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29 Gift Ideas For The Dad Who Can’t Get Enough Of The Outdoors

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Do you want to buy a gift for a dad who loves the great outdoors? I have rounded up what I think are the best gift ideas for outdoorsy dads!

So whether you need a gift for Father’s Day, Christmas, or a birthday, this gift guide will help you pick out the perfect gift for dad.

Gift Ideas Your Outdoorsy Dad Is Going To Love: Ideas To Fit All Budgets

Gift Ideas Your Outdoorsy Dad Is Going To Love: Ideas To Fit All Budgets

(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See disclosure page for more information.)

 

Dad opening a gift from his daughter.

This post is in honor of my children’s outdoor dad! A dad who loves to hike, go truck camping, enjoys the occasional kayak or bike adventure, and at the end of an outdoor adventure day, he can be found beside the campfire. We love you, Jack!

1. Season Pass To The Parks

If your dad fishes, kayaks, hikes, or bikes, he probably visits a State or perhaps even a National Park to enjoy time outdoors.  Surprise him with a season pass to his favorite type of park so that he can enter the park as often as he wants with no need to pay another entrance fee for the next twelve months.

2. Solar Powered Items

Solar power is the biggest thing with outdoorsy types right now. After all, the sun is easier to find than a plug-in when you are miles from civilization.

Here are a few ideas of solar-powered items you can give as a gift to your dad

Collapsible Lantern: This collapsible lantern that I found on Amazon does it all. It is a lantern, a charger, and a waterproof speaker. Plus, if the sun lets your dad down, he can charge it through USB (providing he has access to a charger or an outlet).

Foldable Lightweight Solar Panel:  Get dad the best in solar power when you purchase him a Goal Zero Backpack Solar Panel. These are great for powering phones, portable chargers, and small USB devices.

3. Waterproof Phone Case Or Sleeve

If your dad doesn’t love his phone case, upgrade it to a durable waterproof one that will allow him to enjoy all his outdoor activities with zero worries about his phone getting damaged.

Or perhaps your dad would prefer a waterproof phone pouch that he can use for longer than his next phone upgrade. This Pelican brand case has excellent reviews and comes in black or olive green.

Dad in homemade truck topper camper.
You can see our entire truck topper build here.

4. A Unique Multi-tool

You could get dad a new knife, but chances are he already has plenty. What he probably doesn’t have is a Geekey multi-tool. This tool is the size of a key (hence the name), yet it performs 16 different functions. It is a bottle opener, a combo screwdriver, and much more.

Another unique multi-tool is this hatchet that is also a hammer, a saw, and eleven other tools.

5. Quick Dry Towel

A towel might be a boring gift on its own, but you could make it part of a themed gift by including a few more items that go with your dad’s favorite outdoor activity.

Trust us, though; he will love the quick-dry towel once he realizes how sand does not stick to it and that it remains odor-free even after a whole week’s worth of use. Plus, it will be dry every time he reaches for it.

6. Premium Snacks

Large doses of fresh air make you hungry!

Treat dad to his favorites and surprise him with a few new ones to try, such as

  • Grass-fed beef sticks
  • Zesty Garlic Biltong
  • Variety Of Smoothie Squeeze Packs

Or go all out and get him a snack box filled with a variety of different high protein options.

Jack standing in Shangri-La arch in Carter Caves Kentucky
Standing under the Shangri-La Arch in Carter Caves Resort Park, Kentucky.

7. Warm Hat, Socks, Gloves

No matter how much outdoor gear your dad has, he will still appreciate a new warm hat, pair of socks, or gloves. Find options that contain merino wool as it is moisture-wicking and long-lasting.

8. Compact Water Filtration System

If your dad loves long hikes in the backwoods, make sure he is packing a Lifestraw so that he will be able to make any water source safe for drinking in an emergency.

Another great option is this water bottle with a built-in water filtration straw.

9. USB Rechargeable Headlamp

If your dad has an old battery-powered headlamp in his camping gear kit, why not upgrade him to a USB rechargeable one? This set includes two, allowing him to put one in his camping box and leave the other in the house for early morning runs. Include a portable USB charger to charge them when he doesn’t have access to electricity. We have several made by this brand and are pleased with their performance and durability.

Husband on top of Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Jack on top of Stone Mountain in Georgia. Read about our time in the park here.

10. Something To Chill In

No matter what your dad likes to sit in and relax at the end of the day, there is a portable version of it that he can take camping.

  • If he loves to lay around on the couch, give him a portable hammock or an air lounger.  
  • If he loves his recliner, give him a portable lounging camp chair that comes with a case with a handle to make it easier for dad to bring it to his favorite spot, whether under a shade tree or in the sun at the beach.
  • If he is more of a minimalist guy, then perhaps this folding camping stool would be the perfect gift.

11. Portable Propane Campfire Pit

There are numerous benefits to using a portable propane campfire pit over a traditional wood campfire. There is no smoke, no need to purchase expensive campground logs, no need for kindling or other fire starters, and you are generally allowed to use a propane fire pit during fire bans (check with campground first).

12. Emergency Hand-Crank Flashlight

When your dad finds himself on a dark path with a headlamp that is out of juice, he will be thanking you for the gift of a hand-crank flashlight to light his way back to the car.

Jack checking out the entrance to Jackson Cave.
Checking out the entrance to Jackson Cave in Cedars Of Lebanon State Park, TN. Check out more pictures of our time there.

13. Rugged Wireless Speaker

Extrovert dads love sharing their adventures and their tunes with their friends. Help him share those tunes well with a rugged, waterproof wireless speaker that he can clip anywhere.

14. Upgrade His Backcountry Coffee

Java loving dads will love this stainless steel personal-sized all-in-one french press and travel mug.

