The Best Gifts for Campers

For the loved one who sleeps best under the stars, but needs a bit of protection, consider gifting them a nifty shelter: the Dragonfly OSMO 2P Tent from NEMO. The three-season backpacking tent will fit your giftee and one other sleeper in a snug embrace. And rain or shine, it has your giftee covered, thanks to a proprietary OSMO polyester nylon ripstop fabric that repels water and is made without PFAS. Gear pockets make organization a cinch, and wide doors make for easy in and out. It's lightweight enough for the backcountry but cozy enough for car camping.

Three-season warmth, thoughtful features and spacious geometry (thinking of you, side sleepers) make the REI Co-op HunkerDown 20 a versatile pick for many types of campers.  

Equipped with 600-fill-power down, the HunkerDown delivers no-nonsense warmth in temperatures as low as 20°F while still compressing (stuff sack included) into a cylinder just a hair over 9 liters (or about the size of an average camp pillow). An oversized hood keeps pillows of all sizes in place (including your favorite headrest from home), while the built-in draft collar retains your body heat if temps dip in the night—and if they don’t, a wraparound zipper offers plenty of ways to ventilate. In keeping with the REI commitment to the planet, the HunkerDown 20 features Bluesign®-approved down insulation, polyester lining and recycled polyester shell. 

Because the HunkerDown 20 features a more traditional, rectangular geometry, there’s ample room for those who shift and shimmy in their sleep, points out Elizabeth Nguyen, senior retail specialist in the camping department at the REI store in Atlanta, Georgia. (Learn more about sleeping bag geometry options here.) Multiple customer-reviewers agree, including one from Spokane, Washington: “I sleep on my side with an inflatable pillow between my knees, and this bag has enough room to allow that.” Another customer-reviewer says the bag “had plenty of room” for their 5-foot-10-inch frame.  

While this bag isn't the lightest or most compressible option in our lineup, it appeals to campers across experience levels: Its less-restrictive silhouette (compared to a mummy-shaped bag) makes the HunkerDown 20 a great option for those newer to camping who want comfort and movement. Its three-season warmth appeals to more experienced campers who go out more often.  

“That HunkerDown 20 title is well-earned,” says Carlos Rodriguez, department manager at the REI store in Wichita, Kansas. He gushes over the way the down molds into his body, adding “I have to give [it] a Carlos, double thumbs up. If you’re saying you can only pick one, the HunkerDown 20 is it. That is an extension of my home.” Buy here. (It also comes in a double.)

For the camping curious or the newbie adventurer, the REI Co-op Trailmade Backpacking Bundle is the ultimate present. It comes with three backpacking essentials—a three-season tent, mummy-shaped sleeping bag and self-inflating sleeping pad—for the budding outdoor enthusiast in need of the essentials. Plus, the bundle includes a footprint to protect the bottom of the tent from wear. Though it's lightweight enough for shouldering on backcountry trails, it's also a popular choice among car campers. Buy here.

Maybe your giftee has borrowed your stove a time too many. Or maybe you're hoping they'll be inspired to wake up first to put on coffee in the morning. Whatever the reason, you can't go wrong with a Jetboil, a perfect prezzie for a camper or a backpacker. The Flash all-in-one cooking system combines a burner and pot that will bring a liter of water to boil in roughly 3 minutes and 20 seconds (but who's counting?). It's easy to pack with no folding parts and a push-button igniter, so it's always ready to go. Buy here.

Equipped with more than 15 tools—including a corkscrew, bottle opener, can opener, scissors and tweezers—the Swiss Army Huntsman Knife is the gift that keeps on giving. A few people it's great for: The person who always misplaces their scissors; the amateur oenophile who enjoys a red blend in the backcountry; the giftee who already has everything (except a solid mult-itool); anyone in need of a stocking stuffer. And you, because "treat yourself."

When it comes to car camping chairs, comfort and functionality trump weight savings any day of the week—and that’s where this camp chair from NEMO shines. Hitting the sweet spot between hammock and traditional camp seat, the NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair allows for comfy lounging while eliminating pressure points. The padded headrest supports a user’s neck when leaning back, so you can view your next Perseids meteor shower without pain.  

Unlike rocking chairs, which inherently feel unstable on dirt or sand, the chair’s low center of gravity and aircraft-grade aluminum suspension frame keep it from tipping over, even in “lumpy meadow grass and wood chips,” as one tester noted. Additionally, the chair received high marks for ease of assembly and breakdown. "The setup was very intuititve and straightforward," remarked our Pennsylvania-based tester. 

