An outdoor-themed gift basket is a sure-fire way to bring joy to any camper in your life. Finding unique camping gift basket ideas, however, can be a tricky and time-consuming affair.
To make the gift-giving process easier for you, we’ve put together this list of the best camping gift basket ideas. That way, you can get a bit of inspiration for putting together your own outdoorsy gift basket to give to friends and family.
Let’s get started!
Camping Gift Basket Container Ideas
Any good camping gift basket starts with the basket itself. However, while you could just put your camping supplies and trinkets in a traditional wicker basket, you can instantly give your gift a little bit of flair by incorporating a fun and practical container into your design.
Here are some unique container ideas to consider as you put together your outdoorsy gift basket:
1. Backpack
There’s perhaps nothing more representative of camping than a backpack. Whether they’re car camping or heading deep into the mountains, your favorite camper will almost certainly bring a backpack with them on their adventures.
Backpacks also make excellent gift basket containers because they’re purpose-built to carry large amounts of gear. For a gift basket, a lightweight, packable backpack, like the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack is a solid choice.
For presentation, you can fill the central compartment of the bag and the 2 exterior water bottle pockets up with various goodies. Then, long after you give your gift basket, the recipient can continue to enjoy this packable pack, which makes for an excellent addition to any camping checklist.
2. Cooler
If you’re considering making a car camping themed gift basket, a camping cooler is an excellent choice.
Not only are coolers big enough and sturdy enough to accommodate an abundance of different items, but they’re also a must-have piece of gear while you’re outside. Since coolers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, you can also easily choose one that best meets your gift basket needs.
3. Camping Cooking Pot
For smaller gift baskets, a camping cooking pot is a fantastic and functional little container. Depending on the size of gift basket that you’re striving for, you can choose a single-person cook pot, like the MSR Ceramic Solo Pot or a larger group-style model, such as the GSI Outdoors Halulite Cook Pot.
These pots are simple enough to fill up with small items, like freeze-dried backpacking meals, camping plates, and other fun outdoorsy items. They also easily allow you to make a nifty display that can seamlessly show off all of the items in your gift basket for your recipient to enjoy.
4. Bear Canister
Bear canisters, such as the Backpacker’s Cache Bear Proof Container, are some of the most overlooked, yet unique camping gift basket container ideas for the backpacker in your life.
These canisters are required in many popular camping destinations around the world, such as in Yosemite National Park, so they’re a very useful gift for any backpacker, even when they’re not filled with goodies.
Plus, bear canisters can hold a surprising amount of gear, despite their relatively small size, which makes them a nice option for small to mid-sized gift baskets.
5. Fire Pits
Portable wood-burning fire pits are a great gift in their own right for folks that like to enjoy the outdoors both at home and at the campground. They’re large, yet relatively lightweight, and they can hold quite a bit of bulky items, so they’re ideal for use as a gift basket container.
In particular, a fire pit would make for a great container for a car camping or glamping-themed gift basket or for anyone that just generally likes to get out and explore the great outdoors in style.
6. 5 Gallon Bucket
5-gallon buckets are some of the most functional containers available because they’re durable enough to use in a wide range of different situations. While camping, these buckets are helpful for carrying gear to and from your campsite, for washing dishes, and for storing kindling by the fire, or you could also use this bucket when making a DIY camping toilet.
You can pick up a 5-gallon bucket at nearly any hardware store, or, you can opt for a snazzy, food-safe YETI Loadout bucket that boasts a non-slip base and a hauling-friendly handle for transporting heavy loads.
7. Water Bottle
A water bottle might not seem like a very practical gift basket container, but wide-mouth models, such as Nalgenes, can be perfect if you’re looking to make a small camping gift kit.
These bottles are some of the most durable available and you can fill them up with little camping-themed gift items to create a practical present for your favorite outdoor enthusiast. They’re particularly great for creating a gift basket that’s mostly composed of smaller bits of gear, like first aid supplies, lighters, snacks, sporks, gear repair supplies, and paracord.
Plus, water bottles are also easy enough to send in the mail, which makes them a suitable container choice if you’re searching for a thoughtful gift basket idea to send to friends and family that live far away.
Themed Camping Gift Basket Ideas
Themed camping gift baskets are a great way to take your basket design to the next level. As you put together your outdoorsy gift basket, here are some fantastic package ideas to consider if you need a bit of inspiration.
