2021 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Every Camper On Your List
This post contains affiliate links.
Do you have someone in your life that loves the outdoors but you have no idea what to buy them for the holidays this year? You’ve come to the right place because we’ve assembled the ultimate list of camping gift ideas below!
Camping has a unique way of disconnecting us from technology while also reconnecting us with nature and creating lasting memories with friends and loved ones.
With a seemingly endless amount of camping gear on the market, it can be pretty overwhelming when trying to choose the perfect holiday gift.
This is why we’ve created our 2021 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Every Camper On Your List. Below you’ll find gear that we’ve personally tried (and loved!) as well as some items that are on our own wishlist this year. Whether you’re buying for someone who spends all their time in the backcountry, is an avid overlander, or lives for the laid back life of car camping—we’re sure you’ll find something for that happy camper in your life!
Great Gifts for Any Camper!
Why give your camper just one gift when you can give them a whole years worth of gifts? The Nomadik delivers themed boxes packed with the latest camping and outdoor gear straight to your door! Choose between their monthly or quarterly subscription (our choice if you really want to WOW your camper!) OR visit The Nomadik Shop and choose specific items or discounted boxes from previous months.
*Use our code ‘WANDER20’ for 20% off your purchase!
At 600 lumens and over 120 hours of rechargeable battery time this Ledlenser headlamp is perfect for all types of camping!
*Buying from Canada? Visit Ledlenser Canada!
The perfect gift for the coffee-loving camper in your life. With this starter pack they’ll get a free mug and will be able to try all 6 Kuju pour over roasts to find out which one they like the most!
This sustainable sweater from Coalatree is made from recycled coffee grounds! Packed with over 20 features for travel and everyday wear—such as UV protection, water-repellent coating and odour-absorbing material. We love the secure kangaroo pouch that you can stuff the sweater inside to become a cozy camp pillow. This may be their new favourite hoodie!
Stay warm as the weather gets cold with the Bison Ultralight Vest from United By Blue. This high performance vest is lightweight, water-resistant and packs a serious punch in the warmth department!
The Backcountry Camper
This tent is ultralight and perfect for 1-2 people spending multiple days at a time in the backcountry! We recently upgraded to the MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3-person tent which allows us even more floor space for our packs and our pup without adding too much extra weight!
Keep your food in and the bears out! BearVault uses super rugged polycarbonate housing, has an extra wide opening, and is lighter than it’s competition—making it ideal for backcountry adventures!
This sleeping pad will keep your camper comfortable all night long with it’s patented V-shaped design. It also packs small enough to be included on any trip into the backcountry!
A fast boil system that’s powerful, versatile and portable! Easily boil water in minutes and elevate your camping meals with the JetBoil Flash. This stove has been a staple for all of our camping trips!
Give the gift of sustenance! Prepay for a 3 month subscription to the Backcountry Fuel Box and your camper will be eating high quality snacks and meals specifically curated for their active lifestyle!
Let gravity do the work! This filtration system is perfect for the backpacker in your life. All they have to do is fill, hang, relax and they’ll be drinking clean water in no time!
Smart design meets peak performance in this 2L hydration reservoir from HydraPak. This reservoir is meant for hydration on the go and is definitely a requirement for campers who spend long days on the trail!
A dry, clean place to sit can be hard to come by in the backcountry. This packable blanket from Matador is made of water and puncture resistant material and fits 2-4 people!
When spending time outdoors it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll encounter some form of inclement weather. The SealLine Discovery Dry Bag is made of ultra durable and waterproof materials to keep all your gear dry!
*Our pick for the backcountry camper who’s always by the lake!
A lightweight knife with a minimalist design combined with a compact, packable fire starter! This field kit from Gerber Gear is perfect for a trip into the backcountry.
The Car Camper/Weekend Warrior
Spend less time setting up and more time enjoying your campsite with the Coleman Instant Tent. We used this tent for many years of car camping before upgrading to a lightweight backcountry tent. The name ‘Instant Tent’ is a perfect fit as you can both set it up and take it down in less than 60 seconds!
Sleep like royalty on 4.25 inches of premium foam! With a plush next-to-skin feel this comfy pad from Therm-A-Rest will keep your camper warm in any condition or season.
*Also check out the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe Sleeping Pad for supreme comfort in all camping situations! One of us recently upgraded to this and the added size and weight it takes up in our pack is definitely worth it for a great nights sleep!
With TriMax triple insulation ‘The Transit’ will keep drinks cold for up to 48 hours and hot for up to 4 hours! This EcoVessel mug is great for sitting around the campfire with any of your favourite drinks!
*When filling with alcohol, remember to always drink responsibly!
Our favourite way to make coffee while camping! The AeroPress is light and durable making it ideal for the outdoors. With rapid brew times you’ll be having a high-quality cup of java before you know it!
Made for adventure—the GOAT BOXCO Hub 50 is a versatile gear storage and cooler system that’s ready for a weekend camping getaway!
The down puffy blanket from RUMPL is compact, warm and travel-ready! It’s filled with sustainably sourced duck down insulation and has a durable rip stop fabric that repels water, stains, dirt and odour!
*We got ours in The Nomadik quarterly subscription box and absolutely love it!
This one is for the wine lovers! Included in this Hydro Flask bundle is one 25oz bottle and two 10oz wine tumblers. It’s the perfect way to transport and enjoy wine while you’re camping!
*They also work great as water bottles and for other drinks! Remember to always drink responsibly.