Though it’s not as lightweight and packable as, say, the REI Flexlite Air Chair, at less than 8 pounds the Stargaze is a manageable heft for short trips to and from the car. And its slim carrying case comes equipped with an adjustable sling strap, should you need to haul the chair around a concert or festival. It also scored high marks for packability, even with its fun extras like two integrated drink holders. It's not our testers’ top choice for hauling into a backcountry site, but it's easy to nestle it into a packed trunk or truck bed. Buy here.

Warm, cozy friends make the best tentmates, so do yourself a solid and gift your camping partner this quilt. It's stuffed with insulation like a sleeping bag, making it a toastier option than a single-layer blanket. That doesn't mean high maintenance, though. Your giftee can toss it in the washing machine and dryer, which makes a Rumpl a great option for throwing on the dirt. And at just over 2 pounds (for the one-person size), it's easy to tote. Buy here.

Test Results: Our testing samples of this mattress have seen a lot—we put them through the ringer to test the pad's ability to stand up to adventures that require hardier gear. We've thrown down on dirt and granite, to be sure, but also desert floors, truck beds and even a gravel parking lot. The pad was even included in a bounce-house-style melee among overeager testers confined to an REI Co-op Kingdom 6 during a Colorado squall that rendered other pads in need of repairs. And after all was said and done, the venerable Exped MegaMat 10 is no worse for the wear—the only perfect scorer in the durability department in our round-robin test.

The MegaMat 10 has a laminated top and bottom, making it far more durable than most inflatable pads. The 75-denier polyester bottom layer easily shrugs off dirt and other debris should you forgo the tent like one tester did on a rough-and-tumble night outside Moab, Utah. "There were cactuses everywhere, but my pad escaped unscathed," she reports. Of course, all that armor does come with a size penalty; the MegaMat 10 packs down to the size of a bag of doggie kibble (2 feet and change by 8 inches, or nearly double the size of the packed-up NEMO Roamer).

Still, the MegaMat 10 is light for its size. It weighs less than 5 pounds—awesome for campers who might schlep it onto a raft, lift it overhead into a roof-top tent or haul it in and out of the car every day on longer road trips. Credit its horizontal air chambers for shaving the ounces without affecting comfort—the MegaMat 10 is still nearly 4 inches thick. "I'm a side sleeper, and this is the first pad that doesn't make me wake up with a bruised hip," one tester wrote on her feedback form.

Give the gift of organization with the REI Co-op Pack-Away Bin. This spacious, collapsible polyester tub comes in two capacities—100 liters and 140 liters—to hold your loved one's gear. It's great for toting camp-kitchen items to the campground or for stowing outdoor tools and equipment during the off-season. Add additional structure to your storage by nesting a couple pack-away cubes inside (they make primo stocking stuffers).

Whether it's used as an overnight bag, a gym tote, or a just-in-case carry-on, duffels are downright handy. This bluesign-approved hauler from REI Co-op features daisy chains on both sides (great for lashing down a spare puffy or your kid's stuffed animal), an easy-to-grab contoured end handle and a pack-awayable shoulder strap. It also comes with a packing cube that's capable of stowing the duffel itself or can be used as an interior (underwear?) organizer. Bonus: The recycled polyester construction is abrasion- and water-resistant. Buy here.

Up the cozy factor of your friend's camp setup with this two-person loveseat from Mountain Summit Gear. The double chair offers palatial seating for you and your friend (and even a medium-sized furry friend) to relax and unwind, whether you're enjoying a weekend in the wilderness or a movie night in your backyard. The chair's six legs and 15-pound steel frame make it sturdy. However, they do add some heft, so you wouldn't want to lug this far. It's a solid choice for the person who loves car and backyard camping.

For the friend who steals your camp chair, gift the Flexlite and a hint. This portable seat from REI Co-op is sturdy and comfortable enough for campfire lounging at a car campground or in the backyard but just small enough for backpacking service. It folds down into a neat bundle that's 15 by 4.5 inches (or about the size of a loaf of bread) and weighs less than 2 pounds. (Or go all out with the 1-pound Flexlite Air for the hardcore backpacker in your life.)

The do-it-all-hammock—that's what you get with the venerable ENO DoubleNest, the most versatile sling in test and an REI Editors' Choice Award Winner. Take it to the park or the campground. Set it up in your backyard if you'd like or toss it in your pack. The DoubleNest does it all.

It starts with an easy-breezy setup. Attach the straps (not included) to a couple of healthy tree trunks with a slip knot, then clip the DoubleNest to each with the affixed carabiners. Zhuzh the tension to your liking, then you're good to go in a matter of minutes. Not bad for a hammock that stuffs down to the size of a grapefruit.

