When it comes to going on expeditions in nature, no matter the length, it seems like less is always more in terms of packing. These essentials are a no-brainer for your favorite camper, hiker or nature-lover to take with them on their next trip!
UNDER $25
Kelty Eco Camp Pillow, $14.99, available at Sports Authority
Packing a backpack before a longer expedition can be a real drag, especially when you can’t get everything to fit right in your pack. The Kelty Eco Camp Pillow was made to be easily compressed to save space, and it’s made from recycled material!
Sea to Summit Mini Stuff Sack Set, $22.95, available at REI
An avid backpacker will really appreciate these stuff sacks, since they compress clothing and other camping gear and make sorting and evening out the weight of a backpack (which can weigh up to half of the person carrying the pack) way easier!
Nature and Selected Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, $12.76, available at Barnes and Noble
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works about his time out in nature are super influential. Inspire your favorite hiker by giving them a book full of his thoughts and experiences about camping and the connection between nature and humanity.
Rite in the Rain 980 All-Weather Universal Field-Flex Book, $15.15, available at Rite in the Rain
Hikers love keeping track of what they see and do out in the backcountry or on the trail! Help them out by giving them a notebook built to withstand rain, wind and other weather events that could put a damper on their field journaling time.
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, $13.30, available at Barnes and Noble
Ah, the sweet song of the American yellow warbler. Or wait—was that a Florida scrub-jay? Your outdoorsy friend can find the answer to all of their bird-related questions in this handy field guide.
UNDER $50
40 oz. Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum Bottle, $36.95, available at REI
With space being a definite issue on any camping trip, vacuum bottles are a must-have. They can keep whatever is in them at the right temperature, whether it’s cold alpine water or hot soup. And at 40 oz., you’ll hardly have to go back and refill.
Trailblazer Headlamp, $29.95, available at L.L. Bean
Don’t leave your favorite camper in the dark! Help them see at night and still be able to use both of their hands to make dinner and lay down their sleeping bags with a headlamp.
Swiss Army Huntsman Knife, $36, available at REI
With 15 different uses, including a reamer and a wood saw, this Swiss Army knife is an essential for any camper at any park.
Full R2 Blanket, $45, available at Patagonia
Make sure your environmentally-conscious camper stays warm when they’re out in the backcountry or even just at home in their bedrooms with this polyester blanket made with 63% recycled materials.
Suunto MCB Amphibian Compass, $30, available at REI
It’s a little difficult (okay, maybe a little impossible) to use your iPhone to guide you on your entire camping trip. Help your hiker stay on trail and orient their maps with a compass!
Mountainsmith Trekker FX 7075 Monopod/Walking Staff, $29.95, available at REI
Hiking, especially on an incline, can be really hard on a person’s knees. Ease that stress for someone you love and help them keep their balance even with a heavy pack on by giving them this hiking pole.
UNDER $100
Women’s North Face Venture Rain Jacket, $99, available at REI
Weather any storm in style in this rain jacket! It’s windproof, waterproof and has storm flaps and zippered pockets.
Men’s North Plains Mid-Leather Waterproof Boot, $82.50, available at Columbia
The North Face Wasatch 20-Degree Sleeping Bag, $89, available at Sports Authority
Sleeping in the great outdoors can get pretty cold, especially without electricity or much room in a backpack for lots of blankets. This sleeping bag will keep campers warm in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and can wrap neatly around their heads to keep them cozy and snug all through the night.
Swiss Army Champ Knife, $79, available at REI
For the more hardcore campers among us, this comprehensive Swiss Army knife is a huge help. Scale a fish, sew new strings into your tent, cut your lunch or do countless other things with it.
Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boots, $67.50, available at Columbia
Keep your feet warm and blister-free in these waterproof, lightweight, non-marking boots.
The Unit Tide Watch by Nixon, $87.46, available at Backcountry
Surf’s up, bro! Or maybe not right now—the Unit Tide Watch will help surfers figure out if it’s safe or not to surf at 270 different beaches for the next eight years.
OVER $100
CamelBak Fourteener 24 Hydration Pack – 100 fl. oz., $145, available at REI
Hiking, biking and backpacking (or really any outdoor activity) can get pretty tiring pretty quickly. Make staying hydrated on long trips easier and more convenient with this 100 fl. oz. hydration pack.
Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS Watch, $300, available at Backcountry
Don’t lose your loved one the next time they go camping! They can keep track of their location and make sure they’re following their maps correctly with this stylish, functional GPS watch.
Osprey Stratos 36 Pack, $159.95, available at REI
Backpacking requires one thing for sure: a backpack! Get out into the backcountry with an Osprey pack. They come with detachable “brains” that function as removable fanny packs when you don’t want to take everything up to the peak with you.
Women’s Nano Puff Jacket, $199, available at Patagonia
Stay warm, dry and cute in this Patagonia puff jacket. It’s easily compressible for when the weather actually wants to be nice to you, and super insulated for when the weather isn’t quite as nice.
Bushnell H2O Binoculars, $129, available at L.L. Bean
Your favorite nature-lover is going to love you even more than they already do when you buy them a pair of binoculars. They don’t even have to worry about dropping them when they’re watching water fowl, since these binoculars are waterproof.