You know the feeling. You’ve been wandering around the department store for the past 2 hours. Reading packaging…picking up items…putting them back down. It’s almost like the holiday gift-buying season is some bizarre stress test that’s designed to take you down.
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We’ve gathered the products that the outdoor gadget lover in your life will go crazy for, so regardless if you’re looking for something budget-friendly, or the perfect item to leave a lasting impression – here it is: the 50 Campfires 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Gadgets.
Shopping Days Left in 2016
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$0-$50
RapidPure Pioneer
The RapidPure Pioneer only weighs 1.9 ounces and filters 99.9999% of viruses, bacteria and parasites, due to the UltraCeram nano filter. There are many filters on the market, but not all of them filter viruses. That is what sets the Pioneer apart. The draw is also surprisingly easy. With a 7,000 gallon capacity and a carrying case, any camper would want it in their pack.
$39.95
Nite Ize Gear Tie ProPack
We love the Nite Ize Gear Ties. It’s one of those products that you’ll end up using in 100 ways that you didn’t expect. From strapping gear to your pack, to holding a phone on the back of a car seat, you’ll be glad you had them time and time again. There are many different sizes, but the six-inch seems to work best as an all-purpose length.
$15.27
Buck Knives Compadre Camp Knife
Every camp box needs a solid, durable camp knife. It needs to be big enough to handle food prep, but also nimble enough to sharpen a stick for roasting marshmallows. If you truly want it to be a multi-purpose knife it should also be full tang, which means that the steel from the blade runs the full length of the knife. The Buck Knives Compadre Camp Knife is an excellent all-purpose camp knife. The 4.5” drop point blade will handle any task to take to hand. The signature red color not only looks cool, but makes it easy to spot.
$50.63
Coast G20 Inspection Beam Penlight
Whether you store it in your shirt pocket, pants pockets, or a tool bag, the G20 Flashlight with its Inspection Beam Optic is a light that you should keep close. Optimized for up close use with its crisp edges and low glare, the perfectly circular beam illuminates where and when you need it.
The G20 Flashlight is backed by Coast’s lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
$16.99
Coast Polysteel 600 Flashlight
If you work or play in an environment that puts constant stress on your equipment, then look no further than the Polysteel line of flashlights. The Polysteel 600 Flashlight is waterproof, drop proof, and crush proof while possessing our Pure Beam Optics System with twist focus to make the light ultra durable and ready to weather any storm. With a stainless steel core and a poly outer, we put this light to the test and it passed each one with style.
With Coast’s commitment to quality, the Polysteel 600 Flashlight is impact resistant, waterproof and its LED is virtually unbreakable.
$47.99
$51-$99
Leatherman Signal
In the all-new Signal, Leatherman’s traditional functional tools pair with new preparedness features like a shaped diamond coated sharpener for maintaining your straight and serrated blade, fire-starting ferro rod, and an emergency whistle. Weather have you socked in at basecamp? Lightening your load on that day hike? No problem. Stay ready for the expected (and unexpected) no matter where you are with everything you need to stay safe and take your adventure further. Nylon sheath included.
$99.85
Goal Zero Light House 250
LED lanterns these days can do much more than they used to, and the Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 is no exception. The 250 lumen, 1.1 lb powerhouse will give you 48 hours of light on low, and 2.5 hours on full blast. It has a USB port for you to keep your electronics charged, and can also be charged itself in three different ways: solar, wall plug, or hand crank. 1 minute of cranking will give you 10 minutes of light. It’s a cool feature on a well-designed lantern.
$55.99
Bushnell H2O
In our opinion, a good pair of binoculars is as essential as a tent to the outdoorsman. If you’re into wildlife viewing at all it’s a must have. You need the right size though. If they’re too big you won’t carry them, and if they’re too small they’ll be useless. The Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof binoculars are right in that sweet spot. The 10×42 lenses off an excellent light transmission and a clear picture. They’re nitrogen purged for fog free viewing and are covered in non-slip rubber so you don’t drop them.
$84.99
Dark Energy Poseidon
The Dark Energy Poseidon is one lean, mean charger. It has an IP68 rating (fully submersible) and packs 10,000mAh into a rugged case that surpasses military drop test standards. The built-in LED light will surely come in handy, and we love the two USB ports, because you always have that friend who has a near-dead phone. The Dark Energy Poseidon will keep your whole crew charged all day.
