21 Fun and Useful Camping Gifts for Dads Who Love the Outdoors [2024]
This post is ALL ABOUT camping gift ideas for dads - or any other respectable outdoorsy man in your life! As a father myself, I know us dads are notoriously difficult to shop for, but if your father is into camping and the outdoors this post is sure to provide you with some great camping gifts for him.
We’ve broken our camping gift ideas into 4 price categories to help you narrow down choices based on your budget.
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Outdoor Camping Gifts for Dads Under $20
550 Paracord
Mil-Spec 550 Paracord has a million uses while camping! Your dad will also enjoy learning all the useful knots outlined in this book* as a bonus gift to help him get the most out of his 550 paracord when he’s exploring the outdoors.
Survival Guide
What dad doesn’t love learning about survival in the outdoors? The SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman is the pinnacle of survival handbooks and makes the perfect camping gift for any dad interested in disaster preparedness or wilderness survival.
Camping Flask
This Nalgene Flask also includes a built in cup and 1 oz measure (shot glass) and makes for a great camping gift for dad. Bonus points if you fill it with his favorite spirits!
Inflatable Solar Camping Lantern
The Luci EMRG solar lantern by MPOWERD makes a great outdoor gift for dad. It collapses down to store conveniently in his camping gear, it’s easily charged by the sun throughout the day, and it provides up to 7hrs of light so it’s always ready for him when he needs to snake that last ice cold cruiser out of the cooler!
For a little bit more, you can spring for the USB rechargeable Black Diamond Remoji* that has both hanging and magnetic mounting options and a bit more light output.
Gear Line
These Lamuro gear lines are rated to carry up to 440 lbs of gear, have 19 attachment loops, and come with 8 carabiners to help your outdoorsy dad stay organized while at camp.
Camping Journal
Rite in the Rain All-weather Camping Journals are the quintessential camping gift for any dad who is passionate about the outdoors - he’ll be able to jot down his thoughts, musings, and memoirs no matter what mother nature is throwing at him. And for a little writing inspiration until his next outdoor adventure, gift him with a selection of John Muir’s best works* as well.
outdoor Camping Gifts for Dads Under $50
Power Inverter
A vehicle power inverter is a great way for dads to easily power their devices while camping, exploring the outdoors, or otherwise off-the-grid. This 300w power inverter by Bestek is a great value with a solid build quality, and includes two 110v outlets and two fast-charge USB ports to ensure he’s got all the power he needs.
Headlamp
These 400 lumen Black Diamond Spot Headlamps have excellent light output, are easy on batteries (3x AAA) because the light output is highly adjustable, and they’re also waterproof - making them a great all-weather outdoor gift for dads.
Camping Mug
The classic Yeti Rambler 20 oz Tumbler is an extremely effective, well-insulated camping mug, and Yeti’s new Magslide lids are a huge improvement. Plus the Aeropress coffee maker fits perfectly inside the rim of the mug! It’s a sure-fire camping gift for dads who like their coffee hot or their beverage cold.
Aeropress Camping Coffee Kit
If your dad loves coffee, he’ll love this gift. The Aeropress coffee maker is one of the most versatile and compact ways to make absolutely delicious coffee while exploring the outdoors, and this kit comes with everything he’ll need to be his own barista on his next outdoor adventure or camping trip! And for tips on how to use it you can check out our detailed guide to camping coffee.
Wool Socks
While socks may seem like an uninspired camping gift for him, these wool socks are a great upgrade from the traditional cotton socks your dad likely wears. Not only will they keep his feet warm (even when they’re wet!), they also drastically reduce foot odor - something everyone will appreciate while camping!
Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker
We absolutely love this 2-piece cast iron cooking set, and it will make the perfect camping gift for dads who love to cook. Your dad will be able to bake, fry, saute, broil, and braise all over a campfire or his trusty camping stove!
Check out our detailed guide to using and caring for cast iron cookware: The Best Cast Iron Set for Camping [And How to Use It Like a Pro]
As a bonus you can add a copy of our all-time favorite camping cookbook: Easy Campfire Cooking*. Plus you can share our guide to 25 Easy One Pot Camping Meals to get him ready for his next trip!
