Shopping for outdoorsy campers and backpackers might seem like an easy task at first. But when you walk into an REI or start perusing a site like Backcountry, the sheer volume of brands and products can be overwhelming, even paralyzing. And the constant flow of new designs and types of products is hard to keep up with.
That’s what we’re here for, though. We’ve been keeping tabs, taking notes, and reviewing the best camping gear on the market all year. This curated list is a guide to some of our favorite camping gift ideas — the ones that we’ll be buying for friends and family who enjoy getting outside as much as we do.
Be sure to check out all of our gift guides for more ideas to suit every adventurer on your list!
The Best Camping Gifts of 2025
JetBoil Flash 1.0 L Fast Boil System: $145
If someone backpacks and doesn’t have a JetBoil, you’ll change their life with this simple gift.
The standard 1 L Flash Boil System is tried and true, and extremely popular among backpackers, thru-hikers, survivalists, winter campers, and travelers since 2001. The corrugated “FluxRing” increases the surface area of the bottom of the pot, allowing the burner to boil water in under two minutes.
Once you have one of these things, it’s amazing how much you’ll use it — from backpacking trips to roadside coffee-making stops, and everything in between.
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The Brown Buffalo Dopp Kit: $65
What does one use a dopp kit for? Anything you want, really. The beauty of this simple piece of gear is its versatility. A good dopp kit is only limited by your imagination. And the Brown Buffalo Dopp Kit is a truly great dopp.
Made with DWR-treated 1000D Cordura MultiCam Nylon, its very durable. The camo colorway is absolutely in right now, and the neon orange liner on the interior makes it easy to see what’s inside — be it toiletries, drawing tools, tech, gadgets, or whatever else you decide to fill it with.
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Curious Creatures Hungry Horse Jacket: $190
The “shacket” is an important piece of any camper’s outdoor apparel. Not quite a jacket, not quite a shirt, this heavy layer exists somewhere in between — and you’ll be shocked at how often you reach for it. If the camper in your life is in need of a shacket, there are a lot of options out there. But few of them deliver as much quality and style as the Hungry Horse Jacket from Curious Creatures.
Curious Creatures, a Bozeman, Montana-based MTB outfit, released this new piece as part of its fall 2025 line. We got our hands on a sample and haven’t stopped using it since it arrived in the mail. The thick, fleecy material is soft to the touch and warm, and the workwear-style looks as good around town as it does at the campsite.
It’s got enough pockets to easily store what you need, it’s durable enough to handle the rough and tumble needs of campsite life, and it’s warm enough to fend off chilly nights around a campfire.
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Glerup Slip-Ons: $100
A good pair of slippers will get a lot of mileage around the campsite. So why not get a pair that will last you comfortably for years of use? Glerups is a Danish wool footwear brand slinging soft slippers that are as eco-friendly as they are warm.
Made with 100% boiled wool that’s sustainably sourced, the materials are traceable from “farm to foot,” and part of a closed-loop sustainable cycle. The soles are made with genuine leather, and the special Glerup wool mix is warm and durable without being itchy. They pack easily into a pack for a hut or backpacking trip, and they’ll get a lot of use kicking around a campsite.
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Biolite Luci Solar String Lights: $55-100
Campsite ambiance can make almost any patch of dirt feel like home. String lights are one of the fastest and easiest ways to get it dialed. Biolite’s Luci Solar String Lights are the perfect gift for a camper who likes to add that homey touch.
Simply unroll the string, hang it with a couple of attachment points, and voila! Suddenly, you’re living area is well-lit and feels warm. The Luci Solar String Lights are available in 18-foot ($55) and 44-foot ($100) options, casting both warm white and colored lights depending on your preference and mood.
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Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow: $50
No matter where you’re traveling, how you’re getting there, or what you’re doing, having a comfortable pillow for the ride is a game-changer. Unfortunately, taking your home pillow isn’t usually the most convenient option. That’s why Therm-a-Rest made its Compressible Pillows, which pack down into themselves for easy transport, then unroll and loft up when you’re ready to catch some ZZZs.
This season, Therm-a-Rest introduced some fun new colors and designs inspired by the desert, outer space, and woodlands.