$99.99
$100-$249
Coast FL75R Headlamp
Rechargeable headlamps are our new favorite around here. Why? Because you know that you’re always hitting the woods with full lumens. You can charge them up on the way to the campsite and you’re ready to go. The Coast FL75R kicks out 530 lumens and only weighs 3.2 ounces. It also features a dual charge system, so you can still toss in AAA’s if you need to. You’ll get 11 hours on low (65 lumens) and over 2 hours on high (530 lumens).
$109.99
GoPro HERO Session
We were stoked when the GoPro HERO Session came out. It’s the lightest, easiest to use GoPro yet. It also happens to be the cheapest, but doesn’t sacrifice quality. You’ll still get 1080p video at 60fps and an 8MP camera that has burst and time lapse modes. Perhaps the most convenient feature is that the housing is already waterproof so there is no need to mess with a waterproof case. It’s waterproof to 33 feet and only weighs 2.6 ounces so it can easily go everywhere you go.
$174.99
Granfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
If you camp once a year an axe isn’t a necessity. However, if you’re out a few times a month a good axe quickly becomes your go-to tool for many tasks. There isn’t a camper alive that wouldn’t grin from ear to ear if they opened up a Granfors Bruks axe. The small forest axe is the perfect size for splitting smaller wood, cutting kindling, and pounding tent stakes. They come razor sharp in a nice leather sheath and have the initials of the smith that made it in Sweden. How cool is that?
$179.99
$250-$499
Goal Zero Yeti 400 Solar Generator
There are many options for portable power these days. One powerhouse that has proven it’s worth in this area is the Yeti 400 Solar Generator. Let’s face it: everyone in your family has electronic devices. They all need to get charged, and that little pocket device that is perfect for the plane won’t cut it at the campsite all weekend. You need something that will power lights, phones and tablets for a few days. The Yeti 400 won’t break a sweat doing that. For even more functionality you can pick up a solar panel and stay off grid for as long as you want.
$440.15
Coleman Hot Water On Demand H2Oasis
One thing you really start to miss after a few days at camp is hot water. You can dial in your sleeping setup and get very comfortable at night, but easily accessible hot water becomes coveted before long. The Coleman Hot Water On Demand H2Oasis lets you soak those dishes in piping hot water at the flick of a wrist. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery and can heat up to 125 degrees in 30 seconds. One propane tank will heat about 40 gallons of water, which is plenty for a weekend of dishes and a few showers.
$244.10
Braven BRV-XXL
Music and camping are great companions. From the gentle strum of a guitar around a campfire to a full on party in the woods, it can deepen your outdoor experience in profound ways. If you’re in the latter category, the Braven BRV-XXL is the speaker for you. It has a massive 15,600 mAh battery that will crank all night and keep your phone charged as well. It’s waterproof, has a bottle opener, and even has a microphone input. That’s right. You’re going to be singing karaoke to the creatures of the night.
$349.95
$500 and up
Generac 6866 iQ2000
If HAL 9000 were a generator, it would be the Generac 6866 iQ2000. This is one smart little unit. The display tells you exactly how much the load is, and how much run time you have left. It weighs under 50 lbs. and will run for almost 8 hours at 25% load. The economy switch makes it quieter and more efficient, but if you need more power you can always hook two of them in parallel to double the load capacity. It’s also proven to be quieter than the top contender, so your serene weekend can remain serene.
$699.99
StowAway MAX Cargo Carrier
Why is that every time you pack for a camping trip it looks like you’re leaving for a month? You say you’ll take less, but you never do. Oh well. You have a lot of stuff, and you need somewhere to put everything. The StowAway MAX Cargo carrier mounts on your trailer hitch and pivots 180 degrees, allowing access to the vehicle. It holds up to 200 lbs. of gear in 16 cubic feet of space and has brake lights to keep you (and all of your camping gear) safe on the road.
$759.46
Garmin Montana 680t
As handy as GPS apps on your phone are, they still don’t compare to the robustness of a well-made GPS unit. The Garmin Montana 680t will find you in places your iPhone could only dream of, thanks to the WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and GLONASS support. It also comes with 250,000 geocaches preloaded, so you’re ready for an adventure no matter where you are. After you find that 5/5 cache you can take a picture with the 8 megapixel camera to remember that time you almost died looking for treasure.
$479.93
