Outdoor Gear Gift Guide For All Ages

Citronella Candle

Always useful for anyone who spends time outside, whether in the backyard or further afield.

Waterproof Playing Cards

These are great to take on the go so they don’t get destroyed by the pool, beach, or a spilled drink on the plane.

Snap Back Goggles

We’ve owned and loved these goggles for years – they’re great for kids with sensitive heads because they don’t pull hair since they snap in the back. Perfect if you’re headed on a warm-weather trip!

Mini Handheld Fan

These are great for warm weather travel, but I also saw a couple people using these on the plane on my last flight, which was very warm despite the cool weather. Helpful to have on hand if you run warm!

Baby/Kid Wool Socks

Speaking of socks, these are our very favorite little baby/little kid wool socks. So soft and cozy and warm. We also love THESE and THESE for older kids.

Fire Color Changing Packets

How fun are these?? My kids would go nuts to see the campfire change colors!

Collapsible Water Bottle

I can’t believe how inexpensive these are and how small they get! Super convenient for travel or when spending time outdoors.

Hand Warmers

Though we try to get our layering right so we don’t need hand warmers, they’re a great backup or to quickly warm up some cold extremities. Plus, they’re small, so they’re easy to add to your winter trip packing list if you’re traveling or away from home.

9-in-1 Multi-Tool Pen

I gave this exact thing to my brother-in-law and to Dan a couple years ago and it was a total hit. I love this little tool that has multiple functions, like a pen, stylus, screwdriver, LED light, and more. I’m putting one in each of my 4 big kids’ stockings this year!

Portable Clothesline

This is really excellent to take camping if you need to rinse out clothing or hang damp stuff to dry. Also great if you’re exploring outdoors with a baby because there’s always inevitably something that needs to be washed!

S-Biner

An S-Biner is the next step up from a carabiner and we love these for hooking on backpacks to attach coats, water bottles, snack bags, and more when traveling. I like the #4 and #5 sizes, but the littler ones are good for smaller items, too.

Mylar Emergency Blankets

These are really great for anyone who is into camping or hiking. A really great but small emergency item to keep on hand that could be life-saving. Would also be great to gift so someone as part of an emergency kit, or would make a terrific gift for a neighbor.

Citronella Candle

Always useful for anyone who spends time outside, whether in the backyard or further afield.

Bonfire Earrings

These are so cute and would be great for anyone into camping or the outdoors!

Lightweight Beach Towel

I love that sand falls off these so easily and they dry fast. They were our favorite towels to use in our RV!

Women’s Folding Sun Hat

This is a great way to make sure you can always stay protected from the sun (or just comfortable in the heat) without having to take up a bunch of space. Love that it has a slot for a ponytail!

Men’s Sun Hat

I think this thing is a little bit hideous but it works! Dan absolutely loves his and never travels without it.

Patchdazzle Gear Repair Kit

This is a perfect little item to gift someone who spends a lot of time outdoors to be able to easily repair tents, backpacks, jackets, & more. It’s currently half off, making it under $5!

Foldable Water Cup

My mind is blown by this thing and I think it may need to go in each of my kids’ stockings. It’s a silicone water cup that folds up into the size of a credit card! So helpful to carry when traveling (think water cup for brushing teeth) or especially for an outdoorsy person.

Glove Leashes

Dan and I purchased these after we each lost one of our gloves and they’ve been so helpful. They function perfectly and save us from losing gloves!

Backpack Dividers

These are great for organizing your backpack while traveling. Especially if you have a bag that opens on the side, these are amazing for letting you see everything and keep different categories separated. (Discount code: PASSPORT)

Laundry Bags

These fold up small and are washable, which is perfect for taking along to gather dirty clothing when traveling.

Click Counter

I put these in my kids stockings a couple years ago and they were a hit! They love counting everything from steps to insects to pink flowers.

Stopwatch

Perennial kid fave. Fun to time races, brushing teeth, or anything else.

Flying Ring

We love these flying rings and the 3-pack is so affordable. Perfect to take along to the park or beach.

Compressed Facial Sponges

I adore these for taking along on trips because they pack SO small but are really effective for cleaning. Love them.