Outdoor Camping Gifts for Dads Under $100
Bluetooth Speaker
This JBL Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker offers amazing portable sound quality, and is a great outdoor gift for dads who like to rock out while camping! Plus it charges quickly via common USB-C and you can pair multiple speakers together via “party boost” feature which is great for larger group camping trips or float trips.
Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-Tool
The Leatherman Wave Plus is our favorite multi-tool for camping, and it’s one your dad is sure to love and use countless times a day - even when he’s not outdoors. It has a total of 18 tools that most dads will find extremely useful, including a replaceable wire-stripper, crimper, pliers, large and small bit drivers, scissors, straight and serrated knives, a saw, and of course a bottle opener - just to name a few! There’s a reason it’s Leatherman’s best-selling multi-tool. Plus it’s made in the U.S.A.
Hammock
Every dad wants to relax while camping (it’s often the whole point of going!), and the best way to do that is in this Eno DoubleNest Camping Hammock (just don’t forget the tree straps*). It’s big enough for 2, so he’ll have plenty of room to snooze peacefully outdoors or lounge around by the river and read a book on his next father’s day camping trip.
Agawa Canyon Boreal 21 Camp Saw
The Agawa Canyon Boral 21 collapsible bow saw is by far one of my personal favorite pieces of camping gear that we carry - it can cut through a 10in diameter log in under a minute! And there’s no doubt it will make a great camping gift for any dad who frequents the outdoors. It’s strong, efficient, and sharp - just like dad!
Silnylon Tarp
A tarp has a ton of uses while camping, from shelter to shade to privacy. Silnylon is waterproof, compact, and light weight making it a great tarp material for hammocking, hiking, camping, backpacking, or any other outdoor activity your dad enjoys. And the MIER Outdoor Silnylon Tarp is a great value, including everything he’ll need to deploy the tarp quickly when needed.
Outdoor Camping Gifts for Dads Under $350
Tenkara Fly Fishing Kit
Tenkara is the traditional Japanese art of fixed-line fly fishing and the Tenkara USA Iwana fly rod is a relatively inexpensive and simple way for any dad to get into fly fishing. Plus it’s super compact, portable, and high-quality making it a great outdoor gift for any dad who’s into hiking, backpacking, or fishing while camping. And the additional Tenkara fishing kit* includes an instruction booklet and everything else he’ll need to start catching fish on his next outdoor adventure!
Wilderness First Aid Kit
No one likes to think about the potential dangers of an outdoorsy lifestyle, especially when it comes to loved ones, but it’s always best to be prepare for an emergency when one comes along. That’s why the Adventure Medical Sportsman Series 400 Kit is an excellent gift for any dad who loves camping and outdoor adventures. It includes a life-saving detachable trauma kit to care for more serious injuries, an advantage over other more basic kits. Plus it also includes a detailed Wilderness & Travel Medicine Guide that provides valuable guidance on how to handle a wide array of injuries in the backcountry.
Water Filter Purifier
This military-grade MSR Guardian water purifier is the best on the market and is a camping gift your dad is sure to love and appreciate. It removes bacteria and viruses, as well as protozoa and particulates from contaminated water sources. It’ll also withstand freezing, drops, and heavy use all while purifying water at an impressively fast 2.5 liters/minute flow rate.
Mini Drone
The DJI Mini 2 SE drone is a great beginner-friendly drone that will help your dad record his adventures in QHD. And with a 31 minute flight time on a single charge and a 10km (6.2mi) transmission range he can explore the outdoors from the comfort of his camp chair.
GPS Navigator/Communicator
The Garmin InReach Mini 2 is our top choice for a GPS communicator and will help you stay in-touch with your dad while he’s outdoors camping off-grid - even if there’s no cell service! Paired with his phone, it will allow him to send and receive SMS text messages via GPS Satellite while also providing him with Garmin’s great GPS Navigation via their app so he always knows he’s on the right path.
So whether he’s a weekend warrior or an avid outdoorsman, hopefully this post has helped you find the perfect camping or outdoor gift for your dad, or any other outdoorsy man in your life!
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