26 Must-Have Camping Gifts for Serious Nature Lovers

Finding the right headlamp is a challenge — you need one that won't bounce around on your head, doesn't have a heavy battery pack, and is super simple to adjust.

Biolite’s Headlamp 200 weighs less than 2 ounces. Plus, it runs for 40 hours on low, and is easily charged with a USB cord. 

More: The Best 4-Season Tents to Bring Warmth to Winter Camping

While this LED choker looks like one of those glow-in-the-dark necklaces you wore at the middle school carnival as a kid, this one is brighter, more durable, and rechargeable.

It's super easy to find the perfect fit by simply cutting it with scissors — just don't cut too much off. And the 360-degree visibility makes it easy to spot Fido from any angle, compared to the collar-clipped options that hang under the chin.  

More: The Best Dog Toys to Keep Your Pup Busy

There have been plenty of times we've left our insulated bottles in the car to save weight while hiking, but we're almost always left with regret as we're sipping hot water a few hours later. And that's exactly why Hydro Flask made their Trail Series bottles. 

The Trail Series bottle weighs 25% less than its classic insulated counterparts, and this option is just as good at keeping your water icy. 

More: Ditch the Plastic and Get One of These Top-Rated Reusable Water Bottles

Everyone going camping has to have the right gear — and that includes your pup. This waterproof jacket will keep them dry in the rain or snow, and there's even a fleece lining to keep them nice and warm. 

It doubles as a harness (with a back and chest loop for a leash), meaning you'll have one less thing to pack on your trip. And you can stow away small items like treats or poop bags in the hidden pockets on the jacket as well.

Even with a roaring fire, it's still nice to wrap up in a warm blanket at night. This puffy camping gift is also great for picnics, midday naps, and sports events. The quilted texture helps hold in heat, and the blanket is made from recycled materials. It's even waterproof, and has loops on each corner so you can turn it into a cape for hands-free use. 

No matter where you are, you will always need clean water to drink. Even if you think the water near you in a stream, spring, or other body is safe, it's better to be cautious. After all, the last thing you want is to find out it's contaminated!

The LifeStraw is a portable straw you can use to filter and clean water of "99.999999% of bacteria (including E. coli, salmonella), 99.999% of parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium), 99.999% of microplastics, as well as sand, dirt, and cloudiness." Now that's impressive.

Even though your dog may be happy sleeping next to you on the tent floor, a soft bed is a nice perk. Plus, on cold nights, you'll want your pup to have a warm, dry place to rest. This sleeping bag is water-resistant and only weighs a couple of pounds, so it won't weigh you down. Even when zipped-up, your four-legged friend will have plenty of room to roll around.

You never know when you're going to run out of matches, lose your lighter, or just need an extra spark to get the fire going. This handy-dandy tool is only about four inches long, so you can keep it in your pocket or pack at all times during your camping excursions.

To create sparks (and hopefully a fire), simply strike the key against the tube-shaped fire starter, and sparks will fly. Make sure you're aiming those sparks at dry tinder for best results. 

OK, hear us out: We know this is weird, but when you have to go and there's no outhouse or plumbing, this thing is a lifesaver. It spares you from awkward moments trying to squat in the woods, and it helps prevent any unwanted drips or messes on your clothing. It basically allows women to urinate standing up, eliminating any awkward bathroom situations. 

The funnel is easy to clean (just use a bit of soap and water), and it can be easily stowed away in a discreet drawstring bag.

Starting the day with a jolt of caffeine never hurt anyone — and it may give you the juice you need to actually go on that sunrise hike. This enamel coffee pot works as a percolator, so you can make and serve your coffee in this one pitcher. It's safe to set on the campfire or gas stove — so you don't need any fancy heat sources to get it up and running.

If your idea of a romantic getaway is a weekend in the mountains or woods, then hey, you do you! This sleeping bag allows you and your boo to cuddle all night long (comfortably!), with plenty of space to move around, too. No more trying to awkwardly share a sleeping bag. Plus, it's one less sleeping bag to carry!

More: 9 Best Double Sleeping Bags for Camping With Your Snuggle Buddy

Sometimes, a campfire just isn't possible when you're out for the weekend. Maybe it's raining, or maybe you're just in a place where you can't have an open flame: Either way, you have to cook somehow! This portable stove only needs a bit of butane to work, and it's small enough to stow in the trunk or backseat. 

Even if you have a campfire going for warmth, this is an easy way to cook up dinner or make your morning coffee.

The weather can change on a dime when you're out camping, and having a jacket that can roll with the punches is key. This multi-layer option is a great camping gift for anyone who will be out in the elements. 