Best Boys’ Underwear

I can’t believe I haven’t put these on one of these lists before, but these are the undies my sensory-particular 10 year old has loved for 3-4 years and are the only ones he’ll wear. My 8 year old also loves them. They’re comfy, dry fast (great for travel), and have color coded waistbands for the size (easy laundry sorting). Plus, they’re a small, mom-owned biz. The best! Discount code PASSPORT.

Insect Repellant

Bug repellant is definitely really important while hiking. Deet is definitely the most effective if we’re in any intense bug areas, especially when we want to protect against malaria and the like. This is my very favorite Deet lotion. It’s super effective even though it’s not a crazy high Deet percentage, and I prefer the lotion to a spray with kids (especially on faces). We have this Deet spray only for the very buggiest of places if we’re super worried about mosquito-borne illness.

I don’t love using Deet all the time when not really necessary, though, so this Picardin lotion is effective, cheap, and safe for the family.

Best Bandages

It feels ridiculous to have strong feelings about something as mundane as bandages, but here we are. These bandages are the only ones I’ll buy because they stay on and keep dirt out of wounds. They’re also really helpful if someone gets a blister. Don’t forget a mini first aid kit.

Mini Snap Back Blanket

We absolutely love these little blankets and they are amazing for travel. They’re super thin and packable but also are insulated so get toasty warm. My favorite part is that they snap in the back so they actually stay on you hands free when traveling or sitting outside when camping. The mini size is perfect for kids or anyone who wants a really small, packable option. Plus, it’s a lovely small family business, and the code PASSPORT stacks on top of their sale!

Packable Beach Towels

I adore these beach towels because they’re super lightweight and packable but still REALLY absorbent (they’re the same brand as the kitchen towels I’m obsessed with). They also shake sand off really easily. Would be a great gift for a beach lover, or grab a beach blanket if gifting to a family. My code PREETHI stacks on top of their sale!

Water-Resistant Waist Pack

This has been my go-to bag ever since I got it about 6 months ago. It’s roomy but low-profile and lightweight with several different zippers and pockets (it even fits my mini water bottle). Plus, it’s water resistant and dries in a flash if it gets wet. Perfect for short hikes or just for walking around exploring. (The link for some reason always goes to the print versions, but just search the name after clicking the link and the solid colors should come up.)

Headlamps

We have a number of different headlamps at different price points and have been really pleased with them all for different reasons. I highly recommend having one for each person if hiking/camping, and we really like having them at home or in the car for emergencies.

This is our favorite basic headlamp – we have probably 5-6 of these and they’ve lasted terrifically.

Owala Water Bottle

These water bottles are incredibly popular, and with good reason. I love the cute colors and the fact that the hook flips up so it’s easy to clip onto a bag or a stroller. We have a few of these and they always come along on our travels or local adventures.

Merino Wool Socks

A few years ago, we switched over to almost all merino wool socks for the whole family and they’re the best. Soft, warm, comfy, last forever, and don’t hold older (really great for travel). Here are the ones we love:

• Darn Tough – our first love! Lifetime warranty (on socks!), still a family business.
• Tough Cutie – I discovered Tough Cutie socks early this year and fell in love. They’re super soft, warm, supportive but not restrictive, and just terrific. Plus, they’re Black woman-owned!
• Smartwool – really fantastic socks that are SO warm. Several of my pairs have lasted over a decade. Best for really cold weather. Great sale on them!
• REI Co-op merino socks – excellent socks at an excellent price
• Inexpensive wool socks – with all the nice ones above, I maybe most often reach for these on a day-to-day basis. While I’d recommend the above styles if you’re in intense cold and being really active, these are soft and stretchy and super comfy.

Best Mineral Sunscreen

This is our family’s absolute favorite sunscreen – it’s so smooth, mineral-based, and doesn’t leave a white cast. Plus, it’s amazing for sensitive skin and protects really well! We also absolutely love their all-over ointment, bath products, and more. All fantastic for babies, sensitive skin, or anyone else.

LPF Yosemite Guide

If you know someone who will be traveling to Yosemite my guide is super comprehensive for families and hopefully make planning so easy. Discount code LPF50 through Dec 1!

Fussy Deodorant

I absolutely LOVE this natural deodorant – it’s the only one I’ve found that actually works. Plus, I adore that the plastic case is refillable and the refills are completely compostable. They come in lovely scents, and the minis are particularly great for travel. They also have body wash and body bars. My code is PREETHI15.

