35 Outdoor Gifts UNDER $50

Find the best budget-friendly outdoor gifts that are under $50 in this gift guide!

If you’re looking for gifts for outdoorsy people on your holiday shopping list, but don’t want to break the bank, this post is for you!

We’ve rounded up our favorite outdoor gift ideas from REI that are under $50. From our favorite outdoor clothes, camping gear, stocking stuffers and more, you’re sure to find something for all the outdoorsy types on your list this year.

Best Budget-Friendly Outdoor Gifts

Eureka Sprk Camp Stove

This smart-looking single burner camping stove is portable, packable, and comes with a 10,000 BTU burners. It’s perfect for cooking up all kinds of one pot camp meals on your next outdoor adventure. This stove would be great for minimalist campers, or for families who might need an extra stove on hand to cook larger meals.

AeroPress GO Coffee Maker

The AeroPress is our favorite way to make coffee in the outdoors (and at home!). If you’re not familiar with it, you simply add coffee grounds to the chamber and add water to brew. Then, you press the coffee through the filter at the bottom of the chamber and there you have it! An excellent cup of coffee and virtually zero mess. This is a perfect gift for campers, vanlife and RVers, or roadtrippers

Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern

The Moji+ Lantern is a great little light that is perfect for outdoor use. It can sit on a camp table, or be hung to light the space from above (such as in a tent). The light is dimmable, and since the housing is frosted, it gives a nice, even glow instead of blinding you.

Soto Amicus Stove Backpacking Cookset

Whether you’re heading out on a backpacking trip or picnicking after a day hike, the Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo provides everything you need to cook a meal in a lightweight package. It includes 1 small pot (500 ml) and 1 large pot (1,000 ml), as well as the Soto Amicus stove. We have personally used this backpacking stove before and really like it.

REI Co-op Roadtripper Pod

We love these little water-resistant Roadtripper Pods for keeping gear and small items organized in a day pack, on road trips, and while camping.

REI Co-op Camp X Chair

Every outdoorsy person needs a good camp chair! The REI Camp X Chair is designed using webbing to help distribute weight across the seat and back of the chair, resulting in a comfy chair with nice support. The chair folds up when not in use into an included stuff sack, so it’s easy to pack and store. If your gift recipient isn’t into those Knex-style chairs and just wants something straightforward to set up, this chair is a great option!

Lightweight Dry Sacks

This set of three lightweight dry sacks comes with 1L, 2L, and 4L sizes. They are a super practical outdoors gift for people who recreate in rainier climates—perfect for protecting electronics like cell phones or cameras, keeping down jackets dry, or just keeping small items of gear organized!

REI Co-op Kid’s Tarn Backpacks

Is there is child in your life that enjoys getting outdoors? (Or who you’re encouraging to enjoy the outdoors!) The Tarn series of kid backpacks by REI Co-op are a great option. Available in a few different sizes, these bags are the perfect places to store all kinds of fun hiking necessities, like snacks, walkie-talkies, binoculars, and more snacks!

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp

The Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp is one of the top selling headlamps at REI for under $50, and it’s a great pick for all kinds of outdoor pursuits. It’s lightweight but powerful—offering up to 400 lumens of light and a beam distance of 300+ feet on high.

Wool Socks

Wool socks are basically the ultimate outdoors gift that everyone loves to receive! No matter how many pairs you own, you can also use another. We love Darn Tough socks and wear them all throughout the year. So we’re always excited to get another pair every December!

Stanley Unbreakable Flask

The Stanley Unbreakable Flask is a smart-looking stainless steel flask that would be a great outdoor gift for someone who likes a little nip at the end of the day. It’s durable and leak-proof, making it perfect for tossing in a backpack or camping bin to take along on all sorts of adventures!

REI Trail Waist Packs

This REI Trail Waist Pack is great for casual hikes and outdoor walks that don’t require a lot of gear. The Trail 2 (pictured) has enough room for keys, a wallet, cell phone, and a small snack, while the Trail 5 has enough room to stash those essentials along with a 2 water bottles and an a packable outer layer like a windbreaker.

GoToobs

These silicone squeeze tubes are incredibly versatile containers for transporting liquid. Perfect for cooking (oil, vinegars, dressings, etc) or for bringing just a little bit of shampoo and conditioner. We love their double locking lids, which ensure there is never a tragic accident inside your backpack.

Black Diamond Screentap Gloves

Stretchy, cozy, and touch screen compatible! These Screentap Gloves by Black Diamond keep you fingers warm, but still allow you to operate your smart phone. Check your navigation app, take a photo or two, and send a quick text update—all while keeping your digits warm!

Ducks Back Rain Covers

While some backpacks have integrated rain covers, many do not. If you live in an area that tends to get a lot of rain, one of these Ducks Back Rain Covers can really come in handy. They come in multiple different sizes and easily cinch over your backpack to keep the rain out.

Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness

The Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness is a great gift for outdoorsy pups (or their companions!) This harness allows for a full range of motion and is padded for comfort. There are two leash attachment points—one on the back, and one in the front, which you can easily switch between depending on your dog’s needs.

Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt

We have owned multiple generations of Patagonia’s Capilene baselayer series and have nothing but good things to say about them. They have all the amazing technical features you need (moisture-wicking, breathable, quick-drying, anti-microbial) with a natural fabric feel. Perfect as a winter base-layer or as a summer top-layer.

REI Pack Away Cubes

We use these Pack Away cubes all the time! They are one of the best ways to keep clothing organized when camping or on a road trip. Avoid the “exploding duffle bag of clothing” scenario by separating out tops, bottoms, undergarments, and socks into their own separate cubes. We also like to have an extra empty one for dirty clothes.

GSI Glacier Stainless Steel Percolator

If you’re making coffee for a group, there’s not better way than by using a stove top percolator. This is tried-and-true method allows you to make a large batches of strong cup of coffee, without having to use a ton of grounds. This GSI Glacier Percolator is one of the best, with a stainless steel finish, heat-resistant handle, and crack-proof resin cap dome.

Lodge 10” Cast Iron Skillet

There are few outdoor gifts under $50 that can be passed down for multiple generations, but a cast iron skillet is absolutely one of them! We use cast iron to cook virtually everything, both at home and when we’re out camping. It has incredible heat retention, naturally non-stick, and super easy to clean—especially if you have one of these compact scrapers.

REI Active Pursuits Quarter Zip Pullover

We love this pullover! It has a technical fabric (breathable, stretchy, and moisture wicking) but with the natural feel of cotton. Perfect for any outdoor activity. It’s great on its own for summer hikes or shoulder season runs, but we also love it as a base layer during colder weather.

REI Co-op Women’s Active Pursuits Shorts

A pair of durable and quick drying hiking shorts would be a welcome gift for outdoorsy gals! REI’s Active Pursuits Shorts are made of recycled 4-way stretch fabric and feature a wide waistband and flat seams for comfort.

REI Groundbreaker Fleece Jacket 2.0

Now with a trimmer fit and an even finer fleece fabric, the Groundbreaker Fleece Jacket offers year-round cozy comfort. If you want to take the chill out of winter and put this fleece on!

Outdoor Research Gaiters

Keep your feet happy and clean by keeping dust, pebbles, and other trail crud out! These breathable trail gaiters are perfect for dusty desert trails, crumbly mountain scrambles, and light snow banks.

REI Co-op Men’s Active Pursuits Shorts

Shorts weather is more of a state-of-mind than an actual temperature range. Whether you’re hitting the trail or going for a run, a good pair of shorts can come in handy any time of year. For me, if I’m doing something active and the temperature is above 30 degrees, it’s game on for shorts!

REI Sahara Shade UPF Shirts

The Sahara Shade UPF Hoodie from REI are a perfect option for anytime of year! Obviously, the lightweight, breathable stretch fabric is great for staying active during the summer. But they are also be great for winter activities as well. Winter hikes, snow-shoeing, or X-country skiing on a blue bird day can lead to a lot of reflected sun exposure, making a UPF base layer really important.

Smartwool Reversible Headband

A wool headband is a great outdoor gift for women (or men!) who like to wear their hair in a bun or ponytail while hiking. This headband keeps ears cozy and provides some additional warmth to the head–perfect for winter and fall hikes that aren’t too cold.

Goodr OG Sunglasses

Winter, spring, summer, and fall, a good pair of sunglasses are an essential piece of outdoor gear all year round. We highly suggest opting for their polarized and full UVA & UVB spectrum protection, which will give your eyes the best protection on the water, snow, and land.

REI Polartec Fleece Gloves

Keep your fingers warm with these REI Polartec Fleece Gloves. Weather resistant on the outside, soft and cozy on the inside, they are perfect for cold-weather hikes, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing. Or just around town!

Smartwool Reversible Neck Gaiter

A cozy neck gaiter is one of the best ways to stay warm throughout the winter. It traps the heat from escaping your jacket and keeps cold air from finding its way down inside. This reversible neck gaiter from Smartwool features a double-sided pattern that feels so soft and cozy!

Fodor’s Travel Guides The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA

A complete guide to America’s most spectacular natural treasures, Fodor’s Travel Guides The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 Parks from Maine to American Samoa contains everything you need to plan your next trip. The 960-page guide covers hiking trails, historic sites, and campgrounds, and itineraries for every National Park. Get the most out of your national park system!

Patagonia Everyday Beanie

This versatile Everyday Beanie by Patagonia is made from a breathable, itch-free fabric that is great for any cool weather activity. We love having a couple around during the winter, perhaps one in our backpack another in the car.

Verve Craft Instant Coffee

We have entered into a new age of high-quality, gourmet instant coffee. Verve Coffee is one of our favorite roasters and their new instant coffee line tastes every bit as good as their in-house coffee. Just add hot water and stir. This will be a guaranteed hit with any outdoorsy person who would enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee with their views.

Rite in the Rain Outdoor Notebooks

This waterproof journal is a fun stocking stuffer idea. It’s made with coated paper that repels water, mud, dirt, and can be used in any weather and on any adventure!

REI Gift card

Still unsure what to get? You can’t go wrong with a gift card from REI. As the nation’s largest outdoor retailer with over 100 physical locations and an extensive online store, chances are if it’s a hiking-related product, REI has it. They also have an incredible return/exchange policy, which makes them our number one pick for a gift card.