The Best Outdoor Gifts You Can Give (or Get!) Under $100 This Holiday

The bad news is that with each passing year, your dollar buys a little less. The good news, however, is that the team at GearJunkie makes its living researching, testing, and talking with manufacturers about the latest and greatest in outdoor gear. And we have never lost sight of the value our readers place on scoring a really great deal.

So, every year, when gift-giving season arrives, we reserve a few guides to help thrifty adventurers find gear within their budget. If you haven’t already, check out GearJunkie’s Under $50 gift guide, too.

Here, we’ve pulled together some great outdoor products that cost $100 or less and will serve you (or the lucky person on your list) for years of adventure.

Be sure to check out all of our gift guides for more ideas to suit every adventurer on your list!

Outdoor Gifts for $100 or Less

Basin and Range Plenty Warm Polar Fleece — Men’s

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Here’s a gift to warm a loved one. The full-zip Basin + Range Plenty Warm Polar Fleece Jacket lets you dump heat while moving on the trail or climbing and serves as a cozy campsite companion. It has two hand pockets for essentials, a high collar, and packs down small enough to stash in a backpack for any occasion.

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Gregory Alpaca Gear Tote 30L

We like this collapsible gear tote for its space-saving design, plus its aluminum frame and padded bottom, which add structure. The Gregory Alpaca Gear Tote 30L is a great size for hauling or storing activity-specific gear, or for use as a general camp kit. Its reflective gear loops make it easy to find (or avoid tripping over) at night.

It works well in a car, either as a collapsible tote or as a constant companion behind the passenger seat for easy storage or access. We think just about anyone will enjoy its utility and find themselves reaching for it often.

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REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack

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The REI Co-op Flash 22 pack is made from a recycled ripstop nylon fabric with a DWR, has a tuck-away mesh hip belt, and a hydration reservoir with a hang loop and exit port. The lightly padded mesh back not only adds breathability on your back, but it also doubles as a sit pad during breaks.

For most hikers, this bag answers the call with ample internal and external storage, including two deep pockets sized for water bottles. Other features include a top drawcord closure and a side-entry zipper. It is just a touch bigger than the Flash 18, which we rated as the best budget daypack.

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Helinox Speed Stool

The Helinox Speed Stool is a sturdy yet lightweight (1 lb.) seat that makes a nice alternative to the sink-in posture of a camp chair. It is compact enough to attach to a bag or tote and makes a great resting spot after a hike or ride, or for prolonged stays while birding or working on en plein air paintings.

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PAKA Essentials Tees — Men’s & Women’s

For casual days, nothing beats a comfy T-shirt. PAKA answered the call with its take on a traditional shirt by blending royal alpaca with organic pima cotton. The soft natural fibers feel great against the skin.

Even though it’s just 15% of the blend, the traceable alpaca fiber adds odor-fighting properties to the shirt and improves its thermoregulation compared to if it were purely cotton. The PAKA Essentials Tees have a regular fit, crew neckline, and slightly forward shoulder seams.

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NOCO Boost GB40 Lithium Jump Starter

This gift idea could fit in several of our other guides because it’s something to keep in your car to make sure the trip to and from the slopes, hiking trail, or fishing hole isn’t interrupted by a dying battery. It’s perfect for that active person in your life who won’t buy it for themselves, despite driving at all hours to get a good spot.

The NOCO GB40 is a portable lithium-ion battery jump starter pack that delivers 1,000 amps to start a dead battery in seconds. It is spark-proof and works in all kinds of environments with gas engines up to 6 liters (and diesel engines up to 3 liters). It weighs just 2.4 pounds and is well worth the slight space it takes up in a car’s storage area.

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HEST Nest Blanket

The HEST Nest Blanket is designed to keep you outside longer by keeping you comfortable. Whether it’s a crisp early-morning coffee or a late night around the campfire, this camp blanket has smart features that make it stand out from a traditional blanket. These include a cinch footbox, a hand-warming pocket, and snaps so you can wear it like a plush cape.

