33 Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Men (2024 Gift Guide)
Getting an epic gift for your outdoorsy dad, brother, boyfriend, partner, co-worker or friend can feel overwhelming – especially if you aren’t all that outdoorsy yourself. In order to make shopping for the outdoorsman in your life as pain-free as possible, my husband, Michael and I have curated this special list of the best gifts for outdoorsy men to help you with your Christmas, birthday, or Father’s Day shopping overwhelm.
This list is filled with some of our absolute favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy guys.
We are going to break out this best outdoor gifts for men list into 5 core sections:
Gifts for Outdoorsy Men Under $25
Gifts for Outdoorsy Men That Will Keep Them Safe in the Outdoors
Best Clothing Outdoor Gift Ideas for Men
Cool Gadget Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Men
Unique Outdoorsy Gifts for Him
In the end, don’t stress out too much. If your outdoorsman friend or family member is anything like Michael, they are easily pleased. They enjoy the simple things in life, and it truly is the thought that counts the most!
Please note: The below post contains affiliate links.
GIFTS FOR OUTDOORSY MEN UNDER $25
1. BUFF NECK GAITER
This gift for outdoorsmen is fantastic multipurpose accessory. The Buff neck gaiter is made from lightweight merino wool, and will keep you warm on those cold alpine starts or cool in the afternoon heat once you soak it in cold water. There are tons of ways you can use your buff, and they com in so many great colors and patterns!
2. ZIPPO 12-HOUR HAND WARMER
This is a neat little gadget to keep your hands warm on those long days hiking or climbing with your buddies. It’s small and compact but will keep an outdoorsy man warm when the weather can get unbearably cold. This would also make an awesome stocking stuffer!
3. BOOK: INTO THE WILD
This book was the main thing that got Michael into the outdoors (besides the encouragement of friends). You might have heard of it or seen the amazing Sean Penn directed movie from the early 2000s.
Into the Wild tells an amazing true story of a young man who got rid of everything after college to find the most basic form of happiness through travel and the outdoors. The story has a twist you may not expect, and it’s a great gift for an outdoorsy guy!
4. BOOK: THE ADVENTURE GAP
Another great book that any outdoorsy man will love is The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors. Journalist James Edward Mills tells the story of the first all-African American team of climbers to attempt to summit Denali, interspersed with stories of other outdoor adventurers of color including climber Kai Lightner and Mathew Henson, who stood on the North Pole with Robert Peary.
5. NICK’S STICKS JERKY
An outdoorsy man needs to eat to fuel his adventures, and beef jerky is a perfect portable protein-packed snack for spending time on the trail. Nick’s Sticks is my new favorite jerky, and they have beef sticks, chicken sticks, and turkey sticks, all with clean ingredients and no sugar.
Plus, they are just so tasty! Your favorite carnivorous outdoorsy guy will definitely appreciate a few packages of this jerky.
6. U.S. CAMO CORPS FIELD SHAMMY
Everything gets dirty when you’re outside, and even the dirtbaggiest of outdoorsy men will appreciate something to clean up mud and other messes. The U.S. Camo Corps Field Shammy is made of viscose and absorbs 12x its weight in water – plus, it has a little (non-climbing!) carabiner to easily clip to a pack to keep it on hand. This will come in handy for everything from wiping down gear to wiping down dogs and even people.
7. PUFFIN DRINKWEAR
Your favorite outdoorsman can keep their beverages cold in style with these cool coozies from Puffin. The drinkwear comes in a wide variety of styles – from flannels to hoodies – so you can pick the one that fits his style best. And the arms make super convenient handles!
8. REI GIFT CARD
When in doubt, go the gift card route! If none of the items listed above seems fitting as a gift for your friend or family member, a gift card to REI is always a great solution – let them do all the hard work and you just front the bill.
GRAB MY [FREE] OUTDOOR BACKPACKER STARTER KIT:
I created the Ultimate Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for you (and it's FREE)! This starter kit is filled with 14 pages of my best hiking and backpacking tips to help you learn what it takes to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient outdoor backpacker!
GIFTS FOR OUTDOORSY MEN THAT WILL HELP KEEP HIM SAFE IN THE OUTDOORS
9. GARMIN VENU GPS WATCH
When it comes to keeping track of my outdoor activities, I like a watch that has great battery life and that can measure my progress in as many activities as possible. Also, it’s nice having something that looks good but can withstand some adventure abuse. That’s why I love Garmin watches!
