The Cool Camping Christmas wishlist has landed featuring the best Christmas gifts for campers and lovers of the great outdoors. We’ve scoured the shops and browsed what’s available online so you don’t have to look any further than our list of 35 Christmas camping present ideas, ideal for outdoorsy types…
From hip flasks to hammocks – plus our very own Cool Camping Gift Vouchers – we’ve come up with some fantastic camping-themed Christmas gift ideas. If you know someone who’d prefer to sip cocoa by the campfire than in front of a Christmas movie, you’ll probably be looking for something suitably outdoorsy to put under the Christmas tree. These ideas might be just what you need to put a smile on their faces.
Child's Campervan Pop Up Tent
SA to-scale, replica of a 1965 Split Screen VW Camper Van, this is the ultimate miniature tent for your little ones. It's in the easy pop-up style – so no pegs or complicated instructions – and comfortably accommodates up to three children. If they're dying for you to get a cool campervan this is definitely the next best thing!
£69.95 – from Not On The High Street
A Cool Camping guidebook
Featuring 175 carefully selected campsites, the best-selling new edition of Cool Camping Britain was released in May this year and joins the Cool Camping pantheon of guides, including Cool Camping Coast, Cool Camping France and Glamping Getaways. If you want to plan a camping adventure with your friends for next year and prefer pouring over a glossy guidebook than swiping through the internet, these gloveboxed-sized guides are sure to whet the appetite for next summer.
From £13.19 via our Amazon bookshop
Matador Pocket Blanket™
Smaller than a pack of crisps when completely folded yet tough and resilient in the great outdoors, this incredibly compact picnic and beach blanket is made from HyperLyte nylon – feather light but still resistant to water and punctures. Perfect for a campsite picnic with minimal fuss.
Mark 1 Pro Survival Kit
This all-in-one survival kit manages to pack 40 items into a small tin including fire-lighting gear, a compass, multitool and more. With so much included, owners of these tin toolkits will find packing for their next camping trip is made a whole lot easier.
£20 – from Limitless Equipment
Wilderness Chef by Ray Mears
Here’s one for the food connoisseurs of the camping world, or just someone who enjoys some alfresco cooking around the campfire. From spaghetti carbonara to pineapple upside-down cake, Ray Mears’ guide shows you some of the best out of the box campfire recipes, for those action-packed days when the classic barbecue meal just won’t cut it.
Gandys Alpine Padded Jacket
Just looking at this stand-out, burnt orange jacket makes us want to zip up and head out on an adventure. The dynamic jacket is made from an insulating material that will keep you snug while out in the elements. It also has an adjustable hood, concealed outer pockets and comes in men’s and women’s sizes. The Gandys brand is dedicated to doing good, building kids campuses and giving back to underprivileged children around the world.
OS Map Picnic Blanket
Ordnance Survey produces a range of trekking towels and picnic blankets featuring some of the most-loved parts of the UK; our national parks. Pick the Lake District picnic blanket for anyone who’s planning a camping trip in Cumbria in 2020 or the suitably-themed trekking towel for someone bound for the Beacons.
Rumpl Beer Blanket
The tent is up and the campfire is roaring, what could be better than a relaxing evening toasting marshmallows? If your answer is a beer chilled to perfection, then the Rumpl beer blanket should be on your stocking list. You in a blanket, your beer in a blanket, pigs in blankets. It’s Christmas. We’re all in blankets!
Finisterre Penmere 1/4 Zip Fleece
Cornwall-based brand Finisterre take pride in turning disused plastic into new, reusable fibres for their clothing. This lightweight, retro-style fleece is made from fully recycled polyester and is a great staple for outdoor adventures. It includes a secure zipped chest pocket to keep your valuables safe while you’re exploring.
LifeStraw Flex with Gravity bag
We all know about the original and award-winning LifeStraw filter, but have you seen their latest addition? Protecting against bacteria, parasites and microplastics, the LifeStraw Flex now comes with a Gravity bag which can filter a gallon of water in less than 10 minutes. It is also BPA-free and independently lab tested. Adding this slightly pricier item to your shopping bag becomes that little bit easier knowing that each purchase provides one child with one year of safe water.
