10 Gifts For Campers – Christmas Gear Guide 2021

Wondering what to get your camping companion this Chrissy? We’re covering both classic and overlooked camping gear this silly season so you can find the perfect camping gifts for your mates.

For many of us campers, Christmas has already come early with the ability to Unlock Outside and travel around in search of dirt to dip our tent pegs into.

The most lowkey camping trip an hour or two from home has never felt like such an adventure! 

But, if you’re like us, and recently dusted off the camping gear for the first time in a few months, you might have also noticed it’s time for an upgrade. That old sleeping mat feels a lot more uncomfortable now after six months on a real mattress right?

Whether you’re trying to convince friends or family to join you on a Christmas camping trip, or it’s the other way around, here’s 10 gift ideas for campers.

@brodyexplores

1. Black Wolf Wasp UL2 Adventure 2-Person Tent

Where better place to start than the tent?

Joel Johnson reviewed the Black Wolf Wasp UL 2 Tent in the Western Australian Pilbara of all places. While at first glance not an obvious place to review a 4-season tent, it was actually perfect for demonstrating the versatility of this home away from home.

‘We have two seasons here: hot, and hot-and-windy-with-flies. But the joke’s on them because the Black Wolf Wasp UL 2 Tent should’ve been called the Chameleon – able to change to fit its environment in the blink of an eye. And it’s just as at home on a wind-blasted Western Australian sand dune as it is on an alpine snowfield.’

@aesthetics.of.adventure

Better suited to campers than overnight hikers given its 3kg weight and size, perhaps the best thing about the Wasp is its price right now. Normally retailing for $599.99, Wild Earth has it available for just $299.95 currently.

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2. DD Hammocks Tarp 4×4

Admittedly, a tarp isn’t the most glamorous of gifts. But we’re talking gifts for campers, the kind of people who get excited about gaiters and dehydrated meals. A tarp to them (us) is positive luxury.

The DD Tarp is 4m x 4m and ultra versatile. With 19 reinforced attachment points, you can set it up with a number of configurations depending on the spacing of nearby trees and other structures.

It’s an underrated crowd pleaser, and a hell of a lot easier to set up than the Bunnings tarp and tree branch I saw another group using at a campsite over the weekend.

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3. DD Hammocks Camping Hammock

If a tarp is on one end of the glamping spectrum, a hammock is about as bougie as it comes in the campground. 

They’re also seriously up there when it comes to bang for buck. For under $50 you can gift the feeling of weightlessness this christmas. For some reason your troubles seem to drift away when you’re a few feet off the ground.

The Camping Hammock from DD was first released in 2005 and is still a bestseller. Durable and light, it even comes with two zip open layers in which you can tuck a sleeping mat for the ultimate camp snooze.

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4. Helinox Chair One

Anyone who has ever been camping knows that camp chairs are seriously hot property. 

Not many items indicate where you sit (pun somewhat intended) in the camp pecking order as well as what you’re sitting on.

So, instead of your gift recipient playing musical chairs on logs and boulders this summer, get them a Helinox Camp Chair and they’ll be forever grateful. And when they’re not sitting down, you’ll have first dibs.

While on the pricier side for camp chairs, Mattie Gould reviewed a helinox chair recently, and compared it to a cheap Aldi option. Suffice it to say, the Helinox version hasn’t got a 5-year warranty and plenty of 5-star reviews for nothing!

You can also check out our review of the similar but lighter and slightly more expensive Helinox Zero Ultralight Chair.

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5. Sea To Summit Alpha 1 Pot Lightweight Cook Set

This Sea To Summit Cook Set has any and all camp chefs covered.

Insulated mugs keep morning cuppas warm and midday brews cool. The bowls are a great do everything size and a 1.9L pot is extra durable and comes with a strainer lid.

The best part is the set’s sheer packability and light weight.

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6. Luci Solar Powered String Lights

There’s regular camping lights and then there’s lightweight solar powered fairy lights. 

20 warm white LEDs in 10 nodes with 4 light modes of varying brightness will turn a camp into a glamp in seconds with the flick of a switch.

The Solar String Lights also feature a USB port through which you can charge a mobile device or speaker. The lights themselves can also be charged through a traditional socket outlet as well as through solar power.

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7. Nemo Fillo Luxury Camping Pillow

On most hiking trips you make do with a ‘pillow’ made up of scrunched — hopefully clean-ish clothes — wrapped in a down jacket. Or is that just me? 

But, in this list we’re talking about gifts for campers. The kind where the parked car isn’t too far away and weight and packability are less of a concern. So, why not treat someone’s neck this silly season to a legitimate camping pillow, a severely overlooked piece of gear.

The Nemo Camping Pillow is made of, ‘a combination of a baffled air cell, thick luxury foam, a soft, washable microsuede or jersey cover, and an ergonomic valve.’ In other words, it’s a hell of a lot more comfortable than a pile of dirty clothes.

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8. Nemo Astro Insulated Sleeping Pad

Choosing a sleeping mat can be a pretty exhausting experience. So in a sense, it starts paying for itself right away!

Here’s a guide to help you choose the right mat. You’ll have to factor budget, warmth, size, weight and cushion so there’s really no right or wrong answer depending on your preferences. 

For a do-it-all camp sleeping mat, it’s hard to go past the Nemo Astro Insulated Sleeping Pad, especially for the price at just $169.95. If you’re in a warmer climate you can even skip the insulation and get the regular Nemo Astro Sleeping Pad for just $139.95.

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9. Sahara Nomad King Single Dome Canvas Swag & Bag

Think there are too many moving parts with a separate sleeping mat and tent? You might be in the market for a swag!

The Sahara Nomad King Single is considered to be the, ‘best value and quality swag in its class,’ and we’re not one to argue.

Certainly not designed for those hiking in to camp — unless they want to strap the entire 9kg to their back — these swags are built to be as easy and practical as can be.

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10. Jetboil Flash Cooking Pot Camp Stove System

‘Boiling water may not be rocket science, but doing it in 2mins 30secs takes a lot more than rubbing two sticks together.’

Jetboil Flash enters the chat. This is Jetboil’s fastest ever stove. Ignite it with a push of a button and you have liftoff. Maybe it is rocket science?

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Bonus Gift: Rewild – Stories and Inspiration For The Modern Adventurer

For when you’re kicking it around the campsite on a lazy day, or for those times you can’t go camping but want to vicariously adventure.

Rewild is, ‘a beautiful collection of stories, images and camping tips that will inspire you to rediscover the rejuvenating power of the outdoors.’

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Missed our other gift guide? Check out our Gift Guide for Hikers and stay tuned for more…

Cover image courtesy of @aesthetics.of.adventure.

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