Quick Dry Towel

It’s really handy having a quick dry towel when traveling. Even if it’s a small one, it’s really useful if you go swimming, get wet, or anything else. These dry fast and don’t take much room. These are our favorites; I love the ribbing on them.

Warm Hat

Remember how your mom would always say you lose the most heat through your head and your feet? It really is important to keep your top warm. My oldest loves this beanie, or REI has a huge variety of beanies in every color and style that are great for a packing list for winter vacation. This is also a super important one for baby winter essentials – we love this little pom pom beanie for our littlest.

Mini Chargers

I love this two-pack of mini portable chargers. Can never have too many.

Period Cup

A menstrual cup truly changed travel for me – it made it sooo much more pleasant to be outdoors when on my period (I even used it when doing a multi-day hike in the Alps and it made life so much easier). I really love the Saalt cups and the fact that they’re a small business. They also have discs, period underwear, and more. Code PASSPORT.

Bike U-Lock

We love these locks and have multiple of them. Super sturdy and easy to use to protect your bike!

Mosquito Head Net

We love these little nets – they pack up really small and are perfect to stuff into a pack (or into a stocking ;)).

Active Skin Repair Spray

This hypochlorus acid spray has been our favorite for years – it’s hypoallergenic and helps support the natural healing process. It’s amazing on cuts, burns, and more, and I always like to keep it on hand.

Trowel

Not the most glamorous of gifts, but a really useful one for anyone who spends time outdoors. This one is super sturdy and works well.

Bug Bite Thing

This theoretically suctions the insect saliva from under skin so it’s no longer irritated if you get an insect bite. I’m not totally sure if it works, but it sure seems to help my kids feel better!

Kids Hiking Backpacks

We super love the Tarn line of packs – they’re comfortable, well made, functional with lots of pockets, and an excellent price – especially with this sale. This is for sure the time to pick them up if you’re considering.

The 12L is an excellent little pack that my younger kids use for day hikes & travel. The 18L is what my kids 8 & up all use on day hikes, and my 5 year old uses it for her travel backpack to carry on all her stuff. This is our most used family backpack for sure.

Hiking Poles

Lots of great deals on hiking poles, but we especially love this kids’ set. They work perfectly for me as an average-height adult, and even Dan (who is 5’10” can use them). Plus, they’re cheaper than adult poles. This is another great set that’s made for adults that’s sturdy and great if you’re a bit taller.

Affordable, Packable Rain Jacket & Pants

When I was looking for a more affordable version of my favorite rain jacket, I chose this one due to the fantastic reviews and realized it’s the same one that Dan has had the men’s version of for years (and loved it so much, he went looking for it in our storage in the US this summer after realizing he’d forgotten to bring his to London). It’s super waterproof and really packable, but also very affordable. It’s a great one! I recently got the women’s rain pants, as well, and they’re equally fantastic. While it doesn’t have a couple of the extras my nicer jacket does (like pit zips and an extra large hood), it’s a fantastic jacket, especially for the price. Plus, I love that it packs away in a stuff sack easily!

Kids Sleeping Bag

We love these kids’ sleeping bags because they’re ultra warm. Tons of others are on great sale, as well.

Convertible Pants

My boys big and small absolutely love these pants that convert from trousers to shorts. They’re comfortable with easy zips and big pockets. Dan also loves the men’s version.

Waterproof Backpack Cover

We love these covers – they’re stretchy, convenient, easy to attach on, and protect our stuff! I’m purchasing a couple extras so each kid can have one on their backpack when walking through rainy London – we get lots of sudden storms to and from school.

Sun Hoodie

I love the women’s version of this and Dan loves the men’s version. They’re soft, protective, and have a great fit.

Bear Spray

Bear spray is one of those things you absolutely hope to only purchase and never actually need. Still, always always important to have on hand when hiking in bear country.

Everywhere Ground Mat

While we love Rumpl’s puffy blankets, we REALLY love their Everywhere Mat. It’s waterproof and easy to clean, folds up really small, and perfect for stashing in the car or to take along on a hike to sit on. I love that it’s a bit thicker so it makes it more comfy when sitting on the ground. Would be a terrific gift for an outdoorsy person or family.

