The best gifts are those that show the recipient you really thought about who they are and what they like. Below are our best ideas for gifts for outdoorsy guys – some items that Matt has personally tried and liked, others that are still on his wish list. And, of course, a few that I (Karen) personally think would be a great gift.
(OMG this got long, but I guarantee you it’s the best gift list you’ll come across this year!)
- “Katana Boy” saw: (Karen) Matt got this a few years ago and it has come in handy more times than we can count – cutting up firewood, cutting a log that has fallen in the road, cutting down our christmas trees… We never leave on a roadtrip or adventure without it.
2. Fjallraven pants: (Karen) These have become Matt’s go-to pants for work and play. They are trendy-looking enough that they are not out of place when you’re about town, but they are hardcore, durable, comfortable, and light enough for outdoor adventuring. The rumor is that a chainsaw slipped from a friend’s hand, ripped up these pants, but the tough fabric prevented the chainsaw from cutting his leg. Impressive!! A must-have wardrobe item for the outdoorsy man in your life!
(Matt) These pants are pricy, but they are absolutely top-quality top-notch technical gear. If you spend lots of time adventuring outside, you’ll be familiar with the problem of finding pants that are not cotton, but also don’t wear like a piece of plastic. For wet or cold or alpine, cotton pants are asking for trouble. On the other hand, the “hiking” pants that you can get from REI just don’t cut it for me, in terms of comfort or durability. These Fjallraven pants are the first that I have found that hits the sweet spot for me. Fjallraven makes many different models; I have the Vidda Pro Trouser which works great for me. The various trouser models differ largely in the number and location of pockets, and a bit in terms of cut/fit as well. The Vidda Pro uses the G1000 fabric, which is their mainstay and I recommend it. (For the record, I still don’t believe karen’s chain-saw rumor above; the fabric is good, but not superhuman.) There is also a G1000 “silent” version that is apparently quieter when moving through the woods for hunting, and only sacrifices a bit in terms of durability. I haven’t seen it in person so I can’t comment, but I think I’ll try it on my second pair just for variety, when I can afford to spring for another pair. I have no complaints in that regard with the standard G1000, but I’m curious about going all ninja silent. The sizing is the trickiest part, as it’s all European so you’ll have to put in a bit of effort to make the conversion and choose wisely. Check out the Fjallraven site directly.
(Matt) One of my favorite things about these pants is the option to wax them (see below). You rub the wax on like a crayon, then stand in front of the campfire or woodstove (or, you can iron them, though I’m not that motivated). The resulting finish is just the right combination of water resistant and breathable. It works great for me in the snow and rain, one level below having to put on the shell pants. Old-school style—there’s no school like old school. Below is a neat video to watch that shows the waxing.
https://youtu.be/7nZuLkNORVQ
3. Fjallraven wax: (Karen) Matt has been using this wax to waterproof his Fjallraven pants, his boots, and other clothing items. Compact and fairly clean, it would make an easy stocking stuffer.
4. Smartwool socks: (Karen) With a reputation for making great items, Smartwool socks are a reliable investment. They outlast nearly all other brands and prevent stinky feet, which is critical when you’re stuck in a tent together.
(Matt) I only wear smartwool socks. The only exception is the rare occasion that I need to wear dress socks. In the summer I wear the thin versions. We even bought smartwool socks for the boys, which might be the best indication, as they aren’t the cheapest option.
5. Headlamp: (Karen) If your guy doesn’t own a headlamp already – he needs one! And if he has one, a second headlamp to keep in his car or backpack will always be helpful. We also keep several headlamps on hand because it’s inevitable one of our kids will forget theirs or we will be with someone who has yet to get their own.
(Matt) We own about ten headlamps; I keep one hanging next to my bed and in the car, in addition to the roving one for camping and adventures. We have exclusively Petzls, but that isn’t because I know them to be superior, only because they have been tried and true for us for decades.