1. The Survivalist
If your favorite camper loves getting out into the mountains and roughin’ it, a survivalist gift basket is a thoughtful option. Consider using a backpack as a container and loading it up with survival-themed gear, such as:
- Fire starters and lighters
- Paracord bracelets
- Multi-tools and pocket knives
- Emergency blankets
- Pre-made first aid kits
- Compact backpacking stoves
- Headlamps
- Water treatment tablets
Alternatively, you can use the classic “10 Essentials of Camping” list as inspiration for your survivalist gift kit by including 1 or 2 of each of the essentials in your basket. Check out this video for some background information on the 10 Essentials:
2. The Glamper
Glamping is all about enjoying the great outdoors without giving up some of life’s little luxuries. To bring a smile to any comfort-minded camper’s face, try packing a cooler or fire pit with some of these fan-favorite items:
- Camping pillow
- Cozy wool socks
- String lights
- Hammock set
- Portable power banks
- Folding camp chairs
You can also up your game a little bit by adding some glamping-friendly treats, like a Hershey’s S’mores kit. For a more mature crowd, something like the GSI Outdoors Wine Glass Gift Set might be more appropriate.
3. The Backpacker
Backpacking-themed gift baskets are a great choice for anyone that loves heading out on more remote mountain expeditions.
As far as containers go, you have plenty of options based on the size and scope of the gift basket you’re trying to create. A packable backpack might be a good choice if you’re looking to create a large gift basket while a water bottle, cook pot, or bear canister might be ideal for smaller gift kits.
When it comes to backpacking gift baskets, small, packable items are the name of the game. Consider including items such as these:
- PackTowls
- Multi-tools
- Dry sacks and stuff sacks
- Lighters and fire starters
- Pre-made survival kits (the S.O.L. Traverse is a popular choice)
You can also consider adding a selection of expedition-friendly snacks, like energy bars and trail mixes, or a variety of different freeze-dried backpacker meals to mix things up as you create your gift basket.
4. The Backcountry Chef
While some campers are content with pre-packaged backpacking meals, others love to spice things up in the camp kitchen. For the backcountry chef in your life, consider filling up a camping pot with fun kitchen items such as:
- Camping cutlery sets
- Titanium sporks
- Compact backpacking stoves
- GSI Spice Missile
- Folding cutting boards
- Campfire Sandwich Maker
Or, if you’d like to keep things simple, you can fill your container up with a number of different premade camp kitchen sets, such as the GSI Destination Kitchen Set or the GSI Outdoors Santoku Knife Set. Once you have the base of your gift basket sorted out, you can add in some fun camping-friendly treats for color and pizzaz.
5. The Naturalist
For folks who really love learning about the wonderful world around them, a naturalist-themed camping gift basket is a fun way to show you care.
If you’re shopping with someone particular in mind, you can consider adding a few pocket guide books or maps to their favorite camping destinations for a bit of a personal touch.
Depending on your budget, you can also consider including a wide range of different items, such as binoculars, backpacking camera clips like the Peak Design Capture, and Rite in the Rain All-Weather Notebooks.
6. The Junior Ranger
This gift basket concept is perfect if you’re planning a gift basket for a young camper or anyone that’s young at heart. Start with a useful container, like a backpack, and fill it full of kid-friendly outdoorsy items, such as:
- Kids binoculars
- Safari cargo vests
- Children’s headlamps
- Compasses
- Hats, gloves, and other camping clothing
- Water bottles
- Camping mess kits
For kids that love to read, books like Kate Siber’s National Parks of the USA or the National Geographic Junior Ranger Activity Book, are great gift basket add-ons.
You can also include a few snacks and fan-favorite camping treats, such as s’mores ingredients, or even a marshmallow roasting fork to get your child excited about the great outdoors.
7. The Grill Master
Grilling is a favorite camping pastime, so a barbecue-themed camping gift basket set in a cooler or a portable fire pit is sure to impress.
A simple solution for this gift basket is to start with a pre-made barbecue kit, such as this one from Romanticist and then add in little extras, such as a grilling spice kit.
Alternatively, if you’d rather hand-pick your gift basket contents, you can consider adding in various kitchen and grilling supplies, such as tongs, spatulas, grill brushes, skewers, utensils, lighters, and thermometers. A set of barbecue rubs or other seasonings can also help to add a little spice to your grilling gift set.
