Got an adventurer in your life who you’re looking to buy a gift for? Or maybe you’re an adventurer and someone has asked what they can buy you this upcoming holiday season?
Check out these 15 gifts ideas I personally love and would even consider to be “life-changing!”
Most of the gift items below are super versatile, meaning they are multi-use, making them so perfect for those wishing to get the best bang for their buck. And best of all, nearly all of the below items are under $50 (and can be found on Amazon)!
And if I’m missing an item that you think should be added, let me know in the comments at the end of this post! I absolutely love learning about new adventure related products, especially if they can be used as gift ideas!
Click on each title below for more information and photos of each item.
One quick thing to note before reading: This post contains no affiliate links, contains our own thoughts and opinions, and contains links and photos that are not our own (but are used from the items’ websites to ensure the most accurate depiction).
Similarly, I do not own the rights to the below photos: they are property of the retailors.
The 15 Life-Changing Gifts for Adventurers:
Puffy camp quilts and blankets are only for those wishing to be the absolute coziest in the outdoor elements. Is that you or the person you’re shopping for? Then you’re in the right spot!
Puffy camp quilts and blankets are a favorite to those in the outdoor communities due to their warmth and versatility. You can cuddle up around a campfire, use them as a sleeping bag replacement, wrap them around you on a hike or chilly snack break, use them as a windbreaker, and so many other things.
Rumpl is one of the current most popular brands due to their partnerships with big brands like Carhartt, NASA, and the National Parks, and can cost above $75, but there are other reputable brands out there as well for a cheaper purchase.
I just tried these for the first time in fall 2022 while backpacking in Utah. It snowed during this trip! But these booties were a true game changer in keeping my toesies warm on the nights it it dropped to below freezing. I’ve since added them to my personal wish list to now add them into our gear library as the ones I used previously were borrowed.
Another life-changing yet incredibly simple must-have product is the foam sitting pad. That’s right, who knew a simple piece of foldable foam would be this necessary? The uses for this thing are endless:
- Sitting on cold (or damp) ground
- Extra cushion on your camp chair
- Extra padding for sleeping
- Small but mighty rain barrier
- Clean surface for eating
And best of all, they’re inexpensive and, for those tracking the weight of their gear, are incredibly lightweight at only 54g.
National Parks and State Parks passports add a fun challenge and exciting element to visiting the Parks! There’s just something really exciting about going to the visitor center and getting your passport stamped.
Since we live in Minnesota, we have a Minnesota State Parks passport that gets stamped each time we visit a new park. If you visit a certain amount of Minnesota State Parks, you receive a reward too, which adds another layer of fun. If you don’t live in Minnesota, check your state to see if they offer something similar, too!
And since we have a goal to visit all of the National Parks in our lifetime, getting stamps in our National Parks Passport is also really exciting. Each park has a different stamp design, and often they have multiple stamp options.
I can’t even begin to count the amount of times it’s been helpful to have my reusable silverware on hand.
And reusable silverware isn’t just for the outdoorsy types. If you’re interested in additional ways to better the planet, using reusable silverware in unconventional places is one of the best! I’ve been bringing my reusable silverware to work since 2017, and can’t count how many times it’s been nice to use that over disposable silverware.
There are a few different types of reusable silverware you can carry along with you both out on adventures and in “other” settings:
While immersed in nature (lightweight, packable, easy to clean):
At work or on the go in the city (lots of options, easy to clean):
In my opinion, Buffs have been a game-changer in both the hot and the cold weather. In the sun, desert, or beach? Use it to protect your neck and face from the sun, wind, and sand. In the snow? Use it to protect from the cold and brutally chilly wind. In the summer and fall elements? Use it to protect against mosquitoes or as a way to wipe your face throughout the day. I have three, and Eric has two. We rotate them each day we’re out and about doing things as a way to keep our faces clean and necks not sunburnt!
Here are a few activities we’ve used ours for:
- Hiking
- Snowshoeing
- 4-Wheeling
- Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding
- Backpacking
- Sleeping (to cover cold noses and block out light over the eyes)
- As a headband
- Desert sledding and dune-buggying (keeps sand out of mouth and off face)
Find the perfect pattern here!
It may seem weird to have clothing in a gift guide, but just hear me out. Have I recently found my absolute favorite hiking, rock climbing, base layer-acting, all-around amazing leggings? Yes I have. My only regret is that I didn’t buy them sooner. This isn’t even a sponsored post and I’m ecstatic to tell you about these.