Pour over loving dads will like this collapsable travel pour-over. I have had one in our truck camper for years, and it is still going strong. Pair it with a Yeti coffee mug. I have this size and style and it works perfectly with the pour over.

15. Gift Cards To His Favorite Outdoor Store

For the dad who has everything, purchase him a gift card to his favorite outdoor store, whether it be REI or Cabela’s. That way he can pick out his own gift, avoiding the hassle of having to return duplicates.

Jack checking out the war memorial in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville, TN.
Jack checking out the war memorial in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville, TN. Here is all that we got up to during our time in Nashville.

16. Road Atlas

Before my father passed away, he used to tell me what the best route was for our upcoming trips in the USA from his home in England using the North American Road Atlas I bought him. My husband continuously checks a printed atlas to make sure Google maps is giving him the best route. And if Jack can’t find his road atlas, chances are our son has it. There is just something about a paper road atlas that men love.

17. Plant Or Bird Identification Guide

Dad could snap a picture and use the Google lens app to identify the plants and birds he sees, but for diehard book lovers, there is just something about looking things up within the pages of a book. These guides are region-specific, so make sure you get the correct one.

18. Warm Flannel Items

Flannel equals warmth. My husband has two flannel-lined button-up shirts similar to these that he has been wearing for years. Chances are, your dad will love them just as much as my children’s dad does.

If your dad camps in an RV in cold temperatures, give him the gift of a warm night’s sleep with flannel sheets.

And of course what man couldn’t do with another pair of flannel PJ pants to greet fellow campers in each morning.

Man on the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana.
Checking out the rocks behind the lighthouse at Michigan City, Indiana. We spent a weekend exploring the area.

19. Waterproof Socks

I didn’t even know waterproof socks existed until recently. Now I want to get my husband a pair and myself one too. If you are not sure why people would want waterproof socks, read the reviews on this pair.

20. A Subscription

There is a subscription box for every type of dad

  • There is one for the dad that likes fly tying.
  • One for dads who love trying out the latest in Outdoor gear.
  • And one for beef jerky enthusiasts 

21. A Waterproof Kindle

Books are heavy and hard to read if they get wet, making a waterproof kindle an excellent gift idea for a bookworm dad.

Jack standing in front of a cabin at Fort Duffield.
Jack is a massive civil war buff so of course we stopped at Fort Duffield on our way home from exploring Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

22. Garmin Mini Inreach

Give dad the gift of safety with the Garmin Mini Inreach compact satellite communicator.  This device will allow him to update the whole family on his whereabouts. And if he gets into trouble, he can use its SOS function to alert search and rescue teams.

23. Upgrade His Cooler

Is dad still storing his food in a cooler from the late 1990s? Then gift him a Yeti cooler that keeps ice cold for days. It comes in various sizes and colors.

24. Portable Power Station

Boondocking is all the rage, but that doesn’t mean your dad has to leave all the luxuries of home behind. With a portable power station, he can power a fan to keep him cool all night. The next day he can recharge the power station with either a movable solar panel or with his vehicle while driving. Of course, he can power more than a fan. What he powers is up to him.

Husband on top of Devil's Marbleyard in Virginia. A popular trail just off of the BlueRidge Parkway.
Jack on top of Devil’s Marbleyard in Virginia, a popular trail just off of the BlueRidge Parkway.

25. A Sun Hat

Give dad some sun protection for his head (which might have less hair on it than it once did) with a sun hat. This one has an SPF rating of 50 and has a wide brim and neck flap to ensure that all the sun-sensitive areas, such as the ears, are well protected from sun damage.

To make the gift a set, add a head net that works well with this type of hat and will keep dad’s face safe from pesky insect bites.

26. Heat Resistant Gloves

These heat-resistant gloves will keep the dad that loves cooking over the open flame of a campfire safe.

27. Apparel With Slogans That Match His Favorite Outdoor Activity

Help dad spread inspiration with a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or mug with a slogan about his favorite outdoor activity.

Man and his dog walking on a trail in Fort Custer State Recreation area in Michigan.
Hiking with my daughter’s dog in Fort Custer State Recreation Area, Michigan.

28. A Tent That Will Turn His Ride Into A Camper

Camping in your vehicle is super trendy right now; check out our DIY truck topper camper build, or if you have a minivan, check out our must-haves for a minivan to camper conversion.

However, you could keep the build super simple by buying dad a tent that fits in the back of his truck or on the back of his SUV hatch. And if your dad drives the family minivan, he too can have a tent for that.

29. A Tactical Christmas Stocking Full Of Outdoor Goodies

Although all the other items on this list are perfect for Father’s Day or birthday gifts, this last one works well just for Christmas. If your dad loves tactical gear, my guess is he would love a tactical-themed Christmas stocking filled with an assortment of smaller items from this list.

Here are a few more small items that make great stocking stuffers. 

  • Dude shower wipes for when there isn’t a shower around.
  • Chapstick with SPF  because it always goes missing dad can always do with another tube.
  • Hothands Hand Warmers are great for cold winter activities.
  • A men’s moisture-wicking headband. These are great for keeping sweat out of eyes on hot days.
  • Emergency Whistle that doesn’t need batteries for your dad to get help when he needs it most.

I hope this list gives you plenty of ideas for the perfect gift for your dad, no matter the occasion.

More Gift Guides For Outdoor Enthusiasts

29 Gift Ideas For The Outdoorsy Mom (ideas for all budgets)

25 Gift Ideas For Hikers: Ideas for all budgets

 

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About the Author

Hi, I am Victoria and I am married to Jack. We have 3 kids ages 20 to 26 Now that the kids are grown we have more time on our hands for travel. Sometimes our kids join us but mostly we travel just the two of us. This blog is where we share our adventures as well as travel tips.

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