Gift guide
Gifts for campers and hikers
For the person who'd rather be outside. Gear for the trail, the campsite and the hammock in between.
Every product below comes from recent independent reviews, and an automated fact check confirmed each detail against its source. We don't test products ourselves. How we pick.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Headlamp
A hands-free light worn on the head for camping, walks or power outages.
Budget pick
Nitecore NU20 Classic
- Puts out up to 360 lumens. (Treeline Review)
- Weighs about 1.34 oz, including its built-in 500 mAh lithium-ion battery. (Treeline Review)
- Recharges over USB-C. (Treeline Review)
- Rated IP66 against dust and water, but it shouldn't be submerged. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: Treeline Review
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Nitecore NU25 UL
- Weighs about 1.7 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Maximum output of 400 lumens. (CleverHiker)
- Recharges in about an hour and a quarter. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IP66, so it handles rain but isn't meant to be submerged. (CleverHiker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Switchback Travel
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Petzl Swift LT
- Weighs about 1.5 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Maximum output of 380 lumens. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IPX4 for splashes and rain. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonCamping hammock
A hammock that packs small and hangs between two trees.
Mid-range pick
Wise Owl Outfitters Kit
- Comes with 9-foot Talon Hammock Straps Lite tree straps, two carabiners and a built-in stuff sack. (OutdoorGearLab)
- A double-width hammock, 10' by 6'6", rated for 500 lbs. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Made of 210 thread count rip-resistant parachute nylon with triple stitching. (OutdoorGearLab)
- OutdoorGearLab measured 30 oz for the hammock and straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
ENO DoubleNest
- Tree straps aren't included; OutdoorGearLab tested it with ENO Atlas straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
- OutdoorGearLab gives 19 oz for the hammock alone and about 30 oz with straps. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Made of 70-denier nylon taffeta and rated for 400 lbs. (Treeline Review)
- Packs into an attached stuff sack and hangs with its attached carabiners. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonInsulated water bottle
An insulated bottle for hikes, the gym or a desk.
Budget pick
OXO Strive Insulated Water Bottle
- Double-wall insulated, and it can hold hot water as well as cold. (Food Network)
- Slim enough to fit easily in a car cupholder. (Food Network)
- Entirely dishwasher safe. (Food Network)
- Reviewers at Food Network found it passed their drop test. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Owala FreeSip Sway
- Flip-top lid offers both a straw-style sip spout and a wider opening for chugging. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Comes in 30 oz and 40 oz sizes. (Treeline Review)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found it fits car cupholders, which is unusual for a large insulated bottle. (Treeline Review)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found its lid didn't spill or pop open when the bottle was dropped. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle
- Double-walled 18/8 stainless steel bottle. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Reviewers at OutdoorGearLab found the lid completely leakproof in testing. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found no dents or scuffs after two years of drops off kayaks and down hillsides. (Treeline Review)
- Dishwasher safe. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonPortable Bluetooth speaker
A small speaker that plays music from a phone, indoors or out.
Budget pick
Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Rated IP67 for dust and water, and it floats. (TechGearLab)
- TechGearLab measured about 25 hours of battery life in its test, more than the 20-hour rating. (TechGearLab)
- Weighs about 9.3 oz, has a carrying loop, and two units can be paired. (Engadget)
- The Soundcore app offers a 9-band equalizer. (SoundGuys)
Recommended in: SoundGuys, TechGearLab, Engadget
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
JBL Clip 5
- A built-in carabiner clips onto a backpack, and output rose to 7W from the Clip 4's 5W. (SoundGuys)
- Supports multipoint connections and has presets and a custom EQ in the JBL Portable app. (SoundGuys)
- Rated IP67 for dust and water and weighs about 0.6 lb. (TechGearLab)
- Reviewers at TechGearLab found it survived drops without a scratch and clips onto a showerhead. (TechGearLab)
Recommended in: SoundGuys, TechGearLab
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
- Rated IP67 and floats. In TechGearLab's testing it survived repeated 3-foot drops onto concrete. (TechGearLab)
- Weighs about 1.3 lb, and two Bose speakers can be paired. (TechGearLab)
- The Bose app adjusts bass, mid and treble. (TechGearLab)
- Has a built-in microphone for calls and works with phone voice assistants. (Engadget)
Recommended in: TechGearLab, Engadget, SoundGuys
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