In this guide
Looking for gifts for outdoorsy men? The ones that get used are small, sturdy things that ride along on every trip, chosen for what he already does outside, not for the gear you picture him with.
This guide is for anyone shopping for a dad, a husband, a brother or a friend who spends his weekends on a trail, at a campsite or on the water. Start with the kind of outdoorsman he is, then pick one upgrade he would not buy for himself. Two of the ideas are our own products, and we say so each time. Everything else is a type of gift, not a brand, so you can shop wherever you like.
Jump to:
- Two picks from us
- Gifts for the hiker
- Camping gifts for men who love a campsite
- Gifts for the angler or the beach dad
- Outdoor gifts for dad
- Gift combinations for outdoorsy men
Top picks for outdoorsy men
- For the hiker: trekking poles, or a paper map of the area he hikes most.
- For the camper: a camp coffee kit for the early start.
- For the angler or beach dad: a wide-brim sun hat and a tackle organizer.
- For the man who keeps a bag in the truck: our Pocket Blanket, a seat for two that folds into a pouch.
- For the man who has everything: a guided day or a skills course.
Gift ideas at a glance
| Gift idea | Size of gift | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Our product Pocket Blanket or travel towel set (both ours) | Small | The hiker, the camper, the beach dad, the man who travels light |
| Trekking poles | Medium | The hiker who likes steep trails |
| Hip pack | Small | The hiker who hates a full backpack on short walks |
| Camp chair | Medium | The camper and the sideline dad |
| Camp coffee kit | Small to medium | The early riser at camp |
| Cast-iron pan | Medium | The camper who cooks over a fire |
| Wide-brim sun hat | Small | The angler and the beach dad |
| Tackle organizer | Small | The angler |
| Binoculars | Medium to big | The man who has everything |
| A guided day or a skills course | Big | The man who has everything |
How to choose a gift for an outdoorsy man
Most outdoorsy men already own the big gear: the tent, the boots, the pack. So skip the big purchase and ask three questions.
- What does he grumble about on every trip? Cold coffee, a sore seat, a pack that is too full. Solve that one thing.
- Will it pack? If it is heavy or bulky, it stays in the garage.
- Does it need a size? Clothes and boots are a gamble. A pan or a pair of binoculars is not.
Two picks from us
BEARZ Outdoor Pocket Blanket (our product)
Good for: the man who keeps a small kit in the truck, the daypack or the tackle bag, and the dad who ends up on the grass at a kid’s game.
This is our Pocket Blanket, so read this with that in mind. It opens to 55 x 60 in (140 x 152 cm), room for two adults, and packs into a pouch of 4.5 x 3.5 in (11.5 x 9 cm). It weighs 6.4 oz (0.18 kg), and the carabiner clips the pouch to a pack strap or a belt loop.
He can leave it in the bag and forget it until a lunch stop on a ridge, where it opens into a seat for two. The polyester fabric is water-resistant, and the corners have pockets you can fill with sand or stones, plus corner loops.
Good to know: it is a thin ground cover, not padded and not a warm blanket. If he wants cushioning on rocks, this is not that. It is hand wash only, in cold water. You can see every color, camo included, on the Pocket Blanket page.
For US shoppers only: we also make Blanket Stakes, four 5.9 in plastic stakes per pack, sold on Amazon in the United States only. Outside the United States, fill the corner pockets with sand or stones instead.
Travel Towel and Face Cloth set (our product)
Good for: the man who swims in lakes, showers at campgrounds or washes his face at a cold tap before the drive home.
Our second pick is also ours: a travel towel set. The towel is 48 x 24 in (120 x 60 cm), the face cloth is 15 x 12 in (38 x 30 cm), and both go in a carry bag with a carabiner. The whole set weighs 7.4 oz (0.21 kg).
Good to know: it is one travel towel and one face cloth, not two full-size towels. Cold wash with like colors, no fabric softener, and hang it to dry.
Gifts for the hiker
The hiker counts every ounce and every minute of daylight. Give him something that makes a long day easier, not heavier.
Trekking poles
Good for: steep descents and stream crossings.
They suit a man who hikes hilly trails more than flat paths.
Good to know: if he already has a pair, check how worn the tips are before you buy another.
A hip pack
Good for: short hikes and dog walks.
It holds a phone, keys and a snack without a full backpack.
A paper map of his home trails
Good for: the man who hikes the same area every month.