The TKPro from Klean Kanteen
This year has been a turning point in the fight against plastic waste and if you’re buying for someone who’s determined to reduce their impact on the environment then a 100% plastic-free Klean Kanteen could be the Christmas present you’ve been searching for. The new TKPro thermal canteen can keep hot drinks hot for at least 20 hours and cold ones icy cool for a staggering 75. Available in various sizes it’s as useful for camping and hiking trips as it is for the journey to work.
Nanopresso
For campers who can’t live without strong coffee, the Nanopresso is a gift – so why not give it? This compact little coffee machine replicates espresso from the best barista as it forces boiling water through ground coffee at high pressure. It fits in the palm of your hand and is powered by you, which means it can go wherever the adventure is. It also has some handy add-ons that will make stocking fillers in future years.
VW Remote Control Campervan
Along with a pack of stickers, so you can add vinyls and 'customise' the paintwork, this miniature VW is the cool campers' version of finding a train set underneath the tree. It also comes in different models and colours! The top speed is unknown, but if the original VWs are anything to go by you won't need to worry.
Campfire Gin Gift Pack
You can bring a taste of the outdoors to the cocktail shaker this Christmas with this gift pack of three little bottles of Campfire Gin. These small-batch gins are produced by the Puddingstone Distillery in Hertfordshire and are said to have been dreamed up under the stars, around the campfire. That’s the spirit!
£32 – from the Puddingstone Distillery
Kids' Animal Polar Chute
Is it a buff? Is it a neckwarmer? Peter Storm says it’s a chute. Whatever you call these hat-scarf hybrids, one thing is for sure: once you’ve put one round your neck, you’ll never want to take it off again. But hands off – this one is for the kids. As cute as it is cool, this animal-print chute has a fleece lining for extra warmth and is a versatile little stocking filler for any Cool Camping kids.
Firepot Food
For the more serious camper, these Firepot dehydrated meals have seen a surge in popularity recently because of their great taste. They are also very affordable and lightweight. Pick up the pork spicy noodles with the Thai-inspired sauce and your camping friend will thank you later. For lightweight hiking backpacking trips and expedition camping, they’re fast becoming the food of choice.
Men’s Society Stashlight
Do you know someone who loves gadgets? This Stashlight has an ultra-bright LED light and is small enough to tuck out of the way in your bag for when you need it, but also includes a secret compartment which houses a collection of matches inside, designed to strike on the textured sides of the torch. The perfect practical, novel and outdoorsy gift.
The North Face Eco Jacket
If a padded jacket is on your Christmas list, how about asking Santa for this one? It’s part of The North Face’s reinvented-for-2020 ThermoBall Eco range – made with recycled polyester and recycled insulation which is spun from at least five plastic bottles. It’s a cosy alternative to down and, as The North Face also offsets the environmental impact of delivery, it clocks up plenty of sustainability points.
DD Superlight Frontline Hammock
Whether you know a wild camper or someone who simply loves hanging around on the campsite, a hammock makes for a great gift for outdoor enthusiasts. As the name suggests, the Superlight Frontline Hammock weighs very little and packs down small. It comes with an integrated mosquito net which means it works as well as a place for day-time napping as it does for nights among the trees.
Patagonia Macro Puff™ Quilt
This queen-sized blanket is lightweight, Fair Trade Certified and stays warm even when it’s wet, packing down into a neat little bundle. Half way between a sleeping bag and a duvet, it gives you the benefits of taking a duvet camping (particularly good if you like to share) without the massive faff of trying to get your double duvet in the car (and getting it filthy in the process). There’s even a Micro Puff ® Hoody in the same design to match.
Retro Camping Mug
Anyone who’s broken a mug while camping or wants to avoid yet more plastic crockery will appreciate some good enamelware. This cute, retro, camping-themed mug is an ideal stocking filler for any camping enthusiast, especially those who love a cup of tea or coffee at home or on the campsite. Each enamel mug is personalised with a name of your choice.
Night Explorer Book & Activity Set
Help your kids get the most out of your next camping trip with the National Trust’s Out and About Night Explorer Book. Suitable for kids aged 6 and over, it features night-time activities from spotting nocturnal animals to signalling with torches using morse code.