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Simpleshot Scout LT2 Slingshot: $44
When you’re lounging around a campsite and there’s nothing to do but kill time, a slingshot becomes a form of endless entertainment. No matter how old you are, setting up some targets and plinking away is a boatload of fun.
And it’s even more fun with a really good slingshot, like the Scout LT2. This compact little weapon ain’t your grandpa’s slingshot (and it’s way better than that old wrist rocket of yours, too). With fiber optic sights on either side to help you aim, this thing can be deadly in the right hands. For $44, it’s one of the best camp enhancement gizmos you can buy.
Simpleshot also sells targets, biodegradable clay projectiles, and replacement straps.
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Rise Outdoor AirNEST: $1,100
Do you ever arrive at a campsite and think to yourself, “Boy, I wish I could just hit a button and camp would set itself up”? If you have, the Rise Outdoors AirNest might be a solution to look into. This palatial inflatable tent is big enough for three people, has a massive vestibule for storage, more pocket space than you can shake a stick at, and, best of all, it sets up in minutes with just the press of a button.
It is wind- and waterproof, retains its shape even under wind stress, and features a built-in inflatable mattress that is very comfortable (although a bit noisy). It even floats if you’re inclined to take it sailing…
In our review, the tester concluded, “For families that camp together, this is a fun, durable, easy-to-use inflatable tent that adds some fun flair to any campsite.”
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Camp Chef Pro 14: $350
There are camp commodities you like to have around, and then there are camp commodities that you love. This is among the latter group. The Camp Chef Pro 14 stove changes everything about the camping experience. No more cooking over small flames. No more taking an hour and a half to make dinner. Gone are the days of frustrated camp chefing. With this powerful stove, anything is possible.
At least, that’s how it feels. With a griddle, grill, and pizza oven add-ons, you can cook just about anything on this two-burner stove. Especially if you’re cooking for a group or family, this stove is one of the best additions to camping gear money can buy.
Our tester concluded in his review, “If I’m car camping, and space isn’t an issue, there really isn’t a reason not to bring this stove. It’s made some amazing meals and some fantastic memories for me and my friends.”
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REI Co-op Trailmade Jacket: $60
A good camping fleece goes a long way, and as our tester found, the REI Co-op Trailmade Jacket is ready for the long haul. This midweight fleece has a classic, relaxed fit and is great for casual hiking, campfire hanging, and general campsite lounging. It’s soft to the touch, simple, and keeps you warm when temperatures start to drop.
The best part about this no-frills piece is the price. At just $60, it’s no wonder this fleece made the cut as GearJunkie’s Best Budget Fleece in our guide to the Best Fleece Jackets. For the price, you get a really high-quality piece of apparel that will last years, and that you don’t have to baby.
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Gerber ComplEat Camp Cookset: $200
Everything you need to cook and serve food unpacks from this tidy bundle. This 16-piece cookset includes a pot, a sauté pan, two lids (that fit both), four plates, four bowls, a mixing bowl, a rubber hot pad, a detachable handle for the sauté pan, and a carrying case.
In his ComplEat Camp Cookset review, our camp editor said, “My car camping kitchen has never looked or cooked better.”
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Crazy Creek AirCliner: $125
Crazy Creeks are one of the most widely used non-chair chairs in the world. They’re always at campsites, soccer games, park BBQs, concerts, beaches, by rivers, and anywhere people want to sit down.
The new AirCliner is the brand’s first foray into the inflatable space. With just three big breaths, it inflates, and you’ve got a comfortable sit pad. Or unbuckle the supports and lay it flat for a napping pad or sitting space for two.
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Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Sleeping Pad: $240
Usually, backpackers have to settle for less comfortable lower R-value sleeping pads. But not anymore. The NeoLoft sleeping pad from Therm-a-Rest is an insanely comfortable pad that packs down to slightly larger than the size of a Nalgene and weighs just 30 ounces.
The NeoLoft has an R-value of 4.7 (which means it’s well insulated) and comes in regular, regular-wide, and long sizes. This is a very comfortable and warm all-season backpacking sleeping pad. It looks (and also feels) more like an air mattress.
