Camping Gifts 2023: The Best Gear of the Year
Yep, it’s that time of year again, and let’s be honest, gift-giving is hard.
What do you get your brother’s new girlfriend you’ve never met? Or your 15-year-old nephew who asked for a neck tattoo? Well, if any of the people on your list like the outdoors, we’ve got you covered. As for those who don’t, tell them to just go outside and look up. And down. And all around. That is the greatest gift of all.
While we’re on the topic of honesty, you may be wondering why you should read our gift guide over the hundreds of others who are spamming your inbox right now. All we can say is this one is simply a compilation of our own wish lists, fleshed out with a few details.
We live to camp, camp to live, and covet stuff all the time. So read up and buy up—and let’s hope some of our own loved ones do, too. (Please, Mom?)
Camp Chefs Rejoice!
LMNT Chocolate Medley Zero-Sugar Electrolytes
We hate to break it to the go-getter in your life, but plain old water after a big summit push just ain’t enough. What muscles need to recover (and to work at all, for that matter) are electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium, which is precisely what LMNT’s drink powders contain.
Their Chocolate Medley, which comes in Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Chai, and Chocolate Raspberry, also contains deliciousness, which the body may not need but will surely appreciate.
So stuff this in their stocking, have them put down their MRG sticker-laden Nalgene, heat up some of that plain old water, and mix up one of these in their favorite camp mug. Their muscles (and mouth) will thank you.
Miir Tumbler Pour-Over Kit
“Do stupid things faster!” may be our modus operandi when it comes to coffee, but the Miir Tumbler Pour-Over Kit makes us much, much smarter—at least when it comes to making a cup.
First, the kettle, which is safe for both electric and gas burners, tells you exactly how much water to heat and when it’s ready to pour. Second, the clever collapsible filter, or “Pourigami,” fits in any pocket and nestles right into the Miir Tumbler (also included) to make the perfect brew every time. Finally, it’s half off right now—which means you can afford to buy more coffee. So. Smart.
Black + Blum Eau Good
“Eau” means water in French—a fitting name for a water bottle that can only be described as très chic. Perfect for the outdoorsy fashionista in your life, it comes with a nifty charcoal filter that locks inside to remove impurities, improve taste, and add minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. As this bottle is intended for use with tap water, much like a Brita, it requires boiled or treated stream water first, and then it will remove any additional ick. It will make treated stream water taste like stream water is supposed to.
Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey
No camping trip is complete without a little flask of sipping whiskey to pass around by the fire, and there’s no more fitting brand to fill it with than Breckenridge.
Made from snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, this award-winning blend is aged three years in charred oak barrels, which gives it an amber hue and flavors of butterscotch and candied orange and apple.
If you know someone who can say “mouth feel” without laughing, they’re a) more mature than we are and b) most likely able to pick up subtle hints of dry cacao and brown sugar. It’s a high-rye blend, which means it’s a little peppery at the finish—something even we dyrtbags can appreciate.
Helping You Stay Comfortable & Organized
Gregory Alpaca 60 Duffel
Gregory is renowned for their simple, thoughtful designs—no confounding straps or clips you need an engineering degree to figure out—and the Alpaca 60 Duffel is case in point. What’s basically a mobile camping closet, the 60 Duffel packs a lot of stuff.
Made from super-durable waterproof TPU ripstop fabric with two layers on the bottom, said stuff will be dry and clean, even it’s strapped to a roof rack, which its daisy chain sides make easy to do.
Padded removable shoulder straps give you a convenient hands-free carry option, and mesh pockets inside the top keep important things easy to access.
MPowerd Luci Color Lights
Everyone has a favorite camping gadget—these colorful little lights are ours.
What starts as a nearly weightless disk with a solar panel becomes a vibey mood-setter/party-starter/romance-begetter once the sun goes down.
Just set it in the sun, inflate, and tap the top to choose from eight vibrant colors. It lasts nine hours on a single charge and recharges in just seven hours under full sunlight. It’s waterproof, too. A perfect gift for kids—and kids at heart.
