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Cool Gifts for Campers That Will Last Over the Long Haul

Are you looking for the perfect gift for the camping enthusiast in your life? Look no further! We've curated a list of 10 must-have gifts that every camper will absolutely love.

For those looking to amp up their exploring game to those just starting their outdoor adventure, these gifts are sure to enhance your loved one’s camping experiences.

One of our favoite campgrounds near Ouray Colorado

We spent 10 to 14 nights camping in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains each of the last two summers, so this camping gift list is up-to-date with the camping gear we simply can’t live without. In fact, we’ve been camping with and without kids the last 26+ years, so you could say we know a thing or two.

From high-quality camping gear to unique gadgets and accessories, we've got you covered. Picture them cozying up with a hands-free puffy blanket under a star-studded sky, sipping coffee from a portable espresso maker, or relaxing in a reclining camp chair. Our selection includes practical and fun camping gifts that will make their camping trip more comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable.

Not only are these gifts useful for camping trips, but they're also great for other outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or even backyard hangouts. They're designed to withstand the rigors of nature while combining functionality with style.

So, whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, or just a special occasion, these gifts will surely light up any camper's face with joy and excitement.

Campsite Gifts We Can’t Live Without

Get ready to become the ultimate gift-giver with our hand-picked selection of cool gifts for campers for 2024-2025.

Sleeping Bag

A good night's sleep on your outdoor adventure is crucial for you playing and exploring to your heart’s content the next day.

The right sleeping bag and sleeping pad are essential for a comfortable and restful night's sleep. In the Colorado Rockies, the warmth factor is also key.

One of the best gifts for campers is absolutely a good night’s sleep! Here in Colorado, we happen to be fans of owning one sleeping bag that works for both car camping and backpacking.

PRO TIP: When it comes to how sleeping bags are made, one filled with down insulation is typically lighter and more compact than synthetic insulation — but a down sleeping bag may be more expensive and less effective when wet. Synthetic sleeping bags retain their warmth when wet and are typically more affordable.

Keep the weather and climate of your typical camping trips in mind when choosing between down and synthetic insulation.

Here are two of our all-time favorite sleeping bags, because they’re warm and light to pack.

KELTY COSMIC 20 DOWN

My favorite 3-season sleeping bag, I’ve had my K elty Cosmic 20 Degree Down for over 10 years now and it’s still going strong.

After a couple of 7 day backpacking trips and countless camping trips in Colorado and national parks across the USA, this sleeping bag packs a lot of bang for the buck. (Purple bag pictured above)

I most recently used it on my backpacking trip to Conundrum Hot Springs.

MARMOT TRESTLES 30° SLEEPING BAG

Melody and her kids used this bag for summer wilderness camping trips in Wisconsin, as well as for backpacking the Four Pass Loop with her daughter.

The Marmot Trestles 30 degree synthetic sleeping bag is great for all kinds of camping and backpacking summer adventures in the Rockies. (Green bag pictured above)

RELATED READING: What to Look for in a Sleeping Bag

Sleeping Pad

Exped makes an array of tent camping and car sleeping pads.

Our family owns six of the orange Exped SynMat 7 Pump Sleeping Pads, pictured below. They’ve since been updated to an even lighter version: the Exped Ultra 5R Sleeping Pad.

When you find the sweet spot for filling each pad with the appropriate amount of air, these sleeping bags feel just like a bed and let you sleep in peace since they don’t crinkle with every twitch and turn.

The Ultra 5R comes with a Schnozzel pump bag for easy inflation (weight: 2.1 oz.), a stuff sack for protection during transportation, and a repair kit with adhesive and fabric patches.

For over ten years now, their impeccable customer service has us sold. Exped stands behind their stellar sleeping pads. Case in point: they’ve repaired or replaced more than one pad for us within the five year window of owning each one.

We recommend the medium wide size in the Ultra 5R Exped Mat, especially if you move around in your sleep.

