A guide to fun gifts for outdoor lovers under $50
I’m totally convinced life is truly rewarding outdoors. When you have like-minded family or friends, I prepared for you the ultimate guide with gifts for nature lovers, and cheap gifts for hikers, making it effortlessly easy to build up my camping essentials.
Sometimes it might be hard to find gifts for outdoorsy people. Especially when you are on a budget. The good news is that often people who love the outdoors don’t need HUGE gifts. They just need to be useful.
Second, there are plenty of amazing gifts for outdoor lovers under $50! Here are my favorites!
You, dear reader, support this blog. When you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
Overview: Best Gifts for Outdoorsy People Under $50
- Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack
- Adventure Medical Kit
- The Meal Kit
- Active Key Organizer
- Travel Coffee Press
1. Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack
Lightweight and designed to fold comfortably into my purse, the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack is among the best camping gifts you can give.
Easily find your way into the pack’s storage with a simple top-loaded two-way zipper. If I have nothing to carry, I simply fold it into the built-in pouch and attach it to my keyring with its handy snap tab feature.
This is the ideal day pack for any travel destination with its light and long-lasting siliconized Condura nylon straps reinforced with advanced bar tacks.
2. Stove Cookset Combo
Handy in extreme outdoor conditions, the Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo is a simple, yet highly efficient boiler pot that includes a useful mesh stuff sack.
This robust boiler pot has a practical handle that locks into place when I need to cook or boil something in it. I then simply unfold the handle and carry it around in my day pack.
This is one of those cool outdoor gifts for hikers, fast-packers, alpinists, and long-distance bikers who do not have storage space for bulky boiler pots.
3. Expandable Packing Cube Set
Made of light and highly durable ripstop nylon, the REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set – Small/Medium/Large includes one small, one medium, and one large-sized cube that you can use on all your travels.
There’s a mesh pocket on each cube that holds cards. So you can put things into each cube and simply listed them out in these cards.
My compact expandable luggage bags are ready with close to 39 liters of storage capacity. They make packing my sustainable luggage so easy!
This is extremely useful for solo travelers who need more packing space but also need a convenient way to find a packed item quickly.
4. Adventure Medical Kits
Whenever I go hiking, I have the Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel First-Aid Kit that not just contains emergency medicines but also includes a comprehensive medical guide written especially for travel in the wilderness.
The Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel First-Aid Kit is one of the best gifts for outdoor enthusiasts. It has clearly identifiable compartments with contents organized by the type of injury to reduce response time.
Travelers or hikers can easily use this easy-to-hang medical supply kit on multiple trips.
5. Ultimate Meal Kit
If you are looking for outdoorsy gifts for him or her, you should consider the United By Blue Quit Single Use Meal Kit made of recycled materials from the ocean.
Everybody will love the fact that it’s made of recycled polyester on tough stainless steel.
Featured with two zippered pockets on the top to hold two stainless steel bowls and two 8 fl. oz. tumblers, the United By Blue Quit Single Use Meal Kit also has a very useful side pocket inside the lid.
Two can easily share meals from the same kit.
6. Sprint Headlamp
Virtually unnoticeable on your head, the Black Diamond Sprint 225 Headlamp provides bright light over a distance of 42 meters. Even splashing water cannot ruin this compact and rechargeable headlamp.
It takes just three hours to charge the 750 mAh lithium-ion battery using your USB port, and you can even choose the brightness levels you need on your morning runs.
Its digital lockout feature ensures the lamp does not turn on when you don’t want it to.
This 225-lumen optically-efficient headlamp is very useful if you jog early morning or after dusk.
7. Active Key Organiser
Made of real leather and waterproof plastic material, the Active Key Organiser + Multi-Tool is a durable and comfortable stack that you use to hold larger keys and car remote. The material is soft to the touch and can withstand the harshest of weather conditions.
This practical key organizer comes with a secure lock and a compact smart design.
The standard D-ring allows you to hold all your keys and more if you use the lanyard as well.
8. Ultralight Hip Pack
Ultralight and compact, the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack is something I love to carry on my hips on almost all my outdoor trips.
Counted among the best gifts for hikers, this 100% recycled ripstop nylon hip pack has a durable water-repellent finish.
Securely carry valuables, keys, and other stuff inside its tough main compartment. Use the flexible and comfortable webbing belt to carry this pack over your shoulder or around your waist.
With its generous one-liter gear capacity, this hip back holds everything you need to carry in your pocket, and when you don’t need it, just shove it into your pocket. It’s the perfect outdoor gear!
9. NEMO Fillo Pillow
Invariably, I can spend hours choosing the right gifts for outdoorsy women. It’s quite obvious why, but when I do find a great product like the NEMO Fillo Pillow, I know my friends will be happy.
This high-quality foam pillow folds down to just 1/5th its size, and that’s a big plus.