Of course, the only thing better than hammocking is hammocking with a friend, and the DoubleNest has the most generous dimensions in our test. At 76 inches wide, this palatial sling fits a pair comfortably—and those XL dimensions also make the DoubleNest a bit more luxurious if you're hanging solo. If so, lie down diagonally across the thing to minimize the taco effect from the taller walls (it's 16 inches wider than the SingleNest) or try our testers' favorite position: perpendicular across the middle with your feet dangling off the side, like a captain's seat. "The taller wall gives you a perfect headrest," says one tester.

Other than that, the DoubleNest boasts all the hallmarks folks have come to associate with ENO hammocks: sturdy aluminum carabiners, easy storage and, new this year, ultrabreathable, 70-denier nylon taffeta called FreeWave™. FreeWave™ fabric is even softer and more breathable (read: crinkle-free) than its predecessor. And it's bluesign®-approved. "The only problem you'll have with the DoubleNest is deciding what color combination to choose," another tester says. "I've seen this product work as faux studio apartment couch, city park siesta swing and backpacking tent alternative." Buy here.

Help your buddy feel like they've walked onto their very own Instagram influencer shoot by giving the gift of sparkle. One hundred high-efficiency LEDs adorn this 30-foot strand, offering eight brightness settings and six modes (solid light, fade in/out, strobe, flash and fire-crackle) for creating the perfect ambiance. At only 1.6 ounces, the REVEL GEAR Trail Hound might find its way into a backpacker's camp setup, too. Buy here.

Puffies aren't cheap, but you can still grab this one from REI Co-op for about half the cost of others in our lineup. And you won't be making any extreme sacrifices for the price, either. The 650 Down Jacket is stuffed with 650-fill-power down, packs down small and comes in loads of sizes (including a kids' version and a infant/toddlers' version).

Fahlstrom says she reaches for the REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket when she has room to only bring one coat. "The key question for picking a jacket is, how often are you going to use it?" she says. This one handles decently on active pursuits as an outer layer (the shell blocks wind and is treated with a DWR coating) or mid layer (the insulation fluffs up well, even after being compressed into its own pocket). Katie Smyth, an REI merchant, notes that the jacket's fit is relaxed, not technical, but it still layers well.

Some reviewers noticed frayed seams over a year's time, and a few feathers popped out. Still, the 650 Down Jacket is a bargain for the price, and it's made with materials certified to bluesign criteria. Buy here.

Fuel your loved one's daydreams of warm-weather camping trips and outdoor barbecues by gifting them the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. It's ideal for toting libations, snacks and other chilled items from car to camp. A wide, cushy strap makes for a comfortable carry, and a closed-cell rubber foam ensures your stuff stays cold. A leakproof zipper is just the cherry on top. Buy here.

Ensure your loved one's camp coffee or cocoa stays piping hot with the REI Co-op Solid Graphic Camp Mug. The cup's double-wall vacuum insulation maintains the drink's temp (hot or cold), and a lid keeps your gift-getter's bevvy contained when they're shuffling around camp. Plus, the vibrant colors like golden olive and rust marsala brighten up any campsite.

The Nalgene Wide-Mouth has become a trusty take-anywhere backpacking companion thanks to of its Goldilocks weight, versatility and price. And the latest Nalgene Sustain uses Tritan Renew, a BPA-free material derived from 50% recycled content.

At 6.25 ounces, it's not the lightest in our bunch, but you'll appreciate the added durability on the trail. Made of sturdy dishwasher-safe material free of BPA and phthalates, the Wide-Mouth can take some serious bangs and drops (though it's not entirely crackproof). What's more: The wide cap loop allows for easy carrying and lashing. Clip keys onto it or attach it to a backpack, climbing harness or bear hang. It's not insulated, though, so don't expect it to keep drinks icy on hot hikes (plus, it will sweat).

But holding drinking water for backpacking adventures is only one of the hallmarks. The most multifunctional water bottle in our line-up, it can handle a liter of liquid, hot or cold. Fill it with boiling water and you've got a DIY warm compress to snuggle with on a frigid night. Or freeze water in it for a reusable ice pack for your cooler. Measurements on the side of the bottle also make it indispensable in the camp kitchen. Yet another hack: Insert headlamp in an opaque bottle and, voila, a lantern for instant ambiance. The hardest decision: which color or graphic to choose—or how to personalize it with your favorite sticker, or six. Buy here or here.

Sure, the Lite Recycled 6G Wearable Sleeping Bag from Selk'Bag is a touch ridiculous, but that's exactly why it's sure to be the most talked-about present at the holiday party! This wearable sleeping bag-complete with a hood, full sleeves, pant legs and zip-off booties-is oh-so-snuggly thanks to 150 grams of synthetic hollow-fiber insulation. It's also uber easy to move around in and made entirely of post-consumer recycled material fibers. The Michelin Man and your Mother (Earth) would be proud.