12 Ideas for Camping Gifts

While people who camp frequently probably have a tent that serves them well and a good sleeping bag and pad, you might consider getting them a couple of comfortable camping chairs to furnish the campsite. Even if they have seating already, new chairs with fold-up side tables or flip-up canopies will make serving and eating meals easier and keep everyone shaded during the heat of the day. Plus, a camping chair that reclines is great for stargazing after the sun goes down.

Sometimes a little bit of comfort goes a long way, and a rechargeable, battery-powered fan can pack a lot of cooling into a convenient, portable package. Whether it’s a personal-size fan that a person can take on hikes or a tabletop model for cooling down at the campsite, these fans can bring quick relief on a hot day.

Cast iron pots and pans are great for cooking. They heat evenly, stay hot for a long time and, once seasoned, clean easily. These features, including long-lasting durability —  meaning they can survive some rough handling — make many cast iron pots and pans perfect for camping. They make great gifts that your friends or family can use over the campfire on their next outing and continue to enjoy for years to come. Look for pre-seasoned cast iron cookware so they can enjoy it without all the prep work and throw in some oven mitts or potholders for safe and easy handling.

The camping fan you’re shopping for undoubtedly has water bottles and travel mugs. But they might appreciate new or nicer options. Water bottles with vacuum insulation can keep water cool for hours and reduce sweating — nice for carrying water in a backpack and keeping the other contents dry. Leakproof lids are must-haves as well. Similar features also make a travel mug or tumbler a great gift.

If you believe a person can never have too many flashlights, a high-power LED flashlight might be just the thing for a camping fan. Whether they’re getting back late from a hike, searching the campsite for cooking supplies or just reading in the tent before bedtime, they’ll appreciate having a reliable, bright flashlight close at hand. Look for one with a focusing lens that can spotlight something at a distance or flood a wide area with light. A couple of camping lanterns make a great gift set as well. When suspended from trees, they can illuminate the whole campsite. Take a look at our Flashlight and Camping Lantern Guide to learn about some of the available options.

A portable charger or mobile device charger helps keep mobile phones ready to take pictures, light the way or provide bedtime reading material. It can also keep phones charged and ready for an emergency. Devices with multiple charging ports and weatherproof construction make great gifts for the camper in your life. These devices are compact and easy to stash in a backpack to make sure phones are ready for hours of use. Look for chargers with higher mAh (milliampere-hour) ratings — they’ll offer more device power before needing to be recharged. As an alternative to battery-based mobile device chargers, consider solar device chargers. With no battery, they’re lighter in weight and easier to carry on an all-day hike.

Help provide safety and security with the gift of a weather radio. A weather band radio will keep campers and hikers aware of weather conditions — especially important in case of severe weather in the area. Weather radios with alert functionality let you know when there’s an emergency broadcast. Many of these devices can be powered by either standard disposable batteries, solar cells or a hand crank. Some add mobile device charging and a built-in flashlight. Most include AM and FM bands to provide music or news on the trail or at the campsite. 

To keep everyone in touch with the campsite and each other, a set of two-way radios or walkie talkies makes a great gift for the camping enthusiast. Pay attention to the range the radio offers — some business- or commercial-oriented radios are just designed for use within buildings and jobsites. Look for models that allow communication over several miles. Some offer ranges up to 30 miles or more, depending on terrain and atmospheric conditions. In addition to keeping hikers in touch with the campsite, some of these devices double as weather radios.

Packing space is typically at a premium for a camping trip or for a hike. Help your friends and family members make the most of their valuable space with a multi-tool that gives them fast access to many of the most common tools they might need on a trip. With built-in tools such as knife blades, screwdrivers, pliers, saw blades and scissors, the right multi-tool can prepare them for quick assemblies, emergency repairs or even trail clearing on the go.

There’s plenty of time for family fun on a camping trip, and you can facilitate it for your camping enthusiast acquaintances with the gift of a portable outdoor game. These sets are great for a family competition or to keep the kids occupied while meal prep is underway. Look for travel-ready versions of favorite outdoor games — cornhole, horseshoes, badminton, volleyball and more — available in convenient carrying cases for easy packing.

If camping fans want to add some music to the gameplay, share some tunes while fixing a meal or play relaxing music to help the kids fall asleep after a long day, they might appreciate a wireless, water-resistant speaker. Built-in play, pause, next-track and previous-track buttons add convenience. A Bluetooth rechargeable speaker is easy to pack and easy to connect with a mobile device to share audio if you want to move beyond earbuds.

If your friend or family member takes their pets camping with them, they might like a pet jacket or raincoat for wet days or cool nights to keep their pet warm and dry. Look for an adjustable fit, fleece linings, adjustable removable hoods, and hook-and-loop closures to make dressing pets easier. Bright colors and reflective accents will make them easier to keep track of on the trail. It might even be helpful to include a set of shoes for a hiking pet to keep paws safe and sound on rocky or snowy trails.