10 holiday gift ideas for campers
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s not always easy to figure out what to get everyone on your list. Luckily, if you know a camper, there’s tons of gear out there they’d love. But if you’re not a camper yourself, you might not know what to get.
Luckily, the Camping Coalition is here for you with our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. These are the things we’d love to get, so we’re sure the camper on your list would love them too. Happy Holidays!
Headlamp flashlight
Did you know it gets dark when you’re camping? When you’re wandering between the car and the tent or camper (or out in the woods doing… you know…), it’s helpful to have a little bit of light to see what you’re doing. After all, you can’t just flip a light switch like you can in your house.
Headlamps are a great gift idea for campers for hands-free illumination. Plus, they’re relatively inexpensive. You can easily find them for under $15. They’re also small enough to make a great stocking stuffer!
If the camper on your Christmas list uses a travel trailer or RV, rechargeable headlamps are a great option. They can just plug in the headlamp in the camper overnight, and it’ll be ready for tomorrow night’s adventures.
For campers who prefer “roughing it” in a tent or vehicle, a battery-powered headlamp might be better. If it dies, they won’t have to run around looking for an outlet. Just back a few extra batteries and voila, they’ll have all the head-mounted illumination they could ever need.
Carhartt Rain Defender jacket
Campers regularly have to deal with the weather. “Whether” it’s cold or warm, sunny or rainy, there’s no avoiding going outside when you’re living in the great outdoors. That’s why it’s important to have a jacket that can withstand whatever mother nature might throw your way.
Carhartt Rain Defender sweatshirts are a great gift idea for campers on your list. Not only are they super warm and comfy, but the Rain Defender coating also keeps them nice and dry in the rain. Water just beads up and falls right off!
Carhartt Rain Defender sweatshirts come in a few different styles, but I prefer the zip front over the pull over. It’s just easier to put on and take off.
You can also choose between thermal-lined, for extra chilly camping, or standard heavyweight, which is more like your standard sweatshirt. But no matter which style you choose, make sure it’s Rain Defender! That’s the most important part of any camping sweatshirt.
Crocs
Yes, they’re ugly, but Crocs are some of the best camping shoes you can buy! They’re easy to slip on and off, you can rinse them off with water, and they can tromp through just about anything (just kick it in four-wheel-drive with the back strap). I never leave on a camping trip without at least one pair of Crocs in the truck!
The best part about camping with Crocs is their versatility. You might not be making any fashion statements, but you can wear them without socks when it’s warm, with socks when it’s cold, through creeks, over leaves, on hikes; it doesn’t matter! They’re really the ultimate camping shoe. I leave them sitting outside the camper, so I can slip them on whenever I need to run outside (which is basically all the time). They’re also super comfy for lounging about the campsite without getting your feet dirty or bending over to tie your shoes.
The camper on your list might not know they want such odd shoes, but they definitely do. If they can’t stand the look of them, just buy them the camouflage Crocs. Then, nobody will be able to see them!
Crocs also come in a variety of different styles. I like the offroad version. They’re a bit beefier, have fewer holes in the front to prevent dirt and rocks from getting in your shoes, and have thicker tread for grip out in the woods.
Yeti cooler
If you really want to spoil the camper on your Christmas list, get them a Yeti cooler. They might be super expensive (some might call them unnecessarily expensive), but they definitely get the job done. I can fill mine with ice and “sodas” for a camping trip, throw the cooler in the back of the truck, and everything will stay nice and cold for almost a week!
What makes a Yeti such a good gift is that many campers think of it as a splurge item. They’d never drop that kind of money for themselves—making it the perfect surprise gift. Once you get over the initial sticker shock, your camping friend or family member will love their cooler for years to come.
Like most things, Yeti coolers come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. I prefer the Yeti 45. It’s the perfect size to carry enough drinks, but it’s still small enough that I can actually pick it up and move it around. They do get quite heavy!
Since Yeti coolers can be a bit expensive, a Yeti tumbler is a great cheaper (and smaller) alternative gift idea for campers. Even in the frigid, cold outdoors, they can keep their coffee nice and hot for hours on end as they explore the wilderness. Alternatively, it can also keep their “soda” nice and cool in the summer. No matter when or where they camp, their bevvy’s can be the perfect temperature. Plus, they come in a wide range of colors to suit any style.
Foldable hammock
There’s nothing better than taking it easy with a nice swing in the woods. A portable hammock is another great gift idea for any type of camper. Whether they like backpacking and tent camping or prefer something a bit more glamorous, a foldable hammock is the perfect size to fit in just about any storage area. Even backpackers can carry them around!
When buying a foldable hammock, look for one with heavy duty tree straps. Some come with thin nylon cords to tie it around the tree. I have one with the nylon cords, and it hasn’t broken yet, but I just don’t entirely trust it. I always feel more confident with the big heavy tree straps.
Campsite garden flag
It’s always fun to add a little decoration to your campsite. Sticking a garden flag at the entrance to the site is a great way to add a little personalized touch and, if you find a silly flag, entertain the other campers in the campsite. They’re great conversation starters!
Campsite garden flags are cheap and portable. Plus, since they’re a non-essential camping item, there’s a good chance the camper on your list doesn’t already have one. Even if they do, no camper is going to turn down another fun garden flag! You can also make custom garden flags if you want to add a personal touch. Just make sure they have a garden flag pole stand before you buy.
RV waste holding tank
If your camper tends to go on extended trips in a travel trailer or RV, a portable waste holding tank is a great gift idea. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but it’ll help them enjoy their long trips without having to empty their gray and black tanks as much.
When their camper tanks are full, they can just empty them into the portable waste holding tank and tow the small tank to the dump station. That way, they won’t have to unhook their camper and drive the whole thing over to the dump station whenever the tanks fill up.
Folding tailgate table
There’s never enough space to put your snacks and drinks in the campsite. When you want to sit around the fire, there’s only so much (level) space around. That’s where the tailgate table comes in.
A foldable tailgate table opens up to reveal four cup holders, a center spot for a bowl of chips and dip, and it even has an insulated cooler underneath to hold more “sodas” when you need a refill. When everyone’s done partying it up, the table folds into a bag for easy storage and portability. It’s the perfect gift for that camper who just loves to party!
Coleman camping grill
Eating is one of the best parts of camping. There’s just something about cooking and enjoying your meal outside that really adds to the flavor. No matter how the camper on your list likes to travel, everyone needs a Coleman grill. It’s one of the best pieces of camping cooking equipment you can buy!
The tried-and-true Coleman gas camping stove has been helping campers enjoy the great outdoors for decades. It has two burners that you can adjust independently to get the perfect heat level, and the side panels help block the wind, so it doesn’t blow out your flame.
Coleman grills run on small, portable propane tanks, and fold flat for easy storage. No matter how you “cook” it, a Coleman grill makes a great gift for any camper.
Collapsible cornhole boards
There’s only so much sittin’ around a campfire that you can do before you need to get up and do something! Of course, you also don’t want to put down your “soda.” For the game-loving camper on your list, collapsible cornhole boards make the perfect Christmas gift.
Cornhole is a great leisurely camping activity, but it’s not always easy to transport those giant wooden boards, especially when space is tight. Collapsible cornhole boards fit into a tiny bag and can still provide hours of entertainment in the campsite for the best of both worlds. Plus, they’re super easy to set up and tear down.
Happy Holidays!