The Best Outdoor Gifts Under $50 | 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The one thing the ground-sleeping adventurer in your life can’t have too many of: cozy beanies in earthy tones that provide a stylish touch of warmth. They'll snuggle right into the Campwell Beanie from REI Co-op, thanks to it's blend of super-soft wool and recycled polyester. And this timeless toque is equally at home on the ski hill or running around town, so your loved one will get plenty of use out of it.

Whether you’ve got a partner who loves to drink their morning cup of joe as they walk the pooch or a car-camping buddy who sips tea while savoring the sunrise, they’ll adore this YETI Rambler Stackable Mug. Thanks to double-wall vacuum insulation, this nifty vessel keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks frigid. A grooved bottom makes it easy to stack and stash multiple Ramblers when you’re not using them. 

Being away from home doesn't mean sacrificing a good night's sleep. Give the camper, backpacker or traveler on your list the gift of comfort with the NEMO Fillo pillow. This inflatable head rest packs down to the size of a potato, making it easy to stash in a pack or carry-on. Soft, luxury foam ensures that even when your giftee is sleeping on the ground, their head will feel like it's resting on cloud nine. 

For your fest-going bestie or the camper on your list who seemingly has everything, this ultralong string of camping lights will add much-needed cheer to their tent setup. Compatible with any standard USB power source, the Trail Hound Camping Lights from REVEL GEAR come in warm white and multicolor hues to suit any outdoor mood. And, if you share a photo on social media, the brand donates solar-powered lights to someone in a developing country. 

Shopping for a day hiker? Consider the Flash 18 Pack from REI Co-op. This ultralight pack has a removable sternum strap and waistbelt for optional support (your giftee can remove them to cut weight) and a padded, removable back panel that doubles as a sitting pad. Top rated by customer reviewers, one purchaser says, "This thing rocks! For those looking for a fairly minimalist light daypack, this cannot be beaten for the cost to value." 

Light up the night for your favorite backpacker or car camper with this rechargeable 300-lumen headlamp from BioLite. Considered moderately bright and suitable for simple campsite tasks like reading and cooking, this waterproof lamp offers your giftee dimmable brightness when they need it. This ’lamp also powers up quickly: Eight minutes of charging provides one hour of light at full brightness. 

If you have someone on your list who likes to adventure year-round, they’re sure to love the ultra-toasty Polar Multifunctional Neckwear from Buff. Stitched with 100% recycled microfiber, this insulated polar fleece wrap can be worn as a helmet liner, a cylindrical scarf or even as a hairband. Plus, its UPF 50 fabric shields against the sun’s harmful rays on snowy treks or long days of mountaineering. 

A fan favorite among thru-hikers, backpackers and anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet, these Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks from Darn Tough are as comfortable as they are durable. They’re beloved for their snug fit and sweat-wicking capabilities, which together help prevent blisters by minimizing dampness and bunching. Darn Toughs also come with a lifetime guarantee, so your loved one can exchange them if they ever bust a seam. 

The Titanium Backpacking Stove from TOAKS is perfect for the backcountry gourmand who wants to eat well in the woods without lugging a heavy kitchen setup. Weighing in at a scant 1.6 ounces, this tiny stove packs down smaller than a coffee mug and is suitable for finicky, gram-counting ultralighters. It also comes with a storage sack for easy, abrasion-free packing. Just don’t forget the camp fuel (sold separately). 

The only thing better than waking up at camp is having a hot mug of coffee ready before you hit the trail. Luckily, the Go Travel Coffee Press from AeroPress makes hot coffee in minutes, so the camper or backpacker in your life can enjoy both quick coffee and caffeine control. This one also comes with a mug that neatly doubles as the system's packing container.  

Whoever says comfort can't come from closed-cell design hasn't tried the Switchback Sleeping Pad from NEMO. Thanks to its hexagonal nesting pattern, this pad feels comfy and packs down smaller than other closed-cell foam pads, making it perfect for the fast-and-light backpacker in your life. With abrasion-resistant foam and thermal reflective film, this pad will stick it out through hardy trips and cold nights. Pro tip: Fold the pad smaller to create a cushy sitting pad. 

These colorblock gloves from Cotopaxi will bring brightness and warmth to a winter's day for your giftee. Made from recycled polylester fleece and featuring stretchy rib-knit cuffs, the Teca Fleece Gloves are like a cozy sweater for the hands. They’re available in three vibrant colorways inspired by the outdoors. 

Whether you’re buying for a backpacker, hiker or camper, you can't go wrong with gifting the Classic Knife from Swiss Army. This tool weighs about the same as a AA battery and includes a 1.5-inch blade plus scissors, a nail file, screwdriver, toothpick and more. An included lanyard ring makes it easy to attach the all-purpose knife to keys or a travel pack, so your gift recipient will always have it when they need it. 

