If you are wanting to buy someone a gift this Christmas as a token of your love, then why not make it something that will either inspire and motivate them to spend time outdoors, or to make their time outside a little bit easier? In my new gift ideas for outdoor lovers post this year, I offer up a bunch of suggestions that should help you do just that.
I’m not for a minute suggesting you spend heaps of money on anyone this Christmas. It is wholly unnecessary, even if you love someone very much. I’m also not suggesting that you buy people lots of random things they will never have any use for – that’s not good for our wallets or our environment.
But, if you do choose to show someone you love them by buying them a little something, and are looking online to see what might make a great gift, then here are some outdoor-related ideas to get you started.
Twenty Gift Ideas for Outdoor Lovers
01 Running Belt
Originally a PR Gift
This is a really cool and comfortable neoprene belt designed to carry your bits and bobs when out and about. A nice gift idea for anyone who likes to run, hike, or go to festivals. It’s compact and low profile, but has lots of space – there’s a divided central zip compartment, key pocket, hole for your earphone (or battery bank) cable, and an easy clip fastening.
I’ve been using mine to carry my phone and keys when out doing my Couch to 5K jogs. The elasticated adjustable waistband means it stays put but with enough give to move with my body as I jiggle around. Mine’s a bright pink sample, but there are loads of colours to choose from.
02 Buff
One of the most versatile pieces of cloth you can possibly own, a Buff is a good bet even if you don’t know if the person you’re buying for has one already or not. Mine is something of a comfort blanket when I’m out having an adventure, and I always have a spare one (or two) in my pack or pocket just in case. There are so many colours and designs to choose from, you’ll be sure to find just the right one. I’m hoping for a new one myself this Christmas!
You’ll need Buff UK for the full range | Cotswold Outdoor | Go Outdoors | Amazon
03 First Aid Kit
Originally a PR Gift
This is a gift idea for someone you know who’s getting more into spending time outside but doesn’t have all the basics yet. A walking specific first aid kit like this comes in a little pouch and includes the bits needed to treat the most common injuries experienced on walkabout. These ready-made kits also come with a little instruction card, but of course should always be accompanied by a little bit of purposeful learning before they are needed.
This is the Ordnance Survey one in the photo | Go Outdoors | Amazon
04 Great British Adventure Map
Originally a PR Gift – years ago!
The Great British Adventure Map really is a perfect gift idea. The Ordnance Survey style double-sided map is absolutely jam packed full of location, activity and event inspiration to keep you exploring the Great British outdoors for years and years to come. It’s like a Great British bucket list in map form. The new edition (out November 2022) now has more great outdoorsy locations and routes, and a trip planner including carbon footprint information.
There are a bunch of Marvellous Maps in the series – Adventure, Food and Drink, Folklore, Literature, Music, Film and TV, History, Wildlife, and a Wonders Map for Kids. Pick the one that works best for your recipient!
Get the full range from Marvellous Maps | Ordnance Survey | Amazon | See the full range at Marvellous Maps.
05 Leatherman
Originally a PR Gift
The most spendy thing in my gift ideas for outdoor lovers this year, a Leatherman is surely a must-have item and would make a very special gift. Especially as they can be personalised with the recipients name.
The Leatherman Wave+ just works. It’s light enough, feels good in the hand, is easy to carry, and has a bunch of well-chosen easy-to-access tools that are incredibly useful. It has a decent knife, a strong and sturdy construction, and is as useful in the home, garden and garage, as well as on outdoor adventures.
Available at Whitby & Co | Leatherman | Blacks | Amazon
Personalised Map (not pictured)
Did you know Ordnance Survey will make you a custom map with your chosen grid reference in the centre? These make a really lovely gift – whether it’s to encourage someone to plot routes from their own front door (or your front door…), or to help them put something of their favourite outdoors spots onto their wall. They come folded or flat (well, rolled!), and there are two sizes available – you can also choose if you prefer the Explorer or Landranger scale. They’re not expensive either – the traditional OS map size is £18.99 but you can get an A3 one for £6.99.
06 Boot Buddy
Originally seen on Dragon’s Den, the Boot Buddy is a great little tool to remove dirt from all types of dirty and muddy footwear. Fill the reservoir with water, and use the brush head to clean off trainers, boots, and anything else really. Perfect for anyone who goes outdoors a lot! I’ve had mine for a couple of years, maybe longer, and it’s so useful – such a simple idea, one of those gadgets that you wonder what you did without it.
See the full range at Boot Buddy | Also at Amazon
07 Foot Care Kit
Anyone who loves to spend time outdoors knows how important it is to look after their feet. My recommendation for a related gift would be a cork massage ball and a tube of Gehwol Foot Cream Extra – the perfect combination to help revive tired feet.
Cork balls are small and hard, and are excellent for rolling under tired feet at the end of a long hike. They’re also good for other muscles and pressure points, but it’s feet we’re talking about here.
And the cream, well this is the stuff I absolutely swear by. It is quite simply an awesome foot cream that protects the feet and helps them recover and repair after strenuous activity. Massaging it into aching feet is such a nice feeling, the oils from eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and thyme smell good and get to work straight away. I love it and have been recommending it for years.
08 Hot Water Bottle
I’m a recent convert to hot water bottles after my friend Jenni bought me this cute little one. And it has to be said, I now totally get it. A small one like this would make a great gift for anyone who likes camping – the perfect added bit of luxury to a sleeping bag. Mine takes just 350ml water, which means it’s easy to fill from a camp stove without using heaps of gas or water, and the cover can be easily washed when it needs it.