Light My Fire Mealkit Bio
If you’re in the market for a new set of camping dishes or know someone who is, the Mealkit Bio would make a great Christmas gift, especially for those looking to reduce their impact on the environment. The kit is made from renewable biological resources and includes a plate, a bowl, two storage boxes, a cup, a cutting board and a spork. Plus, all of these items can be neatly strapped away ready for the day’s adventures.
Rite in the Rain notebook
Need we say more? This all-weather notebook will literally let you write in the rain so it’s perfect for outdoor adventures in the Great British weather. A normal pencil or biro will write on its water-repelling surface without smudging so it’s a great little stocking filler for campers and people who work or spend time outdoors.
The Explorer Ghillie Kettle
There’s no need to worry about running out of gas if you stick with a classic Ghillie Kettle. Sticks and pinecones are all the fuel that’s needed to boil up a brew the old-fashioned way with the classic Explorer Ghillie Kettle, handcrafted right here in the UK. Perfect for camping trips and bracing Boxing Day walks – just add water and a sense of adventure.
MAiK Camping Socks
Who doesn’t receive socks as a gift at some point during Christmas? We couldn’t leave these camping-themed socks off our Christmas list, perfect for a person who likes an adventure (and needs more socks). The ethically made designer socks are both stylish and affordable.
Lodge Dutch Oven
In our opinion no camping trip is complete without a campfire and one of the best ways to cook on a campfire is in a Dutch oven. Set one of these cast iron cooking pots among the embers and you’ll revolutionise your campfire cooking. Forget sausages and burgers and bring on slow-cooked stews, freshly baked bread, and juicy roast dinners.
Lego Creator Caravan Family Holiday
Continuing on the campervan theme, this '3 in 1' Lego toy set is a great gift for anyone aged eight or older. It can be built into a car and caravan, a motorhome or a lighthouse and comes with lots of great accessories, such as a portable stove, fishing rod and a buildable kayak.
Goal Zero Crush Light
No camping kit is complete without a handy foldable light to guide you on your way. The flexible design means it’s easy to pack and it can be positioned in different ways to use as a lantern, garden lamp or a flashlight. The splashproof light also has six different colour modes, three brightness levels and a ‘candle flicker’ function to help set the atmosphere.
£ 28.45 – from Solar Power Supply
Rab Power Stretch Contact Grip Glove
A pair of gloves as a Christmas gift may not win any prizes for originality but any outdoor lover will be grateful to slide their hands into these comfortable Power Stretch gloves from Rab. A “grippy” palm makes them practical for the outdoors and conductive fingertips means you can use a smartphone without risking chilblains.
VW Campervan Bauble
You have not reached peak campervan paraphernalia ownership until you’ve hung this glitzy little campervan on the tree! A great Christmas present for any VW or campervan owner, this unique bauble from The Little Boys Room brings the camper into Christmas.
£11.95 – from The Little Boys Room on Not On The High Street
WindBurner Coffee Press Kit
Another one for the gadget lovers. What do you get the camping guy who’s got everything, including the WindBurner Stove System? Why not pick up one of the WindBurner add-on accessories such as the Ceramic Skillet, the Hanging Kit, or our personal favourite, the Coffee Press Kit. The Coffee Press Kit can be dismantled for when you are short on packing space and transforms the Stove System into a rapid, windproof brewing machine, so wherever you are, you can get your coffee fix with a freshly brewed and filtered coffee on the go.
Custom Made OS Map
Another corker from Ordnance Survey – these custom-made OS Maps make for a unique and thoughtful gift for any outdoors lover. You can choose from a folded map with a customisable photo cover, a flat map or a framed map, so it’s a great choice whether you want a practical gift for planning a next adventure or a sentimental one that commemorates a special place.
The Aquaforno II
This is the ultimate outdoor cooking machine. A pizza oven, BBQ and water heater rolled into one, Aquaforno’s latest generation can be assembled in under two minutes and packs away into a space saving size. But best of all it cooks beautifully (for more information you can read our full review).
And Finally…. Cool Camping Gift Vouchers
One present that’s sure to be appreciated by any camper is a contribution to their next camping trip. Our Cool Camping Gift Vouchers let you give just that. They’re available in a range of denominations and can be used to book stays at any one of our camping and glamping sites across the UK and France. Whether it’s shepherd’s hut stays in Scotland, pitching a tent in the Peak District or booking a bell tent in the Brecon Beacons, why not give the gift of the great outdoors this Christmas?
