These Are the 19 Best Gifts for Nature Lovers (from Hiking Gear to Invisible Sunscreen)
Sure, you know some outdoorsy people, but you’re not sure what nature-y gifts you can possibly give them that they don’t already have. That’s why we’ve selected some surprising gifts that range from an ingenious sun hat that covers most of the face to a wearable, cozy sleeping bag. Here are 19 gifts to please hikers, campers, birdwatchers, beachcombers and everyone in between.
RELATED: Wellness Must-Haves Gift Guide
1. Solbari Ultimate Sun Hat UPF50+
Best for Hikers
This genius convertible hat as lightweight rear panels that fold down as a neck shield, and a snap-on flap that drapes over the lower half of your face. So your giftee can wear this as a simple cap with a brim or go full Dune cosplay, depending on their comfort level (and the sun, of course).
2. Cliq Chair
Best for Campers
No one wants to sit on the ground for their entire tent-camping weekend, but they also don’t want to lug a bulky folding chair with them. This innovative seat folds to the size of a water bottle, is only 3.65 pounds and can hold up to 300 pounds.
3. Portable Outdoor Solar Shower Bag
Best for Surfers
Wave riders who hit the waves before work or an appointment that they’ll need to be fresh for depend on a quick rinse, like this five-gallon setup provides. This heavy-duty bag is designed to absorb the sun’s rays to give your pal a portable shower in which the water heats the longer the bag bakes on top of your car.
4. Lululemon Waterside Relaxed UV Protection Long Sleeve
Best for Beachcombers
It’s a conundrum: You want to enjoy nice long walks on the shore, but don’t want the extended exposure to so much reflected solar radiation. This UV protection long-sleeved shirt is the solution, since it’s designed to be loose, has four-way stretch and screens out harmful rays. (And it’s available in cute colors like pink lychee and dusky lavender as well as black and white.)
Available in sizes XXS to XL
5. Merrell Men's Hut Moc Night Sky
Best for Campfire Huddlers
He may be an avid camper, but you know what he probably doesn’t already have? A pair of 12-ounce camping slippers. These moccasins are easy to slip on and off, and warm enough to relax in after he’s unlaced those heavy hiking boots from a day on the trail. (This pair is a special edition printed to mimic the night sky.)
6. Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars
Best for Birdwatchers
These ultralight binoculars are water-resistant and their lenses don’t fog thanks to nitrogen-filled internal chambers. Plus, the colorful rubber casing makes them nearly as vibrant as the plumage they help you spot.
7. YETI Hopper Flip Soft Cooler 12
Best for Picnickers
For a day hike or just a small gathering where you’re depending on keeping that ice cold, this flip-top cooler has an FDA-approved food-grade liner and tough zipper. You can also carry it as a cross-body using the detachable long straps, or hoist it up using the top or side handles.
8. SOLO STOVE Bonfire + Stand
Best for Backyard Loungers
This PureWow favorite is an easy-to-set-up firepit that turns even a modest lawn into a social gathering-worthy destination.
9. TRSCIND Survival Gear
Best for the Apocalypse-Curious
Is your giftee spiraling about possible End Times scenarios? Give them the gift of hope with this handy 11-item multi-tool pack that includes, among other things, a 3-mode flashlight, fire starter, wire saw and emergency blanket. Be prepared, friends!
10. Everlane The ReNew Anorak
Best for Park Strollers
You don’t have to be undertaking the Pacific Crest Trail to be a nature lover. If you giftee is just looking for urban beauty, she’ll appreciate this handsome outer layer to keep her warm and dry.
Available in sizes XXS to XL
11. Bug Bite Thing Insect Bite + Sting Suction Tool
Best for the Insect Averse
Place this little suction tool over a fresh insect bite then pull its plunger, which draws the stinging material out of the surrounding tissue, eliminating itching and swelling. (We were skeptical, until we tried it and now it’s a fixture on our patio.)
12. Sportneer Wearable Sleeping Bag
Best for Campers
You wish you could wear your cozy sleeping bag while relaxing around the campsite, but you do occasionally need your arms and legs. Enter this wearable sleeping bag, which has zip openings for all your extremities.
13. Supergoop! Mini Play Everyday Sunscreen
Best for Trail Runners
This sweatproof SPF 50 lotion starts working 15 minutes after your sporty gift recipient applies it.
14. Butterfly Biome
Best for the Littles
Apparently, butterflies roost and hibernate as well as feed—who knew? This all-season A-frame home is going to attract them with the addition of a little nectar and a sprinkling of seeds.
15. Bass Outdoor Glacier Hiking Jacket
Best for the Stylish Outdoorsman
The sharp dresser will appreciate the slightly cropped silhouette on a stretch jacket from this just-launched brand dedicated to the outdoors.
16. ANJOUFEMME Women Hiking Snow Winter Boots
Best for the Stylish Outdoorswoman
There’s something so “we’re just going to go check the maple trees we tapped before eating croissants by the fire” about these useful yet ultra-cute plaid-trimmed boots.
17. Bewilderment by Richard Powers
For the Reader
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Powers penned this novel, one of Oprah’s Book Club choices for 2021, as a cri de ceour for industrialized nations to reconnect with our planet, lest we lose our humanity. A simple story of a widower, his emotionally disturbed young son and their quest to heal through connecting to nature, its universal themes and emotional resonance make it a crowd pleaser.
18. Kong H2O Stainless Steel Dog Water Bottle
Best for the Thirsty Canine
Sure, the dog loves going on trail hikes, but won’t the experience be much more enjoyable if he has his own water bottle with a lid that turns into a dog bowl?
19. Topo Designs Mountain Hip Pack
Best for the Always Prepared
Let’s see—your giftee likes to carry sunscreen, lip balm, a bandana, pocketknife, hair ties, cell phone, ear buds, an elastic bandage and a snack. (And that’s just to walk the dog.) This roomy belted carryall will hold all that and more.
RELATED: 35 Self-Care Gifts for Anyone Looking to Prioritize Mental Health
PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments.