Sun Hoodie

I love this sun hoodie if hiking in full sun so we don’t need to slather on quiiiite as much sunscreen. Dan loves the men’s version, too!

Athletic Leggings and Top

These are my favorite athletic leggings – they’re so soft but also supportive, have pockets, and just fit perfectly. I’ve had several pairs for years and they’re my go-tos. Plus, they’re affordable! I usually wear mine with this moisture-wicking top (it looks super cropped in the photos but it’s longer on me).

Athletic Skort

Speaking of athletic clothing, I love a skort for tennis or hiking in warmer months. I’ve tried quite a few, and Athleta has the absolute best ones – they never ride up in the legs and the waistband always stays put. Super comfortable and lightweight. I have and love this one and this one.

Portable Wash Bag

This little portable washing machine bag is absolutely fantastic if traveling or spending time outdoors and needing to wash a few clothes. It’s especially amazing when with kiddos (who inevitably will get filthy)! It washes SO much better than just hand washing due to the wash board inside the bag, but still packs up so small and is incredibly lightweight.

Super Soft Merino Wool Base Layers

We’ve used a lot of different kinds of merino base layers, and these are some of our favorites. I love that they’re a small, woman-owned business, and that there are thumb holes to keep the arms in place. Super soft and comfy items for the whole fam that come in lots of fun colors. They also have lots of other great merino items like dresses, undies, mid layers, nursing items, and more. Discount code LOCALPASSPORTFAMILY.

Here are all our other favorite base layers for the whole family.

Hammock

We love having a hammock along when camping – even when we have the RV, it’s so nice to set up outside and hang out in. This double one is roomy and super comfortable.

Hiking Sandals

I’ve waxed poetic about these shoes many times – my kids wear them all summer long for pool, beach, travel, and everything else. My younger kids all have this sandal and Dan has the men’s version – he really prefers them to open-toed Chacos. We’ve also had and loved the toddler sizes.

I personally love this open-toed style of athletic sandal that I’ve had for years. They’re super durable & supportive & I’ve worn them through all sorts of conditions and they still look basically brand new.

Camp Chairs

I love how small these camp chairs fold – makes them super easy to pop in the car to take along. They’re also easy to set up – we usually have the kids do them.

I’ve also heard amazing things about this low folding loveseat from multiple people in real life and it has amazing reviews. I’d love to add this to our setup soon! (Or honestly, maybe we’ll just go for the full couch version with our big family.)

Travel Blanket

I needed to add the bigger version of this blanket in this section because we love them so much! The bigger Ultrapack is great for an adult, or the Layover is even nicer with foot and hand pockets. Either way, they’re a fantastic gift for someone who travels but likes to pack minimally. Really love this small business. Discount code PASSPORT.

Lightweight Hiking Carrier

This awesome little carrier was created by a mom who wanted an easier way to get her toddler up and down when hiking. It attaches right onto a backpack, so it’s super low profile and perfect for kids who want to rotate between walking and riding. I love it for travel, too! Discount code PASSPORT.

Smartwool Quarter Zip

Dan has and loves this merino quarter zip – it’s great as a base layer or mid-layer – warm, lightweight, and easily packable. Wool is a fantastic travel gift because it can be reworn without needing frequent washing, sustainable, and warm in cold weather/cool in warmer temps.

Hiking Packs

Two of my favorite packs are the Women’s 25L – a wonderful pack that’s more roomy than the 18L. This is my go-to for travel.

I also love the 40L – a really great backpacking pack that we use regularly for travel. My 3 older kids and I each carried one of these with all our stuff for a summer of travel and on many other trips and they are always comfortable and durable. Excellent price!

Gloves

Dan and I loved these gloves (men’s version, women’s version) for years before we both sadly lost one of the gloves in the pair. I just ordered these merino wool glove liners – it makes such a difference in the cold to have a second thin layer and these have great reviews (and I appreciate that they’re merino wool but really affordable). These glove leashes are also FANTASTIC for helping not lose gloves (Dan and I each got some after we lost one…) and are under $5.

Kid Waterproof Boots

These have been our go-to kid boots for over 5 years and we still adore them. They’re sturdy but super comfortable and our kids use them alllll the time not just for hiking. They’re great for walking around in cold weather, and especially in wet winters since they’re waterproof. Absolutely love these, and the sale price ALMOST puts these in the under $50 section!