Check out all of the Exped Mats. They even make sleeping pads for two.

Tent

We’ve owned the trusty REI 6 person Dome tent for nearly our entire marriage. Twenty-six years later, and it’s hanging on. When it dies, we’ll hold an appropriate memorial service. We feel the same about our decades-old two-person tent.

This two Person tent is one cool gift for campers: Marmot Tungsten 2P. Bonus: they make a 3 person and 4 person version as well.

Marmot 2P Tungsten is a camping gift that will last for years

We love the Marmot Tungsten because it’s roomy, boasts double doors* and vestibules for storing gear, made with color-coded clips so you can quickly attach the tent poles, and the footprint is included. *No tripping over your partner during those middle of the night bathroom trips.

This top-rated 3 season tent weighs around 5 pounds and can be easily split up between you and friend if you are backpacking.

While a little more expense than some, it’s also cheaper than many others out there. Rest assured, Marmot knows a thing or two about making tents.

PSSST…. We also love this 3-in-1 BUNDLE Trailmade Backpacking Bundle. When each of our kids head off to college, we hand them a backpacking sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and and a lightweight 2 person tent so they can take off on weekend adventures with friends. So the 3-in-1 makes the perfect camping gift.

Camp Stove

Unless you just really love cooking over a campfire, a camp stove is one of the most essential campsite gifts.

A timeless staple, our camp stove has outlasted our trusty tent.

We love the top-rated Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove because of the awesome extra accessories included: a cast-iron grill and griddle.

This two-burner camp stove lets you control the temperature for both burners, runs on propane, and can fit 12” and 10” pans (not included). Wind guards help prevent your flame from going out.

Weighing under 15 pounds, this camp stove is portable, packable, and easy to move — making it one of our all-time favorite campsite gifts.

Looking for a romantic, portable mini fire pit instead? The Solo Stove Campfire Stove is fueled easily, goes everywhere you go, and makes a great gift for campers. It’s ultra-efficient burn fuels up on twigs and kindling, brining you a flame in mere minutes.

Solo Stove Campfire is great for romantic Colorado getaways

Portable Espresso Maker

This small, portable, super affordable stainless steel Mini Espresso Set is made to last a lifetime and weighs only 11 ounces. It’s also one of our most affordable gifts for campers.

Pros: Brews a fast cup of Joe with a double-wall cup to keep your double shot at the perfect temperature. So easy to use, folks love using this Mini Espresso Set at home just as much as at the campsite. Brews quickly, with one double shot (2.5 fl. oz.) serving ready in under 90 sec.

Cons: You’ll have to bring extra mugs for your friends and brew one cup at a time. But hey, it’s espresso!

Need to brew before the sun rises so you can hit the trail at first light? Grab your Luci lantern and let the percolating begin.

Learn more

Star Gazing Chair

Hammocks and camp chairs are both great campsite gifts for the ones you love.

Can’t decide between a chair or a hammock? Cover both bases and opt for the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair.

What we love about this easy-going, swinging portable chair: it’s reclinable to your liking, with a padded headrest to boot.

Pair the Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair with a hands-free Cape-Clip Rumpl, and let the star-gazing commence, no matter the temp.

Leatherman Signal Multi-tool

My Leatherman Multi-Tool is always at the ready in my daypack, overnight backpack, or camping tool box. We’ve had ours for over a decade and have used it for everything from fixing a fishing pole or a tent zipper to cutting moleskin on the trail and countless other things.

Weighing only 7.5 ounces, the Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool is one of the best gifts for camping.

Boasting 19 tools, this compact tool comes with a sheath and has proven itself quite handy over the years. In fact, you can open and use tools with one hand, keeping your other hand free.

