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We’d like to dedicate this gift list to all the outdoorsmen out there. To the fathers who enjoy a good weekend camping trip, a backyard BBQ session, or a hike through the woods.
To all the practical men, who know who they are and what they’re about. To the plaid shirt wearing, black coffee drinking, canoe-paddling, axe-swinging, Nick Offerman types…
In other words, to the fathers who are utterly impossible to buy a gift for!
Seriously, what on earth do they need? They seem to have everything they want. And every time we ask, they just wave us off and say, “Oh, you don’t need to get me anything”. Look, dad, we appreciate your low-maintenance personality. Truly, we do. But this is not helpful.
That is why we came up with this gift guide. We’ve scanned high and low to find Father’s Day gift ideas that will make the outdoorsmen in your father proud. And they are reasonable items, too! None of this $800 Yeti Cooler nonsense.
Gift ideas under $25
FreshJax Grilling Spice Mix Set
Spice up your Dad’s backyard grilling with a mixed set of seasonings from FreshJax. This set has a diverse selection of flavors including Peppered Habanero, Fresh Bay, Grill Master Burger Seasoning, Smokey Southwest, and Citrus Pepper.
BarCountry Pocket Cocktails
With a box of BarCountry Pocket Cocktail mix, your dad can make himself a premium cocktail no matter where he goes! Just add water, spirits, and shake. Available in Cherry Infused Old Fashioned, Coconut Lime Margarita, Bloody Marry, and Elderflower Moscow Mule.
Hiearcool Universal Waterproof Case
If your father enjoys boating, fishing, kayaking, or any activity near open water, this universal waterproof, touch-sensitive phone pouch might really come in handy.
UCO Sprout+ Mini Lantern
This rechargeable mini lantern is perfect for quick ambient light.
It can be placed on the ground or hung overhead, using the easy looping magnetic strap.
Fatwood Firestarter
This all natural, resin saturated fire starter is perfect for camping trips and backyard fire pits.
Just two sticks of fatwood and a single match is all you’ll need to start a roaring fire.
Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan
Even if the weather isn’t cooperating for outdoor grilling, you can still get a beautifully done steak indoors with this Lodge Grill Pan. Perfect for steaks, hamburgers, sausages and vegetables.
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
If your dad has even a passing interest in smoking meats, this is a must have. Aaron Franklin and co-author Jordan Mackay unlock the secrets behind truly great barbecue, and share years’ worth of knowledge. With chapters on building your own smoker; finding and curing the right wood; creating and tending perfect fires; and of course, cooking ridiculously delicious barbecue.
ThermPro Meat Thermometer
Nobody likes an “over-done-te” steak. With a probe thermometer, the guessing game is over. Now Dad can know definitely exactly what temprature the meat is at. This one lets you set a “timer” for the target temprature so you don’t have to worry about it going over.
Bushcraft 101
The definitive guide to the art of wilderness survival, Bushcraft 101 shows you not only how to survive, but how to reconnect with the great outdoors. It covers choosing the right items for your kit, manufacturing needed tools and supplies, collecting and cooking food, protecting yourself from the elements.
The Ultimate Book of Everyday Knots
Written by the co-founder of the International Guide of Knot Tyers, this book is an easy-to follow guide to teach the basics of tying all sorts of useful and practical knots (over 80 different ones!).
Gift ideas under $50
Opinel Black Oak Knife
Every dad could use a good pocket knife, and nothing is as timeless as a knife from Opinel.
This new “Studio Collection” Opinel No.8 features a slick-looking black stainless steel blade with a beautiful oak handle.
Anker 20100mAh Portable Charger
Dads love gadgets and gadgets love power. So give your Dad the gift of power wherever he goes with this Anker portable charger.
Waxed Canvas Log Carrier
Great for camping trips or backyard fire pits, this waxed canvas log carrier is a really classy way to keep your firewood in order.
Stanley Go Stein
This double-walled, vacuum insulated beer stein is the premiere outdoor beer drinking vessel. Not only does it keep beer ice cold for a ridiculously long time (7+ hours), but it has a ceramic-lined interior. Compared to stainless steel, ceramic is a much nicer drinking experience and feels just like a traditional beer stein.
Coletti “Bozeman” Percolator Coffee Pot
It doesn’t get more cowboy than a percolator coffee pot on a campfire. Give your dad the gift of a perfect cup of camp coffee with this heritage collection stainless steel percolator.
Campmaid Collapsible Charcoal Chimney
This collapsible device is perfect for the grill master dad who is tight on space.
Perfect for summer BBQs, camping, or tailgating.
Grill Armor Gloves
Whether your dad likes BBQing, grilling, or recklessly tending the campfire with his bare hands, these heat resistant gloves are a must. Their heat resistant construction is designed to keep his hands safe up to 932 F.
BioLite HeadLamp 200
You can’t have enough headlamps. By the grill, in the garage, in the glove box of the car, or with the camping gear. The hands-free directional light from a headlamp is invaluable. The BioLite headlamp has a much lighter and slimmer design thanks to it’s internal USB rechargable lithium ion battery.
Gift ideas under $100
Fireside Outdoor Trailblazer Fire Pit
This pop-up fire pit packs down to 14″ x 4″ x 4″ making it a perfect addition to your dad’s car camping gear, especially if he likes camping off the beaten path where fire rings aren’t common. This version comes with an 11″ x 11″ grill top as well.
National Parks Annual Pass
Products can be useful, but meaningful experiences will last a lifetime. Purchase a National Parks Pass and take your Dad on an adventure that you’ll both remember. This pass gets you into every National Park & Monument, as well as National Forests, Grasslands, and plenty of other recreation sites across the country for an entire year.
Cocktail Travel Kit
For the true cocktail enthusiasts, this portable bar travel kit is perfect for camping or boating. It contains all the necessary tools plus three padded compartments to store the hooch.
Kammok Roo Hammock
Few fathers can resist the siren call of a good hammock. The Kammok Hammock can be strung up nearly anywhere and can provide countless hours of relaxation. On a sunny summer afternoon, there’s no place he’d rather be.
Gift Cards
What better way to put an exact dollar amount on how much you appreciate your father than a gift card. But seriously, dads can be very particular when it comes to outdoor gear, so this might be the safest way to go. But if you can, we suggest going with him and making it into an experience.
Suggested retailers: REI, Backcountry, Patagonia
