18 Grade-A Gifts For Campers That They’ll Actually Use

Despite their easygoing personalities, campers can be some of the hardest people to please come gift-giving season.

For one thing, most camping aficionados already have their own gear, which they’re likely partial to. Attempting to upgrade tents, sleeping bags, or coolers can really push the limits of affordability, and even then there’s no guarantee that they’ll like the new stuff any more than the old.

But many campers also share another important quality: they tend to value experiences over material things.

That’s something you can work with.

If you want your friend or loved one to be a happy camper, take a look at the following fun gift recommendations, all of which are sure to help them get more out of their next trip.

Twin Insulated Travel Mugs

What’s better than one durable yet fetching stainless steel travel mug? Two durable yet fetching stainless steel travel mugs.

That’s what you get with Ello Cole’s dynamic duo of drinking receptacles, which come with such attractive features as 10-hour insulation (5 for hot beverages), a leak-proof slider, and a built-in cork coaster.

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All-Purpose First Aid Kit

Every responsible camper needs a trusty first aid kit, but far too many venture out unprepared. Don’t let your recipient be one of them.

With this Wilderness First Aid Kit from Kikkerland, they’ll be ready for all manner of accidents and emergencies with indispensable items like bandages, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, sunscreen, and safety pins close at hand.

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Foldable Camping Table

Once the shelter and it’s time to kick back, the two-tiered Leisure Sports Folding Camping Table is the way to do it.

The upper tier contains four mesh-supported cup holder cutouts, while the lower tier provides a place to stash food, drinks, and personal belongings during long fireside parlays. And at only 5.5 pounds, the dauntless explorer you’re buying it for will have no problem toting it to and from campsites, even if they’re backpacking.

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Snazzy New Hiking Boots

If you want to let your camping cohort know you care about them, treat them to a shiny new pair of hiking boots, such as the Danner Vertigo 917s.

Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, the Vertigo 917 is composed of tough full-grain leather uppers, a waterproof Gore-Tex inner lining, and Vibram outsoles for a trustworthy grip at all times. If that weren’t enough, its sleek, contemporary sensibilities make it just as appropriate for the street as for the trail.

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Tennis Racket Bug Zapper

Help your recipient serve gnats, mosquitos, and other pesky insects with a tennis racket-style bug zapper from World Grill. Fashioned from steel, plastic, and aluminum mesh, this sporty death device (which definitely isn’t USTA-approved) packs a low-wattage punch that’s lethal to airborne pests but won’t harm humans.

Game, set, and match.

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Three-Season Sleeping Bag

A versatile multi-season sleeper, like the one KHOMO GEAR sells for an absolute steal, is perfect for keeping tuckered campers warm and cozy in temperatures ranging from -15℉ to 40℉. It’s roomy enough to accommodate anyone up to 6’2” in height, offers convenient internal storage, and crushes up nice and small for effortless packing.

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National Park Glass Candle

National park-themed candles promise to capture the wonder of some of your recipient’s favorite spots between trips when they’re stuck at home daydreaming.

Each candle pays tribute to a different iconic scene that can only be witnessed inside America’s cherished national parks: the annual Firefall phenomenon in Yosemite National Park, sky-high Angels Landing peak in Zion National Park, and the snow-dusted Shangri La of Rocky Mountains National Park, Hidden Valley.

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Soft Tote Bag Cooler

Hydro Flask’s ultra-portable 18-liter soft cooler is a smart and stylish way to refrigerate crucial foodstuffs on short trips. Beneath the double-tough 420D nylon shell lies a thick layer of the infallible insulation that the manufacturer is famous for, guaranteed to keep drinks cold and snacks fresh for up to two full days.

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LED Tent Lights

You can never have too many reliable light sources when you’re posted up in the middle of the woods on a moonless night.

Leisure Sports understands this fact well. That’s why they make an economical two-pack of LED hanging bulbs that are just begging to be suspended from tent hooks, tree lines, or even gear bags.

The powerful LEDs inside supply as many as 100 hours of 60-lumen brilliance, and they’re even adjustable over three separate intensity settings to better suit their surroundings.

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Portable Camping Sink

If the person you’re shopping for is the minimalist type, blow their mind by hooking them up with a pump-operated camping sink.

SereneLife’s cleverly-designed outdoor wash station comes decked out with an integrated liquid soap dispenser, a stainless steel towel hook (which also works smashingly for TP, by the by), and a molded carry handle and rolling wheels for easy transport. Heck, that blows our minds.

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Two-in-One Utility Bracelet

Make sure the nature lover in your life has the equipment to handle whatever comes their way by gifting them a two-piece utility bracelet from Uncommon Goods.

While at first glance it appears to be nothing more than a handsome steel and neoprene wrist accessory, a quick button press produces a miniature knife, complete with a handy dandy flat head screwdriver attachment. It slices, it dices, it fixes and disassembles, and it looks snazzy to boot.

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Rechargeable Plasma Lighter

Fire has been one of mankind’s most useful tools since our cavemen ancestors first rubbed two sticks together.

But fire is so 12,000 B.C. Plasma, on the other hand, is in.

Icfun’s element-proof rechargeable plasma lighter is the 21st century equivalent of the outdoorsman’s faithful flint and steel. Your recipient can use the dual-arc ignitor to catch kindling, light a camp stove, or burn off ticks (*shudder*), then plug it into any available outlet using the included USB cable and be set to spark it up again whenever the situation demands it.

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Portable Multi-Tool for Chefs

Hidden within this pocket-sized are a dozen top-quality stainless steel culinary tools, including a can opener, a vegetable peeler, a zester, a cheese grater, a stirring spoon, a carving fork, and three different kinds of knives.

It’s like an entire kitchen drawer that your friend or loved one can carry around. In fact, the only thing it can’t do is actually cook for them.

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Camp-Ready Inflatable Lounge Chair

Most of the gifts people give campers revolve around utility. Let’s not forget, though, that camping is just as much about leisure as it is adventure.

An inflatable lounge chair is an excellent way to combine the two pursuits. Made from beefy ripstop polyester, you can be sure that it will stand up to rocks, twigs, roots, and rough terrain as it cradles your comrade and another camper in cloud-like comfort.

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Solar-Heated Shower Bag

One of the only drawbacks of an extended getaway is that you can’t bring your shower with you. Except you can.

All it takes is a few hours of direct sun exposure for anyone to be able to enjoy a nice, hot, refreshing shower, anytime, anywhere. The bag goes up, the water comes out, and the dirt and grime come off—it’s that simple.

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Portable Campfire

The natural soy wax that fuels this sustainable burn bin can be lit with the touch of a match or lighter and provides 3-5 hours of clean, smokeless heat and light per use. The container is also made entirely from recycled materials, meaning it’s far better for the environment than old-fashioned wood fires.

Win-win-win.

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E-Guide for First-Timers

The pixelated pages of “Camping: Outdoor Skills for Your Weekend Adventure” by Christopher Lucas are crammed with priceless practical tips and tidbits, like how to pitch a tent, cook a meal over a campfire, and pack wisely for different destinations. It’s sure to be a boon for less experienced campers who are eager to expand their knowledge.

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Rechargeable Camping Fan-Lantern Combo

Beating the heat is no great chore with the right outdoor fan, especially a USB-compatible one that hooks right onto the top of any standard tent. A must-have for those boiling summer days, this adaptable air displacer also pulls double duty as a light source, allowing users to read, work, or tinker with their equipment as they cool off in the evenings by virtue of a trio of brightness settings.

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