6. Duluth Men’s Buck Naked underwear: (Karen) Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince Matt to pose for a picture of these, but suffice it to say, they are his favorite underwear! After wearing the same brand for years and years and years, he is now a Buck Naked convert. These undies have a light, mesh-like breathable fabric that prevents chafing and, as the name suggests, makes it feel like you’re going commando. Great for hiking, biking, or just lounging around, he’ll appreciate your concern for his comfort.
(Matt) for about fifteen years the only underwear I wore was a specific model of Calvin Klein briefs. So it was a big deal when Karen found something that completely supplanted a fifteen year habit. And the best part is that these are not cotton. If it’s hard to find comfortable non-cotton outdoor pants, it’s even harder to find non-cotton underwear. I intend to stock up a large supply of these, just on the off chance they decide to stop making them.
7. Knife: (Matt) We men often have a strange predilection for knives, all out of proportion to the use that they might receive. Like many men, I have strong preferences. Fortunately, I have mostly outgrown my strong opinions when it comes to knives, as being one of those things that is so subjective rather than absolute. I do still have one strong opinion that is here to stay: stainless steel is the worst steel. Stainless steel is garbage for making knives that get sharp and stay sharp. But 9 out of 10 knives are made with stainless. If you get your man a high-carbon steel knife and point that out to him, he will (or should) appreciate your discerning nature for quality. Anyway, I’ll describe my two go-to knives, with the caveat that my preferences have evolved over decades and a knife is a very personal item.
Spyderco Caly 3.5 ZDP-189 Knife
(Matt) I carry this knife every day, everywhere I go; the only time it isn’t clipped in my right pocket is when I’m wearing pajamas, or if I fly somewhere with no checked luggage. At a young age I practiced incessantly with one-handed opening and closing of this style of locker, which drives my choice. The “ZDP-189” is an exotic sort of steel, both high carbon and stainless also, which is why the price is much higher than equivalent stainless versions. Below is a video of the knife in and out of my pocket.
“Genesis Scandi” from L.T. Wright Knives, in the Larry Roberts signature edition
(Matt) This is my other knife. My fixed blade, camp knife, car knife, survival knife, etc. A folding pocket knife can only take so much abuse. A decent sized (but not too large) fixed blade knife is nearly indestructible and will last forever. It will not see the sort of action as a pocket knife does, but that’s to be expected. In modern society, a knife like this is a luxury. On the other hand, just about every outdoorsy guy would appreciate a legitimate knife like this. Again, knives are all about personal preference (except for the fact that stainless is shit). This is a more traditional, forged knife out of high-carbon steel. It happens to be the knife that one of the contestants in the television series “Alone”—Larry Roberts—used to survive for weeks (months?) alone in the woods, which is pretty legit endorsement in my opinion. It is simple, not overly large but big enough to be used for batoning. The leather sheath is similarly practical, with a loop for a 3/8” diameter firesteel, and can be worn in the traditional position high on the belt, or on the dangler loop. One holiday option: watch a few episodes of the Alone series with your guy, then give him the knife that Larry was using in the show—you’ll make him feel like he’s prepared to survive in the wilderness, and that you really thoughtful about it. If I had to survive in the wilderness and could only take one item, this would be it.
8. Yeti mug/tumbler: (Karen) We love these classy tumblers for coffee, hot tea, wine, cocktails, you name it. They are a bit $$ but they deserve their reputation for keeping drinks very well insulated.
9. Sea to Summit inflatable pillow: (Karen) Sea to Summit has some fantastic products. This one, in particular, we stumbled upon when Bodie was picking out his birthday present at REI. Of everything there, he wanted to spend his $40 on this! He LOVES it. When not in use, it stores away nicely in a silky compression sac. In the tent, it makes a cozy pillow. The fleecy fabric is super soft and the synthetic fill makes it that much more comfy.
