Best Camping Gifts: Under $50
Need to find a gift for someone who loves camping and the outdoors? The best camping gifts are both useful and practical. But don’t be afraid to throw a few luxury and comfort items in there too.
At this time more people than ever are getting outdoors, going for a hike, and camping under the stars.
Currently, domestic travel is more popular than international travel.
That means that there has been an increase in the number of people that are taking that road trip and exploring our nation including all of the beautiful sights that it has to offer.
Camping has also taken off recently. It is such a great budget friendly, family activity.
Whether you are planning on sleeping in a tent or in an RV, you want to make sure that you have the essential camping gear with you and maybe a few splurge items too.
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Best Camping Gifts For Someone Who Loves The Outdoors
When camping, there are a few things that make being out in the woods a little more enjoyable.
Finding that perfect gift for someone who loves to camp isn’t difficult. Once you know what camping gear someone already has, you can start to expand on their list.
Or look to buy them something unique for their camping trip. Something that they didn’t even know that they needed.
We have been on the road, traveling in our 32 foot 5th wheel for four months now and use most of these items daily!
Here are a few of our favorites which I think would make great camping gifts.
A great way to relax after a day of hiking is laying in a hammock in the sunshine while reading a good book or just listening to the sounds of nature around you.
A Good Lantern:
Having a good light source is imperative, as both a tent and RV camper.
Whether you are using these for wine and beer or coffee and tea, these cups are perfect for keeping your beverage of choice hot or cold. They are lightweight, easy to clean, and won’t easily break. We love these and use them daily!
But First, Coffee:
If you are like us and function best with that one (or 3) cup of coffee in the morning, it’s so nice to be able to wake up and just make your own.
Especially when you are camping in the middle of nowhere and are not able to just pop into a cafe for that perfect cup of coffee.
If you are traveling in an RV, the best two options that we have found are a French Press or if, like us, you hate that dreaded coffee grind clean up, the Pour Over.
And whether you are tent camping or RV camping, if you have access to an electrical outlet, another great addition is the electric water boiler. This will get you to that cup of joe that much faster.
Lastly, these single serve pour over coffee packets are a really unique gift for the traveler who also loves coffee!
We have not used this personally but I have read good things about it from other campers. And I really should try it because mosquitos love me, ugh.
Nobody likes to track all of that dirt and mud into their tent and RV. A camping mat is a great place to take off your shoes and place your belongings.
We use this one, which is a bit pricey (but worth it). It is made from a material that is sand free and water resistant.
Here is a more budget friendly option.
If you are cooking at all at your campsite, you will want a place to wash your dishes. There are some campgrounds that have designated areas for this, but most do not.
These collapsible washing tubs are great because they don’t take up a lot of room.
Before having kids, Jason and I did a lot of tent camping and we always took our solar shower with us.
It is so nice to have a hot shower to rinse off all of the bug spray, sunscreen, and sweat after a day of hiking.
These solar showers are simple to use – fill with water, put it in the sun for a few hours, hang it, and shower! It’s easy to use and takes up very little space.
These privacy tents seem to be really popular with tent campers these days.
They are great for using with that solar shower or just to have a place to stand up and change your clothes, which is not very easy to do in a tent.
Portable Propane Camping Grill:
This is a gamechanger. Being able to grill (well) at a campsite makes your dinner just that much better. They are quick to set up, don’t take up too much room, and will allow you to make a pretty darn tasty meal.
And if you are not into grilling, they also sell portable camping stoves.
This is definitely a fun gift. Not necessary for camping, but something that the whole family will enjoy.
Camping Cookbook
A big part of going camping is eating that camp food. But it does take a bit of ingenuity to make the perfect campfire fare.
A great gift is a cookbook specific to camping to spark their creativity when it comes to packing and making those campground meals.
Check out these cookbooks for inspiration:
I’ve been eyeing these for awhile now and don’t know why we haven’t purchased one.
This is a great gift for an RV traveler to put either inside or outside to showcase all of the fun places that they have been.
The Best Camping Gifts For Kids
Most kids love being outdoors, running, exploring, climbing, and digging in the dirt.
Camping is a great family activity to get everyone outside to enjoy nature. Being outside and away from technology allows kids to practice their creativity and to enhance their imagination.
This list of best camping gear for kids, is full of things that are not only practical but that kids actually enjoy.
I think it’s fair to say that camping and s’mores go hand in hand. Who doesn’ love gooey marshmallows and chocolate?!
Yes, your child can just sit in a regular adult sized camp chair, but that’s not as fun as having their own child-sized chair.
Kids chairs are also lightweight and easy for them to move around. And they come in such fun prints.
Kids love flashlights. There are so many fun ways for them to use them and are both practical and fun to have at the campsite.
Another fun gift idea for kids are walkie-talkies. They will have fun talking to each other when using them. Or the older kids can take them on their bike rides through the campground and parents can always be in touch.
Binoculars are a great gift idea for the outdoor explorer. Kids love looking through them to scour the mountains or to look for birds and animals in the trees.
A play tent for home is a cute idea for when you can’t get out camping. Kids love having their own little hiding place where they can pretend to camp or just play.
Unique Gifts For Hikers
And where there is camping, there is usually hiking.
These budget friendly gifts are great for the person who enjoys hitting the trails.
Hiking poles are great to steady yourself on uneven terrain and especially helpful when descending a mountain and you need just that little bit of support.
Look for features such as a comfortable grip, lightweight, adjustable, and made from a durable and sturdy material.
We have found ourselves on trails late in the day wishing we hadn’t forgotten our headlamp.
This is a must when hiking. You never know when you might take a wrong turn or stay too long at the summit to enjoy the view only to realize that the sun is setting.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget extra batteries!
This is not something that everyone carries with them but it comes in handy when you need it.
LifeStraw is a lightweight personal water filter. We have one and have not had to use it yet, but it is a pretty unique gift for a person who loves the outdoors.
Hydrapak Collapsible Water Bottle
These are the best water bottles for hiking and travel in general. You twist them to collapse to a ¼ of the filled size of the bottle. They are lightweight and BPA and PVC free.
This is a great gift for really anyone but especially for someone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
A multitool provides you with everything that you need yet is compact and lightweight. It is definitely something that you can easily keep in your pocket or backpack during a hike.
You will be glad to have it when you need it!
Final Thoughts On Finding The Best Camping Gift
Finding the perfect gift for someone can sometimes feel like a challenge. But purchasing anything on this list for someone who loves the outdoors will definitely make them a happy camper.
Most people want to purchase the essentials such as tents and sleeping bags on their own to meet their specific wants and needs. So why not buy them a unique camping gift. Maybe something that they did not think of or even know that they needed.
I hope you were able to find the perfect camping gear to give someone.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any favorite camping gear that we need to try out. We’d love to hear from you!
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