A good gift for someone who loves the outdoors is something they will actually take with them. A bushwalk, a night of camping and a weekend on the water are the same instinct and not the same trip, so the useful present is the one that fits the outing they already do. Think kit that makes that outing a little easier, not a day out booked for a date they never chose.
What an outdoor lover really wants
People who get outside already own the obvious thing, or have a strong opinion about it. A day walker and someone who sleeps out want different things, and something light enough to come along beats something impressive that stays at home. The better present is the part they keep complaining about.
Before you choose, ask yourself
- Day walks or nights away?
- Do they head for the water?
- Do they like the night sky?
Outdoor gift ideas
On the track
Something they carry is the easiest place to start: a daypack built for the distance, a , or for the lookout. A flat path and a rough bushwalk are different gifts, and Parks Australia's track grades (opens in a new tab) are a plain way to see which one they walk.
At camp
A lot of camping is a meal and a night without a kitchen. A compact stove and suit someone who turns a stop into lunch, and a suits someone whose old one leaks. Check what they already carry. Most campers have the basics and want something lighter or smaller.
On the water
For someone who heads for a river or a bay, an fits in the boot, and a keeps the day going. An inflatable kayak suits someone without a roof rack or a big garage.
Looking further
For the curious, a turns a dark campsite into the best part of the trip. It suits someone who stays up after the fire burns down, and it works from a backyard too.
Something to do
For the one who'd rather be out there than unwrap more gear: a , a , or a . Think about how much adventure they want and how many days they can spare.