19 Awesome Gifts for Campers: Best Camping Gifts (they will love)

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In this post, I’m going to show you some awesome gift ideas for car campers! With the holiday season right around the corner, I’m hoping to make things easier for you with this list of fun and useful gift ideas for the outdoor lovers in your life.

Best Camping Gifts (video)

1) Hydro Flask Water Bottle

A good reusable water bottle is essential for me when I go camping. I love the Hydro Flask water bottles because they’re durable and they come in so many fun colors.

They also come in lots of different sizes. The one I use most often is the 32oz (yellow one above) and I think they make a great gift idea!

>> Shop Water Bottles: Backcountry // REI

2) Camping Games

Small portable games are perfect for camping. It’s so much fun to have a glass of wine and play games at the picnic table with everyone in the group.

A cool outdoor-themed deck of cards would be a great stocking stuffer idea. I also love Bananagrams. That’s actually my favorite game to bring camping!

>> Shop Outdoor-themed Cards: Amazon

>> Shop Bananagrams: Amazon

3) Hydro Flask Wine or Cocktail Cups

I always try to avoid taking glass on camping trips. These portable and reusable wine flasks and bottles make it so easy to pack a nice bottle of wine on a camping trip.

>> Shop Wine Bottles: Backcountry // REI

>> Shop Wine Glasses: Backcountry // REI

>> Shop Cocktail Glasses: Backcountry // REI

4) Binoculars

Binoculars are one of my favorite items to bring camping.

They make a great gift because they’re probably something most campers don’t already have, but they allow you to see animals and scenery in the distance when you’re hanging around at camp.

I love having them!

>> Shop Binoculars: Backcountry // REI

5) Stasher Bags

Stasher bags are reusable silicon bags that I always take camping.

They’re durable, dishwasher safe, and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

I use them all the time for food leftovers.

>> Shop Stasher Bags: Amazon // REI

6) Insulated Mugs

Insulated coffee mugs are another camping essential for me that would make a great gift.

In general, I’ve found that men tend to like Yeti products more than the Hydro Flask, but both are great options!

>> Shop Yeti Mugs: Backcountry

>> Shop Hydro Flask Mugs: Backcountry // REI

7) Camp Coffee Setup

Nick and I like to brew coffee using the pour-over method, which is really easy to do at camp with a non-breakable silicon pour-over.

We also like to grind the coffee beans right before we use them for maximum freshness, and for that, a portable “java mill” is perfect.

Combine that with a nice bag of coffee and maybe even a coffee mug from above, and you have a really nice gift for outdoor coffee lovers!

>> Shop GSI Java Mill: REI // Amazon

>> Shop Silicone Pour-Over: Backcountry

>> Shop Set: Backcountry // Amazon

8) Nitecore Flashlight

A good flashlight is something every car camper should have in their car.

I keep this Nitecore flashlight in my glove compartment all the time in case I forget a headlamp, it runs out of batteries, or I just need a quick light source.

These Nitecore flashlights are so durable, small, and really powerful. They’ll make the perfect useful stocking-stuffer.

9) ENO Hammock

Does it get any more relaxing than lying in a hammock looking at some beautiful mountains?

>> Shop Hammocks: Backcountry // REI // Amazon

10) Enamel Plates and Bowls

These enamel plates and bowls are my new favorite camping dining gear!

Not only do they look so nice, but they’re also enamel, super durable, and made for camping.

>> Shop Enamel Dining: Barebones Living

11) Dutch Oven

If the person you’re buying a gift for loves to cook at camp, a dutch oven will be the perfect gift!

Cooking with the dutch oven is one of my favorite things to do. You can make all sorts of meals, and it’s a great piece of camping gear.

The 4 Qt. cast iron dutch oven from Barebones Living is the one that I have. It’s the perfect size for feeding 2-6 people.

>> Shop Dutch Ovens: Barebones Living

12) Cast Iron Pan

A good cast iron pan is a must-have for any camper who loves to cook.

Cast iron is perfect for camping because you can cook with it on a propane stove or over the campfire. It’s also durable and easy to clean.

I have an antique cast iron pan that I found at an antique store in Utah, but the Barebones Living pans are also a great option!

>> Shop Cast Iron Pans: Barebones Living

13) Cast Iron Scrub Brush

This is another great stocking-stuffer for campers who love to cook, and it would be a great gift to go along with a cast-iron dutch oven or pan.

This cast iron scrub brush makes cleaning at camp a breeze.

>> Shop Brush: Barebones Living

14) Anker Powerhouse Charger

For charging phones and camera gear on the go, this is a fantastic battery.

It’s a great size and holds a lot of power for those longer trips.

If you work on the go, it can even charge your laptop.

15) GoPro

For the campers in your life who love to document trips and experiences outdoors, the GoPro is a great gift idea.

I absolutely love the GoPro and I use it all the time when I’m filming my YouTube vlogs.

It’s small, lightweight, easy to use, and has great video stabilization built right in.

>> Shop GoPro: REI // Amazon

16) Capilene CooL Daily Hoody

This is my favorite shirt for a long sunny day outside in the Summer!

Whether you’re hiking or just hanging around camp, this shirt will help keep you cool and protected from the sun.

Nick has one too and he loves it!

>> Shop Women’s: Patagonia

>> Shop Men’s: Patagonia

17) Flannel

A good flannel has many uses! When I’m hanging around camp, they make a great layer to throw on as it gets colder outside.

They’re also really stylish with a nice pair of jeans and boots.

>> Shop Green Flannel: Backcountry // Moosejaw (I’m wearing a size M)

>> Other Options: Filson Mens // REI

18) Yeti Cooler

A reliable cooler will allow you to pack and cook some delicious foods while camping.

It also makes it possible to pack some cold beers to have while hanging around the campfire.

I have a Yeti Tundra cooler and I absolutely love it. While it is a more expensive item, I think it’s totally worth having if you camp a lot and like to cook at camp.

>> Shop Yeti Coolers: Backcountry // REI

19) DIY Fire Starters

We’re going to finish off this list with a fun DIY gift idea – fire starters!

These fire starters are a great craft project using things you probably already have in the house – and they’re actually useful!

These fire starters easily burn for about 10 minutes as you build up your campfire. I like to package them in a cute festive Stasher bag (mentioned above) for the perfect thoughtful gift!

>> How to Make Homemade Fire Starters (full tutorial)

More Gift Ideas for Campers

Still need more gift ideas?

Check out this gift guide for campers who love to cook: