Holiday Gifts for Outdoor Lovers: Camping, Overlanding & Rooftop Tent Essentials

If you’re anything like us, gifting isn’t about adding more “stuff” to someone’s life. It’s about choosing gifts that make their adventures richer, easier, or more memorable. The outdoors has a way of bringing people together, slowing down our fast-paced lives, and creating memories we end up talking about for years. 

This guide is built around the people we all camp with: the ones who plan the trips, who build the basecamp, who never miss sunrise coffee, who live for nights around the campfire, and who believe that cozy sleep is essential to a good adventure. From big-ticket items to small-but-thoughtful favorites, these are gifts that get used over and over.

Whether you’re shopping for the seasoned camper, the casual weekend warrior, or someone just getting started, you’ll find something here that fits their style.

Holiday Bonus: Many of the gear items featured in this guide (like the Anywhere Poncho, Aircore 6" Mattress, ReadyLight Mini, camp kitchen sets, and other adventure essentials) are part of our December Gear Sale. Until December 24th, all of our camp gear is 25% off or more, making it the perfect time to upgrade a friend’s setup (or your own).

For the Go Anywhere Adventurer

Some people don’t need much convincing to hit the road. They just need a direction and a reason to pack. These gifts are for the hard-to-shop-for outdoorsy spouse or your friend who is always chasing the next stretch of dirt road, that perfect camping spot, and who believes that a good weekend starts with leaving cell service behind.

• Rooftop tent: Evo V2, Aspen Lite, Nova, Kali
• Hardshell crossbars
• Ladder bag
  
• National Parks Pass
• Trasharoo off-road spare tire trashbag
• Off-grid navigations app subscription (Gaia GPS / OnX)

A rooftop tent is the ultimate upgrade for this kind of travel. Whether they’re mapping out a road trip through the Southwest or sneaking away for quick overnighters, Evo V2, Aspen Lite, Kali, or Nova all transform any vehicle into a go-anywhere, sleep-anywhere setup.

But if they already have a tent, the right accessories make all the difference. Hardshell crossbars add extra storage for gear or solar, while a ladder bag keeps their setup clean and protected.

Round out their setup with gifts that get even more mileage. A National Parks Pass unlocks some of the most beautiful places in the country. A perfect experience-based gift for anyone who prefers collecting memories over things. A Trasharoo-style off-road bag keeps trash, firewood, or muddy gear contained outside the vehicle, and an off-grid navigation app subscription from OnX helps them find trails, dispersed campsites, and new adventures with confidence.

For the person who’s always one trip ahead, these are the upgrades that keep them exploring.

For the Fireside Lounger

Some people get outdoors for adrenaline-pumping activities, but others get out for slow evenings around the fire, warm drinks, cozy layers, and conversations that stretch well into the night. If you’re shopping for someone who lives for that campfire glow, these gifts will hit the mark every time.

• LavaBox portable campfire
• Anywhere Poncho
• Stainless Steel Whiskey Cups
• Anywhere Camp Mat
• Ignik's Ripple Rechargeable Hand Warmers

Portable campfire setups like those from LavaBox elevate the evening with easy, contained warmth especially in places where open flames aren’t allowed. They’re smokeless too, which means no more heading home with clothes, hair, and gear that smell like campfire for days. And with accessories like the Skwok, these portable systems pull double duty as a cooking surface, making them a surprisingly versatile addition to any campsite. Pair one with the Anywhere Camp Mat, which adds softness and insulation against the cold ground, making fireside lounging a whole lot more inviting.

A set of Stainless Steel Whiskey Cups is perfect for sipping something warm and winding down after a long day, and the Anywhere Poncho wraps around them like a wearable camp blanket. It’s the layer they’ll live in on chilly evenings. Not just when they’re tucked beside the fire, but for all the in-between moments too: walking the dog around camp, wandering out for sunrise, or stepping away to stargaze. As a final touch, Ignik's Ripple Rechargeable Hand Warmers make a thoughtful stocking stuffer and are surprisingly appreciated by anyone who runs cold at camp.

For the camper who loves slow moments as much as big adventures, these gifts make evenings outside even better.

For the Basecamp Builder

Every group has one: the person who arrives at camp and instantly starts building a home base. They’re staking down tents and setting out chairs before anyone else has opened the cooler, stringing up lights while someone searches for their headlamp, and making sure the setup is just right because a good basecamp makes every trip better.