Ramsey Gear Outdoor Dog Poop Bag Dispenser
We have bad news for dog owners everywhere: As of this publication date, scientists have yet to discover the existence of poop-bag fairies. (If we were fairies, we’d choose another vocation, too.)
Enter the Ramsey Gear Dog Poop Bag Dispenser, which includes a convenient removable stuff sack with an attachment loop to store used bags—and it cinches tight for added security.
It also dispenses said bags and attaches to a leash with a snap hook or wrap-over Velcro. Tuck the stuff sack away in its dedicated pocket before Fido needs it, and attach it to your backpack or leash afterward.
Poop happens—but carrying it out has never been easier.
Rugged & Runway-Ready Camping Clothes
Darn Tough Critter Club Socks
There may not be a company more aptly named than Darn Tough—every sock they make is guaranteed for life—but their Critter Club socks also show their soft and cuddly side.
Of course, this beloved Vermont brand knows how to make a functional hiker that won’t bunch, slip, or stink, but they also know the whole point of it all is to get out there and have fun.
Choose from cute little forest foxes, owls, or racoons that will keep good company as your loved one tromps around in the woods (or just pads around their house).
Made with merino wool that regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and fights microbes, these are the perfect stocking stuffer for everyone on your list. Pairs well with hiking boots, trail runners, or slippers and a good cup of joe.
Hart Tools 20-Volt Men’s Heated Jacket Kit
If you abide by the saying that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, well, it’s always sunny in Hart’s 20-Vold Heated Jacket.
With battery-operated carbon fiber heating elements in the chest and back, this jacket will keep anyone toasty for eight hours no matter what nature brings.
It’s also water- and wind-resistant; perfect for hunting, tailgating, camping, or ripping around on an ATV.
The battery pack is also compatible with all Hart tools—and it can charge a phone, too.
Altra Lone Peak 7
The folks at Altra know not to mess with nature: A shoe should allow your feet to stay the way they were made.
Founded by the owner of a running store who saw countless customers complaining of injury, Altra seeks to promote better form and prevent excessive impact.
As with all their shoes, the best-selling trail runner, the Lone Peak 7, comes with a foot-shaped toe box (the fact that’s not standard is highly disconcerting). This allows your toes to relax and splay naturally, and a Zero Drop Platform to keep your heel and forefoot at the same distance from the ground (like when you’re standing barefoot). This helps not only feet, but also posture, hips, back, and everything else.
They also make true gender-specific versions, because it doesn’t take a podiatrist to tell us our feet are different. While the Lone Peak 7 has been around for a while, it’s been redesigned with a seamless, stitchless upper that’s both lighter weight and durable, and an upgraded outsole that’s grippier and more confident on any terrain.
Flylow Gear Baker Bib
Made with workwear-inspired fabric that’s as rugged as you are—or maybe even more so—these three-layer waterproof-breathable bibs are so much more than ski pants. (Game-tracking, truck-fixing, winter-camping, and heli-fueling pants is far more apt.)
Founded by a couple of ski bums who were sick of having to buy new pants every year, Flylow has made a name for itself for creating some of the most durable outerwear on the planet—and their stuff looks cool, too.
The Baker Bib has plenty of pockets to easily stash tools, a wallet, phone, and more, and huge thigh vents on both sides of the legs dump heat before things get swampy. A DWR coating keeps you so dry in rain and sleet, the company dares you to test it in a cold shower. We’ll take their word for it.
Enter code THEDYRT2023 through Jan. 1 2024 for 20% off.
Conquer The Cold, Sleep Soundly
Sea to Summit Ascent Down Sleeping Bag
This down sleeping bag has all the benefits of down—compressible, packable, light, and warm—without any of the downsides.
It’s filled with 750+ loft responsibly sourced Ultra Dry Down that is specially treated to repel water, which eliminates all the risks that come with relying on feathers in the great outdoors. It’s tapered to retain warmth from head to toe and boasts three zippers to ventilate when that warmth gets to be too much.