A paper map needs no signal and no battery. Pick the area he hikes most, and he will mark it up for years.
Camping gifts for men who love a campsite
The camper has a routine: set up, cook, sit by the fire. Camping gifts for men work well when they make one part of that routine better.
A camp chair
Good for: car campers and sideline dads.
A real seat beats a log or a cooler lid.
Good to know: look at the packed size if he carries it far from the car.
A camp coffee kit
Good for: the early riser at camp.
A pour-over cone or a small press, plus a bag of beans from a roaster near you.
A cast-iron pan
Good for: the camper who cooks over coals.
It handles eggs, bacon and cornbread over the fire.
Good to know: it is heavy, so it suits car camping, not backpacking.
A pocketknife
Good for: every camper.
Camp is full of small cutting jobs: rope, packaging, kindling.
Good to know: if he flies, check the airline’s rules before it goes in a carry-on.
Gifts for the angler or the beach dad
The angler and the beach dad spend long hours in one spot, usually in full sun, with too many small things to keep track of.
For more beach ideas, see our separate guide to what to give someone who loves the beach.
A wide-brim sun hat
Good for: a long morning on the water or a full day on the sand.
Shade for the face and neck through the brightest hours.
Good to know: check his hat size, or pick one with an adjustable band.
A tackle organizer
Good for: the angler with a tangle at the bottom of the bag.
Clear boxes with dividers keep hooks and lures sorted.
A folding stool
Good for: the bank of a river or the edge of a pier.
Lighter than a chair and easy to carry down to the water.
Gifts for the outdoorsman who has everything
When he owns it all, give him time outside instead of another object.
Want small extras for the stocking? Our list of stocking stuffers for hikers and campers has ideas. Is he always on the road? Try our gifts for travelers.
A guided day or a skills course
Good for: the man who wants a new story more than new gear.
A fly-casting lesson, a navigation class or a guided hike in a new area. Nothing needs storage.
An America the Beautiful pass
Good for: the man who visits several parks in a year.
It covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees at federal recreation sites, national parks included.
Binoculars
Good for: birds, wildlife and the far side of a lake.
A compact pair fits in a jacket pocket.
Outdoor gifts for dad
Dads tend to buy what they need and say they want nothing. So give him something that makes time outside with the family easier.
- For the camping dad: a camp chair, or a cast-iron pan for the family breakfast. Camping gifts for dad do not need to be big; they need to be used every trip.
- For the dad who hikes: trekking poles, or a map of a trail you can walk together.
- For the dad at the game or the beach: our Pocket Blanket, a wide-brim hat or a folding stool.
- For the dad who wants nothing: plan a day out together and take care of everything. It costs you time instead of shelf space.
One thing to know before you buy a park pass for an older dad: the Senior Pass for US citizens and residents aged 62 and over cannot be bought as a gift, because he has to show proof of eligibility himself.
Gift combinations for outdoorsy men
These are pairings, not bundles: each item is bought on its own.
- The truck kit: our Pocket Blanket plus our travel towel set. A seat for two and a towel that live behind the seat until a swim or a lunch stop.
- The dawn patrol: camp coffee kit and a camp chair. Coffee in hand, feet up, before anyone else is awake.
- The day on the water: wide-brim sun hat, tackle organizer and a folding stool. Shade, order and a seat on the bank.
- The trail day: a paper map of a new area and a guided hike there. The gift and the plan in one.
Gift questions, answered
What do you get an outdoorsy man who has everything?
An experience or an upgrade. A guided day, a skills course or a pass to the parks he likes gives him time outside. A fresh version of the thing he uses most is the safe second choice.
What are good camping gifts for men?
Things that make camp more comfortable: a camp chair, a coffee kit, a cast-iron pan or a pocketknife. Ask whether he car camps or backpacks, because weight matters for the second.
Are practical gifts better than fun ones for outdoorsy men?
For most, yes. A gift that solves a small, real problem goes on every trip. A novelty item is easier to forget in a drawer.
Shortlist: gifts he will take outside
- For the hiker: trekking poles.
- For the camper: a camp coffee kit.
- For the angler: a tackle organizer.
- For the man with a bag in the truck: our Pocket Blanket.
- For the man who has everything: a guided day outside.
Think about the one thing he complains about on every trip, then solve it. For more ideas for anyone who loves the outdoors, see our gifts for hikers and campers.
Be Outdoors Be Wanderful™
