28th November 2025 | Words by Matt Jones @ WildBounds HQ
When it comes to buying outdoor gifts, the hard part isn't just finding quality gear – it's knowing which brands genuinely deliver for different types of adventurers. After all, what works for a gram-counting thru-hiker isn’t the same as what works for a comfort-conscious vanlifer. And unless you’re an outdoor obsessive yourself, identifying the ideal gift for outdoorsy friends and family members can be overwhelming.
That's where this guide comes in. Here at WildBounds we’ve spent years using and abusing all sorts of gear, so we know which brands excel at what. What’s more, our in-house team includes long-distance backpackers, seasoned travellers, coffee nerds, outdoor cooks, bushcrafters, bikepackers and style-conscious fashionistas.
With that in mind, this year’s Christmas Gift Guide includes carefully curated selections for a dozen distinct outdoor personalities – from the EDC guru who optimises every pocket to the old-school camper who's happiest under canvas. We've highlighted the heritage makers and cutting-edge brands worth trusting, along with their standout products that insiders actually use. This includes brands that have spent decades perfecting a single product category, as well as innovative newcomers that are shaking up the old order with fresh thinking. And there are options for every budget too, including plenty of great gifts under £40.
We’ve also profiled some genuinely great brands that will appeal to each type of adventurer below. No filler, no generic recommendations – just honest picks and high-quality kit that’s bound to make them smile, whether it's their first head torch or their fifteenth fleece (you can never have too many).
Gifts for…
With multiple mounting options, the Claymore CAPON is a light, bright and compact light source for all outdoor adventures.
The Outdoorsman
Here are our top picks for the bloke who's equally at home on mountain trails or out in the woodshed splitting logs. Think functional baselayers that work from weekend wild camps to daily commutes, head torches to light up early starts and late finishes, and go-anywhere flasks built to celebrate and savour special moments in the great outdoors.
High Camp Flasks
Booze-related gifts almost always go down well, and High Camp’s elegant yet rugged flasks work from campfire circle to drinks cabinet. Pair something like their sleek Firelight or Torch with a decent bottle of bourbon and you’ve just nailed your bro’s perfect present.
SAXX Underwear
Okay, most underpants make for fairly uninspired Xmas gifts, but hear us out, because SAXX hits different. Their gloriously named BallPark Pouch technology delivers genuine comfort on long, hot and sticky trail days. The technical fabrics manage moisture brilliantly whilst the patented design means no adjusting mid-scramble.
Claymore Lights and Headlamps
New in from Korea, Claymore's rechargeable lighting systems punch well above their weight, delivering serious lumens in compact packages that last. Don’t get fooled by those junk LED striplight headtorches that clog up your social feeds – these are the real deal.
With classic, timeless looks and famed heat-holding power, the Stanley Legendary Flask is a great choice for day hikes, boat trips and more.
The Outdoorswoman
For women who live that outdoor lifestyle – whether it's summit days, van life weekends, or just well-made gear for everyday adventures. Think snug headwear for alpine starts, handmade Swedish wool accessories, and stylish flasks for keeping drinks hot or cold wherever the day takes you.
BARTS Hats and Beanies
BARTS combines on-trend styles with mountain-ready warmth, creating beanies and hats that nail that sweet spot between technical performance and everyday wearability. These are quality knits that last season after season too – unlike that impulse-buy bobble hat that disintegrated in the first wash.
Öjbro Vantfabrik Gloves, Mitts and Socks
This Swedish family-run mill has been spinning outdoor woollens since 1927, back when "technical fabric" just meant "really good wool." Their socks and mittens remain unmatched for Nordic cold, with naturally antibacterial merino wool that regulates temperature beautifully whether you're struggling up a fell or warming up by the woodburner.
Stanley Mugs and Flasks
Stanley's legendary vacuum bottles have kept drinks hot since 1913, with that indestructible build quality that sees them passed down through generations. Their classic lines have got a glow-up this winter too, with a new palette of funky colours that can transition seamlessly from office to gym to weekend adventures.
Dark Energy's powerful portable power banks are everyday carry essentials for anyone who can't afford to be off-grid.
The EDC Guru
Our EDC gift shop is packed with clever, functional gear made to go wherever life takes you – perfect for those who've reorganised their pocket contents more times than they've actually used half the stuff they carry. Think sling bags, pouches, pocket-knives and other clever little tools that are built for the long haul.
