Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Kids | 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

If the little on your list is eager to ride but doesn't yet have the basics of biking down, start them on the GO 1 Plus Balance Bike from woom. This two-wheeler helps kids as young as 3 learn coordination and improve core strength and balance without the distraction of pedals. Kid-friendly mini V-brakes help them learn to slow and stop, and an ultra-low seat allows them to easily touch their feet to the ground so mom and dad don't have to sprint behind with a hand on the seat post.

If your youngster is ready for pedals, consider gifting them the GO 2 Kids’ Bike from woom. This bike offers loads of kid-friendly features, like color-coded brake levers, a lightweight aluminum frame and an ergonomic saddle that helps keep them comfy while they’re focused on staying upright. Its broad, lightweight tires have enough traction for cruising both paved roads and modest off-road terrain.

If a bike ends up on the gift list this year, so should a helmet—and we picked one your little will actually want to wear. The Jr. Bike Helmet by Thousand has a pinch-preventing magnetic chin strap, fun color choices like Speedway Creme and a pack of removable, reflective stickers for endless customization. It also has parent-pleasing features like occipital bone coverage and a dial to adjust fit. It comes in a toddler size, too. 

For the kiddo who's ready to skip the neighborhood loop in favor of flowy singletrack, you can't go wrong with this 6-speed aluminum-frame mountain bike from Co-op Cycles. It comes with beefy tires that offer reliable traction and mechanical disc brakes for responsive stopping power to keep your little ripper feeling in control as they learn. It also comes with free adjustments for a year and in-store bike assembly at a local REI. All you have to do is add a bow. 

A warm kiddo is a happy kiddo, so keep the adventurer on your list toasty on hikes, park hangouts and even at school (if your child runs cold) with this merino wool base layer from REI Co-op. The top's flat seams help prevent chafing, and its underarm gussets provide room to move. Importantly, multiple customer-reviewers note that the soft wool provides itch-free comfort.  

For the hiker who needs a layer that can adapt to many trail conditions and activities, reach for the Trailmade Fleece Jacket from REI Co-op. Your child can layer it beneath a puffer for extra warmth on frigid days and slow-paced adventures or wear it on its own during more active outings. The jacket has binding at the collar, cuffs and bottom hem to help seal in warmth. It also comes in infant and toddler sizes.

Consider the Micro D Snap-T Fleece Jacket from Patagonia for chilly adventures that don’t require heavy layers. The jacket's 100% recycled micro-denier fleece is a lighter option compared to the REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece, making it perfect for crisp hikes or walks around town. It's super soft, quick to dry and machine washable.  

For the youngster who enjoys snow-day sledding excursions, cold-weather hikes or even a chilly walk with the dog, the 650 Down Jacket from REI Co-op is the gift that gets them ready for it all. The all-season coat features a water-resistant and windproof shell with a reflective logo to keep your kiddo visible on overcast days or darker hours outside. Good news for the littlest winter lovers: It's also available in a version for infants and toddlers. 

Extend your youngster’s winter play by keeping their noggin warm with the Adventure Beanie from Seattle-based kids’ apparel brand SeaSlope. Each of these earth-toned head toppers—which come in toddler and kid sizes—comes with a patch featuring a smile-inducing saying like “Happy Camper” or “Grow Wild.” Best of all, this gift passes along those good vibes to others: SeaSlope donates 3% of each sale to support the neonatal intensive care unit at Seattle's Swedish Hospital. 

Frozen fingers will ruin any outdoor adventure. Keep your kiddo comfortable by grabbing them a pair of Timber Mountain Gloves from REI Co-op. These waterproof, windproof gloves are filled with synthetic insulation and have a polyester lining that wicks sweat away from their skin. A longer cuff can tuck under a sleeve or cinch on top to help keep snow out.  

This season, treat yourself to a lighter pack by gifting your junior trail partner a way to carry their own gear. The Tarn 40 Pack from REI Co-op is large enough to swallow a sleep system, layers, water bottles and even a stuffed friend, and you can adjust the padded hipbelt and back panel as your child grows (or fit it to a sibling when it’s time to pass it on). 

Keeping track of your kid's sunglasses is about as hard as remembering the whereabouts of their left sock, which means there's no way you're splurging on a pint-size pair—even if they are a gift. Still, you know the importance of protecting their little peepers. Solution: Gift them these Premiums Polarized Sunglasses from Knockaround, which are affordable and block an impressive 99–100% of UV rays. They also reduce visible glare from water, snow, sand and pavement. 

If there’s a kid on your list who’s just hitting sleepover age or is ready to tag along on car-camping trips, the Kindercamp 40 Sleeping Bag from REI Co-op has a plush, rectangular design that will keep them comfy and provide plenty of room to snuggle their stuffed friends. Made with recycled polyester, this machine-washable sack also fully unzips into a quilt for warm-weather evenings or use in a guest bed. 

There's nothing that makes the tiny crusher on your list feel like a real camper like having their own gear, so help them build out their first kit by gifting them the Kindercamp Sleeping Pad from REI Co-op. This cold-weather, self-inflating pad includes all the features of an adult version (like color-coded valves and compressible foam) but in a petite 1-pound, 13-ounce package that’s a just-right size for the youngster ready to schlep their own gear into the wild. 

The spiral-bound Rite in the Rain notebook is the perfect place for the budding ecologist in your life to record all of their observations about the natural world. Whether they write in pencil or crayon, their tallies of goldfinches or sketches of aspen trees will hold steady without bleeding on the 32 sheets (64 pages) of all-weather paper, no matter the conditions. 

If you've ever heard your child whine, "But there isn't anything to do!" while at camp, then this portable bocce set from Outside Inside may be the gift for them. The game packs up in a notebook-size pouch, making it easy to tote on backpacking trips and hiking trails. And the pellet-filled bocce balls are soft, so they land like bean bags instead of rolling away like traditional hard versions. 

A gift for the whole family, this puzzle provides a way for everyone to come together over a shared task. And the 1,000-piece Protect Our National Parks Collage Puzzle from Lantern Press can help spur reflection on past outdoor adventures, like the time your family spotted a grizzly in the Grand Tetons or took in the rolling peaks while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. Plus, the whimsical imagery of our public lands may just inspire your family's next trip.  

If your kids enjoy a healthy dose of competition, you'll want to grab them this national parks trivia set from Clarkson Potter. With nearly 400 questions covering everything from geography and history to wildlife and botany, this game will keep older kids (ages 7+) entertained for hours. It's great for camping trips, road trips and cozy nights at home. Your youngsters can even use the cards alone to quiz themselves.

It doesn't matter if your giftees are 3 or 13, kite flying is always a fun and easy way to soak in some outdoor time. We like the ultralight Pocket Flyer from Prism Designs for its simple design: A single line makes it easily navigable, and the unique splittail means the kite can handle rougher winds. It weighs less than 4 ounces too, so your child can carry it to the park all by herself.