Best Christmas gifts for outdoor lovers and adventurers in 2023
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Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family who love the outdoors?
Scroll down for 21 of my hand-selected gifts for the book lover, climber, cyclist, walker, or adventurer in your life.
All the gifts come in at under £50 each, and I've even bagged you a discount from some places. I get nothing when you use them, other than a warm fuzzy feeling that I've done something helpful.
It’s also worth knowing that many are interchangeable over different categories - plus climbers go cycling, walkers enjoy adventures, etc. So, my advice is to scroll through the full list and see if something catches your attention.
Gift ideas for book lovers
First up is the independent publisher, Vertebrate Publishing. They have a huge array of adventure books covering everything from climbing through to travel and wild swimming.
Their website handily categorises books into activities. And you can see which books are recent releases.
Vertebrate have even made a pop up box on the website so you can ask for help choosing. Plus, if you sign up to their newsletter , they’ll send special discount codes (at the time of writing, subscribers have a 30% discount code).
Buy from: Vertebrate Publishing
Gift ideas for climbers
Merino wool beanie
EDZ merino has taken me on many adventures over the years. This wool beanie looks fabulous but check their full range. Use code ODG10 at checkout for a 10% discount on full price items.
Buy from: EDZ
Forearm trainer
This forearm trainer is used to help climbers with grip strength. I’m even tempted to get one for rehabbing my old scaphoid fracture!
Buy from: Depot Climbing
Chalk brush
Climbers have a better grip when the holds and ledges are clean. One of these brushes to help clean away chalk and debris will always be welcome.
Buy from: Banana Fingers
Boot bananas
Made from natural products, these boot bananas are fragrant and moisture-absorbing deodorisers. Perfect for smelly climbing shoes (any shoes to be honest).
Buy from: Boot Bananas
Skin repair
Climbing takes its toll on hands so it’s nice to give them a little TLC. This Rhino Skin Repair cream contains natural products to heal dry and calloused hands.
Buy from Outside
Gift ideas for cyclists
Puncture repair kit
Puncture repair kit for inner tubes, containing patches, adhesive tubes, tyre levers, sandpaper, chalk, and marker crayon. If you know someone runs tubeless tyres, check Muc-Off’s range here.
Buy from: Halfords
Hiplok Z Lok
Cafe stops are pretty much an essential part of a bike ride (at least for me!). These reusable zip ties with a steel core give bikes lightweight protection from theft while lattes are consumed..
Buy from: Amazon
Restrap Fast Straps
Restrap specialises in technical bikepacking gear. These Fast Straps are perfect for carrying luggage, tying things together, or on-the-go repairs. Perfect for adventure cycling.
Buy from: Restrap
Happy Bottom Bum Butter
Some cyclists swear by chamois balm / bum butter to prevent chafing (it’s also good for other sports). This one contains natural vegan ingredients and is both antiseptic and anaesthetic. Use code outdoorgirl20 for 20% off everything except bulk discount products.
Buy from: Bum Butter
Peaty’s Loamfoam Starter Pack
Clean bikes ride better and reduce the likelihood of mechanical problems. This bike cleaner contains a biodegradable bike cleaner and concentrate that’s safe to use on all bike surfaces.
Buy from: Peatys
Gift ideas for walkers
Walking socks
You can never go wrong with walking socks! Scottish-based Moggans use eco-friendly materials, manufacturing methods, and delivery packaging.
Buy from: Moggans
Yaktrax
Yaktrax are superb for giving extra grip in icy conditions. But, for more technical walking in the mountains, you may want to look into Kahtoola Microspikes (note the microspikes cost over £50).
Buy from: Yaktrax
Walking boot bag
Walking boots get wet and muddy so a boot bag is great for the back of the car. We also store our dry walking boots in boot bags so we can just grab and go as we leave the house.
Buy from: Cotswold
Neck warmer
Neck warmers are amazing and always welcome. They keep your neck warm but can also be used as hair ties, sun protection, and more. Buff is certified B-corp and has a huge range online.
Buy from: Buff
Thermal mug
Although a bigger flask is recommended for long days out in the hills, this little beauty is perfect for a quick cuppa in nature. It keeps drinks hot for around six hours. Use code ODG10 at checkout for a 10% discount.
Buy from: Lifeventure
Gift ideas for adventurers
Custom made OS map
OS offer personalised maps, centred on a specific location. Choosing someone’s favourite place, or an area around their home is perfect for exploring new adventures.
Buy from: Ordnance Survey
Dry bags
Spare kit in my rucksack goes into different dry bags, keeping it clean, dry, and easy to find. I’ve tried lots of brands, but these from Lifeventure are my favourite. Use code ODG10 at checkout for a 10% discount.
Buy from: Lifeventure
Tenacious tape
I love this tape for on-the-go repairs. It can be used on tents, tarps, rain gear, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping mattresses, and more.
Buy from: Outside
Waterproof pocket notebook
If you know someone who loves writing or sketching outdoors, these waterproof notebooks are a great idea. They can be used in all weather conditions.
Buy from: Amazon
Dehydrated meals
Treat your loved ones to dinner in the hills with a selection of dehydrated meals. Firepot have a good range and you can filter by Gluten Free, Meat, and Vegan.
Buy from: Firepot
In summary
As I put together this list of ideas, I had a whole load more which didn’t really fit into any of the categories. Things which are more nature-based or eco-friendly.
They’re things which are likely to appeal to lovers of the great outdoors. So, watch this space. I’m already collating a few things and will link to it here once it’s available.
Extra information:
Normally, I’ll personally use products before writing about them on this website. But, as this is a gift roundup, that’s not the case with this post.
What I can say is that I’ve bought or used some of the products, and others are on my list (hint hint to my family 😉). The retailers listed are also ones that I’ve either bought from previously or feel comfortable using.
This post also includes some Amazon affiliate links. This means if you decide to make a purchase by clicking on one of those links I may earn an affiliate commission. Know this does not create any additional cost for you and I only share links (including affiliate links) to products that I know, love or trust.
Most online gift guides are full of pop up adverts, making it difficult to scroll or pick out relevant content. That’s not what happens here - I want my readers to enjoy a better experience. If that’s something you appreciate, send me a message or buy me a cuppa via Ko-fi.
Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, an outdoor adventure and marketing content writer for brands that care about their impact on people and the planet.