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Grand Trunk Compass Stool: $100
Comfy camp chairs don’t have to be big and bulky. The Compass Stools pack down compact, making them ideal for backpacking or car camping. Never go seatless again. See our full review for more.
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PACT Outdoors Pack Out Kit (12-Pack): $33
The PACT Pack Out kit is a great stocking stuffer for the backcountry pooper in your life. The Pack It Out Bathroom kit includes a durable outer bag for transporting your poop safely, a large inner bag to poop in, and “poop powder” to deodorize and dehydrate poop and make transport easy. It even has PACT Wipes to get you clean below and antiseptic hand wipes.
PACT came on the scene with its fungi magic that could help break down things left behind in a cat hole, and then created this kit for times when packing it out is necessary — which seems to be a growing trend. You can also check out the PACT Lite Bathroom Kit, which has a trowel that doubles as a container for PACT’s fungi tablets and wipes.
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Hele Outdoors Hele Box: $399
If you want van lifestyle camping but don’t have a van, fear not. Hele Outdoors’ Hele Box is a packable, easy-to-assemble sleep platform that fits in most SUVs and trucks. It allows you to store things neatly in its case, which slides beneath it. You can buy just the platform or the platform and HeleOutdoors’ branded sleeping pad together.
See why one of our testers wrote, “The Hele Box elevates car camping to a new level of comfort” in our full review.
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NEMO Endless Promise Coda Sleeping Bag: $450
This bag is ultralight for backpackers, uses hydrophobic down, DWR-treated materials, and is part of NEMO’s Endless Promise Line — meaning it can be fully recycled at the end of its useful life. The Allied down can be removed and reused, and the synthetic materials that make up the rest of it can be turned into polyurethane yarn to make other products. It’s NEMO’s first fully recyclable down sleeping bag.
For a real-world take, read our full review.
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HydraPak Seeker 6L Gravity Filter: $80
Gravity filters are one of the most passive means of purifying your water. There’s no pumping, no squeezing, no sucking. You just fill it up, hang it, and let the forces of physics work for you.
HydraPak’s Inline filter uses 0.2-micron hollow fiber filter threads that filter out 99.9999% of common waterborne bacteria (such as E. coli), paracytic cysts, and microplastics. HydraPak says its Inline filter is good for 1,500 L of water — which comes out to 250 full reservoir fills.
However, the most useful feature of this gravity filter is its handles. HydraPak designed the bladder with numerous handles welded to the TPU material. Those make it much easier to hang, grab, and hold this filter.
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Sea to Summit Ikos Tent: $449
This tent exemplifies why Sea to Summit has quickly become one of this camping editor’s favorite camping brands. The versatile tent can be set up in six different ways and is packed with design features that make it a true pleasure to use. It gets additional praise for its roomy interior and ventilation.
It’s a high-quality and comfort-minded tent that’s slightly lighter than most dedicated car camping tents. That makes it a great option for a couple sharing a tent on backpacking trips and car camping trips alike. Our reviewer said, “The Ikos TR3 might just represent the future of lightweight family camping shelters.”
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Gregory Zulu & Jade Backpacks: From $170
Gregory’s Jade and Zulu (women’s and men’s) backpacks utilize a FreeFloat dynamic hip-belt that allows the packs to pivot and flex with the wearer’s natural gait for a far more comfortable, energy-saving experience. It also has a suspended, adjustable back panel offering plenty of ventilation that can be sized specifically to your torso length.
It has six external pockets, front and bottom access zippers, a sunglasses “QuickStow” loop on the shoulder, adjustable attachment loops, upper shock locks for trekking poles or ice axes, and more. Our full review has more details.
Gregory also makes these packs in a range of volumes for men and women — from as small as 28 L to as large as 65 L. So, no matter what size Zulu you need, Gregory has you covered.
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AeroPress Premium: $150
When it was released in 2005, the AeroPress was a coffee sensation. It became a favorite among campers and coffee snobs, both of whom found the nifty little plastic invention ideal for making delicious single cups of coffee.
Well, now the brand is introducing its AeroPress premium. It has the same design, yet it’s made of metal and glass. Read our full review here.