Friends don't let friends lose their binoculars. For the devoted birder in your life, the Nocs Provisions Woven Tapestry Strap offers a lively accessory to keep those 'nocs on hand and hard to lose. The strap has universal attachment points, so they'll work for any pair of binoculars and cameras, too. 

Your gift-giving mojo is bound to be bright with these OG Sunglasses from goodr. The outdoor lover who enjoys a good sweat on the trail will appreciate the lightweight frame and grippy nose coating that keeps these sunnies in place on jogs, hikes and more. And the glare-reducing, polarized lenses will keep their eyes safe from the sun no matter where they adventure. 

Everyone on your list could use a warm beanie, and we recommend this lambswool one from Sherpa Adventure Gear. Handcrafted in Nepal by women’s cooperatives, this cozy cap is perfect to throw on before a chilly stroll, snowy hike or campfire bevy. And if you're interested in giving more than material treasures, you’ll be happy to know that each beanie purchase provides a donation to Room to Read's Nepal Education Program. 

Whether your budding adventurer needs a lunchbox-ready water bottle or a compact hydration vessel they can clip to their bag when they’re walking the dog, this Micro Hydro Vacuum Water Bottle from Hydro Flask should do the trick. Roughly the size of a soda can, this little flask fits handily into a purse or fanny pack and is ideal for those quick outings when your giftee doesn’t want to schlep a bulky jug. 

These days, fanny packs (or hip packs, if you’re feeling groovy) are all the rage. Why? Because they’re the ideal size and weight to toss on for a quick day hike or jaunt around town. The High Coast Hip Pack from Fjallraven offers enough storage space for snacks and small essentials, all in a recycled nylon package. 

For the person who loves to rack up miles, this packing cube will keep them organized no matter where they travel. The Black Hole Cube from Patagonia offers plenty of space for toiletries, medications, camera gear or even small items of clothing like bathing suits or underwear. Its divided compartments help keep items organized, and an exterior daisy chain allows your giftee to lash it onto a pack or a duffel. 

If your giftee doesn't like to travel with dirty laundry stinking up the pack, then here's an idea: the Clean/Dirty Packing Cube from Thule. An internal divider doesn't merely split the cube into two compartments, but it keeps dirt and odor from passing between the sides and beyond the cube. It's sized to fit in most carry-on luggage, so your loved one can stay organized even on those quick trips. 

Whether your loved one uses this duffel as an overnight bag, a gym tote or a just-in-case carry-on, the Roadtripper 40 Duffel from REI Co-op is downright handy. This 40-liter hauler 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 can be used as an interior organizer or to stow the duffel when it’s not in use. 

The camper who has it all probably doesn’t have a collapsible lantern that can charge their phone, so grab them this one from LuminAID. Your giftee can power up the Max Quick Inflate Solar Lantern using a USB port or solar power—then use it to juice up other gadgets. They can attach it to their tent or a tree limb to illuminate their campsite and collapse it down to a rectangular disc to store it. 

Some might say you'd be unoriginal for choosing a gift based on its number of five-star ratings, but we know of at least 44,000 customer-reviewers who'd disagree. This 20-ounce YETI tumbler is a practical present for the hard-to-buy-for giftee in your life. It features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours, and its BPA-free stainless steel doesn't retain flavors from last week's rum and soda. 

For the camp chef or the person with a sweet tooth, this mini skillet is a just-right size for a single egg, a deep-dish cookie or melting butter for popcorn. The Mini Cast Iron Skillet from Lodge is built tough for a lifetime of even heat retention, making it just as great as its more standard-size brethren—just a bit more portable. And cuter. 

If your pal has a small, four-legged adventure partner, they’ll geek out over this Tiny Half Dome Tent. The miniature shelter from Tiny Tents looks just like the hooman-sized version from REI Co-op but is the perfect capacity for a small dog, cat or bunny that wants to “camp” from home. Your giftee’s feline can loaf beneath the mesh stargazer roof, and little Fido can catch a cross breeze from the AC unit through the tent’s two doors.  

Keep the energetic kids on your list occupied at camp with this chess and checkers from Outside Inside. With its small carry bag and magnetic board and pieces, there's no need to worry about transporting this set or restarting play if the board gets knocked. It's also a perfect activity for a screen-free evening at home.

For the loved one who works from home or always runs a little cold, these Recycled Ela Moc Shoes from Acorn are the perfect present. With a soft Berber fleece lining that keeps toes warm and Cloud Cushion insole that provides supportive comfort, these slippers make lounging around the house as cozy as it gets. A slip-on mule design and thick rubber sole also makes them suitable for grabbing the mail or taking the dog out.