I even recently wore them on a multi-day backpacking trip through brush and the backcountry and they didn’t tear, rip, become uncomfortable, smell, or chafe! They’re so breathable, comfortable, and stretchy that I’m going to go buy another pair because they’re currently on sale. Best of all, they have two great pockets and look great on all body types, too!
Okay so this is the only gender-specific gift suggestion I have. But there is sort of a men’s version available too, you can view here.
Okay just one more article of clothing, I promise! Both Eric and I have sun shirts/sun hoodies and absolutely love them, making them a great gift for any type of adventurer. Due to their moisture-wicking abilities, sun shirts and hoodies are perfect for year round recreation. They keep you cool yet protected by the sun and elements in the summer, act as a comfortable mid-layer for the spring/fall season’s activities, and are a great base layer for cold weather uses.
Here are our favorites:
- Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoodie
- Salomon Sense Aero
- Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
- Columbia SPF Shirts
- Under Armour HeatGear
- Paddleboarding
- Cycling
- Mountain Biking
- Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding
- Hiking in the desert
- Hiking in the snow
- Fishing / Ice Fishing
- Sitting at the beach / pool
If your adventurer loves parks, then a US or Canada National Parks or local State (or Provincial) Parks annual pass will be an amazing gift for them!
One thing to note is that not all state parks in the US require an entry fee, so you may not have the option to purchase a pass in your state (i.e. Missouri doesn’t have a park pass option because they don’t charge an entry fee, but Minnesota does have this option).
Similarly, also consider whether or not that person is a traveler as not every state or province has a National Park nearby. If you’re not sure, a gift card may be a better option, this way they can either buy a pass or purchase park-related items online instead.
Click here to check out the US National Parks Pass options! Or click here to check out the Canada National Parks Pass options!
This inflatable solar lamp is so lightweight and compact, it’s a wonderful gift that can be used in so many places! We have multiple, so we keep a few on hand in our camp and backpacking gear library, in our RV, and in our garage for random nighttime hikes/boat rides, or in case of severe weather.
Anyone else get a little iffy when it comes to walking on ice, or is that just me? If you’re in a cold weather climate that’s susceptible to ice, this one may be especially helpful!
If you’re gifting to someone in a warm climate area that doesn’t get ice (or they don’t travel to icy places frequently), then you may want to skip this suggestion.
But micro spikes have been such an asset to surviving the slippery winters here in Minnesota, especially when we get so many freeze-thaw into puddle-refreeze weather cycles throughout the winter months. These are especially handy when ice fishing and winter hiking.
When you’re out in nature away from electricity or a charging area, it’s nice to have a lightweight wireless charger on hand. We are able to get multiple charges with each of the below power banks, and would recommend them to anyone in the market. Whether you’re charging your phone, camera, flashlight, headlamp, or GoPro, our two favorites have you covered:
1. The Charmast Portable Charger (weighs 0.5 lbs)
2. The Hiluckey Outdoor Portable Power Bank (solar charges!!) (weighs 1.34 lbs, however)
Quick drying items are the best when it comes to outdoor activities. Not only does it save time, but being quick drying means the item has multiple uses: wipe down your face, your body, your dishes, your vehicle, your bike, your boat seats, nearly anything and it’s dry to use again – fast! Also, quick drying towels keep away germs that would otherwise grow on slower drying towels. Plus they’re always so soft.
One quick drying towel that’s stood out the most is the REI Co-Op Multi Towel Mini. It seems like it dries nearly instantly and only weighs 0.6 ounces. This little guy also packs down into its own bag so it can be stored separately and is easily portable while camping, backpacking, canoeing, boating, or in any other activity.
Similar to the above suggested quick dry gift, a large beach towel that’s quick drying and light is perfect for a day at the beach, or a picnic, or the pool, or on the boat. This one is also wonderful because 1) sand can easily be swept off without sticking and making a mess, and 2) it has its own stuff sack, making it small and compact for transport.
Check out the Nomadix Ultralight Towel here!
Reusable snack baggies are just as important as reusable silverware, and equally as useful! You really can’t go wrong with reusable snack baggies, but there are multiple options to choose from.
Some, like the Stasher bags, are silicone, making them slightly heavier than other types (if weight matters to your adventurer), but are uber durable and waterproof. I love their varying colors and sizes, and some even come with a carabiner so they can be clipped to a backpack!
Others, like the Jagrom bags, are incredibly lightweight, durable, and leak proof as well.
It’s also nice to have another type of reusable baggie that could be used for snacks, meals, or even to pack out garbage, would be the Sea to Summit Trash Dry Sack.
Let me know in the comments below!
Or, looking for more gift ideas? Check out my previous gift guide, here!
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