Use it for any kind of road or air travel or if you want to rough it out in the wild. If you store it, it’s smaller than a water bottle, when taken out it comes to its full size.
You can regularly wash it in your washing machine. This pillow is so comfortable that you’ll always find your sweet head spot when it’s time for a nap.
10. Travel Coffee Press
Just for the perfect coffee blend, I rate the AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press, one of the best gifts for outdoorsy people.
That it fits into the extremely convenient drinking mug means that you can easily carry this smart coffee maker in your backpack.
It can brew up to 3 cups of hot American or espresso coffee in a minute, and if you like cold-brew coffee, it takes that extra minute. Get 350 paper filters with this coffee press and the very useful 20-liter capacity travel filter.
This is for anyone who can’t miss their coffee away from home.
11. Solar String Lights
If you’re out on a multiple-day tour, you’ll love to bring the MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights + Charger, all 18 feet of nylon braided cord bundled into one small expandable unit that easily fits into your backpack.
You can’t mess up, as the cord fits nicely into a solar base unit that recharges all 20 LEDs in just 16 hours.
Use these lights for 20 whole hours and hang them around your campsite from uniquely designed clips.
Rain or stormy weather, the MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights + Charger just won’t blow out!
12. YETI Rambler Mug
There’s never a shortage of gift ideas for hikers, and the YETI Rambler Mug – 14 fl. oz. holds just what you need after that tiring last stretch; delicious hot coffee.
Coated with a tough DuraCoat finish on high-quality stainless steel, this mug just does not leak. I like its convenient handle and Tritan lid.
Just dump it into a corner of your backpack. It has this double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps coffee hot for hours.
13. Soft Cooler
Imagine sipping on to a cold sub 40 °F canned drink in the middle of nowhere. That’s what the REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler chills for a good 32 hours.
It’s one of those unique hiking gifts that are tough, durable, and lets you load and unload cans with great ease. The REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler is fully seam-sealed and leakproof.
Once you’re finished, it conveniently folds into a regular storage bag with an external pocket for additional storage.
14. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s
I always add unique camping gifts like the book of The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs into my to-do list. What if my digital navigation gear fails? It’s those natural navigation skills this book teaches me that’ll get me back home.
Understand nature and forecast weather when you gather those 850 odd tips that’ll make you feel at home in any trekking terrain around the world.
The The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs will amaze you with what the stars, sun, clouds, and even plants and animals reveal to you in the wild.
15. Comfort Camp Chair
It was that time of year scouting for outdoor Christmas ideas when I came across the Mountain Summit Gear Ultra Comfort Camp Chair which actually fits into a compact carry bag.
Tough and constructed with fine mesh, it’s ideal for that extra comfort you relish.
And that durable ripstop material takes your weight when you flop into it without any support. It’s comfortable enough to take along to sporting adventures or camping trips.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love the Mountain Summit Gear Ultra Comfort Camp Chair after a tiring day on the field.
16. Shower Roll
If you’re like me, backpacking compels you to look for quick changeovers. Nothing like the REI Co-op Shower Roll – Large to make you feel right at home. This make-shift medicine cabinet holds a load of toiletries.
Its durable ripstop nylon construction means that you can hang it anywhere. This one must count among the must-have gifts for backpackers since who doesn’t enjoy a shower after hiking?
You can easily remove the mirror and toiletries stored in its see-through removable bottom pocket.
The REI Co-op Shower Roll – Large has a large enough mesh pocket to hold all brands of toiletries.
It makes it the perfect gift for outdoorsy people, especially when looking for inspiration during the holiday season.
17. Timex Ironman Digital Watch
if you are looking for a lightweight watch that you almost want to forget while wearing it, you’ll LOVE the Timex Digital Watch.
It comes with a countdown and alarm system. Therefore it’s a great tool to pursue your fitness goals with a 10-lap-memory chronograph.
The Timex Digital watch is waterproof to 100m and comes with the performant Indiglo® Night-Light illumination.
18. TriPod 1K Kit
Designed with a compact tripod and ball-head attachment, the Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit is one of the best outdoor gifts to keep memories of exciting outdoor events alive.
Compact and lightweight, it fits easily into your pocket. It’s tailor-made for the outdoors. Rubberized feet and ring grips make it easy to rest this tripod even on difficult terrain.
Configure it for live streaming, vlogging, photography, or cinematography. Its 360° panning and 90° tilt are really cool features.
19. Food Flask
If its sleek design and super insulation capabilities weren’t enough, the Hydro Flask Food Flask with its powder-coated finish guarantees that your food remains fresh until the end of your hike.
This tough flask is constructed of TempShield 18/8 stainless steel. It keeps your food hot for much longer than other standard flasks.
It’s the perfect outdoor gift for people who won’t eat unless it’s served at the right temperature.
