Best Outdoorsy Christmas Gifts Under $50

Want to shop for the outdoor lover in your life but don’t want to break the bank (or sell a kidney)? We’ve got you covered with this list of epic adventure Christmas gifts under $50.

Sometimes the best bits of gear are actually the cheapest. Here’s a bunch of outdoorsy gear that punches well above its weight. Whether you’re searching for a stocking stuffer or a gift for Secret Santa for an outdoor enthusiast, check out our list of awesome Christmas gifts under $50 for runners, hikers, campers, and adventurous kiddos!

Best Outdoorsy Christmas Gifts Under $50

1. Kathmandu Pack&Go Pouch

RRP: $49.98

For the person who’s constantly looking for their keys/phone/lip balm, even on the trail, or the one who likes to move through life and the bush untethered, Kathmandu’s Pack&Go Pouch is a nifty and nice-to-the-planet gift. 

This stash-away bumbag is made of tough yet lightweight recycled nylon, sourced from discarded fishing nets and marine debris, as well as post-industrial plastic and textile waste. Talk about reuse recycle!

The Ripstop Nylon means it can take a beating, whether you’re brushing past rocks and trees or along busy sidewalks. The adjustable strap allows it to be worn around the waist or across the body, and the range of colourways, from ‘Black Stingray’ to blazing ‘Hut Orange’ means you can choose a design to match their style. 

With two zippered pockets and an internal key loop, there’s a surprising amount of holding space, and it neatly packs away into its own pocket.

Useful, stylish, and planet-conscious! Tick, tick, tick!

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2. Big Sky Insulated Food Pouch Cozy

RRP: $32.45

This Big Sky Insulated Food Pouch Cozy is essentially a thermos in the shape of a bag. It’s super versatile for campers and outdoor adventurers. It can be used to keep chocolate cool on hot days, or to insulate hot meals so they heat up faster when cooking and don’t get cold halfway through eating dinner.

It’s a bit of a luxury item but that’s precisely the reason your outdoorsy friends probably haven’t already bought one for themselves. This is a great bit of gear to elevate their outdoor experience, and they’ll have it forever. At under $35 this is the definition of good value.

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3. The OG Running Sunglasses by Goodr

RRP: $49.00

Got a mate whose sunnies are forever slipping down their nose? Grab them a pair of the The OG Running Sunglasses by Goodr. They feature a grippy coating so they don’t slip – even when hot and sweaty. While these only just make the cut for Christmas gifts under $50, they look like they’d cost more. 

The lenses are polarised, rated to UV400, and are scratch-resistant so they’ll keep up with all of your mate’s shenanigans.

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4. Australia’s 50 Best Multi-Day Walks

RRP: $39.99 (even less with our discount code, keep reading!)

While Australia certainly has its share of incredible and diverse multi-day adventures for hikers, the information has always seemed oddly hard to track down. Google ‘Multi-day hikes New Zealand’ and the official tourism site gives you a neat list with all the key details.

Google the same for Australia and – while there’s plenty of inspiration to be found amongst the hodgepodge of ads for guided walks, articles on sites like We Are Explorers, and blogs that come up – it’s harder to navigate than any real life bushwalking trail.

Australia’s 50 Best Multi-Day Walks book has been put together with input from multiple We Are Explorers contributors and brings together a great list of walks that any hiker would be thrilled to enjoy. Inspire your hiking mate with a book they can refer to for life. 

Inspired to grab a copy? Have a 15% discount code: WAE15.

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5. Blackroll Mini Foam Roller

RRP: $19.90

Prepare you mate for their next outdoor adventure with a gift that helps them keep aches and pains at bay. The Blackroll Mini Foam Roller is the ultimate portable recovery tool for outdoorsy people.

If your gift recipient is always trying to bounce back from some new injury or strain, this is a perfect gift idea. Its mini size is super portable and ideal for massaging away tension or strain, particularly on legs and feet. If you’re buying for an avid hiker who never whinges, it’s also a good option – we’ve all got niggles. And it’s an absolute steal at just twenty bucks.

