TravelingMoms like to get out and get active – with their TravelingDad companions! Gifting outdoor and active travel gear can be a great way to keep the adventures rolling! The writers and editors who have these men in their lives have convened to create this list of the best Father’s Day gift ideas for outdoorsy dads for inspiration to you. This list isn’t your typical ties and golf tees suggestive, but rather a compendium of quirky, functional and fun gift ideas for manly men.
Father’s Day Gift Ideas … That Don’t Suck
Dads are pretty rad. Often times if you’re an active, outdoorsy traveler, you might have a dad to thank for fostering that sense of adventure. In this group of very active and adventurous TravelingMoms, we want to tip our hats to the dads out there. Celebrate your dad a little differently this year. Nix the ties and monogrammed golf tees and swap them for a few pieces of gear that can elevate your dad’s adventures. While he can live without these items, he will live better with them! These Father’s Day gift ideas will have dad gearing up for summer with superior stuff.
Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Dads
Camp Chef Rainier Camper Griddle/Grill/Stove Combo ($89)
Whether your outdoorsy dad is frying fish, making the morning cowboy coffee, or just flippin’ flapjacks, near or far this grill/stove combo from Camp Chef will make his day a little more delicious. The affordable piece of camp gear makes life more luxurious in camp for everyone, especially the grillmaster himself! Bonus: it does indeed come with a carrying case and griddle!
Zenbivy Bed ($260)
If dad’s adventures lead him to a bed under the stars, there is a sleep system for outdoor use which may just give dad the best zzz’s he’s had in years. Zenbivy makes a quilt/mummy sack combo which allows the user to sleep in whatever position is comfortable and customize the level of warmth he’d like. The silhouette of the “bed” is wider than a mummy and allows the user versatility in his pursuit of dreams.
Bogs Men’s Rio Sandal Waterproof Sandal ($52)
Dads have long been known to focus on function rather than fashion — at least my Midwestern dad did. Now, he can have both (if we’re speaking of campground couture and not red carpet, that is) with the new Bogs Rio Sandals. These light and durable sandals will come in handy for the midnight latrine tromp. Really, they’re perfect for mild weather adventures of all kinds.
Cairn Subscription (starting at $27.45/month)
If dad’s a dabbler, like so many of us are, he may really like the monthly mini-adventure of getting a subscription box of gear from a company like Cairn. This is one of the most fun gift ideas for outdoorsy dads on the list, because it’s affordable and always changing. Dad will find some new gear and it will feel like Father’s Day once each month!
Granite Gear Stowaway Seat Packs ($45)
Can you canoe? Well, if dad can too, make his voyage more enjoyable by rounding up all the odds and ends which normally roll around the hull by his feet and put them in a Granite Gear stowaway pack, neatly under his laurels. While this is a very practical gift, it is also the gift of zen. No one likes being clunked in the ankle with a flashlight or sunblock when the random wave or wake hits your canoe and jostles the contents. Pack smart, store it where you sit!
Gifts for Manly Men
Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion Fixed Blade Knife ($69)
Dad may not be going on a jungle trek or a survival challenge, but a good fixed blade knife should be in his reach for many reasons, both manly and mundane. The USA-made Ka-Bar knife company has several to choose from depending on the intended use. Make sure to pick up our next Father’s Day gift idea (below) just in case… The two together will compliment each other nicely!
Adventure Medical Mountain Series Medical Kit ($39)
Even the manliest of men on dad duty should have a good medical kit when they hit the trail or set up the tent for the long weekend. Adventure Medical kits offers better-than-standard inventory in their kits. In the realm of Father’s Day gift ideas, this one may not be the most interesting, but when dad has that hook in his hand by the trout stream, he’ll be thankful for your Boy Scout-level planning while gifting.
Wolf Pack by Front Runner ($48)
Does it look like dad is living out of his car when he packs up for a trip? These burly stacking and packing totes are perfect for loading up the pickup or the suburban or even just organizing the garage. Wolf Pack cubes are perfect for wet gear from dad’s faves like spearfishing and canoe stuff. There are small holes on the wolf pack boxes which can be used to secure the boxes in place with rope or bungee cords.
AGAWA Canyon Boreal 21 Tripper Kit ($105)
Dad probably yearns for a chainsaw, but this is honestly even better. If he wants some small kindling made from dead and downed around his dispersed site or if he just needs a little trail clearing action while out on that section hike to a remote area, this saw is a great gift for the outdoorsman you love. This kit, called the Boreal 21 Tripper, comes with an extra blade and folds up nicely. The yellow handle makes it easy for the most absent-minded manly men to find where they set it down in the underbrush.
Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8180 Stainless Smoke Pucks (Set of 2)
Dads can sometimes be found near a fire pit, but when you can’t have an open flame or you want to recreate the wild feel of camping in the backyard, Stainless Smoke Pucks might be a great gift for the man of your house. Adding a little smoke flavor will likely be considered among the most perfect gifts for manly men, just ask ’em!
Supplies by VSSL ($95)
This is a seriously fun little gift! Supplies by VSSL is a combination survival kit. This one has stuff for survival fishing, some very basic medical fixes, trail markers, and more. These goodies either keep you alive, get you found, or our favorite option — keep you from getting lost in the first place! This is all compact and fits into the cylinder nicely. The VSSL is slender and tucks into any pack with ease. Another great Father’s Day gift idea – and they make other options, including a VSSL dedicated to first aid and one for camping.
Here’s to all the dads and dad-figures out there! We hope you have a great day full of exploration and adventure!
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