We have it here with camping in mind, but it’s sure to be used around the house, at concerts, or at the next kids’ soccer game.

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Vuori Kore Short Lined 7″

Sponsored

The Vuori Kore Short Lined 7-inch is one of the brand’s most popular products. These OG shorts lean toward workouts and casual wear, but they also work for active travel.

The Kore Short has a four-way stretch, quick-drying fabric that’s soft against the skin, which is part of why customers come back for more. The shorts have an elastic waistband, drawcord, and pockets. We highlighted the 7-inch lined shorts, but they’re also available unlined with 5- and 9-inch inseams.

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Knog Scout Travel Smart Luggage Tag

Travel has become more of a hassle, and the way airlines handle carry-ons isn’t any better. Add peace of mind for the traveler in your life who now has to check bags more regularly.

Knog is best known for bike lights, but the Scout Travel is part of a new generation of luggage tags that pair with your digital contact information and a more accurate luggage finder. Oh yeah, the 85-decibel motion alarm will call attention to anyone tampering with it. One catch: The Knog Scout is only compatible with iOS at this time.

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NOCS Provisions Zoom Tube 8×32 Monocular

The NOCS Provisions Zoom Tube 8×32 Monocular is a great entry point into outdoor optics. If someone you know is using their smartphone to zoom in on wildlife or landscapes, this will change their game. The monocular is compact enough to pack for any day hike and has a grippy, shock-resistant coating that makes it tougher than some more sensitive optics on the market. The coated BAK4 lenses at 8×32 represent the more approachable optical power for finding the intended target once it’s up to the eye.

For trailside birdwatching while on a hike, I’m personally a fan of the Field Tube, which doesn’t make the $100 cutoff.

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Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Long Sleeve Shirt — Men’s & Women’s

Another can’t-miss gift idea, as long as you know their shirt size. The Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail long-sleeve shirt is made from a polyester-TENCEL blend fabric with an open-knit construction. The result is a cooling, breathable shirt that’s comfortable against your skin, even while you’re sweating.

The fabric also has plenty of stretch, which. along with the offset shoulders and tagless collar, makes it comfortable to wear while hiking with a backpack.

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Lifestraw Sip Reusable Stainless-Steel Water Filter Straw — 3-Pack

Water filtration, not purification, is the main concern for hikers in the United States and Canada. These three compact stainless-steel filter straws are a group gift and come in different-colored cases so everyone can keep track of theirs.

The Lifestraw Sip removes microplastics, bacteria, and parasites from drinking water and can be used for up to 1,000 liters.

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Smartwool Cabin Mule Slippers

Here’s an easy gift, assuming the person on your list doesn’t have several pairs of house shoes.

Some of my favorite house slippers have been overly upgraded or are now priced over $100. So when I bought myself a new pair of house slippers, it was the Smartwool Cabin Mule Slippers. They aren’t as campsite-friendly as other designs, but that’s okay because my priority is keeping my feet cozy and dry at home.

The slippers are part of Smartwool’s Second Cut fleece line, using a mix of polyester, merino wool, and pre-consumer wool scraps to create the uppers. Underfoot, there’s a rubber sole with no tread, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to off-road in them. The collapsible heel design may look familiar to you.

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YETI LoadOut Swivel Seat

The YETI LoadOut bucket was a bit divisive among the outdoor gear nerd community. But for those who loved it and own one, one thing was missing: a swivel seat.

YETI has answered the call with this quiet swivel seat with heavy-duty foam padding to make the most of a LoadOut Bucket. The swivel is a welcome feature when fishing or hunting, but the cushion makes it an inviting seat during breaks from household chores. Make sure the giftee on your list already has a bucket, which is actually less expensive than the seat.

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America The Beautiful Pass

Maybe the best value you can get for $80, the America the Beautiful Pass is as close to priceless as you’ll get. With this pass, that lucky someone on your list is only limited by their sense of adventure (and vacation days). This pass offers full access for the cardholder and anyone lucky enough to ride in their car — and is accepted at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

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Want more gift ideas? Check out our other gift guides and buying guides.

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