vested by OL staff, and we co*e back to these items again and again. This year, give the gift of quality camping gear that will actually last to your outdoorsy friends and family.
The Camp Chef Everest 2X was the most powerful and most budget-friendly stove in our testing. It has 20,000 BTUs per burner, making it an ultra-powerful stove with an even, low simmer. For reference, the Camp Chef stoves on this list have up to 50 percent more BTUs than the other two picks.
Seven thousand feet of elevation and 15mph winds were no match for these 20,000 BTU burners. I had my pot at a rolling boil in 9 minutes, 27 seconds. Not only is the stove impressively powerful for its size, but the dials are also very sensitive, and its twist instant ignition is reliable.
The Everest’s construction is notably sturdy. The coverage and durability of the stove’s windscreens are major reasons why this stove sits at the top of the list. Locking latches keep the guards in place and the stove closed, meaning you will never get a loose wind guard while cooking, and you’ll never have the stove open on you while you’re carrying it.
You won’t find a better return on investment than this stove at under $200. If you’re looking for an ultra-durable and reliable stove, you will not find a better overall camping stove than the Camp Chef Everest 2X. —Samantha Silverman
Best Campfire Accessory: Pyrelogs
If you frequently deal with collapsed firewood, or soggy ground that makes it difficult to spark and keep your fire going, Pyrelogs are designed to circulate air and structure your next campfire. These USA-made steel bases ship and store flat, but turn into heat-retaining, ventilated logs for the foundation of a roaring fire. Pyrelogs keep your wood off the wet ground, prevent your logs from collapsing co*pletely, and hold heat to fuel a hotter fire. If you’re tired of being a slave to the fire, quit tending and start relaxing with a solid base.
A sturdy, insulated, long-lasting water bottle or thermos is a classic gift, and one I’ll be giving to more than one family member this year. The Rambler series is known for being stainless steel, insulated, and dishwasher safe. Ramblers co*e in a variety of classic and seasonal colors and models; my favorite models are the Rambler 26oz With Chug Cap and the Rambler 20oz Travel Mug. While they aren’t — for weight reasons — my top backcountry choice, a non-plastic bottle that’s dishwasher safe and keeps things hot or cold for an extremely long time, is perfect for camping or everyday use. —Samantha Silverman
The YETI 35 Hard Cooler is one of the pricier items on this list, but it’s a forever gift and the best cooler for camping. One of my top sustainability gift picks, this cooler never goes out of style, and is durable beyond any other cooler I’ve ever used. It’s perfect for a day trip or a weekend of car camping. I took one of these coolers out for five days in Moab, Utah, in intense heat, and it kept perishable foods cold the whole time, even the eggs. You can even take it floating down a river, and its Bearfoot Non-Slip Feet feature makes it great for fishing. Paying a steep price for it now means you or your loved one will never buy another cooler again. —Samantha Silverman
This blanket is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. While it’s something I’d never think to buy for myself, I find myself using it all the time. I’ll take it out for afternoons in the park or spread it under my tent for added insulation on winter camping trips. It’s warm and versatile, with a polyurethane-coated nylon backing that keeps it dry in wet conditions. It can fit three to four adults co*fortably, and it’s worth the price given how long it lasts. For me, that’s been seven years and counting.
Chaco’s Classic series have a simple design for both men and women with adjustable straps and a super co*fortable and functional LUVSEAT PU footbed. They’re great to slip on after a long day of hiking or to wear for a dip in the river or lake or casual day of fishing. I’ve even climbed a mountain or two in my Chacos and been super happy the whole way. They’re ultra durable, vegan friendly, and have fantastic traction. If you’re buying these for someone else, they fit very true to size, and have the risk of rubbing if you go too big. While you may want them to be a surprise, do your research to make sure you get the right fit. These shoes don’t fit folks with lower arches, as the arch support is more aggressive than Teva’s. —Samantha Silverman
Rite In the Rain’s All-Weather Notebook is a great stocking stuffer for any camper, backpacker, or scientist, and is weatherproof, waterproof, and fully recyclable. You can write in anything when the weather’s dry, but consider throwing in an all-weather pen — like the Fisher Space Pen — to co*plete the gift. Who knows, you might get someone into journaling or sketching outdoors, and they’ll have a lot of stories to share with you after their next trip. —Samantha Silverman
We tested the Arc’teryx Beta LT (now the SL —super light) and it was the most waterproof, wind-resistant jacket in our test of the best rain jackets for backpacking. It incorporates a number of features that guarantee not one inch of your insulation layer or base layer will get wet. The generous hood (even the puffiest of puffers will fit under this one) has cinch cords both at the back and by the chin so that you can get a secure fit, while the cuffs have velcro tabs that you can tighten when the wind picks up or loosen again when you need to cool off a bit. This was also one of the few jackets that I looked at that incorporated a noticeable drop-tail hem. —Laura Lancaster
I’ve been wearing the Big Agnes Luna (the women’s version of this jacket, the men’s version is called the Shovelhead) for over a year, and after testing out the co*petition, it’s staying in my rotation permanently. Autumn neighborhood strolls with the family: Luna. Winter backpacking trips: Luna. Shoulder season camping trips: Luna. I know it will keep me toasty warm in all those conditions and that’s the peace of mind I want. —Laura Lancaster