Vertical chest baffles limit down migration (feathers love to fly!), and an oversized hood and draft tubes maximize heat retention. Those handy zippers also allow for folding down the whole top of the bag, opening it up completely to use as a comforter, or coupling to another Ascent bag for a little tent-time, uh, coupling.
It comes in three temperature ratings—25, 15, and 0 degrees F.
Crua Culla Insulated Tent
Tents are awesome for protecting us from the rain, but not so much for sun, heat, and cold.
Most of us have woken up in a sweat lodge under the relentless summer morning sun after one too many whiskeys by the fire or spent a frigid night shivering with our heads in our sleeping bags and praying we don’t have to get up to pee.
Crua has a brilliant solution: the Culla Insulated Tent. It’s inflatable and comes with an easy-to-use pump, and it fits right inside an existing tent.
It will keep your loved ones warm as nighttime temps dip this fall, but it will also keep them cool in the summer and block out sunlight so they can sleep in until they’re good and ready to brave the elements. A gift, indeed.
Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
If someone on your list has a drive for adventure that knows no seasons, gift them the Nemo Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad, which has the highest warmth-to-weight ratio on the market.
The Nemo Extreme has four layers of what they call Thermal Mirror, an insulating film that also reflects body heat—without any crinkling noise. It has an R-value (what the industry uses to denote insulation) of 8.5—way higher than the industry standard of 5+ for winter camping.
It’s lightweight (1 lb, 1 oz.), packs down to the size of a Nalgene, and includes a pump sack, which is important to use in winter as moist air conducts heat away from the surface of the pad and will condense and cause the mat to become too soft during the night.
Best of The Best: Next Level Camping Gear
Grayl 16.9 oz UltraPress Ti Purifier Covert Edition
Yes, it’s expensive. And, like many things that are, it may be worth it.
The world’s first titanium water filter bottle is so incredibly versatile, that it will replace not only a water filter but a water pot and electrolyte water bottle, too.
Dip it in the stream, push down the inner plunger, and drink straight from the bottle, free of pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals. Or fill the outer titanium cup and set it to boil right in the fire or on the stove, an all-in-one vessel for clean water and cooking.
And because the Grayl filter has a one-way valve, you can put electrolytes, drink mixes, or even beer inside without fear of mucking up your filter.
Capable of filtering 3 liters per minute, it weighs 14.1 oz. and holds 16.9 fluid oz.
Goal Zero Skylight Portable Area Light
Every camper faces a decision come dinnertime: Eat with a headlamp on and blind everyone when you look up from your plate, or eat without one and just guess at what every bite entails.
Goal Zero solves both problems with its Skylight Portable Area Light. Is it 100% necessary? No. Would it be really, really nice? Absolutely.
It comes in an easy-to-pack durable tube and opens up into an outdoor light that will illuminate up to 300 feet in every direction. It extends anywhere from 4 to 12 feet, stakes into the ground, resists water, and boasts four brightness settings (hello, ambiance).
It can run up to 250 hours on the lowest setting when plugged into the Yeti 1000X power station (which costs a mere $1,200) or for eight hours with the short-term internal rechargeable battery. Plus, your besties will feel like models on a photo shoot, which, of course, is priceless.
The Dyrt PRO
We saved the best for last.
Giving experiences instead of things isn’t just a millennial thing—it’s the best way to make memories for the people you really love. And it’s good for the planet, too. So give the No. 1 people on your list a subscription to The Dyrt this season, and open up their world to find free dispersed camping, get discounts on campground reservations, and get organized with our Trip Planner.
It’s just $35.99 for a yearly PRO membership, and they’ll get endless adventures. It’s also great for all you procrastinators out there (we’re right there with you), as the gift cards are digital and emailed directly to the recipient. Happy holidays!
The post Camping Gifts 2023: The Best Gear of the Year appeared first on The Dyrt Magazine.
Source: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/gear/camping-gifts-2023-the-dyrts-best-gear-of-the-year/