A full mess kit for meals on-the-go! This kit includes one plate, one bowl, a collapsible camp cup and a two piece Switch spork utensil set.
This rechargeable lantern offers 500 lumens of light inspired by nature! Offering both ambient and task-based light this lantern is both rain and splash proof. It even lasts up to 200 hours on the low setting before needing a recharge!
The fast and efficient Genesis 2-burner stove from JetBoil is lightweight and folds in half for easy travel. The outer case is made of rugged steel to handle whatever Mother Nature can throw at it!
This hammock from Klymit provides a relaxing and stable sleep experience. Find a couple trees to loop the tree-friendly straps around and you’ll be the envy of all the other campers!
The Overlander
Looking for an effortless way to get a dog into a roof top tent? Check out the DOGGO RTT Ramp from Desert Armor! It’s made of heavy duty waterproof polyester, has rubber grips for traction and easily attaches to most roof top tent ladders.
*Use our code ‘WANDERLIKEUS’ for a discount on all regular priced Desert Armor accessories—including the DOGGO Ramp!
The perfect addition to any camp kitchen! This collapsible pot from GSI Outdoors combines a large volume with effortless packability. The included fry pan makes this a can’t miss gift for the camp chef! Although we think this gift fits best for Overlanders — it could very well be in any of the camping categories. We’ve even brought it on a few backcountry trips!
The latest upgrade to the award-winning BioLite FirePit uses firewood to create efficient flames without the smoke! Lift the fuel rack and toss in charcoal and the FirePit+ transforms into a portable hibachi-style grill!
The overlander in your life deserves something nice. They’ve worked hard and scrounged every penny to build out their rig. They go on long trips into the middle of nowhere but are constantly having to make trips into the city to buy more ice for their cooler. The only thing missing from their impressive build is this electrically operated fridge/freezer from Dometic!
*With all that being said—we would never expect someone to buy a gift this expensive for us! But hey, it’s nice to dream right?
If the Dometic Fridge/Freezer is a little out of your price range—why not check out the RollR from RovR Products. With up to 10 days of ice retention and some serious all-terrain rubber tires—this cooler is definitely ready to take on the outdoors! Oh and did we mention it’s certified grizzly bear resistant!
This collapsible shovel is the perfect addition to any overland rig. Ideal for digging a rig out of most situations and also able to chop and saw roots with a serrated blade edge.
The Explorer 500 Portable Power Station from Jackery is a gift every overlander will love! The long-lasting power can be used to charge phones, cameras, laptops and electric coolers like the Dometic CFX3 mentioned above! Pair it with the Solarsaga 100 Solar Panel to gain endless power directly from the Sun!
When adventure calls, you need reliable power. This solar panel from Overland Solar is the gold standard for all overland builds! It’s flexible shape will allow you to mount it just about anywhere on your overland rig!
Recovery gear is a staple in every overland build. These Maxtrax recovery boards use integrated teeth to grip your tire’s tread and provide traction in sand, mud or snow!
Everything you need for outdoor cooking all in ONE box—including a 2-burner stove! The Aioks from iKamper has a compact design that expands to seat up to 4 people. It’s made of premium materials to stand up to the demands of overland camping trips!
A good camp chair is a necessity when heading out on overland adventures. The Timberlline Camp Chair from Klymit is lightweight, durable and folds down into a small pack size! The high back supports the neck and head to make your camper the comfiest one around the campfire!
The perfect solution to keeping your valuable gear, clothing, tools and more organized, secured and protected. The Pelican BX90R Cargo Case can be mounted to your roof rack or truck bed and is extremely durable, weather tested and comes with a limited lifetime guarantee!
This portable hatchet combines light heft with an ultra-sharp blade and is ideal for splitting medium-sized and smaller logs!
Stocking Stuffers
Super soft and stylish! The EcoKnit Reversible Beanie by United By Blue makes a great holiday gift for those that spend a lot of time outdoors during the winter months!
Cold beer? Good. Cold hands? Bad. Slip your beer into a something a little more comfortable this holiday season with the Rumpl Beer Blanket!
*Remember to drink responsibly!
Made with spent coffee grounds and recycled plastic bottles—these comfy socks neutralize odours, dry ultra-fast and support a healthy you and a healthy planet!
Convenience meets performance with this flexible 1L water bottle. Stay hydrated during activity, then flatten and roll when empty to stow in places hard bottles won’t fit!
The lightweight and flexible design of the Everglow Light Tube makes it one of the more interesting camping lights on the market. Just inflate, plug-in to a USB input and hang using the carabiner loop or magnetic attachment points!
Designed with an inflatable core and topped off with a cozy down insulated cover, the Air Head Down Pillow from Therm-A-Rest will help you drift off—just about anywhere.
Built for when weight matters—this compact and absorbent towel is made of nanofiber material and can absorb over 2x it’s weight!
Protect small gear such as a smartphone in this crushproof, watertight and dustproof Micro Case from Pelican. The case can be submerged under 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes making it perfect for days on the water.
This eco-friendly kit includes two stainless steel straws, one straw cleaning brush, and one silicone bendy tip. When finished using the straws, store everything in the 100% recycled polyester carrying case!
Made from ultra-durable food grade BPA-free nylon this 5-in-1 utensil set is the ultimate shape shifter. The Switch Spork transforms into a dedicated spoon, fork and knife or can be combined to create an extra long utensil ideal for deep walled containers!
