The holidays are here again, which means it’s time to ponder gifts. Here’s a list of gifts for the outdoor lovers in your life. I’ve tried to focus on gifts that are fairly small in size and around $50 or less. Some of the links below go to Amazon and some go to the website of my friend The Gray Bearded Green Beret. I make a small commission on all referrals. That said, these really are some of my absolute favorite products.
Wazoo Cache Cap
I love these baseball hats by Wazoo Survival Gear. Each hat has four cleverly designed hidden pockets for storing small items. I have stashed kevlar cord, water purification tablets, duct tape, and even a small knife in mine. They come in a variety of colors including gray, green, tan, and camouflage.
Pro tip: Get the most out of the hat with this bundle, which includes the Wazoo Cache Cap and a small ferro rod and striker combo designed to fit into small slots sewn into the edges of the bill. This version also has a velcro spot on the crown for a patch of your choice.
UCO Titan Stormproof Matches and Case
These jumbo 4-inch long matches are nothing like the flimsy “waterproof” matches I used as a kid. Each match will burn for over 20 seconds. The added time and heat can be crucial if you are working with tinder that is less than perfect. These things are so badass that they will relight after being submerged in water. It is true; I have seen it first hand.
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
This little knife sharpener is about the size of a harmonica. It features two diamond hones, an adjustable ceramic hone, and a leather strop. Best of all are the integrated angle guides. These little ramps make it much easier to keep the blade at a perfect 20 degree angle as you move it across the various hones. The addition of a leather strop is next level stuff. Once a proper angle has been put on a knife, we should all be stropping a lot more and honing a lot less!
Victorinox RangerGrip 79 Swiss Army Pocket Knife
Victorinox still makes the best pocket knives in my book. This one puts the emphasis where it is needed: the knife and the saw. The blade on this can be opened with one hand and locks securely for safety. This model does NOT have a serrated blade. Serrations are a drawback for most cutting tasks. At a bit over 5 inches, this model is bigger than you might expect and this is helpful — especially when using the saw. The textured grip is another nice feature, as are the other foundational tools, which include a can opener, bottle opener/screwdriver, awl, and corkscrew. This knife gets top marks for utility and value.
Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notebook
A notebook might not sound a like a fun gift, but these are so practical and so functional it hardly matters. Outdoor people do stuff in the rain. It’s just how it is. If they happen to want to write anything down, plain old paper just doesn’t hold up. These notebooks do. I spent a long, wet day practicing land navigation in the rain. All of notes were taken on one of these notebooks and it worked beautifully.
Pro tip: I recommend that you get one of their thick lead mechanical pencils to make life even easier.
Tiny Survival Guide: A Life Insurance Policy in Your Pocket
This credit card size booklet unfolds like a map. While it’s no replacement for a full-size survival book, it does provide a lot of useful information. The guide includes dozens of tips with over 100 illustrations covering things like first aid, shelter, fire, water, navigation, signaling, knots, and specific environments. A little bit of guidance during a bad situation could be both helpful and comforting. If you are looking to take your gift to the next level, they also offer a bundle that comes with two booklets: Tiny Survival Guide and Tiny First Aid Guide.
Pro tip: Use the included plastic Fresnel lens to read the fine print in the booklet. It might also be used to start an emergency fire using sunlight.
Exotac ripSPOOL Field Repair Kit
Exotac is one of those companies that really comes up with some innovative outdoor gear. The ripSPOOL is a perfect example of this, combining a heavy-duty sail needle, 30lb test synthetic braided line, and a roll of black repair tape. All of this comes in a compact, contained unit with a lanyard that itself is a specialty fire tinder.
Pro tip: Repair tape is flammable and makes a decent emergency tinder — especially when everything outside is wet.
Silky Gomboy Folding Saw
Silky makes a variety of multipurpose folding saws. Unlike western saws, these are based on a Japanese design that cuts on the pull stroke. This, along with some fancy hardened teeth, makes for a very smooth and very fast cutting action. Add to this a nicely textured, rubber-padded handle and you have one compact, but capable saw for the woodlands. They make a variety of sizes — and they are all good — but I find the Gomboy size to be the best balance between size and utility.
Wazoo The Bushcraft Fire Starter Necklace
Yup, there’s that Wazoo brand name again. What can I say? This company makes great stuff! This handsome little necklace holds a surprise: it can start a fire! Attached to the leather cord is a miniature ferrocerium rod and a ceramic striker. Simply scrape the rod with the striker to produce a shower of sparks. Works well with the Spartan Fire Tinder mentioned above.
S.O.L. Emergency Escape Lite Bivvy
It’s common practice for people who spend time outdoors to carry a survival kit. One of the staple items in these kits is often the classic mylar space blanket. These have been improved in recent years by making them into a simple sleeping bag configuration. However, they have one major drawback: they do not allow moisture out. This means you can end up in an uncomfortably damp situation. The S.O.L. Escape Lite Bivvy provides the benefits of a space blanket — reflecting 70% of your body heat back — while allowing moisture to escape. The entire thing packs up to the size of a soda can.
Pro tip: The S.O.L. Escape Lite Bivvy can be used in as a slipcover for a sleeping bag. The bivvy helps insulate the sleeping bag and protect it from the elements.
FireAnt Fire Starter and Tinder System for Swiss Army Knives
The smallest ferro rod and tinder combination I know of! Both items screw into the corkscrew on a Swiss Army Knife. The little orange rod and tinder are 100% waterproof so they should work when your back is against the wall. On a more day-to-day level, the FireAnt glows in the dark to help you find your knife at night. These come in packs with three or six pairs of rod and tinder. This gift pairs well with the Victorinox RangerGrip knife shown above.
Pro tip: you can also get a pack of just the FireAnt replacement tinder to replace the ones you’ve used.
Spartan Fire Multi-Use EDC Tinder
You have to love small, multipurpose items when you are in the wild. These flat, waxy strips fit that bill! Not only are they excellent waterproof fire tinder, but they can also be used to lubricate and protect gear. These fit easily in a wallet or in the Wazoo Cap mentioned above.
Pro tip: Spartan Fire Tinder can be heated up and used as an emergency repair patch on a tent.
Hopefully, you found some useful ideas in this list. If you have questions, drop me a line using the Contact page. If you found this useful, consider signing up for my email newsletter using the form at the bottom of the page. Thanks for stopping by!