15 Gift Ideas for Campers and Overlanders
Not sure what to buy for that camping or overlanding enthusiast in your life? We’ve got you covered! Here are 15 gift ideas for campers, all things that we’ve loved using and know the camper in your life will too. Even better? These are all under $75. This list has something for everyone, but remember that each item has a place. Don’t go buying the oven for someone who goes backpacking.
* Prices listed are as of the writing of this post and are subject to change.
Know someone who loves camping at Ontario Parks? Get them a gift card! Gift cards can be used to pay for campsite reservations, day or seasonal permits, and for shopping at physical park stores. With many campsites costing over $40 a night, this gift can really help out.
PRICE: Variable
2. Gas Card
Gas isn’t cheap and overlanders tend to spend a lot of driving. Whether it’s hitting up the trails, exploring new areas, or looking for the perfect crown land campsite, it takes fuel to get out there. Gas cards a perfect gift that can easily be purchased in an amount to fit any budget. A little gas money will go a long way to make the overlander in your life smile.
PRICE: Variable
GAIA GPS is a must-have app for those that like to explore. You get access to several different mapping layers, along with the ability to drop waypoints, track your route, plan a trip and so much more. There’s a free version, but the paid version is much better, with access to more map layers and offline map functionality. The map layers favour the US, but there are still good layers for Canada. It took time for me to warm up to this app but it’s now my favourite for our camping/overlanding adventures.
PRICE: $39.99 USD*
Never leave home without them. Seriously. Apps for your phone are great, but when service drops, a good old mapbook is the best way to navigate. These mapbooks take it a step further though, by combining all the information you need to plan and carry out an awesome adventure. They contain information about various fishing opportunities, paddling routes, hiking trails, snowmobile trails, and parks to visit. The explorer in your life will love them.
We’ve always had the Ontario series of books, but when we went to Alberta earlier this year we picked up all the books for the other provinces we travelled through.
GPS chips and a mobile app are also available.
PRICE: Starting at $29.95*
These toques are the BEST for those shorter days. If the camper in your life enjoys being out in the shoulder seasons or the winter, these are essential. Instead of wearing a headlamp with a toque, it’s all combined into one and makes it easy to work around camp in the dark. The LED lights are rechargeable with a standard USB port, making it easy to charge them at camp with a portable power bank if needed, though ours go several days of heavy use without needing a charge.
PRICE: $19.99*
Having light at camp is important, but lanterns can take up a lot of space and add weight. An inflatable lantern is the perfect solution. These lanterns pack down small but are easy to inflate at camp, especially if your camper has a lot of hot air! We usually get a couple of nights use out of ours before it needs a charge, but if you keep it out in the sun during the day, it will just keep charging up. It can also be used to charge electronic devices like a phone.
PRICE: $39.99*
For campers who aren’t worried about space and want a super comfy pillow. This absolutely changed camping for me! We’ve tried inflatable pillows, bringing pillows from home, and using clothes bundled together. For one reason or other, those options didn’t work. Then I came across the Klymit Drift Pillow. It has a water-resistant, durable cover to keep it clean in between sleeps. When you get to camp you shake all the foam into the soft jersey cover side and sleep on that. These pillows can compress decently well and take up a whole lot less space than a traditional pillow. I like the large size best, but Darrell prefers the smaller size. Read more about camp pillows we’ve used here.
PRICE: Starting at $65.10*
8. Carabiners
Carabiners are an indispensable part of any camper’s gear. They can be used in so many different applications and really come in handy when you’re in a pinch. Use them for hanging gear, securing items, and connecting ropes. We love the Nite-ize Locking S-Type Carabiners because sometimes you don’t want to risk the carabiner popping open. That said, anywhere that sells camping gear will have some sort of carabiner for sale. They make great stocking stuffers and you really can’t have too many. We keep some in our teardrop trailer, in the truck, and in the bags we use for backcountry camping.