The Garmin Venu is one of my favorite outdoor watches and would make an awesome gift for any outdoorsman in your life. It has GPS and all the activities (running, mountain biking, hiking, etc.) I want in a watch but at a fraction of the cost when compared to their top of the line Fenix watches. If your family member or friend likes to do very long extensive trips into the backcountry, then I would suggest the more expensive Fenix, but the Venu is great for most everyday outdoor activities.
10. FOLDING KNIFE
One of the best parts about being an outdoorsman is finding the tools that make your time outside more pleasant and to me one of those tools is a good, quality knife. With the endless amount of options out there, picking YOUR tool is half the fun next to actually using it.
Benchmade and Spyderco are two of the best knife brands you can buy! I’d be stoked to receive either one of these as a gift. An outdoorsy man can never have too many good knives.
11. GARMIN INREACH MINI SOS SATELLITE DEVICE
The Garmin inReach Mini is one of the coolest safety gadgets you can have as an outdoorsy person, and I think it’s one of the top pieces of gear you should own as soon as you’re able to afford it, especially if you do a lot of overnight backpacking or camping.
The Garmin inReach Mini allows you to have 2-way communication with a safety contact on the outside, and even set up “live” real time tracking so a friend or family member can keep tabs on you while you’re outdoors. It also has an SOS satellite communication feature for those worst-case scenarios when you need to call in search and rescue (hopefully never needed, but nice to know you have it). Long story short, it’s one of the best pieces of outdoor gear you can own, and if your friend or family member doesn’t have one of these yet then this is an AWESOME gift to get them.
It’s a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth the peace of mind in my opinion.
12. MEN’S PATAGONIA DOWN SWEATER
Patagonia is one of the best companies out there for outdoor gear. So if you are looking for good gifts for outdoorsy men then this jacket is one that any guy will be stoked to get! A good down jacket is also absolutely essential in regards to your safety outdoors (and staying warm in the backcountry).
The Patagonia Down Sweater jacket is the perfect down jacket for backpacking and camping trips, and is something every hiker and outdoorsman should have in his arsenal.
13. SUUNTO MC-2 NH USGS COMPASS
Every great outdoorsman needs a great compass, and the Suunto MC-2 NH USGS compass is one of the best out there for navigating in the outdoors.
A good compass is an absolutely essential safety item for any serious outdoorsy guy. This particular model is great because it has top of the line features compared to many other compasses, like a mirror for sighting bearings and signaling and adjustable declination correction.
Your outdoorsman might have a compass, but does he have THIS compass? It’s top of the line, and would be an excellent gift for outdoorsy men.
14. BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL PRO SHOCK TREKKING POLES
If your favorite outsdoorsmen doesn’t already have trekking poles, they will totally appreciate them. Michael and I both have the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock trekking poles. I've owned a pair of cheaper trekking poles in the past and they broke fairly easily., but these are almost indestructible.
I've been using the same pair for almost 5 years now, and they are still going strong. These would make an awesome gift!
BEST CLOTHING OUTDOOR GIFT IDEAS FOR MEN
15. PRANA STRETCH ZION SHORTS OR PANTS
If I think of my most used and beloved piece of outdoor apparel, it would have to be my Prana Stretch Zion pants - and shorts!
I swear these are the most versatile pants I have ever worn in my life. They are super comfortable yet stylish. They are stretchy, durable, and functional, and they are also made by a company who goes out of their way to build their products responsibly.
16. ARCADE CARTO BELT
To go along with pants, a belt built for adventure would make a great gift for the outdoorsy man. Arcade Belts creates lightweight but durable belts that are both stylish and built for adventure. The low-profile buckle stays out of the way under a backpack hip belt or climbing harness, and it’s made of tough plastic so you don’t have to worry about setting off the metal detector when traveling.
17. PATAGONIA CAPILENE COOL TRAIL LONG SLEEVE
Second on the list of my most used and beloved articles of clothing (only because I didn’t discover it sooner) would have to be this Patagonia Capilene long sleeve shirt. Capilene is an extremely versatile lightweight material that provides you with a warm layer in cooler temps but in the heat will keep you cool as well as protect you from the sun.