It’s also great for friends or family members who work in an office, or at a desk, and need a little TLC after a long day on the keyboard.

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6. 590ml Reusable Ceramic Bottle by Frank Green

RRP: $49.95

Heading into what is already shaping up to be a hot summer, an insulated water bottle is a great Christmas gift under $50 for everyone from your mate to a family member. The Frank Green Reusable Ceramic Bottle is triple-walled and vacuum insulated, which will keep your drink cold, or hot, for hours on your outdoor adventures.

I know from experience that it actually does do this. It’s ceramic lined so there’s no nasty plastic taste and it also features a sip straw so you won’t have any spills while trying to sip in the car. The lid is dishwasher safe but you’ll need to hand wash the bottle. Pretty simple given there’s no dishwashers when you’re camping or hiking!

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7. Cotopaxi 10L Del Dia Cubo Packing Cube

RRP: $44.99

A packing cube is a useful gift for hikers, campers, travellers, and just-chuck-everything-in-a-bag-ers. The Cotopaxi Cubo Packing Cube will keep clothes organised and toiletries together or can be used as a dirty clothes bag.

It’s part of Cotopaxi’s feel good Del Dia collection which is made from leftover fabric that would otherwise go to waste. Because the fabrics are repurposed and designed based on the creativity of factory workers, each bag is unique in colour which means your gift is truly one of a kind.

This is one of those fail-safe gift ideas that’s just darn useful. It’s a great option for the Explorer who has everything.

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8. Stainless Steel Camping Cookset by Traverse

RRP: $49.95

Hunting for Christmas gifts under $50 but want it to look like you spent waaaaaay more? The Traverse 3-Piece Stainless Steel Camping Cookset with two pots and a pan, is great for car camping and backcountry hiking trips alike.

The pots are made of lightweight stainless steel and pack into each other for space-saving satisfaction. For a functional gift that’s damn near impossible to damage, you could do a lot worse than this one.

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9. Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

RRP: $24.95

What may look like the perfect gift for runners (not that it isn’t) is also a great gift for those who aren’t. A book that started with a pretty simple question ‘Why does my foot hurt?’, led author, Christopher McDougall, to travel to Mexico to relearn everything he knew about running.

There, he met the Tarahumara people – a first-nations community in Mexico’s Copper Canyons – who can run for hundreds of kilometres without rest. Born to Run will inspire runners and non-runners to break out of their comfort zones and push their limits (also might encourage some 2025 resolutions, right?).

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10. Salty Dog Beanie by The North Face

RRP: $50.00

Looking for stocking stuffers for people who’s favourite outdoor adventure is heading to the snow for the holidays? Grab them The North Face Salty Dog Beanie. We’re skating the line of Christmas gifts under $50 with this one, but it’s too awesome to exclude on a technicality.

It features a cool, low-profile fit so it will suit practically anyone. With a range of colours to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect warm winter accessory to suit their head.

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11. Hydro Flask 354ml Insulated Coffee Mug

RRP: $39.99

The Hydro Flask 354ml Insulated Coffee Mug is great for someone who likes coffee – that’s basically everyone! It’s double-walled and insulated so it keeps drinks hot or cold for hours.

As one of the most popular outdoor gifts out there, we’d recommend doing some quick research to see if you mate already has a coffee mug of choice. The key factor here is that this is insulated – most hikers will have a camp cup but this will elevate their experience on the trail astronomically.

Plus, the leak proof lid will prevent hot coffee spills while trying to juggle getting into the car for a sunrise hike or the morning commute.

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12. Blister Wool Blister Prevention Pack

RRP: $19.00

Blister Wool has been around forever but for whatever reason it’s quite hard to find in hiking stores and is still off the radar for a lot of hikers. And that’s what makes it one of the best gift ideas on this list by a country mile. Your lucky recipient won’t be expecting it, and nothing beats a legitimate surprise on Christmas day.

The wool is made from 100% Australian-grown wool and is available in two sizes, 20g or 40g. The 20g is more than enough for multiple hikes. The lanolin in the wool is moisture-wicking and helps to reduce friction, protecting your skin and preventing blisters from forming. It’s a great item for hikers to keep in their pack as a borderline weightless solution to sore feet.

