Great gift ideas for men who love the outdoors

If you’ve ever slept on the floor of a tent without a mat, you’ll know exactly why a regular camper would appreciate one.

With good quality, low-budget mats now weighing next to nothing and taking up almost no space, there is no reason for him to play Martyr and go camping without one. Give the gift of good sleep!

We recommend the ECOTEK Outdoors Hybern8 Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad which is durable while remaining lightweight, easy to inflate, and super affordable!

Books make great gifts, but if you’re going to get him one, be sure it’s something he’ll actually want to read. If he’s already an experienced outdoorsman, a how-to book may not be his thing. But if it’s something he does casually or just something he’s interested in, then a bushcraft guide could make an excellent gift.

You’ll have a lot of options here, so if in doubt, Essential Bushcraft by Ray Mears is one you can’t go wrong with!

Another essential piece of kit for any outdoorsman – the Ferro Rod is essentially a lighter for those of us who like to stroke our own egos with a more hands-on approach to fire lighting.

There are hundreds of Ferro Rods on the market, and they are all essentially the same – a rod and a striker that create sparks. They cost next to nothing, which makes them a great low budget gift option. It really doesn’t matter which one you buy, but we’ve recommended the Ember Rock Survival Fire Steel, simply because I have one myself and have no complaints.

One of these is an absolute must for anyone who spends a lot of time camping. Whether on long hikes through the mountains or relaxing at a music festival, a compact gas stove will ensure he can always enjoy a hot breakfast and cup of coffee.

These things weigh next to nothing, and the gas canisters themselves barely add any extra baggage. There are tons of these on the market, but we think the best for quality and value for money is the tried and tested MSR PocketRocket. People who own these love them. Just check out the reviews!

Synonymous with the pervert, binoculars might not be your first choice of gift, which is unfortunate because they are an incredible piece of kit for anyone spending a lot of time outdoors. Think about it, all that beautiful nature brought closer without having to move. Best of all, you don’t have to shop the big-name brands to pick up a decent pair (which start at around $50).

If you’re on a budget, there are some great entry-level options available, such as these lightweight 12×42 Binoculars from Kylietech, which come with a phone adaptor for taking photos and are backed up by thousands of 5star Amazon reviews. At the time of writing, a set of these will only set you back £29.99.

A slightly more intimate option, probably best reserved for your significant others or close friends rather than your uncle Keith. Take him outdoors, camp, look at the night sky, and breathe nice air. He’ll appreciate this more than any material gift!

Best of all, this can be done almost anywhere and can be achieved on a shoestring budget.

If he’s into hiking, a good purpose-made day pack is another must. Yes, he can make do with just any old rucksack, but do you really want him out there in the mountains looking like some kind of amateur, getting laughed at by everyone who catches a glimpse of him with his city bag made for transporting a laptop and lunchbox to and from the office? No, you don’t want that. So buy him a proper bag that makes him feel like he belongs out there.

There are loads of absolute bargains to be found, such as this one by MOUNTAINTOP (another item on this list owned and loved by me). But if you want that extra bit of quality, we suggest the Osprey Stratos 26 – it’s one of the best on the market for around the £100 mark.

By far the most expensive item on this list, a GoPro certainly isn’t a small-gift item (despite its size). However, if you’re looking to spend some money, one of these little devices is going to make the perfect companion for anyone who enjoys documenting his adventures out in the wild.

The HERO8 bundle includes a head strap (great for sports use), and a handle that also doubles up as a freestanding mount, plus a spare battery and 32G SD card.

While pots and pans might not seem the most glamorous of gifts, anyone who prides themselves on camping light will love one of these compact cook sets. They are super economical, helping you pack lighter, take up less space, and keep things organised.

This set from Stanley even has space for you to store a small canister for your gas stove, which quite frankly, is awesome.

Why a knife above all else? Because us men love them. We may rarely use it, but we still like to have one on us when we’re outdoors – you never know when a stick might need sharpening!

Seriously though, a knife really does make a great gift. There is something inexplicably personal about a knife. It’s something that he’ll genuinely cherish, and a well-made one will last as long as he can avoid losing it. If on a budget, the Morakniv Companion is our recommendation (another item that I own and love). However, if you’ve got a bit more money to spare and want to give him something truly special, take a look at these personalised bushcraft blades available through Etsy.