• Hub 4 Double
• Hub 6XL
• ReadyLight Mini
• 270 Awning V2 + walls
• 180 Awning V2 + walls
• LED Speaker / String Lights
  

For them, modular shelter is where the magic happens. The Hub 4 Double and Hub 6XL turn any campsite into a weatherproof gathering space. Perfect for families with small kids, group trips, or anyone who likes a warm, comfortable place to hang out when the weather turns. Whether it becomes the indoor cooking area, kids’ play area, or a lounge during a cold, rainy night, a hub tent quickly becomes the heart of camp.

If they already have a rooftop tent, a 270 Awning V2 or 180 Awning V2 is the next-level gift they may be missing with their setup. It expands their space with shade and shelter, and when paired with awning walls, it transforms into a full outdoor living room ideal for relaxing, cooking, or escaping the sun.

ReadyLight Mini brings portable, rechargeable illumination to camp kitchens, organizing gear, or tinkering with their rig to make sure it’s ready to hit the trails in the morning. And the LED Speaker/String Lights set the mood for late-night card games, family dinners, or slow evenings unwinding after a long day outside.

With any of these basecamp essentials, they’ll be the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the reason everyone stays warm, dry, and comfortable.

For the Camp Chef

This section is for the outdoor cook: the skillet master, the backcountry barista, the “don’t worry, I’ve got dinner covered” person who somehow makes pancakes taste better outside on a cold morning.

• Portable 2 Burner Camping Stove
• Camp Plates Set
• Camp Bowl Set
• 2-Pack Food Storage Containers
• Stainless Steel Pint Cups
• VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Kit
• VSSL Portable Coffee Grinder

If you've got a friend whose camp dinnerware has seen some things (mismatched plates, gouged plastic, hand-me-downs from who knows when), this is the year to give their kitchen setup a real upgrade. The Camp Plates Set, Camp Bowl Set, Stainless Steel Pint Cups, and 2-Pack Food Storage Containers are durable, packable, and built to handle real camp use.

Stainless steel isn 't the lightest material, but that's exactly what makes it great. It's non-porous, which means dried food doesn't cling to it, and it won't hold onto odors, mold, or bacteria. Huge perk when dishes don't happen until the next morning. It also stays looking new for years, no matter how many times it gets tossed into the camp bin or rattles around in the back of the truck. 

And the food storage containers? They’re the unsung heroes of any camp kitchen. Perfect for prepping meals at home, saving leftovers, or storing cut produce. So cooking at camp is easier, faster, and a lot more enjoyable.

If they like cooking with flair, the Portable Camping Stove instantly levels up their camp kitchen. It's sturdy yet packs down super small, so it won't take up precious space in the vehicle, and it comes with a windscreen and griddle. Meaning it truly has it all in one compact, foldable package.

And for the coffee lover in your life, the one who treats their morning brew like a personality trait, consider a VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Kit or a VSSL portable coffee grinder. Together, they deliver café-level coffee anywhere, even miles off-grid. Whether they’re pulling sunrise shots in the desert or brewing slow-pour perfection in a chilly forest, this duo keeps their ritual alive wherever adventure takes them.

For the Cozy Sleeper

Let’s be honest: roughing it had its moment, but that moment has passed. It’s 2025, and if someone you love is still complaining about not sleeping comfortably at camp, it’s time for an upgrade because great sleep is a given. These gifts bring warmth, comfort, and the kind of rest that makes getting up for sunrise actually sound appealing.

• 6" Aircore Mattress
• Cloud Comforter Set
• Cloud Topper
• HLN 4kW PRO Air Diesel Heater 12v or HCALORY Diesel Heater
• Hest Camp Pillow

The 6" Aircore Mattress is the foundation of a good night’s sleep, adding plush, cushioned support, and here’s the best part: it’s compatible with more than just FSR tents. So even if your friend is running another rooftop tent brand, you can still give the gift of better sleep. Pair it with the Cloud Comforter Set or Cloud Topper, and you’ve transformed any setup into a plush sleep system that feels far closer to your one at home.

For cold-weather campers, a diesel heater (like the HLN 4kW PRO Air Diesel Heater 12v or a HCALORY model diesel heater) is a total game-changer. It keeps the interior warm through long winter nights and extends the camping season well beyond summer.

Add a Hest Camp Pillow to complete the setup. It’s smartly designed with a layer of memory foam in a compact, travel-friendly package that actually makes sense for camping. Hauling your home pillow into the backcountry is not ideal. The Hest Pillow has the comfort they crave with a dirt-resistant, washable cover that keeps things fresh trip after trip.