In our family, we have fun with the “four gifts rule” when buying things for loved ones - something you need, something you want, something to wear, and something to read. Sticking to the same rules we found lots of great budget-friendly gifts under $20 for your outdoorsy loved one.

My favorite personalized gift idea is at the end!

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Something they need-

Headlamp - getting tasks done in the dark is rough, especially when one hand is holding a flashlight. Our headlamps make everything easier for us when it’s dark, including late-night tent problems. I like this two-pack so you can keep one in your camping gear and one in the car.

Foldable stool - these little stools fold up so small when you don’t have much room to spare, but are so light they can be carried along while hiking. My dad keeps his in the car for sporting events too. I’m a big fan of both ALPS and GCI, both of these are great choices.

Lifestraw - if you need a gift for someone who loves to rough it or go backpacking, this is the perfect gift! This is absolutely an essential item in our packs.

Dry bag - water sport lovers and campers alike will love a new dry bag. I love this one because it has a strap for wearability and comes in a rainbow of colors. The 10L and 20L are under $20 and the 30L is just over $20. There are endless ways to use a drybag.

Gear Ties - these are my favorite small gifts (stocking stuffers) to give!! This multi-pack has ties of all sizes to cover any need you may have. And because they’re durable and reusable they are a great value. Everyone who I’ve ever given Gear Ties to as gifts has always thanked me later because they had no idea how handy these would be.

Something they want-

Hammock - give the gift of the best nap ever with a new hammock. Nothing says camping like swinging in the breeze between two trees. This set comes with everything you need and folds up small. We love our hammock so much, we actually have TWO!

Travel tracker - every RVer I know loves talking about how many states they’ve camped in. This is the map we have on display on our camper and we love its fun illustrations compared to your usual trackers.

Collapsible dish rack - this is actually on MY wish list for our RV, but would be great for tent campers as well. Sometimes you’re doing dishes and there’s no one around to help dry and never enough room on the counter to lay everything out. Being able to stack it all up in here would help a ton!

New water bottle - your hiking enthusiast will always want a fun new water bottle, but the price tag of HydroFlask can be a little steep for some. These water bottles have incredible reviews, really fun colors, and they include the sipper spout with the bottle! Our kids have these bottles and they are worth every penny, especially all the pennies you save instead of purchasing the name brand.

Something to wear-

Smokey the Bear shirt - in my opinion, every nature lover needs a Smokey shirt.

Rain poncho - as some of us quickly found out this past summer at Yellowstone, a little rain CAN ruin the mood, especially when it’s cold. It will also cover your backpack, unlike a rain jacket. This poncho comes in tons of colors and can also double for a picnic blanket! Genius!

Sun hat - we noticed a big trend this year on the hiking trails and we are happy to see more and more people protecting their eyes and skin with a sun hat. This particular one has nearly 10,000 reviews and six color options. I know the fishing fans in your family would love one as well.

Happy Camper shirt - these fun shirts are having a moment at campgrounds across America. Wear your pride with a camping shirt.

Something to read-

National Parks of the U.S.A. - your little outdoor lovers will cherish this beautifully illustrated 112-page book. This is a great way to help instill a sense of exploration, adventure, and wanderlust into kids. There is also a corresponding activity book available for less than $6.

The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs - I don’t know if you’re like us, but while we hike as a family we often have discussions on how the birds, the deer, and the Native Americans knew how to understand nature. What kind of winds told them snow was coming after a beautiful sunny day? How do you know there is danger nearby? Or what secrets a river holds? I think I will be getting this book for my inquisitive kids so we can all learn to read nature.

See You at the Campground - our friends Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi of The RV Atlas have written several books including RV Vacations. but this one is my favorite. You NEED to get this book for all your camping friends and your wannabe camping friends! They will love it, I’m positive.

Bonus Idea -

I love giving gifts to people that are special and memorable for them. A great way to do this is by learning about a favorite trip they might have taken and help bring back those notable memories. For example, if you have a friend who just visited Yosemite for the first time this summer and they can’t stop talking about it, give them the gift of memories. You can purchase a Yosemite sweatshirt, hat, iron-on patch, stickers, vintage park poster, Christmas tree ornament, or if you’re sneaky enough take one of their pictures and get it enlarged and framed. Websites like Etsy, Amazon, or eBay easily allow us to purchase items that only used to be available in one area. So now you can buy Grand Canyon memorabilia from Michigan or a Hawaii t-shirt in Louisiana. I guarantee these will be treasured gifts for your loved ones. Check out this awesome pinboard I made for my sister!

If you’re looking for even more gift ideas for RVing and camping be sure to check out our gear page!

Happy gift giving!