Holiday Gifts for Campers: 15 Perfect Ideas for Every Budget

Who doesn’t love a new pair of socks, particularly when you’re playing outdoors and want to keep your feet warm and comfortable? Choose merino wool Darn Toughs over cotton for their moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating, and odor-resisting properties. Look for options with cushioning in the heel and toe for extra support on long hikes. Darn Tough socks have the added benefit of an unconditional lifetime guarantee.

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate never taste better than when they’re enjoyed tent-side on a brisk morning at your campsite. No camper can have too many insulated, stainless-steel mugs for their drink of choice, so gift them with a cute one. (Got a coffee connoisseur on your hands? Throw in this collapsible pour-over coffee dripper.) Same goes for an ice-cold drink on a hot day in the wilderness. Durable, insulated water bottles are key. Bonus: These gifts reduce our overreliance on single-use plastics.

Space is a precious commodity in a backpack, the tent, and the car. Compression sacks help shrink bulky items like sleeping bags and puffy jackets down to a fraction of their size. I’m a total convert and even use my compression sacks when I’m packing for flights now.

If you’ve read our other gift recommendation lists, you know how I adore headlamps, one of those items you wish you had invented yourself! They are, admittedly, easy to misplace or lose in the packing up when camping, so an extra is always a good idea as a camping gift (and a great stocking stuffer). Modern LED headlamps are incredibly bright, lightweight, and energy efficient. The best choices have multiple brightness settings and a red-light mode, which is less disruptive to neighboring campers.

From cutting cord to opening a can, a multi-tool is the ultimate problem-solver (and always in my backpack). Compact models include essentials like pliers, a knife, screwdrivers, and scissors. It’s one of those gifts for campers that they might not buy for themselves but will use constantly.

Some of the best camping memories are made at the picnic table after dark, by lantern light and next to a cozy campfire. This is when the games come out and the laughter picks up. Gift your camper with a collection of easy-to-pack, all-ages games, like a conversation-starting Would You Rather book, or the popular Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Taco vs. Burrito.

If you’re a gift giver who likes to come up with the coolest present, look no further than the Luminoodle. The name is fun enough, but this gift’s sparkle continues well past the unwrapping. Charge it up via USB, then string the dimmable LED rope light up on tents, trees, even RVs (it comes in 5-foot and 10-foot lengths, but I suggest going for the 10-footer). When the lights aren’t strung up, stuff them back into the rip-stop storage bag, turn them on, and, presto, it’s a lantern!

If your camping buddy enjoys more rugged campgrounds without potable water, they’ll love a personal water filter. It’s certainly easier than lugging along plastic gallons of water. A squeeze filter or a gravity system removes harmful bacteria and protozoa from natural water sources, providing peace of mind and water when they need it.

Apparently, I was late to the hammock party. It wasn’t until a friend brought one along when our families were camping together that I realized the bliss that comes from slinging it up between two trees and creating the perfect cocoon for a nap or reading. Camping hammocks are made from lightweight, durable nylon and pack down into a small, attached stuff sack. Make sure to get one that includes “tree-friendly” straps that are wide and flat to avoid damaging tree bark.

Let’s face it, sitting on a log or a rock gets old fast. Give your camper the gift of comfort with a lightweight, packable camp chair for relaxing by the fire, reading a book, or enjoying their dinner. Many designs today pack down small enough to fit in a backpack, making them suitable for more than just car camping (I always keep a couple in the car for watching kids’ sporting events!).

As much as camping is about breaking away from routine and the bustle of daily life for a while, just about all of us bring our phones along for the adventure. Whether your giftee is using their phone for photos, navigation, or emergencies, a reliable power bank is a game-changer. Look for a rugged, high-capacity model (10,000mAh or more) that can provide multiple phone charges.

Go with this classic blue-speckled dining set for four, and your camping friends can say goodbye to their hodgepodge of plastic bowls and kitchen cast-offs. The set includes four each of good-sized dinner plates, mugs, and bowls, plus forks, spoons, and knives in a handy carrying case. Pair it with a retro, wipeable tablecloth.

Know someone who likes to try out new camping meal recipes? For the car camper or outdoor gourmet, a reliable two-burner stove transforms their campsite cooking game. Look for models with good simmer control, a built-in windscreen, and a dependable ignition system. Your campfire chef might also love a pie iron; the options are limitless, from grilled cheese to fruit-filled handpies, all over the campfire.

I’ll admit: With every passing birthday, a good night’s sleep is harder and harder to achieve when camping. A high-quality insulated and cushioned sleeping pad will not only offer critical insulation from the cold ground, but it will also smooth out bumpy terrain. Inflatable pads offer the best combination of comfort and packability, if you think your camper has plenty of space to bring one along, while self-inflating and foam pads offer durability and ease of use.

Upgrading to a high-quality down sleeping bag or quilt is a huge step up. My husband and I actually switched to this tent bed system and have never looked back (when car camping; backpacking is another situation, entirely). We use two side-by-side, extra-wide sleeping pads, cover those with a lightweight fitted sheet, then use a down quilt as our cover. It’s (almost) like sleeping at home! Down provides unmatched warmth for its weight and compresses beautifully, saving significant pack space.