I did a 12-day backpacking trip once where this was the only shirt I took on the trip. Knowing temps were going to fluctuate, I wanted to carry as little as possible, and it was absolutely perfect. I love this thing!
18. BEDROCK SANDALS
These Bedrock sandals would make an awesome gift idea for any outdoorsman. They’re perfect for hanging out at camp, throwing a line into the water, or even going hiking in.
With the Bedrocks, you get a cool and functional pair of sandals, plus you’ll be supporting an awesome small business. Bedrock sandals also have great warranty support. They will re-sole your old sandals when they become really worn down, which makes the price even more of a great deal.
19. OUTDOOR RESEARCH SUN RUNNER HAT
Sun protection is key for any true outdoorsy man. Even though these hats may seem a little silly in appearance, they are an awesome item to have on hand for long adventures in the backcountry. Sun hat protect your neck, which is likely to get really burnt from the sun even if you’re diligent with the sunscreen.
I love this sun hat from Outdoor Research because you can take the flap off and use it as a normal hat when you don’t need the neck protection quite as much.
20. KAVU FLANNEL SHIRT
This Kavu Flannel shirt is one of my favorite pieces of clothing for more casual outdoor wear. When the hiking boots or climbing shoes are put away, and we head to the nearest brewery for a beer this is my go-to flannel for those crisp nights.
It’s not just any flannel either. This shirt is a bit thicker and has a secret stash pocket, which is a really nice touch. It’s also incredibly warm considering how lightweight it feels. I was lucky enough be gifted this for my birthday once, and it is really one of the best outdoor gifts for men that like a good flannel shirt.
21. DARN TOUGH SOCKS
Socks may not be the sexiest gift out there, but they sure are practical! Why are socks important? Having dry feet is one of the key ways to prevent getting blisters on a hike.
So I guarantee you any outdoorsy man will appreciate a good set of wool socks! I am a big fan of the Darn Tough Wool Socks, because they are comfortable and have nice colors and patterns.
COOL GADGET GIFT IDEAS FOR OUTDOORSY MEN
22. SONY A7C FULL FRAME MIRRORLESS CAMERA
As a photographer, the thought of recommending just one kind of camera is tough, but if you are willing to spend the money, I would recommend getting the Sony A7c full-frame mirrorless camera.
This camera is perfect for an outdoorsy guy that also wants to take great photographs because its great quality but small and compact as well. I love the current Sony line up and I couldn’t recommend that brand enough. If you want to make this an even more epic gift, then buy the “kit” package which comes with a lens to get your family/friend started with everything they need. As they improve their photography, they can expand their lens arsenal.
23. GOAL ZERO YETI
You might be wondering what an outdoorsman would need a giant, portable battery for? Well, for someone who loves to car camp in the backcountry or take long road trips off the grid, a giant battery like the Goal Zero Yeti is the perfect way to stay charged throughout their adventure.
A Goal Zero Yeti can allow them to plug in a small refrigerator for cold beverages, or charge their laptop if they’re working on the road, or even power a big light source for the night. This is a great gift for any guy who has a lot of gadgets he wants to keep charged during big, adventurous trips. If you’re not sure what Yeti to buy, check out this article Allison wrote for Wayfarer Vans all about powering up on the road.
24. ROCKY TALKIES
Walkie talkies are a fun gift for outdoorsy men because they bring out their inner child (well, they do for me at least). Let’s be real though, as someone who likes to change it up and do climbing one day and maybe mountain biking at a bike park the next day, it’s nice to have a device that allows you to communicate with a partner easily whether they are 100 feet above you on a rock climb or they’re hiking on a trail ahead of you.
Communication is key in the outdoors but it’s not always easy to come by in the mountains where service is often spotty, but a nice pair of walkie talkies should take care of that. Rocky Talkies are rugged radios which are extremely durable, have 3 days of battery life, and the attached carabiner makes it easy to attach to a backpack.
25. GEYSER PORTABLE SHOWER WITH HEATER
This is one of those items someone might not think about getting for themselves, but once they have it, they will use it constantly – which is why its such an awesome gift for outdoorsy men!
I remember when this company first came up with this portable shower with a heater idea on Kickstarter long ago, and am glad they made it to the big leagues and are now selling through retailers. Stay clean in the backcountry or the beach, and enjoy the luxury of having warm water on the go.
