The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Outdoorsy Dads

Upgrade his bulky old headlamp to this more lightweight and snazzy-looking one that charges in just eight minutes. It’s waterproof, too.

Here’s a small but useful table to literally elevate his park-picnic experience. I especially like this as a gift for dads who are dedicated attendees of free concerts in the park every summer.

Former Boy Scout dads will enjoy this modular knife, fork, and spoon set from Opinel.

Yeti’s smallesthard coolerfits 12 cans and is very subway-friendly.

For camping dads who are fanatical about keeping dirt out of the tent, Rumpl’s waterproof mat provides a nice entryway.

Ignik’s droidlike propane-powered portable firepit will allow him to toast marshmallows even at campsites with total burn bans.

This new freestanding wind shade from Shibumi, which makes an excellent and rather status-ybeach shelter, is designed for picknicking and will keep the sun off as he dives into the latest Patrick Radden Keefe.

The outdoor version of one of ourfavorite coffee brewersis kind of like an Aeropress, but the coffee is more concentrated and espressolike.

Whereas most outdoor mugs take up valuable backpack space, Sea to Summit’s charming collapsible vessel will fit in his shorts pocket.

Ourbest car-camping tentis ideal for families, and Dad will appreciate how much space it offers for storage, says Angela Berardino, founder of travel and outdoor PR firmBrouhaha Collective. “For such a big tent, it’s crazy easy to set up and lighter than it looks,” she says. And there’s space for “bikes, a portable potty, and all the gear you don’t want inside — it’s a second room.”

A lightweight and stashable frisbee from every outdoor dad’s most coveted brand.

Pizza dad seems to be the grill dad of our era, but even the smallest ovens are difficult to lug out of the house. At under just 30 pounds, Gozney’s new Tread oven is almost a third the weight of its 44-pound Roccbox — our current pick forbest portable pizza oven. This makes it even more portable, albeit at the expense of some of the Roccbox’s commercial-grade heat retention. It’s perfect forpizzaioloswith a bigger oven at home who want to take their talents to the tailgate or campground.

Helinox’s much-imitated ultralightcamping chairsare comfortable, portable, and easy to store. In my experience, dads tend to prefer the highback version.

For gear-obsessed dads, storage can become an issue — especially in smaller city apartments. This is the crate that I personally keep all my camping stuff in so that it’s ready to go each weekend.

One of ourBest in Class picnic blankets, this packable rug would make a great gift for dads who get outside. It has tiny but mighty built-in corner stakes, which make it easy to stretch the fabric into a taut, waterproof surface when you’re on the trail. Lines of stitching on one side show you where to fold the blanket so it fits into the small included pouch, (but it also can just get scrunched up for stashing).

Ourbest outdoor game for familiesrequires four players divided into two teams of two, with the objective being to bounce the ball off the net in a way that prevents the other team from being able to bounce it back. It’s packable enough for beach and park trips, and perfect for setting up at a campsite. And, while the learning curve is minimal enough for kids, we promise that ultracompetitive dads will be hooked.

Outdoorsy dad David Stephan points out that you can literally give your dad the gift of nature with a parks pass. “A lot of us outdoor dads are more into experiences than we are stuff,” he says. “This is a perfect gift to get guys going out to some of the best natural places on earth — and it’s good for an entire carload, so he can take the family with him.” This one offers access to almost all of New York State’s parks for the 2026 season, but the federal government also sellsa pass to various national parklandsfor the same price.

If you gave your dad a knife, what would he use it for the most? If the answer is opening packages and breaking down boxes, then the Gerber EAB Slim is the one to get. EAB stands for “exchange a blade,” because it uses a standard box-cutter blade that you can find at any hardware store. Anytime it’s getting dull, just swap it out. It has a clip for carrying in your pocket, but I leave mine by the door so it’s always accessible whenever packages arrive.

Strategist contributor (and outdoorsy dad) Steven John is fond of this nifty lighter because it creates heat from electricity rather than combustible fuel — it recharges via an included USB cable. “Said heat is so intense that it lights candles almost instantly and gets cardboard, paper, or a fire starter going in seconds,” he says. “It’s even strong enough to ignite smaller pieces of kindling.”

If you think your dad would prefer a more full-featuredmulti-tool, this one comes recommended to us by Chase Anderson, creator of theOutdoor Recreation Archive, who says that with 18 different tools, it “has everything you need.” The wire cutters are replaceable, and there’s a 25-year warranty. With its central pair of pliers, the design is a highly giftable classic that dad can pass down to you someday.