10. Camp chair: (Karen) The Eddie Bauer chairs we have and love are currently nowhere to be found, but this one looks good and has excellent reviews. I know we all like to get those $19.99 chairs at Walmart (and sometimes they’re awesome!) but it is worth your $$ to invest in a decent chair if you like to be outside a lot. We use ours in our backyard, at soccer games, summer concerts in the park, and of course camping.. for the amount of time your tush will spend it, might as well invest in a quality line!
11. Whiskey: (Karen) A “gentleman’s drink”… Matt is a bit of a liquor connoisseur and his everyday, easy-to-find favorites are Woodford Reserve and Bulleit Rye. Seriously, these are the easiest stocking stuffers and whiskey-drinking friends will be thrilled. If you want other Whiskey or Bourbon recommendations, let us know!
(Matt) The two that Karen listed above are delicious affordable choices for regular consumption. If you want something particularly special, that you can’t get at a well-stocked liquor store, order up the Whistlepig Old World Cask Finish 12 year rye.
12. Unbreakable whiskey glasses: (Karen) Perfect for camping, enjoying a backyard bbq, or just using around your table. Beautifully made and nicely weighted.
(Matt) I like a straight-forward, simple, heavy feeling, classic 10oz “rocks” glass, like the image/link below. They’re pretty cheap, and I like to take them with me camping too. I’ll tell you, having a proper drink of whiskey from a real glass in front of the campfire in this middle of the woods makes me feel like I’m living life right. The (minor) challenge/risk of breakage getting them to the campsite context makes the successful execution that much more gratifying.
13. Fire starter necklace: (Karen) Matt wears his nearly all the time and the boys each have one. It’s lightweight, unnoticeable, and handy to have around. The kids have contests to see who can get a spark first. Practical stocking stuffer for anyone.
(Matt) The one by wazoo shown above has a leather cord and feels a bit more rustic and stylish than the ones with steel and paracord. Normally not something that would drive my choice, but in this case it means I am more likely to wear it in everyday life—and having it on hand is a bigger consideration.
14. Duluth Firehose Log Carrier: (Karen) So, I can see Matt dismissing this as impractical or silly, but, honestly, I find something sexy about it! (Ha!!) I’m not sure if it’s the ruggedness or the rustic look of it, but even the least-outdoorsy guy is going to look pretty hot lugging this through the door.
(Matt) Honestly, I don’t even know what this is (something to carry firewood? aren’t I supposed to do that in my arms?)
.
15. Sea to Summit containers: (Karen) While we don’t use these, we have several friends who do and they all rave about them. I love that they collapse and fold nice and light. They even have a collapsible washing bin!
18. Mini Lantern: (Karen) I like the look of these little lanterns. We have a different brand, but the concept is the same – a hands-free way to light up a large area. These have great reviews and would be practical at home and outdoors.
19. Paracord: (Karen) At home, on the boat, and at camp, this stuff has saved us so many times! An essential item for any outdoorsman’s kit.
20. Emergency Vehicle Extraction tools: (Karen) Known to me as sandpit tire things, these stowable traxx can make it significantly easier to rescue your own vehicle from mud and sand, or provide a bit of extra traction if you’re slipping on an icy patch. We haven’t personally tried either of these options, but I know they’re on Matt’s list.
21. Prana men’s Vaha pants: (Karen) These pants are so cozy and lightweight, they feel like pajamas, but they are designed for hiking, climbing, yoga, or hanging out at the local bar.
22. Drylite towels: (Karen) These are handy for drying yourself, kids, dishes, or your stuff. Now that I think about it, we need to get more of these…..
23. Stuff sack/compression sack: (Karen) You can never have enough of these. They are key for organizing your gear and clothing when camping or backpacking. We also use them to hold snacks, diapers, shoes, sleeping bags/pads, toilet paper, pillows…
24. Repair buckle: (Karen) When you’re out on the trail and the buckle on your backpack’s waist belt breaks, it can really suck. It’s always good to have a plan and the tools to fix it.
25. Air Chair: (Karen) This just kind of looks awesome. A chair that can fold out into a camp mat. Sure looks comfortable!