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EXPED MegaMat Auto: $400
EXPED is known for making technically designed, high-quality sleeping pads of all kinds, sizes, weights, and warmth. But the MegaMat Auto is easily a favorite. It is 4 inches thick, has an R-value of 8.1, and is rated at -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Most importantly, though, it’s built for use in a vehicle.
This pad fits perfectly inside compact SUVs, station wagons, and midsize trucks when inflated. When deflated, it rolls up (to 27.6 x 11.8 inches) and fits inside an included carry bag. The MegaMat Auto ($400) can live in the back of your vehicle for camping. Or, you could conceivably travel with it on an airplane and turn any vehicle you rent into a hotel room on wheels.
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MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe: $85
Time-tested and backpacker-approved, the MSR Pocket Rocket stove is one of the best backpacking gifts money can buy. It won’t break the bank at $85, and it’s insanely useful.
These little jet engines take up less space than a granola bar in your backpack, weigh just 2.6 ounces, and can boil a liter of water in just 3.5 minutes. It also has a nifty piezo igniter, so you don’t have to fuss with a light or match to get a flame.
GearJunkie reviewed the Pocket Rocket Deluxe in 2019. Our tester said, “The PocketRocket Deluxe presents a solid buy for three-season campers.”
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Heat It Insect Bite Treatment: $40
When GearJunkie tested the Heat It insect bite and sting treatment device, our tester was surprised by its effectiveness. For targeted relief, this techy little accessory plugs into your phone and heats up to over 100 degrees F.
When that heating element is pressed against the skin on a bug bite, your cells are presented with a “counter-irritant” that confuses your brain and relieves the itchiness. And it’s small enough to hang on your keychain or backpack easily.
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KEEN Zionic Waterproof Hiking Boots and Shoes — Men’s & Women’s: From $128
Designed to be light on the foot and agile on the trail, KEEN’s Zionic waterproof hiking boots and shoes work to bounce between time on the trail and hanging back at camp.
The Zionic line has an aggressive, studded lug pattern for better ground contact on any terrain. An athletic profile targets better support when moving fast, while the under-foot stability plate and high-energy foam work to create a springboard effect.
With recycled ripstop uppers, durable overlays, and PFAS-Free waterproof protection, Zionic Waterproof Hiking Boots and Shoes are built to stand up to the elements. Choose from two designs: a classic hiking boot and a low-profile hiking shoe — each with multiple color options for men and women.
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How to Shop for the Best Gifts for Camping
As with any gift, when you’re shopping for the best gifts for camping, you should consider what the person you’re buying it for likes to do. Do they go on long backpacking trips? Or do they car camp more often? Are they overlanders? Do they spend a lot of time outside somewhere it’s consistently rainy? Or do they like to explore hot, dry deserts more often?
The answers to questions like those will help direct you to the right section of the store or website.
The great thing about gifts for people who camp is that most of them are multifunctional. A rain jacket can be used hiking, biking, skiing, and around town. Folding tables are useful for campsites, tailgate parties, and picnics, as well as workstations for cooking, cleaning, or building things.
A sleeping bag will come in handy on backpacking trips, camping trips, hut trips, and (for kids) sleepovers. And binoculars are handy anywhere you take them. These are very functional, versatile gifts.
A quick Google search of a product never hurts, either. Gear reviews (like ours, which are linked throughout this guide) or discussion forums (like Reddit) will have a lot of extra information on any given item. It also never hurts to ask someone if you’re at a physical store.
Why You Can Trust Us
Our camping editor has been camping and backpacking since they were too small to walk and has been writing about the outdoors for over half a decade. The same is true for many of our contributors.
And still, every single year, we struggle to come up with gift ideas when it comes time for the holidays. Even we rely on guides like these for direction and inspiration — especially for less familiar activities or products.
With that in mind, the gifts included in this guide have been tested and loved by GearJunkie editors and testers alike. None of these were random inclusions. The aim was to round up a mix of products that are functional, multiuse, and spanned price ranges to include something for every budget. Generally, we just packed this guide with cool products we would be stoked to receive as gifts.
And even if you don’t find the perfect gift listed here, hopefully, there are a lot of ideas to get you started shopping for the best gifts for camping.
Want more gift ideas? Check out our other gift guides and buying guides.
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