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13. Snapfold Bowlz Set by Fozzils

RRP: $25.00

The Fozzils Snapfold Set is a super handy gift and a very affordable Christmas gift under $50. The flatpack design doesn’t only transform into a bowl, but can also be used as a plate. At only 40g they are ultra-lightweight and a great alternative to disposable options.

Hiking buddies will love these but they’re also great for camping with kids – unfold, wipe, and the dishes are done! Perfect option for hassle-free camping, and a light hiking bowl for your gram counting friend.

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14. Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma Collapsible Solar Lantern

RRP: $49.99

This probably won’t be on their gift list because it’s got the novelty factor, but that doesn’t mean you should discount it. The value of reliable light at camp cannot be understated and this Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma Collapsible Solar Lantern solves that problem, with multiple additional perks.

At only 91g, and collapsible to take up minimal space, this will satisfy the brief for any ultralight hiker, while also providing party vibes with six different light colour options. It’s even got a candle flicker mode should you be somewhere you can’t have a fire but still want those campfire vibes.

It’s a ripper of a product. Can’t go wrong.

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15. The Backyard Adventurer – Beau Miles – Paperback Book

RRP: $34.95

The last grand idea on our list of Christmas gifts under $50 is The Backyard Adventurer by our favourite outdoorsman Beau Miles, is about conscious experimentation with adventure, making meaning and inspiration out of tins of beans, bits of rubbish, and plenty of elbow grease.

It’s a great read for anyone passionate about the outdoors who likes to have a bit of a tinker or create completely unique adventures for themselves.

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16. Alton Ultralight Titanium Cutlery

RRP: $39.98

If you’re going to grab someone some cutlery, you can’t do much better than this ultralight titanium cutlery set from Alton. With long handles to suit pre-made dehydrated food bags and a handy carabiner-friendly hole in the end of each, this spoon and spork set is a no-brainer.

The cutlery is just as suited to gram counting thru hikers as it is trail runners who like to pack lunch, and families on camping trips. The best gifts are multifunctional and these are a great bargain buy for outdoorsy people who go on lots of different types of adventures. It’s a gift that’s hard to break and will be useful for years.

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17. Holiday Blend by Coffee Supreme

RRP: $18.00

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with coffee. The seasonal Holiday Blend by Coffee Supreme is that little bit more special than your average bag of beans because it’s only released for a short period around Christmas. 

With a rich chocolate base and subtle stone fruit notes, the fresh and tropical Holiday Blend is all about taking time with your daily cuppa. And there’s no better place to do that than the great outdoors. 

Every order of Holiday Blend coffee will be delivered with a free gift, like a pencil, recipe card, or coaster – that’s more bang for your buck right there folks. If you opt for a Holiday Blend bundle, your recipient will get a complimentary disposable camera too – perfect for snapping their outdoor adventures. 

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18. Adventure Reels Ultimate Aussie Adventure Map

RRP: $27.50

What do you get the person who has absolutely bloody everything? As much as we love self-sufficiency, buying gifts for someone who buys what they need as they need it is a nightmare! This year we think we’ve found something that’ll knock their socks off.

The Ultimate Aussie Adventure Map by Adventure Reels includes 700 destinations to explore across Australia and we’re fairly confident your mate won’t have seen them all. It’s effectively an adventurers bucket list, with themed lists as well as locations on the map itself. 

Gift them a reason to get outdoors, see something new, and create memories with this budget-friendly Adventure Map. Headed off on a road trip with the kids? Grab them this so they can tick off locations as you go! 

Psst! Adventure Reels also has some pretty rad Adventure Greeting Cards with four unique adventure vouchers on the inside – essentially invitations to join you on an adventure at a time of their choosing. Cards start from $7.50. 

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Want more great Christmas gift ideas?

Best Christmas Gifts For Campers
Best Christmas Gifts For Hikers
Best Christmas Gifts For Runners
Best Christmas Gifts For Climbers

Header photo by @winnieawhyte

Table of contents photo by Benjamin Weisner