26. Mat repair kit: (Karen) We recently had a leak in a sleeping pad and didn’t have a mat repair kit to fix it. Matt went to great lengths to try and seal the leak, but it was way more time consuming than it should have been. Your guy should never leave home without one of these!
27. Icebreaker base layers: (Karen) Icebreaker makes some of the softest clothing! I love how lightweight these are and how they feel against your skin. Base layers are a necessity for anyone who is spending much time doing outdoor activities. Awesome on their own for hiking in the summer, they will also hoard warmth for you under your puffy on the colder days.
(Matt) I have a thin Smartwool base layer top, almost identical to Icebreaker but maybe not quite as high-end, and I use it on every single outdoor activity when the temp is sub 60˚F. (n.b. saying that Smartwool is “not as high-end” should indicate just how premium the Icebreaker stuff is). My thin smartwool merino wool top is possibly my single most valued individual clothing item. I would really really like to get a pair of the bottoms…
28. Merino Wool beanie hat: (Karen) Keep his head warm!
(Matt) This is (again) the Smartwool version, which I own and use.
29. Action Packers: (Karen) These are our go-to storage bins for all things outdoor related. They last forever, are waterproof, and can be used as extra seating too!
(Matt) We use the 24 gallon version—for some reason we couldn’t get a link directly to that size.
30. Garmin InReach Explorer Kit: (Karen) This is $$$$$ but, honestly, I think it would be worth it if you have a spouse/partner who is out in the backcountry with kids. There are numerous times I have told Matt I didn’t want him to go hiking/camping alone with the kids because I was worried that, if something happened to him, what would the kids do? I fully trust Matt but if he were to get injured out there in the middle of nowhere, my 7 or 5 or 3 year old would not be capable of getting help. For those families who adventure in zones where cell reception is nil, this device could prove invaluable in an emergency.
(Matt) We have been talking about this for a while and haven’t bought one yet. I personally am not so worried, as I feel that even when I’m alone with the boys, there are usually other people (strangers) around that could assist in an emergency, but I understand that Karen has a right to worry. Also, I hope to do some more hardcore trips with the boys eventually, and if one of these is the “price of admission”, then I’ll gladly pay it.
31. Gift them an app!
Gaia GPS is Matt’s favorite GPS navigation app these days.
32. Outdoorsy Watch: (Matt) A few ways to go on this.
A) What comprises an “outdoorsy” watch? Well, the above Casio has a built-in compass and solar charging. It also has an altimeter/barometer and the atomic radio transceiver to keep the time accurate. It makes you feel like you could use this watch to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. That counts as outdoorsy to me. I do not own one of these, unfortunately, but it’s largely because I have a small wrist and these things would be monstrous on me.
B) A GPS watch like the phenomenal Garmin Fenix series. They are amazing. But there are two big drawbacks: they cost a fortune, and the battery only lasts a few days. Both of which make it not my particular cup-of-tea. But if I were a devoted runner, I would be ALL about it.
33. Chainsaw: (Matt) I couldn’t help adding this one. I know that not too many people truly have need of a chainsaw, but this happens to at the top of my list this year so I need to include it. I have used a friend’s Husqvarna Rancher with the 20in bar before, so I know that it is just the right size for me to use for firewood collecting out in the national forest once a year, and I would really like to add that to our list of yearly traditions.
34. GIFT CARDS!! Use the links below to take you directly to the gift card link for that store. (We are not affiliates with any of the below sites.)
AND if you didn’t find anything in this list, check out our camping list. That’s the checklist we use to pack for car camping trips, so it’s loaded with very practical items. Most of the items on the list are hyperlinked to the specific product that we use. Get ready for the spring camping season that way.
AND the Altoid Survival kit is an awesome family activity, and those items are EASY inexpensive stocking fodder.
AND if you prefer something truly practical, that is valuable regardless of your outdoorsy factor, order up the items for a First Aid Kit (an actually useful first aid kit).