It has an inner liner (similar to a puffer coat) to hold in heat and keep you warm, and the outer waterproof layer can be worn as a rain jacket either by itself or connected to the inner layer for a snowproof version. There is also a men's version of the jacket for your boo.

No matter how much we like to “disconnect” when camping, electronics have their place. Recharge your power station (such as the Yeti 200x) with the sun's free energy using this little solar panel. 

The Nomad 5 is Yeti's smallest panel, making it a great gift for the environmentally-conscious people on your list. For longer trips with bigger groups, we love the quad-fold Nomad 50 solar panel. 

 This Ultralight Helinox camping chair weighs just 1 pound, packs down to the size of a 32-ounce water bottle, and is way more comfortable than it looks. Keep it in your car permanently and you'll never be without a seat, whether you're on a mountain summit, changing from hiking boots to flip-flops after a hike, or dipping your feet in the river.  

More: Kick Your Feet Up in One of These Camping Chairs

Frisbee is one of those games that adults, kids, and even the pups can play from sunup to sundown. And now, you can play well into the evening, thanks to this bright LED light-up flying disc. 

The disc has weight and balance that are similar to professional discs. It will illuminate for up to 2o hours per set of batteries (replaceable), which should be more than enough to get your family through a weekend in the woods.

More: Camping Games for Friendly Backwoods Competition

The Low Love Seat's polyester fabric is highly durable and easy to clean, with armrests that can each be height-adjusted and a transport sack that doubles as a firewood carrier. If you're that couple who can't imagine being out of arm's reach, or if you just really hate cheap camping chairs (we do!), we highly suggest investing in this portable love seat.

Call us spoiled, but we firmly believe that nothing can ruin a good vibe faster than a drink that turns lukewarm when you're outside. So, to make sure that never happens, YETI made a badass coozie.

The Rambler is a fancy insulated “colster can” that will last forever. It can even be used as a cup for wine, coffee, and whatever else your little engine needs to keep running.

More: Unpack These Portable Camping Chairs for Instant Outdoor Relaxation

Holding a leash all day is no fun, and untangling your pup every 5 minutes can be quite the hassle. This inventive new tether system from Ruffwear is the solution. String a line between two trees, and then connect the long leash to your pup and the string line. 

A swiveling carabiner keeps the leash from twisting and tangling, so your four-legged best friend is free to roam (within reason) — just like everyone else.

There are some times when you'll love to relax to the sounds of the water trickling, leaves rustling, or just plain silence. But more often than not, music can keep the campsite alive and feeling like a party!

UE's Wonderboom 2 is a Bluetooth speaker made for outdoor use. It's waterproof and dustproof, boasts a 13-hour battery life, and can even be synced to another speaker to make a surround system. Go ahead — let the tunes crank. 

More: 8 Bluetooth Speakers Loved By Our Editors

Sunglasses are one of those essentials you should never leave the house without — especially when heading on an outdoor adventure. And after trying countless styles of casual shades, sports sunglasses, and polarized lenses, we like Smith's Lowdown 2 as our daily driver for campground chilling, bicycle cruising, and everything in between. 

The new Lowdown CORE frames are lightweight and durable. Grips on the nose keep them in place when your face is dripping in sweat.  

Pretty much every time you're hiking or camping, you'll stumble across some animal tracks and scat (poop). Sometimes you'll know right away that the tracks are from a deer or elk, and other times you'll be hoping it’s not from a bear or mountain lion.

Take the guesswork out of identifying which animals are nearby with this field guide from Falcon Guides. It will help your giftee identify the signs of nearly 150 species of wildlife, so they'll know exactly which kind of animals are sharing their outdoor space.

While most people have their own sleeping bag and pad, we've commonly seen people using an ancient pillow from the guest bedroom — or even worse, a rolled-up hoodie. 

But a proper camping pillow should not be overlooked, and it's something we never travel without — now that we've found the right one. So, share something that your recipient might not think is worth the cost, but will never regret carrying along.  

More: 9 Best Camping Pillows That Transform Your Tent Into a Bedroom

To make sure you get enough horizontal time with a pillow, a book, and an afternoon nap, we recommend bringing your own hammock on your next camping trip — that way you're always guaranteed a place to hang. 

The DoubleNest has enough room for two adults (plus a small pup), and can even be slept in at night if you prefer to see the stars overhead. It comes in over 30 color choices.  

Sure, you can camp without slippers: But when they're this cozy, you'll never want to even consider camping without slippers. We wear these around the fire to warm them up before crawling into our sleeping bags, and they're probably the comfiest pair we've ever worn.

The Moloa has a heavily waxed leather upper that can be worn as a shoe or slip-on, a durable gum-rubber outsole that isn't too stiff to wear all night long, and the softest lining our toes have ever felt.