The Best 2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Nature Lovers
Looking for the perfect present for the outdoorsy nature lover in your life?
These 10 gear items are sure to delight, inspire and equip your loved ones for more adventures in 2025. From $23 to $295, there is something for everyone in this curated gift guide. Everything has been tested and reviewed by Explore’s community, so you can rest assured only the best outdoor adventure gear makes our holiday wish list.
Stocking Stuffers
Sporks. Carabiners. Backcountry meal packets. There are plenty of common outdoorsy items you can stuff into a stocking that dangles above the fireplace.
Here’s what we’d like to find from Santa on Christmas morning:
Smartwool Isto Retro Beanie & Hand Warmers
I’m obsessed with this combo: a tri-coloured toque and two adorable hand warmers. Made from merino wool, the heavy knit construction adds texture and warmth. The folded cuff on the hat stretches to fit most heads and stays in place with reinforced ribbing. With a slouchy look, you’ll fit in on the slopes and at the après, on the snowy trails and in a cozy cabin. The hand warmers fit like lightweight mittens with exposed fingers from the knuckle; no more yanking your glove off to take a selfie, or complete a high-dexterity task.
Price: From $45
Buy it here: smartwool.com (isto-hand-warmer) & smartwool.com (isto-retro-beanie)
Black Diamond Moji R+ Lantern
The sun sets significantly earlier these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors! At only two inches wide, this little light can easily fit in the palm of my hand… and in my Christmas stocking. With four bright light modes—white, strobe, multi-colour, campfire— a dimmer switch, double hooks and a magnetic top for hanging, and a micro-USB charging cord, this teeny tiny lantern packs a punch. From winter hikes to autumn backpacking trips to summer camping weekends and springtime paddles (did we mention it’s waterproof?), this will be your adventure buddy’s new year-round companion.
Price: $54.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
Darn Tough Critter Club Lightweight Cushion Micro Crew Socks
Socks, once considered the basic, most predictable Christmas gift right after underwear and pyjamas, have now become sought-after items in my piles of wrapping paper—especially if they are high-performance socks like my favourite pair from Darn Tough. Made from a merino wool blend that is anti-microbial, moisture-wicking and thermo-regulating, these comfortable socks feature cushioned soles and a seamless toe. Plus, the designs are magnificent: choose from a fox holding a lantern dancing around mushrooms, an owl perched on a branch with a steaming mug of coffee and a mountain goat showing off its skills at an indoor climbing gym. How can you go wrong? You can’t. Buy all three.
Price: $31.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
Fjallraven Canvas Brass Belt
Nothing says, “I hope you enjoyed Christmas dinner,” like a brand-new belt. The Fjallraven Canvas Brass Belt does away with antiquated pre-cut holes to slip a belt buckle into and trap your waistline in; instead, you can cinch and release the adjustable belt to keep your pants right where you want them as you embark on the journey of decadent holidays meals. The belt is timeless, functional and durable, true to Fjallraven’s roots. From hiking the summits of snowy hills to setting up camp in the depths of valleys, this stylish yet simple belt holds up to the elements while holding up your shorts, jeans, chinos or trousers. The four-centimetre width fits all standard belt loops.
Price: $44.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
MEC x Miir 12oz Camp Mug
A cool (or hot) new collaboration between MEC and Miir, this insulated camp mug is perfect for a cup of coffee on the mountainside, a mug of freshly steeped tea along the waterfront or sparkling pink lemonade in the forest. The durable 12-ounce camp cup holds 354 millilitres of your favourite hot or cold beverage. Made with Thermo 3D® double wall vacuum-insulation, your drink will retain its desired temperature so you can sip happily during your adventure. The lid is designed to be “lifeproof”—splashproof and shatterproof to prevent spills. The rugged Hardshell™ powder coating is safe, durable and easy on the eyes. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty! Three epic outdoorsy designs make choosing one the hardest part.
Price: $34.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
Gifts Under $50
Christmas gifts for outdoor adventurers don’t have to be generic gift cards or wallet-destroying big-ticket items like kayaks and ski setups (though we’re sure your loved ones won’t complain about finding those under the tree). Keep your bank account happy and your adventure partner even happier with these smart and sensible buys.
Explore Nalgene Water Bottle
Get the classic Nalgene bottle with so many uses, and show your love of the outdoors with the Explore logo! Cover it in stickers, customize the colour combo with three unique options and stay hydrated on the trail, on the road or at the campsite. These made-in-the-USA leakproof bottles are easy to clean, dishwasher safe and free of BOA, BFS and phthalates.
Price: $22.95
Buy it here: shop.explore-mag.com
Canadian Heritage Roasting Co. The Perfect Match Coffee and Enamel Mug
Spark joy with delicious caffeine on the mountaintop, at the trailhead or at the campsite with instant coffee that actually tastes like coffee. After working as a barista for many years, I’d sworn off instant sludge, but these individual serving packets crafted by ex-wildland firefighters pack a punch and made me rethink hauling my French press into the backcountry. This smart combo includes a durable 12-ounce enameled steel mug and a matchbox-style carton of 10 coffee pouches. Plus, the epic duo contributes to the company’s mission of planting one million trees and 2% for Conservation Certification.
Price: $44.95
Buy it here: mec.ca
The National Parks Cookbook: The Best Recipes from (and Inspired by) America’s National Parks
Give the gift of adventurous eating with this bold, colourful and easy-to-follow cookbook. Featuring over 70 recipes paired with parks from Acadia to Zion, highlights include a Paradise Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Mt. Rainer National Park), Blackberry Lavender Jam (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) and a Butterscotch Martini with Boozy Whipped Cream (Bryce Canyon National Park). There’s even a section for the best trail snacks based on your favourite national park. Get a taste of the Great Outdoors in the USA from afar or bring the book on your next road trip for an epic campsite cookoff.
Price: $34.99
Buy it here: indigo.ca
Explore Magazine Subscription
So, you want to get outside to more beautiful places with your loved ones this year? Give the gift of inspiration, education and immersive outdoor adventure stories with a one- or two-year subscription to explore magazine, Canada’s voice of the Great Outdoors since 1981. Every bold, colourful print magazine issue is jam-packed with unique Canadian content you won’t find online: seasonal gear reviews, new destinations to discover and in-depth features that cover everything you need to know about adventure. We’ll send four issues yearly (shipping is free!) to the lucky gift recipient’s address. Go on and get one for yourself, too.
Price: From$25
Buy it here: shop.explore-mag.com
Bonus
Forrest Tool Co. MAX
Need the perfect do-everything gift for the outdoorsy nature lover on your list? We know that having every tool with you on an adventure doesn’t work when space is at a premium. The MAX® is the answer with an axe, sledge, shovel, mattock, two picks, rake and hoe in a compact, lightweight package that will fit in everyone’s adventure vehicle and come to the rescue whenever you need it. It’s perfect for camping, hunting, off-roading or a day in the woods. Go on, get a grip!
Price: $295
Buy it here: forresttool.com