8. The Winter Camper
If your favorite camper loves to explore during the colder months of the year, a winter-themed gift basket might be your best bet. This gift basket idea can take many different forms based on your budget, but, with a gear-intensive pursuit like winter camping, you have plenty of items to choose from.
For starters, a backpack can make for a great container for a winter-themed gift basket. Alternatively, for more of a cozy, wintery feel, you could also opt for a traditional wicker basket or even a wooden crate as the container.
Once you have your container squared away, you have a whole host of different winter camping gear options to choose from for your gift basket, including:
- Hats and gloves
- Warm wicks
- Hand warmers
- Puffy jackets
- Sleeping bag liners
- Yaktrax or MICROspikes
- Winter wildlife guide books
- Insulated mugs
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also include a hot chocolate gift set, like the Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics Mix to help your loved one warm up while they’re lounging around camp.
9. The Mountaineer
Climbers love gear and a gift basket can be a fun way to present a carefully curated selection of mountaineering-themed items. A larger mountaineering gift basket would certainly fit well in a backpack, or you could even convert a climbing helmet into a make-shift basket for a smaller gift set.
Inside your climbing gift basket, consider adding climber-friendly gear items, such as:
- Carabiners
- Chalk bags and chalk
- Local guide books
- climbOn skin care cream
- Finger strength trainers
Other great gift basket items include a gift membership to a local climbing gym or organization. While these aren’t exactly “physical” gifts, they are quite popular in the climbing community and you could include a set of stickers from the organization within the basket for display purposes.
10. The Coffee Fanatic
Who doesn’t love a good cup o’ joe when they’re enjoying the view from camp in the morning?
If you’re looking to surprise an outdoorsy coffee lover in your life, then this gift basket idea is for you. You can start with a functional gift basket container, like a camping cook pot, or you can put a more traditional spin on this idea with a classy wicker basket.
Then, fill up your container with coffee-centric items like the GSI Outdoors Gourmet Pourover Java Set and some quality insulated mugs. For car campers, you could consider including a French Press or even a stovetop espresso maker, like the ever-classic Bialetti Moka Pot.
Of course, no camping coffee-themed gift basket would be complete without coffee, so don’t forget to pick up a bag or two of coffee to include in your gift set!
Pre-Made Camping Gift Baskets
If you’re short on time, there are many different gift kits out there that can all be used to create a stunning camping gift basket in no time flat. Here are some of our favorite options to choose from:
1. KOSIN Survivalist Kit
The KOSIN Survivalist Kit is a fully-outfitted emergency preparedness set that comes with everything an outdoor enthusiast could need while they’re out and about. This kit features 18 different tools, including a tactical pen, emergency blanket, folding knife, and a basic first aid kit to help campers persevere in the harshest of environments.
Although the KOSIN Survivalist Kit is pre-packaged inside a small carry case, you can unpack the kit’s contents and create a beautiful gift basket display in the container of your choice. You can then supplement the kit with camping goodies, such as a set of Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals, to create the ultimate survival gift set.
- Multi-purpose survival kit includes 18 pieces of emergency gears
- Perfect gift for hiker, camper, outdoor adventurer
- Easy to carry due to its mini size
2. Sunflora Picnic Backpack
An all-inclusive gift kit for adventurous families, the Sunflora Picnic Backpack is a great choice if you’re looking to keep things simple, yet exciting.
As the name suggests, this gift set comes neatly packed inside a backpack, which also happens to double as an insulated food cooler. The pack comes with everything a family needs to enjoy a meal in the great outdoors, including a picnic blanket, flatware, plates, and even plastic wine glasses.
The Sunflora Picnic Backpack can be a great camping gift basket as-is, but you can also supplement it with various treats and accessories for an extra personal touch.
- Large and organized insulated compartment
- Includes detachable bottle holder, picnic blanket and waterproof pouch
- Practical for family outdoor activities
3. Outdoor Explorers Kit
If you’re looking to make a gift basket for the young adventurer in your life, the Outdoor Explorers Kit is a solid way to get started.
This set comes with its own drawstring backpack, which is filled to the brim with kid-friendly items. It includes a pair of binoculars, a compass, and a whole host of supplies for catching butterflies and other insects in the great outdoors.
The Outdoor Explorers Kit is a worthy gift on its own, but it can also be combined with other ideas from our Junior Ranger gift basket concept based on the interests of the recipient.
- Complete with explorer gear that your kid will enjoy
- Comes with a bug gather kit for a fun camping or indoor investigation
- Fun gift for 3-12 yr old boys or girls