Women’s Hiking Pants

When I want some extra breathability and durability for a hike, and just a tougher outer layer if climbing or sitting on rocky surfaces, I love these prAna hiking pants. Hiking pants are just not usually that cute but these are actually fairly decent looking! I love the leg pocket for a phone and they’re really durable and comfortable. They also have room to layer base layers under if it’s cold.

Filter Water Bottle

We absolutely love this filter water bottle because it’s sturdy and perfect for filtering water on the trail or when traveling places where the tap water isn’t safe to drink. I far prefer this to ones that filter through a straw because you can filter the entire bottle at once, and then can decant into other water bottles. That means we can just take one of these along along with other bottles. Works great for our fam.

Winter Down Jacket

These REI Co-op Down jackets are fantastic and on major sale!

Folding Duffel

We love taking this folding duffel bag with us on trips because it expands into a roomy duffel but folds down super small and is really lightweight so we can clip it onto a backpack. Perfect for stuffing in unused jackets, souvenirs, snacks, or using to adjust luggage weights. It’s also great for camping to throw in clothes or to contain all the little items.

Thousand Bike Helmet

Dan gifted me this helmet several years ago and I still love it. The founder created the company because after losing a friend to a bike accident, she wanted to make helmets that looked good so people would actually be happy to wear them. It’s a wonderful small business that is also really functional. We love both their adult and kid helmets.

Kids Rain Gear

We really love these kids’ rain jackets and trousers – we have them in so many different sizes! (Here’s the toddler jacket and pants, and the one-piece baby rain suit that we also love.)

Favorite Women’s Sunglasses

I have a hard time with most sunglasses because they tend to not fit quite right, but these have a terrific fit, stay on, and come in tons of cute colors and styles. My faves for sure.

Lowa Hiking Boots

Dan and I both adore our Lowa hiking boots. They’re honestly amazing right out of the box – so supportive, comfortable, excellent tread. They’re the first hiking boots I’ve super loved and it makes me happy every time I wear them. Here are the men’s version and the women’s version.

Cotopaxi Suitcase-Style Backpack

This is Dan’s very favorite backpack – he loves traveling with it and usually takes it on day hikes when we’re packing food and other items for the whole family. It’s sturdy and comfortable, and the suitcase-style opening makes it easy to keep things organized.

Child Hiking Carrier

We’ve owned this kiddo hiking carrier for years and absolutely love it. I adore the super roomy storage compartments so we can easily carry everything we need for the family inside the carrier, as well. Plus, it has a terrific, really comfortable and adjustable fit that works for both Dan and me, and a built in sunshade. It’s terrific quality and one of our favorite kiddo outdoors items.

Insulated Hoody Jacket

I absolutely ADORE this jacket and have had it for about 3 years and it still looks and functions brand new. It’s really warm while also being super lightweight and packs up REALLY small when traveling. Has a big hood that fits over a helmet, with good fitting and zippers. It’s the warmest for its weight on the market and is terrific on its own or layered for even more warmth. An investment, for sure, but an absolutely fantastic jacket that I love.

Emergency Satellite GPS Device

This emergency satellite GPS device is an absolute must whenever we travel or hike in remote areas. It absolutely saved us when we once broke down when driving through the Yukon without cell service and our RV broke down, and we were able to contact family and a mechanic. It’s great for sending out an emergency SOS with location, or just for maintaining contact. This one is on MAJOR sale!

High Quality Rain Jacket

While I love the rain jacket I linked above, for super high performance, waterproofing, and really amazing construction (extra large hood, pit zips, etc.), this is ALWAYS my go to. It is crazy waterproof – I’ve worn it through downpours and stayed dry underneath. It layers well on top of a warmer layer under (I often wear it with my insulated jacket). It’s just an all around winner. Comes in a women’s version and men’s version and lots of fun colors.

Waterproof Parka

This is an excellent time to get an expensive item like a big parka if you need one. I love this waterproof women’s parka and it’s currently on sale.

Big Bike Rack

It’s kind of tricky finding a bike rack that fits enough for a family, and this is a terrific one that fits 6 bikes. Super high quality and sturdy. This is another great one for 4 bikes.