The 19 tools include:

Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters
Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters
Wire Stripper
420HC Combo Knife (high carbon stainless steel)
Saw
Hammer
Awl w/ Thread Loop
Can Opener
Bottle Opener
1/4” Hex Bit Driver
Bit Driver
1/4" Box Wrench
Carabiner
3/16" Box Wrench
Safety Whistle
Ferrocerium Rod (emergency fire-lighter device)
Diamond-coated Sharpener

Check out all of the various Leatherman Multi-Tools and see which one is right for your camper gift.

Turkish Towel - 95 words

We’ve had these simple Turkish Towels since 2018 when our family hiked down to Havasupai Falls over Spring Break. Eight years later, they’re still in our closet and top on our packing list.

Quick-drying, you’ll love how easily you can shake dirt and sand from these extra-large (40” by 72”) towels made with 100% premium cotton. Soft to the touch, these lightweight towels roll up easily and tuck away easily into your backpack or carry-on.

We’ve taken ours camping, backpacking, paddle boarding, to hot springs, on week-long beach trips, and more.

This affordable 4 pack of Turkish Towels, is the perfect camping gift!

We loved having our paddleboards for fishing at Balman Reservoir near Westcliffe Colorado

Inflatable Paddleboard

We try to camp near a lake any chance we get and we never travel without our portable inflatable paddle boards.

We also love to fish from a paddleboard on lakes all over Colorado, so your favorite fisherman will love this out-of-the-box campsite gift.

Our kids link our two extra-large Isle Megalodon paddleboards together for what they’ve cleverly dubbed “Flotilla” — great for playing King of the Mountain and sun-bathing. One Megalodon is big enough for paddling with 4 people!

We also love the durable, portable Isle Pioneer Hybrid Pioneer 3.0. Weighing only 19 pounds, the Pioneer board deck is big enough for two people. Add the Kayak Bundle and score a comfy, easy-to-attach kayak seat, footrest, and extra paddle blade that turns your current adjustable SUP paddle into a kayak paddle.

SHOPPING TIP: More often than not, ISLE runs fantastic deals where also they throw in a stellar electric pump. Their Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals are the best sales they’ll run all year.

RELATED READING: Best Lakes for Paddleboarding in Colorado

These durable, portable paddleboards are cool gifts for campers who love lake side campsites

Portable Toilet

Let’s face it: one of the first questions thrown at you when you pitch a camping trip to your friends is “Will I have to pop a squat in the woods?”

Your answer: you’ll love the completely hygenic Trelino Evo Portable Lightweight Composting Toilet. We happily set out for dispersed campsites, without fear of having a comfortable place to go number two.

One of the most practical campsite gifts, Trelino’s German-made portable toilet designs are simple, convenient, and lightweight, making it the perfect choice for any outdoor enthusiast. Say goodbye to dirty pit toilets and hello to safe, comfortable, and environmentally-friendly waste disposal.

We use the portable toilet in our pop-up privacy tent and we prefer to use disposable Double Doodie Waste Bags with Bio-Gel for the liner.

Which Gifts for the Camper are Top on Your List?

In conclusion, the above ten campsite gifts are our favorite must-haves when it comes to camping in comfort and style.

From star-gazing to early morning expresso, and sleeping warm and comfy and cozy in your tent, these are fabulous gifts for the camper in your life.

Headed to Colorado for camping? We’ve got you covered. Here are 12 great Colorado campgrounds close to some of the best hiking trails.

We have enjoyed lots of camping trips over the years with our families. With over 40 years combined experience of camping with kids, here are our 11 Must Haves for Tent Camping in Colorado.

New to camping in Colorado? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Tent Camping in Colorado.

Give the Gift of an RV Rental

Hit the open road, or have one delivered and set up upon your arrival, if your campground allows it.

We’ve experienced and loved the magic of the outdoors with Outdoorsy several times.

Renting an RV is a fun, romantic getaway with your special someone.

Already Own an RV? Earn over $50,000 per year

You read that right. Rent out your RV whenever you want, with full renter verification and vehicle insurance options. Get started here.

10 Must-Have Gifts for Campers in 2024