Bellroy Slings, Packs and Pouches
Bellroy's Australian design team obsesses over every millimetre like it's a personal mission, creating low-profile carry solutions that organise chaos without adding bulk – finally ending the morning pocket-pat panic of "keys, phone, wallet."
Dark Energy Chargers, Power Banks and Cables
Dark Energy builds military-grade power solutions for adventurers who can't afford device failure, which in 2025 basically means everyone. Their rugged power banks survive proper abuse whilst their solar panels and fast-charging tech keep cameras, phones and GPS units alive on extended expeditions – or just a long Tuesday with too many of those meetings-that-should-have-been-emails.
The James Brand Tools and Knives
The James Brand reimagines classic pocket tools with minimalist aesthetics and modern materials, proving that yes, you can make a belt clip look sexy. Their classy knives combine premium steel with sleek ergonomics that would make an Apple designer weep.
With a clean look and clever, compartmentalised storage, Matador's SEG45 pack is an essential travel companion for journeys via plane, train or automobile.
The Seasoned Traveller
Life on the road doesn't have to be hard, particularly when you aren't trying to fit three weeks' worth of "just in case" items into a Ryanair-sized carry-on. This selection suits all travellers alike, whether it's a weekend city break or a month-long backpacking trip in the Cordillera.
Matador Travel Kit
Matador pioneered ultralight packable gear for modern nomads who refuse to pay baggage fees on principle. Their bags and accessories compress to nothing yet hold up to serious miles, proving that you can indeed fit your entire life into something smaller than a loaf of bread.
Eagle Creek Duffels and Rollers
Eagle Creek has spent four decades perfecting travel luggage that survives gorilla-armed baggage handlers, jerky jungle buses and strap-shredding overhead lockers. Their bomb-proof duffels and rollers come with lifetime warranties backing quality that genuinely lasts, whilst their pack-it systems and compression cubes bring order to chaos – or at least give you the illusion of organisation.
Sunski Shades
Sunski crafts stylish sunglasses from recycled materials without compromising on optics or durability, perfect for beach days and alpine approaches. Their polarised lenses cut glare brilliantly whilst the flexible frames survive being stuffed in pack pockets, sat on repeatedly, and that incident we're not talking about involving a rental car door.
If you like the tactile, elemental feel of striking a spark, the EXOTAC Polystriker ferro rod delivers, whether you're lighting a camping stove or a pile of tinder.
The Bushcrafter
This selection is made for bushcrafters, survivalists or anyone who likes to be ready for any 'just in case' scenario – including the zombie apocalypse. These gifts are guaranteed to find a spot in their bug-out bag, but should also come in handy for more practical use cases too, like weekend camping trips and garden fire-pit lighting.
Bushcraft Essentials Bushboxes
Bushcraft Essentials' German-engineered fire boxes fold flat but create rock-solid cooking platforms in any conditions, because Germans simply don't do wobble. Their modular designs let you build complete camp kitchen systems that pack down to nothing, with titanium construction that survives years of outdoor use.
EXOTAC Lighters, Strikers and Firesteels
EXOTAC builds genuinely reliable fire-starting tools that work in howling rain when cheap alternatives sputter pathetically and die. Their waterproof lighters and ferro rods deliver consistent sparks after thousands of strikes, perfect for impressing mates around the campfire or feeling like Bear Grylls whilst lighting the BBQ.
Tactica Tools and Knives
Tactica combines tactical functionality with everyday practicality, creating multi-tools and fixed blades that look like they mean business. Their titanium handles and premium steel make these tools that perform under pressure whilst looking cool enough that you'll find any excuse to use them – "Does anyone need this perfectly good rope cutting into smaller pieces?"
For coffee aficionados who love the morning ritual of hand-grinding their own beans, the VSSL Java grinder is a must-have.
The Coffee Aficionado
Whether you're holed up in a backwoods cabin, camped out in the hills or just waking up at home, you should never have to sacrifice a good brew – because some of us are genuinely insufferable before caffeine. Our coffeeware collection features some of the most innovative products on the market, providing excellent coffee wherever the adventure takes you (and saving everyone from pre-coffee grumpiness).
AeroPress
The AeroPress revolutionised camp coffee with its rapid brewing system that delivers espresso-quality results in under two minutes, which is basically witchcraft. Lightweight, virtually indestructible, and producing genuinely excellent coffee without electricity or filters, it's become essential kit for discerning outdoor caffeine addicts who refuse to compromise standards just because they're sleeping in a field.