PRICE: Variable
A folding camp grill is ideal for campers who like to cook over the fire. People are gross so even if there is a grill at a campsite, it’s always better to have your own with you. We like this Outbound Nickel Plated Steel Folding Camp Grill because it’s easy to pack and works for our needs, which usually involves cooking a couple of steaks and some potatoes at one time. It’s not the heaviest duty grill you’ll find, but for the price, and the fact that it can be picked up at Canadian Tire (the only store with camping gear in our area), it’s a winner.
PRICE: $21.99*
10. Extra Tent Pegs
Like carabiners, extra tent pegs make an awesome stocking stuffer. Tent pegs are like socks. One always manages to absolutely vanish on you at a campsite. Or you try to put them in and they hit a rock or root and crumple in half. They can also come in handy for anchoring other things at camp, so having a few extra is perfect. There are different styles of tent pegs and everyone has a favourite, but at the end of the day, when you need a tent peg you’ll use whatever you have, so don’t worry too much about finding the perfect style. These are easy to find on Amazon or at Canadian Tire or any outdoor goods store.
PRICE: Variable
11. Fiskars X7 Hatcher 14-Inch
When it comes to chopping firewood, or splitting it for the fire, a hatchet is a much needed tool. For years we used a Les Stroud hatchet I had received for a gear review, but unfortunately we left it behind on a camping trip this year and had to replace it. That particular hatchet was no longer available and when I asked for recommendations on social media, I was told to go with the Fiskars X7. It’s exactly what we needed. For durability and quality, it can’t be beat. It’s well-balanced and just the right weight, and the size is perfect for including with our gear.
PRICE: $45.67*
A saw is needed just as much as a hatchet for campers and overlanders. This folding saw is compact and weighs only 16 ounces, making it perfect for any type of camping or backpacking. We love this design because it works great for cutting firewood or clearing trails, with the handle protecting you from risk of injury due to your hand sliding. It can be used for cutting meat and metal as well. This is one of those items that we don’t use on every trip, but it’s essential when we need it.
PRICE: $43.99*
13. Coleman Oven
There’s nothing wrong with a little luxury when camping, especially when overlanding or car camping. The Coleman Camp Oven really takes your cooking experience to the next level. Since buying one this summer we’ve used it to make cinnamon buns, crescent rolls, pizza, toast our sandwiches, and more. Yes, you could make this stuff using other cooking methods, but the oven makes it so simple and cooks everything to perfection (once you’ve played around with it a bit). It’s meant to be used with a camp stove, not over the open fire. If you have an avid camp chef on your list, they’ll love this oven.
PRICE: $64.99* (the price on this really fluctuates, but usually comes back to this amount)
14. Karvipark Portable Camping Fan
Summer nights can be stifling in a tent, especially if you need to leave the fly on due to rain. Every camper needs one of these little fans. They’re rechargeable through a USB port, have an LED light, and have three different fan settings. We usually set ours on low or medium, just to encourage air flow through the tent. This fan also comes with a remote that will give you more settings to play with. My favourite thing is that it has a built-in hook for hanging, as well as an arm that can be used to change the angle if you put it on the ground. This fan is Molly approved (our dog).
PRICE: $38.99
15. Woods Heavy Duty Waterproof Dry Bag 25L
Dry bags are essential for camping. Instead of worrying about your clothes, food, and gear getting wet, everything stays nice and dry and protected. We have a collection of all different sizes and makes, but lately we’ve been buying the Woods Dry Bags from Canadian Tire. While we have large 100L bags for clothes, tent, and sleeping bags, the 25L bags are my favourite for everything else. These bags are nice because they have a clear side so you can see what’s in them. They make a great gift.
PRICE: $32.99
And there you have it! A few gift ideas for campers and overlanders. Never forget that gift cards and cash are an excellent option as well. Seriously, as someone who plans a lot of camping trips throughout the year, cash would be such a welcomed gift!
BONUS GIFT IDEA – Check out our review of the Quechua Cookset that we use when camping.
argosgirl
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