Father’s Day is June 15, and what better way to show Dad some love than new gear to heighten his enjoyment outside?
We’ve rounded up quality gear that ranges from EDC items to essentials for weekends in the woods. Give the gift of gear that can play a part in making great outdoor memories or improve his setup for years to come.
And we recognize outdoor dads appreciate a little flair around the home, so there are some lifestyle options, too.
2025 Father’s Day Gift Guide
Carhartt Firm Duck Apron: $40
We found this rugged apron from Carhartt in the Backcountry Father’s Day Gift Guide, and are sharing it with you. It’s made from the firm cotton duck fabric you’d expect from the brand and has multiple pockets and loops to hold tools — from pencils to hammers. Dad can wear it around the shop, campsite, or while grilling.
Check out the gift guide for more shopping ideas this holiday.
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Outdoor Research Deviator Wind Jacket: $145
Unlike its original midlayer design, the updated Deviator Hoodie is now the Wind Jacket, a stop-and-go, hybrid-mapped softshell that protects your chest, arms, and shoulders from the wind with extra breathable insulation in the back to release the sweaty demands of winter running or biking.
Built for trail running, this jacket is a great fit for shoulder-season runs. Our review found it works well for hikes, light biking, and winter runs with the right baselayer underneath. It provides a great warmth-to-weight ratio and packs down to stash in a hydration vest when you don’t need it.
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CRKT Squid XM (Frame Lock): $60
Simply one of the best damn pocket knives money can buy. The Squid XM blew us away when it launched a few years ago (our tester lauded it as the best CRKT pocket knife ever), and despite the influx of higher-end steels and handle materials, the Squid XM continues to hold up beautifully.
Its snappy, satisfying action remains unparalleled, and its size strikes a perfect balance between ample and discreet. And at $60, it undercuts virtually all the heavy hitters. Dad will not be disappointed.
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norda 001 Trail Running Shoe: $285
These norda trail running shoes are dripping with tech and a good way to spoil a running dad too shy to buy them for himself. The seamless upper is made from Bio-Dyneema for a strong and lightweight construction.
The shoe’s cushion offers protection and ample rebound to propel the foot forward. Lastly, norda uses a custom Vibram midsole and soleplate for ultra-distance performance that will last for miles and miles.
You can read a trail-tested review over on iRunFar.com.
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‘Mountain Gazette’ 1-Year Subscription: $89
This semi-annual coffee table magazine has 160 pages of outdoor content and large-format (11″x17″ ) photography. That’s enough to keep Dad returning to it for months. Note: the subscription starts with the fall issue later this year, but you can add this spring’s issue (Mountain Gazette 203) to the subscription if you want a tangible gift in the meantime.
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Patagonia Houdini Stash Half-Zip Jacket: $139
REI has several Father’s Day gift ideas, including this highly packable jacket that offers weather resistance for high-output missions like running in light rain or hiking over ridges.
It has a zippered chest pocket and two side pockets with hook-and-loop closures (lighter than zippers). The jacket stuffs into either side pocket with enough room to stash a phone and keys, too.
Its packability and weight of 3.7 ounces are great for a must-carry, just-in-case layer. Patagonia makes this from 100% recycled nylon ripstop, a PFC-free DWR, and it’s Fair Trade Certified sewn.
REI is also running a Father’s Day gift card special from June 6 to 19. REI Co-op Members who buy a gift card worth $100 or more will be emailed a $20 bonus card that can be redeemed July 8-14.
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White Duck Boat Shape Canvas Firewood Log Carriers: $35
Help the man in your life haul firewood with this overbuilt waxed canvas log carrier. It has an oily finish to shed water, reinforced web handles, and a Velcro closure. It’s a simple solution that makes it easier to carry the differently sized twigs, kindling, and logs needed for a fire.
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Oyster Tempo Cooler: $445
Here’s a cooler that brags about how thin its walls are because that translates to more room inside. Oyster’s patented ThinWall, lightweight aluminum build means the cooler weighs just over 12 pounds. However, skipping the need for a 2:1 ice ratio, the Tempo boasts a 23L capacity (enough for 36 cans and two ice packs).
It’s also a throwback to keeping drinks cold and portable for those less prone to bear raids. As our Oyster Tempo review notes, you can use ice inside; just note the lack of a drain plug. But hey, even meltwater keeps things cold.
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Nite Ize CamJam Ratchet Strap: $75
Chances are, the dad in your life has a few ratchet straps, and decent odds he hates using them. The Nite Ize CamJam Ratchet Strap stands out because it skips the standard hooks and uses looped webbing ends. It lets you get the strap closer to where you need it before you even begin ratcheting. It is strong, reliable, and far less frustrating to release when you are done — a serious upgrade.
The price tag is well above that of ubiquitous straps at the hardware store, and that’s because the CamJam design shares the load better, which helps it last longer (3,000-pound break strength). It presents a choice of quality over quantity.
