Father’s Day Gift Guide 2021 – 10 Picks For A Rad Adventure Dad

This one’s for all the rad adventure dads…

‘Did you hear about the kidnapping in the woods?’

‘It’s okay. He woke up.’

Yep, that one hurt to type.

But, if there’s one time a year for cringey outdoor based dad jokes, it’s coming up. PSA: Father’s Day is around the corner.

While Father’s Day always seems farther away than it is. This year, things in calendar are closer than they appear… and you better have something rad for dad on September 5th. Otherwise, if your old man’s anything like mine, you can expect a renewed slew of average dad jokes like the one above.

Father’s Day Gifts under $50:

1. Patagonia Summit Road Organic Mens T-Shirt

If he’s an outdoor dad, he’s probably got one (or several) of Patagonia’s ubiquitous Responibili-Tee shirts with the Mount Fitz Roy aka Cerro Chaltén Mountain logo on the back. So why not spice things up with this artist series organic cotton tee available in white or navy. An everyday weight shirt, Patagonia’s production process uses 84% less water and creates 16% less CO2 than a conventional cotton T-shirt. So dad can look good and feel good about his threads.

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2. Fractel Lightweight Running Cap – Canyon Edition

Maybe Dad’s gotten into running during lockdown – or maybe he hasn’t – either way, he’ll have room on his hat rack… Or failing that, room on his dome, for an ultra breathable running cap. As the day’s get warmer going into spring, Fractel’s FLOWmesh fabric which sounds like it belongs on our list of tech names by outdoor brands becomes even more of a crown pleaser (see what we did there?).

It’s super lightweight at 49 grams and has a pliable brim and reflective logo for any night time jaunts around the block. Also dads love to remind everyone how fast the colour red is right?

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3. Marmot Aerobora SS Mens Shirt

This piece of kit does the whole two birds one stone thing. Which I think is a concept Dads generally appreciate? A sufficiently smart casual button up for the working from home, golfing, and hiking dad that has plenty of these kinds of shirts, but it doesn’t matter cause it’s always a sure bet as a gift. The difference with Marmot’s button up, in keeping with the adventure angle of this list, is its unique AirExchange fabric that improves air flow and ensures super quick drying.

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4. Arcade Ranger Adventure Belt

Arcade Belts are, in our opinion, the best outdoor belts (literally) out there.

Now ‘outdoor belt’ seems like an odd phrase, but you don’t want dad entering the wilderness in an uncompromising leather business belt. The difference being, Arcade Belts are built for exercise – I’ve worn mine skiing – thanks to its elastic stretch webbing construction that moves with you, rather than constricts. It’s one size fits all and they come in a range of colours depending on how radical or reserved your dad’s fashion sense.

It also contains no metal, so when dad goes through airport security in 2045, he won’t have to take the thing off. And it’s machine washable, so he can even leave the thing in his hiking shorts on laundry day.

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5. The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Mens Hat

For dads that work and/or recreate outdoors a hat never goes astray. Add a brim that goes all the way around and you’re talking Dad’s language.

These brimmed hats from The North Face come with a Lifetime Warranty and are made with their FlashDry fabrics, engineered to accelerate the removal of moisture from the skin and speed up evaporation. There’s also mesh ventilation and an elastic sweatband to keep Dad’s dome dry.

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Father’s Day Gifts over $50:

6. Goal Zero Venture 30 PowerPack Recharger

I think this power bank screams Dad due to its indestructibility. Waterproof even when in use, you can even keep devices charged in the rain. It contains an in-built micro USB charger and the two high-speed ports can dish out the fastest charge possible simultaneously.

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7. Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine

Dad’s love to go on about their latest blend or coffee discovery. Give ’em one of these and they might never stop talking. But it’s worth the risk, because the Minipresso GR is a rad little portable espresso machine. 

It’s 360 grams so better suited for car camping, but still portable enough to conceivably carry up and down any hill. BYO beans and away you go. 

‘Minipresso GR is simple and intuitive to operate. Add ground coffee to the filter basket with the help of the integrated scoop. Apply slight pressure to level the grind. Add hot water into the water tank. Finally unlock from its travel position the piston and pump a few strokes to pressurize and extract perfect espresso with generous crema’… Yum. I’m going to go make a coffee now.

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8. SUUNTO 5 GPS Watch 

A GPS watch is one of the best presents I’ve ever received. And I think it’d do similar things for a few dads out there too!

The Suunto 5 is an excellent entry into the wide world of GPS watches where prices can pretty quickly get out of hand. It has a long battery life and pretty neat, inconspicuous design. It’s probably got an activity setting for every dad too, whether yours runs, swims or jumps – ok probably not that last one. It also tracks stress and sleep and helps with recovery and fitness progression. 

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9. The North Face Flight Vectiv Trail Running Shoes

I’ve selected the Flight Vectiv trail shoes from The North Face not only because editor Tim has put a serious amount of KM’s on some and has a thorough review of the literal ground breaking tech to show for it here, but also because Wild Earth have them on sale at a seriously good discount.

With a normal RRP of $330, Wild Earth are currently selling the lime green ones for $193.05. 

Winner of a 2021 ISPO Award, they’re a fast and responsive trail shoe built for long distances.

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10. Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub

Last but not least… buy dad a lighthouse! One of Goal Zero’s best selling lantern-type camping lights, this 500 gram piece of kit packs 600 lumens of multi-directional, adjustable light. Charge your phone off of it at the campsite and listen to Dad tell bad jokes in the evening glow. 

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