If the dad you’re shopping for likes to unwind (himself) as much as he likes to tighten screws, you might consider this other multi-tool thatcontributor Aleta Burchyski told us about. “It’s dead useful: The sharp tip and serrated edge break down boxes better than a house key, thescrewdrivermakes quick work of opening battery compartments, and the one-inch and three-centimeter rulers come in handy at the hardware store,” she writes. But what really sets it apart is a hexagonal bowl and pipestem “surreptitiously built into its body” that can be used for taking the occasional puff while out and about. That bowl, Burchyski promises, is discreet: “It blends right in next to the hex-wrench cutouts, so you can add the multi-tool to your key chain or clip it to a zipper and no one has to know.”

For a more colorful option,Allmansrightfounder Livio Melo says this Swedish-made neck knife with a reliable sheath is “as cute as it is capable.”You’ll be able to match the colorway to your dad’s favorite gear but be assured that this knife will perform any task he requires. “It’s sharp and has an edge that has been ground so you can strike a FireSteel no problem,” says Melo. “This thing is ultralight meets bushcraft.” In other words, it’s a classily designed piece of gear that actually works.

If Dad is a bit of a tech crank, he’ll be glad to know that the Garmin Instinct 40-mm. is the only normal-size GPS sports watch that doesn’t resemble a wrist computer. There’s no color, no touchscreen, and no wireless charging. Our senior writerMichael Zhaouses it to tell the time and record his rides, runs, and workouts. And he even gets occasional compliments on its looks, which evoke a vintage G-Shock.

Or if he’d rather have the birds come to him, there’s thissmart bird feeder— possibly the best gift that Strategist associate editor Jeremy Rellosa has ever gotten for his dad, who loves to bird-watch and spend time outside. It works like a Ring doorbell, giving you a livestream of the feeder and its visitors, but also auto-records any encounters, so your dad will never miss a visit from an avian friend.

Even outdoorsy dads have phone addictions. This nostalgicscreen-free camerawill let him document family camping trips without being tempted to check emails and messages.

For more serious photographer dads, Peak Design’s clever backpack strap clip means his beloved camera will always be in reach.

If you’ve got a dad who likes to head out into the woods alone, here’s a way for him to keep in touch should he need to. A separate GPS rescue device “is a go-to standard these days for people in the backcountry,” Scott Wilkinson, communications director at thePacific Crest Trail Association,tells us.

Kevin Mooney, the owner and operator ofthe Mohicans, a tree-house resort in Ohio, recommends giving a GoPro because it will allow Dad to capture everything from mountain biking to working on an at-home building project.

If he already has a GoPro, Stephan says that “a cool additional accessory” would be an affordable way to make it feel new again. This harness would allow Dad to mount a GoPro to his chest so he can record bike rides, trail runs, and other activities hands free.

For dads who plot their trails,writeranddistance hikerAmiththan Sebarajahrecommendshigh-powered GPS app Gaia, which is also a favorite of Death Cab for Cutie front man (and avid trail runner)Ben Gibbard. As the membership fee is steep, Dad will surely appreciate being gifted 12 months of maps.

If your dad has not tried Patagonia Provisions’ tinned seafood, then he is missing out. It’s the perfect trailside meal for gourmands, and the accompanying crackers — made of regeneratively grown grains — are just as delicious. This gift box comes with a bit of everything from smoked sockeye salmon to their new whole-grain pasta. It even comes with an insulated little MiiR food canister.

This instant coffee in a tube tastes remarkably like the real thing, and will keep him caffeinated when hiking, biking, or early-morning surfing.

If your dad would love to bring the taste of the great outdoors inside, we suggest this tea from Oakland-based Juniper Ridge. Made from Douglas-fir needles sourced in the Pacific Northwest, it has a “deeply piney aroma,” according to contributorNick Marino, who says its flavor is “profoundly, almost absurdly,outdoorsy.” The tea, he adds, “has a pleasantly oily texture and a wicked-dry finish that makes you thirsty for more.”

Strategist contributor James Lynchdiscovered these packs of powdered bone broth when he was shopping ahead of a four-month road trip — and wound up eating one a day for two months while living out of his truck. “In the time it takes to grab a cup of hot water, you’re blowing steam off a savory soup,” he writes, adding, “I no longer have to pay $12 for a tasteless freeze-dried dinner or carry a heavy can of tuna in my pack.” Instead, he buys dehydrated foods like rice, beans, or simple vegetables and adds the broth to them “to create meaty, filling meals that don’t weigh me down.”