Note: There’s a learning curve here, and thus an opportunity for your amusement. You can learn to use it first and then teach (or mansplain to) Dad how to use it.
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Exped Mega Pump: $65
Dad may already have the Exped MegaMat or Duo Mat. If so, the Mega Pump is a no-brainer gift to make it easier to inflate and deflate those or other sleeping pads. Many Exped pads can self-inflate, but this pump quickly helps top it off.
But the biggest selling point for this pump is the quick deflation when it’s time to pack up. Its 1-minute deflation time is not only faster than rolling the air out yourself, but it’s also easier on your knees.
It recharges via USB-C and lasts for hours, which should mean a season of use. The Mega Pump comes with a Universal Valve Adapter to work with various mats and inflatables.
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Alpine Sea Co. Cove Bag 11L: $95
Crossbody slings are trending, but these handmade bags caught our eye for their town-to-trail design. The Cove Bag 11L has an exterior slip pocket to hold a water bottle (or rain shell), an interior key clip, and a front zip pocket for stashing a phone.
Even when packed for a day out, the bag maintains a sleek style. The recycled materials are durable UltraGrid nylon and get a water-shedding boost from a responsible DWR.
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Bajío Zapata Sunglasses: $259
A new player in the already crowded sunglasses space, Bajío took us by surprise when our editor anointed the Zapata frames the best sunglasses he’d ever owned. That’s high praise, but it’s easy to understand why. With fishing at its core, Bajío gives buyers a lot of freedom to tailor the look and performance they want. In addition to a variety of frame colors for its numerous styles, the brand also offers multiple lens colors in either polycarbonate or glass.
It’s an investment, but Father’s Day comes but once a year! With the quality and customization that come with these sunglasses, it could well be the last pair he ever needs.
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Yakima StageTwo Hitch Rack: $719
Yakima’s premium StageTwo hitch rack bulks up its game to hold just about any bike in Dad’s stable, including e-bikes and fat-tire bikes. The rack uses StrongArm hooks that hold bikes at the wheel, not the frame, and the trays are tiered to avoid bike-on-bike messiness. Another Yakima feature is the remote three-position tilt system, which allows trunk access even with bikes loaded, and folds flat when not in use.
The rack holds bikes up to 70 pounds each and tires up to 5 inches wide. An integrated locking system lets you lock bikes to the rack and the rack to a vehicle.
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Ekster Wallet Pro: $116
Ekster’s Wallet Pro has an aluminum body and patented card ejection for quick access to up to seven cards. The RFID wallet holds an ID or a go-to card in a dedicated flap and holds cash or receipts with the interior elastic strap.
Pictured here in AppleSkin leather with a coin tray add-on and a Tracker Card ($49), which lets you ring your wallet from a smartphone and vice versa. Additionally, Ekster is a certified B Corp.
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Jetboil Flash Java 1.0L Fast Boil System: $145
The updated Flash 1.0L won praise from our tester. “Jetboil’s new generation of stoves looks even more reliable than the previous one, correcting my few complaints about the original design,” he wrote. “The igniter is not only sturdier, but the new valve also means you can get the stove going with a simple half-turn of a circular knob.”
To be clear, the Flash Java 1.0L is the Flash cookstove plus a silicone coffee press that stows away inside when not in use. It’s a cookstove for coffee lovers, so if that sounds like the dad in your life, this may be a welcome camp kit upgrade.
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Oka Recovery Slide: $50
Recovery slides are great for soft support after hikes, runs, or just long days on your feet. They’ve become must-pack items for relaxing at a hotel or around the campfire. The newly released Oka Recovery slides quickly caught our attention and praise for their fit and sustainable creation.
Oka builds its slides atop a 35mm Think Recovery Foam Platform, which is noticeably softer than most competing slides. The footbed is textured to promote blood flow, has a deep heel and arch support, and a lip around the toe box to keep toes from curling over the edge. Both the toe box and the upper are wider than most slides to aid natural foot splay and a more natural fit. A dozen vents in those straps allow airflow.
Oka’s recovery footwear is made in the United States, in its HEYLO zero-waste, circular manufacturing plant. That means the slides are 100% recyclable.
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Ibex Men’s Natural Long Boxer Brief: $60
A longer take on its merino boxers, Ibex uses Pro Tech Lite fabric, its lightest weight textile. The form-fitting boxer brief has a touch of nylon and elastane to add flex and recovery. Since it’s wool, the Natural boxer wicks sweat and resists odor buildup. Dad will also enjoy the two-way fly, flat seam construction, and no-slip elastic waistband.
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Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair: $65
Crazy Creek’s most packable and lightweight chair rolls up to 4 inches in diameter and clips onto the back of your pack. The Hex 2.0 uses carbon fiber stays for structure and support, and coated ripstop nylon for a durable (and water-shedding) body. Inside, the chair has 8 mm of EVA closed-cell foam for insulation and cushion. See where it ranks among our favorite backpacking chairs.
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