Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned adventurer or someone just discovering the joys of the great outdoors, finding the best camping gifts can be tricky. That’s why we’ve done the hard part for you. Drawing on years of experience and real-world testing, we’ve rounded up our top picks, so you can skip the gimmicks and choose something truly useful.
We aimed to include a range of products, including essential camping gear like sleeping bags and mattresses to camping accessories we consider essential. Spanning from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy, this list has tried and true recommendations for every camper. So whether you’re searching for a holiday gift or an upcoming birthday, dive in below.
Best camping gifts: Our top picks
Crazy Creek AirLounger
$200 | crazycreek.com
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CRAZY CREEK AMAZON REI SCHEELS
The Crazy Creek AirLounger is an ideal camping gift for those who prefer (and have the flexibility) to sit on the ground. As its name implies, the AirLounger is a new take on the classic Crazy Creek ground chair, which gets rigidity from an inflatable frame. Compared to the increasingly popular legged chairs, the AirLounger is more versatile: it’s a great choice for uneven ground and even using it inside a tent.
Agawa Canyon Boreal 21
$82 | agawa.com
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I’ve had my Agawa Boreal 21 saw for close to five years now, and it’s become my go-to saw. It chews through dead fall with ease, which is handy especially on winter hot-tenting trips when we process a lot of wood to stay warm. Sturdy and lightweight, the Boreal’s folding frame packs flat and slips easily into a bag. After years of use, I understand why this saw has earned such a loyal cult following among backcountry campers.
Biolite Luci Original lantern
$40 | biolite.com
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BIOLITE AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY REI
I received a solar-powered Luci lantern nearly 10 years ago, and it’s still going strong. It is a welcome companion to brighten the mood in my tent on late-season kayak trips. The updated Luci lantern still makes a great gift for kayakers. It lasts up to 24 hours on a charge and can be topped up with a USB cable, along with the original solar panel. The disk-shaped lantern inflates to create a pleasant glow for reading or playing cards in the tent, and takes up no space in the hatch when deflated.
Thermarest NeoLoft
$239 | thermarest.com
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The original manufacturer of the self-inflating camping mattress keeps refining what it means to sleep comfortably outdoors. The Thermarest NeoLoft is a 4.6-inch-thick, all-season air mattress with unique features that rival your bed at home. The pad features a unique matrix of internal air chambers to cradle your body without the awkward rigidity of a typical air-filled mattress. I especially like the addition of side rails, which—combined with a new, grippier surface fabric—kept me from rolling off the pad. Several sizes are available, all tipping the scales at under two pounds.
Exped LuxeWool Pillow
$49.95 | exped.com
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Looking for a deluxe camping gift? Check out the wonderfully comfortable Exped LuxeWool pillow. It features a soft cotton fabric and cozy wool insulation, with foam chip filling that’s just the right firmness for a great night’s sleep. Meant for base campers, the full-size LuxeWool manages to compress to the size of a loaf of bread.
Best-value camping gifts
Areopress Go
$50 | aeropress.com
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I was skeptical of the Aeropress Go at first and didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. What’s wrong with cowboy coffee, I remember thinking. Then I bought the Go for a car camping trip as an upgrade from instant for our group. Now I bring it on backcountry paddling trips too. It’s compact, lightweight and brews a great cup in just about a minute. Everything fits inside the mug it comes with for easy packing. Filters included and cleanup is a quick rinse.
Lifestraw Sip
$50 | lifestraw.com
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The Lifestraw Sip is billed as a “reusable stainless steel filter straw” that removes microplastics, bacteria and parasites from water. About the size of a penny whistle and weighing less than 100 grams, this new product slips easily into a pack or into a stocking as a thoughtful holiday gift. The filter is rated to last at 1,000 liters. Using it is easy – no pumping, batteries or filling – it works just like a straw.
NestOut two-panel solar charger
$79.99 | nestout.com
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A great deal on portable power, the NestOut two-panel solar charger puts out 14 watts of power in full sun, which is plenty to quickly charge mobile phones, tablets and battery storage banks. Two USB outlets allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time, and a storage pocket allows you to carry a compact battery pack (or two) together with the panels. The panels fold into a durable, slim package that weighs barely a pound.
Camping gifts for her
Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed sleeping bag
$299.95 | sierradesigns.com
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A sleeping bag so luxurious it feels like a real treat every time I pack it out. Especially ideal for those who find mummy bags confining, the roomy, three-season Backcountry Bed features a zipperless design and an integrated comforter that’s ultra warm and cozy. A sleeping pad sleeve keeps your bag in place all night, while a foot vent, insulated shoulder pockets, and a cinchable hood let you fine tune comfort, no matter the outdoor temps.
Anian Tin Cloth Cap
$30 | anianmfg.com
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Made by a small Canadian manufacturer that promotes sustainable textiles, the Anian Tin Cloth Cap is stylish backcountry headwear that makes a great stocking stuffer for campers. As its name implies, the Tin Cloth Cap is tough as nails and sheds precipitation like a metal roof. The sizes run a little small; this slim fit, combined with vibrant colors, makes it an excellent camping gift for women.
Camping gifts for him
Alex Crane Campo sweater
$255 | alexcrane.co
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The Alex Crane Campo crewneck sweater is a long-term investment in coziness that makes an easy transition from shoulder-season use in the backcountry to casual Friday at work—or Christmas dinner, as the case may be. Made of impeccable Italian merino wool, it’s available in nine colors. The fit is athletic and trim.
Bajio 12 South sunglasses
$259 | bajiosunglasses.com
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If you haven’t experienced the crispness and clarity of premium glass lenses on a sunny day on the water, the Bajio 12 South sunglasses are a good place to start. Larger, aviator-style frames fit most men’s faces nicely and offer great protection from the sun’s rays. With polarized lenses and a stylish, surf-inspired look, they’re a good all-around choice for road-tripping and travel, camping and doing anything around the water. The 12 South can also be customized with prescription lenses.
Camping gifts for kids
Kammok Roo double hammock
$84.95 | kammock.com
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A hammock is great fun around the campsite for kids and adults alike, perfect for reading, relaxing and expending excess energy. The Kammok Roo double hammock packs down the size of a jar of peanut butter and weighs barely a pound, yet is spacious enough for two adults, with a weight capacity of 500 pounds. The soft fabric is cool and comfortable and sourced from recycled, pre-consumer waste.
Black Diamond Wiz headlamp
$29.95 | blackdiamond.com
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Here’s a great gift for the young camper on your list: the Black Diamond Wiz headlamp has all the features you would expect in a great headlamp, as well as a kid-proof design that works right-side up or upside down, an automatic shutoff that prevents the batteries from draining and a breakaway safety strap. The twin-LED design puts out 30 lumens of light, which is plenty for nocturnal missions around the campsite and reading in the tent.
Feature photo: iStock