20. Light Hanging Toiletry Bag
Another one of those must-have outdoor gifts for her, the Sea to Summit Travelling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag – Small is the perfectly sized toiletry kit, if she loves to travel light.
I’m totally convinced that the Light Hanging Toiletry Bag – Small made of Ultra-Sil fabric has just the right grab tabs and zippers that won’t give way at all.
Hang this bag at any convenient height, and it has visible internal mesh pockets for all your toiletries.
21. Ultimate Filter Bottle
Now you don’t have to carry water from home when you’re outdoors. The LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle with 2-Stage Filtration – 22 fl. oz. is truly one of the best gifts for nature lovers.
It removes 99% of all bacteria before it reaches your tummy, so it’s a great water bottle for hiking in off-beat locations.
Stay clear from salmonella, cholera, and other dangerous bacteria lurking around on backpacking terrain. The durable and lightweight water bottle does not leak, and its hollow-fiber filter membrane makes sure you sip enough water.
One filter allows you to drink 4000 liters of pure, unadulterated water without changing its filter.
22. The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures
With its list of around-the-world activities for newbies as well as hardcore adventurers, The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small is a not-to-be-missed bundle of great adventure gift ideas.
Gather priceless memories of your kayaking experience across Ha Long Bay in Vietnam or sipping tea with some of your favorite movie stars.
The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small highlights the worldwide travel ideas of a real adventurer. By the time I finished the book, I had a ton of adventure ideas racing through my head. Just the perfect gift for outdoorsy people.
23. Kootek Camping Hammock
You can swing all you want on the super lightweight and comfortable Kootek Camping Hammock Double & Single Portable Hammocks with 2 Tree Straps. It’s super easy to set up on any beach, campsite, or hiking spot.
This one is among the best gifts for backpackers. It’s durable with 10-feet long straps, 18+1 loops, and extremely safe carabiners. You’ll love the feel of its parachute fabric material, and it’s pretty easy to clean.
Relax on your patio, sway along with your partner on travel and camping adventures. There are no knots to tie.
This Hammock Double & Single Portable with 2 Tree Straps fits 1 or 2 people and is also a great option to replace sleeping bags and travel lighter!
24. Compact Binoculars
Small enough to fit into your palm, the POLDR 8×21 Small Compact Lightweight Binoculars are tough enough to dump into your backpack on the go.
Get a clear view of the field with the POLDR 8X21 even from a distance of 1000 yards. Its center-focus knob makes it super easy to focus on both adults and children.
Hang it around your neck, capture night or day images, then just dump it into the provided carrying bag. It weighs less than my cell phone.
25. Compression Dry Sack
Designed as a lightweight and compact backpack, the Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack is one of the toughest polyurethane coats with seams that make it totally waterproof.
Air doesn’t fill into this bag and it compresses nicely into a tight bag without causing any harm to the content inside it. If it’s heavy, use its pull handle to glide along.
I use this on those rainy backpacking days when I need my dry sack tightly strapped and compressed for long periods of time. Count this among your hiking gifts for outdoor lovers.
26. UAG Phone Case
My phone case from Urban Armor has been with me for more than 2 years now.
In less than 1 year, my screen is already broken due to my active outdoor and travel lifestyle.
That’s why I love UAG, my phone case even crossed the Atlantic Ocean with me, since its the most protecting case out there.
Their products even meet military drop-test standards and provide increased shock protection.
An ideal gift for outdoorsy people that love adventures!
27. Super Sparrow Insulated Water Bottle
A stainless steel water bottle is a must on any outdoor trip! I love my insulated water bottle from Super Sparrow.
It’s the perfect gift for outdoorsy women since their bottles come in so many bright colors.
The performance of Super Sparrow bottles is outstanding! It keeps your beverage cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours!
You can choose between the small mouth, large mouth and standard mouth version. And plenty of colorful designs.
My personal notes: Where to buy outdoor gifts?
There’s always something exciting going on at this friendly, virtual neighborhood Cooperative REI.com.
Their sustainable policies make REI one of the best places to buy outdoor or hiking gifts for him and her. Not only do they sell backpacks made of recycled materials but also outdoor fashion or even vegan hiking boots.
Right from sourcing more sustainable materials to engaging with brand partners to integrating the best sustainable features into all their products, REI has a positive impact on everyone associated with what they offer.
If you’re an outdoor lover and book lover, you may want to have a look at these travel coffee table books or outdoor survival books. And if you are really on a shoestring budget, have a look at our guide for gifts for outdoor lovers under $20.
I really hope that you liked my selection of gifts for outdoorsy people under $50! Let me know which one you got!
In case you are still looking for outdoorsy gifts for your beloved ones, have a look at this guide of the best survival books based on true stories or at this vegan hiking boot guide.
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