Mine came from Dunelm | Here’s an example from Amazon
09 Rechargeable Hand Warmer
Originally a PR Gift
Prefer heat to be battery powered? The Zippo Heatbank Rechargeable Hand Warmer and Power Bank has 4,400MaH power, which means this little battery will provide a new iPhone with one full charge. Or, it will provide up to six hours of continuous heat for hands, body or sleeping bag. It heats up to 50C and has three heat settings – and is much more sustainable than disposable hand warmers. (The one pictured is the old three-hour version I’ve had for a while.)
Available at Whitby & Co | Amazon
10 Soap Bag
The Matador FlatPak soap bar case is designed to carry soap or shampoo bars. The ultralight dry-bag-style case has a roll-top design and welded construction so it’s fully waterproof, but “dry-through technology” allows the bar inside to dry through the case, even when closed. This means you can take it in the shower, use the bar, put it back in the bag wet and take it with you. I’ve not had mine long but I’m already recommending it to people, it’s a step up from the tins you can get from Lush – much smaller and less clunky, and results in much less slime!
Kula Cloth (not pictured)
Any female who heads out into the countryside for more than a few hours at a time will have a little toilet kit in their hiking pack, so make sure they are prepared for wild wees. Just part of it. A Kula cloth is a little pee cloth, designed to be used instead of toilet paper when you have to make use of the privacy of a bush.
Kula Cloth (UK) at Shells Ellison | at Vampire Outdoors
11 Airtight Pots
These little canisters by Matador are so useful! Made from aluminium with silicon pop-off lids, they are watertight and airtight, so they’re great for nuts, sweets, fruit, or anything else I fancy taking out on the trail with me.
Zip lock bags are okay, but these tubs are so much more convenient – and everlasting. They’re easy to carry, food safe, dishwasher safe, and lightweight. I’ve had mine for a year now and they are perfect. They could equally be used for tinder for fires, medication, jewellery, or even little electronic adapters or headphones, but for me, they are for snacks.
Available at Wildbounds | and Amazon
12 PACMAT Sit Mat
No hiker or picnic lover should be without one of these – an insulated, waterproof, seat for one. Just what you need for sit downs on hikes, bike rides, or any other outdoor activity. It is small, lightweight, hardwearing (I’ve had mine for years and it’s barely showing any signs of wear), and is an absolutely essential bit of kit in my opinion. If you know someone without one, you should sort that out for them!
There are larger PACMATs, too, if you’re looking for something family sized, but this “patch” is spot on for one person.
Get one direct from Rubbastuff
13 Dry Bag with Snacks
I don’t know a single outdoor loving person who wouldn’t appreciate snacks as a gift… But you can upscale this idea by putting a selection of hiker-friendly treats in a small dry bag they can keep refilling each time they go out and about. Go for a decent lightweight dry bag such as one by Lomo, Osprey or Exped, and it’ll last for years – 3 litres should is the perfect size for a good number of snacks.
This is what’s pictured | Transparent Lomo | Osprey
14 Tiny Pouch
Organisation is key when packing for a day or more outdoors – and I can simply not have enough little pouches for my bits and bobs. Gifting the outdoor lover in your life a little zip pouch for their headphones, cables, medication, money, keys, or other bits and bobs, will certainly be a winner. The one pictured is a recent addition to my collection, specifically chosen for my new headphones because I wanted some way of keeping them from becoming a tangled mess in my pack.
Knot Tying Kit (not pictured)
Here an idea to help your outdoor loving friend to learn something new… Knot tying is one of those skills that is super useful – you never know when it might be handy to know how to tie a bowling, clove hitch, or sheep shank. A knot tying kit (or a knot book and some paracord) would make a great gift idea for someone who you think would enjoy a bit of practice.
15 Lube!!
Okay, I’m talking lip balm, hand cream, and Vaseline; a trio of essentials every outdoor loving person appreciates. The outdoors is hard on the lips, hands and face – and other places too – so gifting various lotions and potions is always a good idea.
Pictured are my long-standing favourites: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector, and the Aloe Vaseline,
16 Lightweight Insulated Flask
Originally a PR Gift
As someone who can’t bear to go on a hike without a flask of tea, it is no surprise that I am suggesting a lightweight flask as a great gift idea for the outdoor lover in your life.
The problem with lots of insulated flasks is that they are heavy and/or bulky. I’ve found my Hydro Flask to be the best combination of lightness and insulation so far. The latest version of mine (mine is an old one!), is the 16oz “Coffee with Flex Sip Lid”.
Get the details from Hydro Flask | Buy from Amazon | Cotswold Outdoor
17 Micro Towel
Douglas Adams did tell us to not forget a towel – and with this one you can make sure you don’t! The Ordnance Survey micro towel is teeny, but just perfect to carry for those unexpected towel-emergencies when enjoying the outdoors. Apparently, it’ll soak up 9x its own weight in water… it’s therefore perfect for drying my feet after a paddle, my hands and gear after heavy rain, or my sweaty face after climbing a big hill!
At just 37cm square and tucking nearly into its own little pouch, with a clip to attach it to the outside of your pack when wet, this towel is made from super absorbent material and has a mappy print on it (this one is of Dartmoor – my birthday present – but there are others to choose from). It is such a handy bit of outdoor gear.
Buy it from the Ordnance Survey shop
If you’re looking for book inspiration, I’ve got a post coming up in a few days just for you. Watch this space. You may also find my Currently Loving series has some more ideas.
In the interests of full disclosure for this gift ideas for outdoor lovers post, and as made clear in the text above, the running belt, Leatherman, pictured Hydro Flask, adventure map, and first aid kit were originally PR gifts, for which I am very grateful. I have therefore marked this post as gifted, but it is not sponsored – they did not ask to be included in my gift ideas post and I’ve not been paid to write this post by any brand.
Additionally, please note there are affiliate links on this page, the funds from which help me go on the mini adventures that help make life interesting.