One of Lynch’s other favorite snacks is this dried beef from Kalahari. He explains that, unlike most jerky, “it has a crunch like chips, instead of a tooth-loosening chew, but is still packed with protein and delicious meat flavor.”(If Dad’s the type who would prefer to make his own jerky, he could do so using thisexpert-recommended countertop dehydrator.)

Outdoor dads should always be thinking about sun protection. This cooling Patagonia hoodie blocks UV rays and comes in lots of fun colors.

Worn by bothRyan Reynolds and Rellosa, Article One makes sporty sunglasses that don’tlooklike sporty sunglasses. “They’re grippy and will work for lots of sweaty activities,” Rellosa says.

Bedrock sandals are both comfortable and fashion-forward and beloved bybikepackersand other in-the-know outdoorsy types.

Less expected than an Arc’teryx jacket as well as a few hundred dollars cheaper, this raincoat from Cornwall-based brand Finisterre is both breathable and highly waterproof. And if Dad knows his outdoor-clothing brands, he’s probably been interested in checking out this one, which has recently become more popular stateside.

Joe Peters, a father of two and the head of marketing for hiking-boot brandVasque, likes the versatility of this moisture-wicking tee that he says serves him just as well indoors as it does in the wild. “I’ve spent an entire three-day weekend in one, solo parenting while my wife was out of town, which was an adventure in itself,” he says. “The engineered fabric incorporates the natural properties of merino wool that wick away moisture, resist odors, and regulate temperature.” The cut is flattering, he adds, while still allowing for lots of movement.

These Darn Toughs — which we think are thebest wool socksyou can buy —come recommended bywriteranddistance hikerAmiththan Sebarajah, one of several folks (including mayor turned U.S. Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg). They’re made of temperature-regulating merino wool and come in seven colors.

For dads with wider feet, look to Darn Tough’s new sister brand, Wide Open, for extra-wide, Vermont-made stockings backed by the same lifetime guarantee. These are not simply a wider version of the same socks — hence the new brand. They arecompletely redevelopedfrom the pattern to the materials to comfortably accommodate wider legs and feet of widths up to 4E.

Molle webbingis like bag charms for the fellas, except the charms are more bags. Yeti includes these attachment points on many of its bags and coolers for adding accessories, such as this completely waterproof pouch — which is the perfect size for an e-reader, phone, sunscreen, or anything else Dad might want to keep out of the sun and spray while beachside, poolside, riverside, or anywhere near a body of water. The Velcro loops on the back can be attached to almost anything — or you can add this$10 strapto turn it into a cross-body bag.

Or just get him a waterproof backpack that fits everything.

For surfer dads who head out to the Rockaways before work each morning, a custom towel cover for his car seat.

No matter what your outdoorsy dad’s water sport of choice is, if he has a bad habit of dropping his phone, consider buying him a waterproof case so he can retire that bowl of rice. I use thesePelican pouchesfor beach trips all summer long.

John brings this towel from Rumpl on board during kayaking trips “in the event of an accidental full-scale soaking.” According to him, the towel “packs away easily when I don’t need it,” and its polyester-spandex material “absorbs a crazy amount of water when I do.”

Three outdoorsy dads (Peters, Breitmaier, and Kite) recommend this Osprey child-carrier pack, with Breitmaier telling us he uses it to haul his toddler around on hiking trails. “I get all kinds of wistful and envious looks from other dads on the trail who are eyeing my Poco,” he says. “It’s lightweight and comfortable and with a max-weight capacity of nearly 50 pounds.” Other “bells and whistles” that Breitmaier appreciates include a sunshade, massive pockets for sunscreen and snacks, and an aluminum frame that allows the carrier to stand on its own. “It’s like having an extra set of hands helping to get my daughter into the seat when it’s just the two of us on an adventure,” he says.

For dads who are interested in exploring the ultralight hiking gear trend but still prefer a nostalgic-looking design over some of the more futuristic options out there, Fjallraven’s newcarry-on-sizeKajka trekking backpack fits the bill. It has a detachable inner pocket that can be worn as a crossbody bag.

Carl Donohue, the owner, operator, and lead guide forExpeditions Alaska, tells me that he owns a number of Mountain Hardwear’s nice-looking and “absolutely excellent” adventure duffel bags. “They’re durable and rugged, carry nicely, and haven’t ever let us down,” he says.

When all else fails, just get him abackpack to pack in his backpack.