26. AEROPRESS GO TRAVEL COFFEE PRESS
If the outdoorsy guy in your life also happens to be a coffee connoisseur, then this portable coffee and espresso maker is going to be the perfect outdoorsy gift for him to take on any camping or backpacking trip. The Aeropress is a backcountry classic, and this kit has everything needed to brew a perfect cup of coffee with a view (like the one we had above on a backpacking trip in Colorado).
27. CAMPFIRE GRILL BASKET
Lots of outdoorsy men love cooking over a campfire, and a grill basket makes it so much easier to cook burgers, brats, and more. This is another one of those handy gadgets that is an awesome gift, because your friend or family member probably wouldn’t think to get it for themselves, but they will use it all the time to cook yummy camping meals!
The Acmetop BBQ Grill Basket is great for grilling a bigger meal when car camping, while the Light My Fire Grandpa’s FireGrill is compact enough to take into the backcountry.
UNIQUE OUTDOORSY GIFTS FOR HIM
28. ZEAL SUNGLASSES
If you haven’t noticed, I love good practical accessories! I really like to have a good pair of sunglasses with quality lenses handy at all times, and I am willing to pay extra for them.
Zeal makes great sunglasses that are stylish but also made for someone who is more active. Their glasses feature rubber inlays on the legs of the shades so they don’t slip which is great for any active outdoorsman.
29. MATADOR FLATPAK CASES AND OARS + ALPS TOILETRIES
While outdoorsy men tend to embrace the dirt, they still need to get clean at least occasionally, and Matador FlatPak cases are the perfect way to transport their toiletries. The FlatPak Soap Bar Case is super simple but so well-designed to carry a bar of soap, and the FlatPak Waterproof Toiletry Case holds everything a guy might need for grooming on an adventure.
And if you want to combine these into a nice little gift bundle for an outdoorsy man, throw in some soap and wipes from Oars + Alps, an awesome natural skincare line designed for athletes and adventurers.
30. MSR EVO ASCENT BACKCOUNTRY SNOWSHOES
Next on my list for unique gifts for outdoorsy men is a pair of MSR snowshoes. These would be absolutely epic to receive as a gift.
MSR makes the BEST snowshoes out there, and the MSR Evo Ascent snowshoes are top of the line when it comes to backcountry snowshoe adventures and mountaineering. These snowshoes make a great gift for the outdoorsman in your life if he is interested in doing more adventures in the snow and winter season, or if he is interested in getting into mountaineering.
Looking for more of my winter hiking and camping gear recommendations? Click here for winter gear.
31. ENO DOUBLENEST HAMMOCK
This hammock is by far our favorite outdoor accessory. Whenever we pull up to camp, we throw this bad boy in between two trees and rock away.
This hammock is also great for day hikes as well because it’s easy to throw into your backpack with your other day hiking gear and go. We like to bring our hammock with us on hikes when we know we’re going to stop and hang out at a nice alpine lake along the way. This is a great present for outdoorsy guys, because who doesn’t love a good hammock?
32. UAG RUGGED IPHONE CASE
I have had this phone case since I first discovered it in 2010, and I absolutely love this thing. This company makes attractive robust phone cases that don’t feel bulky.
Believe me when I say I have put these cases through the ringer on many outdoor adventures, and they always hold up extremely well. It’s a great case for any guy who loves the outdoors.
33. NATIONAL PARK PASS
An America the Beautiful National Parks Pass would be an awesome surprise for an outdoorsy guy! The pass costs $80 and gives the holder access to all National Parks for an entire year.
Since most National Park day passes cost about $20-30, this pass will be worth it after just three or four visits. We buy one every year.
I hope this outdoorsy gift guide for him has sparked some ideas for your friends and family members (or maybe even yourself)! If you have any questions or want any other suggestions, reach out to me in the comments below, and be sure to check out some of our other gear and gift guide resources!
OTHER GEAR AND OUTDOORSY GIFT GUIDE RESOURCES:
Cheers,
Allison - She Dreams of Alpine
15 Incredible Joshua Tree Hikes to Explore the Desert | Entering Joshua Tree National Park is like landing on another planet – the landscape of rock formations and gnarled Joshua trees is simply otherworldly. To fully explore this crazy cool desert landscape, you’ll want to try one of these 15 amazing Joshua Tree hikes in the park. | shedreamsofalpine.com