Wacaco Minipresso
Wacaco's hand-powered espresso makers bring proper crema to mountain summits and wild camps without electricity or gas, settling the age-old debate of "how pretentious is too pretentious?" Their innovative pump systems generate genuine espresso pressure in a package smaller than a water bottle, with build quality that survives pack abuse and judgmental looks from Nescafe Gold Blend drinkers.
VSSL Grinders, Kits and Tumblers
VSSL packs complete coffee brewing systems into sleek aluminium cylinders, because sometimes you need your morning ritual to feel like activating a James Bond gadget. Their Vancouver-designed products deliver café-quality results in the backcountry, while their Java Grinder is so sexy it’s got its own Grindr profile, probably.
Two campers in bobble hats sitting in Crazy Creek chairs at a campground. With these ingenious chairs, you can get comfortable anywhere.
The Camper
Know someone who's happiest under the stars, even when it's absolutely hammering it down and everyone else is questioning their sanity? Our gifts for campers are made for nights around the fire and mornings with a view – bringing comfort and practicality to every trip.
Crazy Creek Chairs
Crazy Creek invented the original camp chair back in 1987, realising that sitting on a wet rock loses its charm as soon as the damp starts seeping into your underwear. Their folding designs still deliver unmatched comfort without the weight penalty of hauling an actual armchair up an actual mountain.
LifeStraw Bottles and Filters
LifeStraw's award-winning filtration technology turns dodgy water sources into safe drinking water instantly, removing 99.9% of bacteria and parasites that would otherwise ruin your week (and your intestinal tract). Their bottles and personal filters have become essential insurance for wild campers and international travellers, with no pumping or waiting required – just suck it and see (it works, we promise).
Sea to Summit Cookware and Sleep Systems
Sea to Summit obsesses over the details like it's a competitive sport, creating camping gear that's both featherlight and genuinely functional. Their collapsible cookware and technical sleeping bags push innovation boundaries whilst solving practical problems other brands seemingly ignore – like "why doesn’t all my camping stuff fold flat like this kettle?"
For outdoor chefs who love nothing more than cooking over a wood fire, the Wolf & Grizzly grill offers a light and portable way to knock up a great meal in the backcountry.
The Outdoor Chef
Serve up the perfect gift for any outdoor cooking lover who takes camp meals far too seriously (in the best possible way). This hand-picked collection will fuel their outdoor cooking endeavours, featuring enamel crockery, cast iron cookware and everything needed to make other campers drool over the tantalising aroma of your dinner.
Barebones Cookware
Barebones combines vintage aesthetics with modern functionality, crafting cast iron and enamelware that looks stunning around the campfire and makes regular camping pots weep with inadequacy.
Wolf and Grizzly Grills and Cook Sets
Wolf and Grizzly's fire-safe grill systems bring serious cooking capability to any campsite, with flat-pack designs that assemble in seconds and look impressively professional. Clever design makes outdoor cooking genuinely enjoyable – no longer will all your meals taste mysteriously of ash and despair.
Black + Blum Food Bowls, Lunch Bags and Food Flasks
Whenever you go camping there always seem to be leftovers. Rather than dumping them by your tent to attract the attentions of yowling foxes at 3am, use Black + Blum’s smart food storage solutions, which combine sleek aesthetics with practical features like leakproof seals and clever compartments that actually work, rather than mixing your marinara sauce with your apple crumble.
Fusing laid-back Aussie streetwear with 'speed shop' biker culture, Deus Ex Machina is a fast-growing label with its finger firmly on the pulse.
The Stylish
For some people, looking good seems to come easy – but the secret is simple: shop clever, creating a wardrobe full of classic, versatile staples that work from pub to peak. Because nobody wants to be that person who sits at the bar in sweat-stained baselayers and clammy plastic overtrousers, talking earnestly about how many Wainwrights they bagged today.
Unfeigned Apparel
Unfeigned designs modern urban outdoor clothing that fuses technical fabrics with understated contemporary aesthetics. Which means 1) you'll actually want to wear these pieces daily, and 2) you won’t look like a walking billboard for the outdoor industry.
Goorin Bros. Caps
Goorin Bros. has been making quality headwear since 1895, which means they've had plenty of time to perfect the art of the cap. Their animal farm trucker caps feature playful designs and premium materials that elevate any outfit from dog walks to brewery visits, proving that yes, you can wear a hat with a massive cock on it in public.
