*Note: This is a guest post submitted to All Things Wanderful by Ted Fernandez, a camping (and pup) enthusiast.

If you’ve got a nature lover in your life, your holiday shopping just got a little easier. There are plenty of functional and thoughtful things to buy for people who love the outdoors. Whether they prefer glamping in comfort or roughing it with little more than a tent, any outdoor enthusiast will appreciate a gift that makes it easier to get outside and connect with nature. Here are some great ideas to excite and inspire the adventurer in your life.

Homey Comforts

Glamping is a trendy and comfortable way to spend a night in the great outdoors. Typically, this style of camping includes homey luxuries like electricity, WiFi, beds, and flushing toilets. If your gift recipient enjoys a little luxury, look for gifts that can make their outdoor excursions cozier and more comfortable. Some great ideas include portable string lights, coffee making tools, and a big cozy blanket.

Useful Hiking Gear

If your friend is an avid hiker, get them some gear they will actually use. For example, any hiker will be thrilled to receive durable merino wool socks to keep their feet warm, dry, and blister-free during those long days on the trail. You can never go wrong with lightweight, nutritious snacks either. A headlamp can always come in useful during overnight trips and will help keep your friend safe if they end up hiking at night.

Likewise, a small water filter allows hikers to safely drink from streams or lakes along their routes, so they won’t have to pack a lot of heavy water. And if your outdoor guy or gal always brings along their pup, hook them up with several flea collars to help their fur baby ward off pests. Outdoorsy people can always use this kind of practical gear!

Survival Supplies

Every outdoor enthusiast will appreciate some good survival gear as well. Bug Out Bag Academy recommends core survival supplies like a survival knife, compass, paracord, and fire starter. A flint and steel fire starter kit will also come in useful at campsites—this fire-making method is more reliable than matches and works even when wet!

You could also put together a custom-made first-aid kit with all of the essentials to keep your friend safe and healthy out there. Washington Trails Association recommends packing the kit with critical first-aid supplies like bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.

Is it possible to have too much hiking gear? (Photo: Muhammad Masood)

Fun Gift Baskets

Making a gift basket is a fantastic way to show your gift recipient that you put thought and care into their present. Inside it, you could include some instant camping meals, cozy socks, hot chocolate, coffee, and tasty snacks—like a homemade s’mores kit! If you’re working with a larger budget, consider getting a good hiking backpack and filling it with all of these fun items.

Good Books

If your nature-loving friend already has every piece of gear you can think of, you can’t go wrong with books. For example, they might love a book on the Japanese art of forest bathing or the exciting world of mushroom foraging. Survival books, local guides, and beautiful coffee table books can also be great gifts. You could also just get them a great novel to read when they’re relaxing in the woods—make sure it’s not too heavy to pack along on a camping trip!

Plants

As much as they wish it were possible, nature lovers can’t spend all of their time outside. Give your friend the gift of nature in their own home. Consider buying them an elegant houseplant that purifies the air — such as a spider plant or Boston fern — or some natural art like landscape paintings or nature photography. According to ScienceAlert, just looking at pictures of nature can reduce our stress levels!

Buying presents for nature lovers can be challenging, especially when they subscribe to a more minimalist lifestyle. Fortunately, hikers, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will love any gift that will help them spend more time outside. Keep this in mind as you shop for your adventurous friend, and you’re bound to find the perfect gift.

Unique Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Travel Enthusiast in Your Life