Hiking and Camping Gifts


Okay, the first thing that usually comes to mind when considering camping gifts is a tent. In general, we think tents are pretty boring, but they don't have to be.

Most campers enjoy the outdoors, sure, but they want to feel comfortable when they sleep at night. Tents come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, and their price range is anywhere from $50 - $500. Look for cool features, to make the tent less "boring", like multiple doors, vestibules (for your gear), mesh windows to allow air (but not bugs), and optional separation walls (for very large tents).

One hint... ALWAYS oversize the tent. The person capacity listed for the tent is usually two people more than what would actually be comfortable sleeping in it. For example, a 4-person tent (usually says "sleeps 4 adults") is probably more suited to 2-3 people, for two reasons.  1) The capacity doesn't include your gear (backpacks, coolers, etc).  2) The space is only enough for the people to sleep very close to each other. Think about it... the tent features listed on the packaging are intended to convey value for the money (so that you buy it). So it lists the maximum capacity, but not necessarily the maximum comfortable capacity. The only time we wouldn't suggest over-sizing the tent is if you're buying one for cold weather camping.

So, wanna see a parent's eye's light up when giving them a tent? Well, if they have a family of four, give them
AT LEAST a 6-person tent. An eight or ten person tent would be even better, especially if there are pets tagging along. Don't wanna leave man's best friend out in the rain, right?

Some other non-boring camping and hiking gifts include a cool multi-tool or a fancy LED flashlight. Oh... or maybe a pair of digital camera binoculars!

If you're feeling particularly creative and thoughtful, try putting together a custom camping gift basket!

For more cool camping and hiking gift ideas, check out www.mec.ca or REI.





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