Our best hiking sock pick is the Darn Tough Light Hiker Crew. The tightness of the weave is co*fortable in beach grit and forest mud alike. It hugs your foot just enough to stay perfectly in place, but not so much to restrict movement or blood flow. It’s got plenty of ventilation out the top and a nice cushioned underfoot. They are such high-performers that they typically pull double-duty for me as everyday socks, too, and they are even what I wore on my first deer hunt. —Laura Lancaster
The MSR Habiscape is one of those tents that doesn’t look like much when you first set it up, but the longer you spend with it, the more it starts to grow on you. It starts with the headspace — plenty enough for this five-foot-five gear writer to stand up in, not just at the center, but also along the sides and at the doors. Then there are the pockets — 10 in total — including two that can be accessed from outside the tent (no more taking off and putting on your rain jacket and shoes just to store the car keys). —Laura Lancaster
I barely remember setting up the NEMO Aurora Highrise 6P Tent, which is about the highest praise I can offer. Insert the two longest poles through the crisscrossing sleeves, anchor them into the grommets at opposite ends, and secure a handful of tabs to pull the body taut. Two more poles go long ways across the tent to maximize headspace in the interior. The Aurora held taut against an unusually serious thunderstorm, and I felt co*pletely safe in this tent. —Laura Lancaster
You can’t go wrong with a hiking backpack as a gift. And this 33-liter Osprey pack may be the best backpack for the job. It is large enough to fit a book, lunch and snacks, a picnic blanket, and a bathing suit/towel for a co*fortable day hike. It’s mobile enough to fit all your layers, helmet, and first-aid kit for a long, technical hike. It sits co*fortably on your torso with a waist and chest strap, and while Osprey makes women’s-specific packs, I haven’t found the S/M of the Men’s Osprey Talon to be too large or disproportionate (albeit, I am 5-feet, 8-inches). This certainly is not an inexpensive pack, but in the spirit of sustainability and longevity, it’s one the recipient will use for a long time. It’s also probably the best hydration pack I own, with a designated co*partment for a water bladder, such as the Camelbak Crux Reservoir. —Samantha Silverman
The Exped MegaMat is the ultimate sleeping pad. While it isn’t weight or space conscious for backpacking, it’s supremely co*fortable and warm for car camping. It has an R value of 8 and it’s filled with plush foam. The MegaMat co*es with an electric and hand pump to inflate it with air to achieve your desired firmness. If you’re shopping for an avid camper, this is the luxury sleeping pad you’re looking for. I prefer sleeping on it to an air mattress four times as thick. It’s available in a range of sizes to fit your tent, car, or truck bed.
Made with recycled synthetic fibers, the Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 Sleeping Bag is still my pick for the best men’s and women’s sleeping bag on the market at an ultra-co*petitive price. It co*es in regular, long, and X-wide sizes, and is a strong three-season bag at 20 degrees. I’ve taken this sleeping bag backpacking and car camping for three years now, and like it because it’s roomy and has a warm footbox. It packs down enough to store at the bottom of my backpack, and is light enough that it doesn’t feel like I am sacrificing weight for warmth. This sleeping bag also co*es with a storage bag that doesn’t co*press the internal fibers. And if the recipient of this gift decides to start backpacking, they already have the sleeping bag they need. —Samantha Silverman
Headlamps are crucial for camping. The Black Diamond Storm has a co*pact design, but is powerful and waterproof, with a long-lasting battery life. This headlamp is well-suited for everything from alpine starts to late evenings setting up camp. It is ultra lightweight, and projects up to 500 lumens. You can have proximity, distance, dimming, strobe, red, green, and blue modes — and a strobe function.
This lightweight, sturdy titanium spork is the ideal do-it-all cutlery for backpacking, car camping, tailgating, and more. The color options make it easy to spot in your bag or camp bin, and it isn’t likely to break. I’ve had mine for years and it’s holding up beautifully. It pierces and scoops adequately for all of your top camping recipes or backpacking meals. The Snow Peak makes a great stocking stuffer for the outdoors person in your life.
A quality cast iron skillet is the ultimate camping pan. This one from Bass Pro Shops is durable, sizable, versatile, and affordable for any style of camp cooking. If your loved one is typically lugging pots and pans from home for fireside cooking, this is the best gift to give a camp chef. It’ll last for years and they’ll think of you every time they craft a new recipe.
Light, co*pact, and relaxing, hammocks are a blast to have with you on a hike, on campus, or in your backyard. The ENO DoubleNext is, in my opinion, the best camping hammock because of how light it is and how small it packs down. It can hold up to 400 pounds. Its lightweight carabiners can be clipped to any solid anchor — you have to buy the suspension system separately. This hammock is quick to put up, so it’s a good piece of gear for even short outings. —Samantha Silverman
Final Thoughts on the Best Camping Gifts
Campers can get by with budget outdoor gear for short trips in fair weather, but if you’re shopping for an avid camper, they’ll appreciate any of these upgrades to their kit. The Everest 2X camp stove allows you to cook at camp like you do at home, while the Exped MegaMat can provide quality sleep, in a tent, car, or truck bed. From luxury gifts like an MSR Habiscape to a reliable stocking stuffer like the Snow Peak titanium spork, we’ve got the holidays covered for outdoors people on your list with this guide.
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