Deus Ex Machina Clothing
Deus Ex Machina channels motorcycle culture and laid-back Aussie beers-and-bbq vibes into clothing that's built for adventure and casual style, perfect for those who want to look like they could rebuild a carburettor blindfolded. Think vintage style with modern cuts for that Castlemaine XXXX-swilling, grease-monkey aesthetic.
Skandinavisk's Nordic-inspired scents, available in a range of stylish candles and reed diffusers, are the perfect accompaniment to mindful indoor activities such as journalling or sketching.
The Great Indoors
We love the great outdoors, but there's no place like home – whether you’re relaxing by the fire or sketching at a table under the window. That's why we've gathered our most luxuriously laid-back picks for savouring those late nights, easy afternoons and lazy mornings when leaving the house seems wildly overambitious.
Hitch and Roam Towels and Blankets
Hitch and Roam weaves raw linen into impossibly quick-drying towels and premium wool into National Park-inspired blankets that make you feel outdoorsy while you’re getting out of the bath, or slobbing on the sofa. The towels soften with every wash, while the throws will only look better with age.
Glerups Slippers
Glerups' Danish wool slippers deliver cloud-like comfort that regulates temperature perfectly, making regular house shoes feel like medieval torture devices. Hand-felted from natural wool with rubber or leather soles, these are proper house shoes that last for years whilst looking effortlessly Scandi-chic – because even indoors, style matters.
Skandinavisk Candles and Diffusers
Skandinavisk captures Nordic landscapes in scent, creating candles that evoke mountain pine forests and coastal cliffs, just without the ferocious midges or horizontal rain. Their hand-poured candles use natural wax and cotton wicks for clean, long-lasting burns, so it won’t matter if mum lights it before her extended ‘I’m just having some me time!’ self-care session.
Cycle commuter with Kinto Travel Tumbler stashed in the bottle cage of his bike.
The Commuter
For those who take the daily journey in stride – or at least with significantly less swearing than the rest of us. Discover tech pouches, backpacks and flasks designed to handle life on the move, making every journey smoother, smarter, and ideally with less chance of spilling coffee down yourself.
Alpaka Slings and Cases
Alpaka designs urban carry solutions for digital nomads and daily commuters who need everything organised like a military operation. Their weather-resistant bags protect tech without making you look like a weekend Airsofter, with modular organisation systems and hidden pockets that keep cables, cards and keys exactly where you need them.
Blunt Umbrellas
Blunt reimagined the umbrella with aerospace engineering, creating windproof designs that actually survive blustery British days. Their patented blunt-tip structure prevents the usual eyeball-poking street carnage whilst compact folding mechanisms and stylish aesthetics make these umbrellas you'll actually remember to carry with you, rather than leaving them on the train luggage rack again (no promises though).
Kinto Flasks and Tumblers
Kinto's Japanese minimalism brings understated elegance to everyday hydration, proving that water bottles don't need to look like adult Tommee Tippee cups. Their stainless-steel construction maintains temperature brilliantly whilst the clean lines and matte finishes work beautifully in office and outdoor settings alike.
Bikepacker tackling a rutted track with a pair of Ortlieb Gravel Packs on the front forks of his bike.
The Bikepacker
When gravel trails and off-road tracks come calling, every gram and gadget counts – and the Tetris-style packing game reaches Olympic-level complexity. Our gifts for bikepackers blend lightweight performance with rugged durability, from bike bags and camping gear to compact cooking essentials that keep things simple and adventure-ready.
Ortlieb Bags and Racks
German brand Ortlieb pioneered waterproof bikepacking bags, creating the bomb-proof panniers and frame bags that serious Teutonic cycle tourers trust to survive weeks of abuse. Their welded seams keep contents bone-dry through biblical rain whilst tool-free mounting systems work flawlessly on loaded touring rigs.
Primus Stoves
Primus invented the modern camping stove back in 1892, which means they've had 133 years to get it right. Their compact burners remain unmatched for reliability on bikepacking trips, with efficient designs that boil water fast whilst running on widely available fuel canisters, meaning no detours to specialist outdoor outfitters.
EXPED Sleeping Mats
EXPED's Swiss-engineered sleeping mats deliver uncompromising comfort without the weight penalty. Their mats pack down impressively small for bikepacking whilst providing proper cushioning on rough ground, with clever pump-sacks that eliminate huffing and puffing after long riding days – because nobody has lung capacity left for that nonsense.
