Christmas Gift Ideas Your Camper Friend Will Love

Christmas is just around the corner. The jolliest time of the year filled with laughter, family, friends, and a lot of gifts. Choosing a gift can sometimes be stressful but if you know your friends’ hobbies and interests things become much easier. Bookworms would love a new book or a cute bookmark, cooking enthusiasts always need new utensils and pans, and campers… Well, they always need to update their camping backpack, boots, sleeping bag or their water bottle. If you have a camper in your life, here are some gift suggestions they’ll love.

Backpack

The backpack is one of the essentials for passionate campers. It’s their only storage space and its comfort is one of the most important things to consider. You can go to your local store or look for an online store that ships backpacks Australia-wide to find what your friend needs.

Backpacks have different capacity levels. If your friend goes on short camping trips, for 1-3 days, they’ll need a 30-50l bag. This will hold their clothes, sleeping gear, water, food and any other essentials. If they go for 3-5 days, a 50-80l one would be more appropriate. But if they do 5+ days, a 70l one is a must. These bags can be bulkier and heavier but will store everything your friend needs.

There are several features you should consider. First, you have the frame. You have internal frames that are hidden into the backpack and provide great structural support. The external frames are visible and extend beyond the bag. You can also find frameless ones, but they can be a little uncomfortable to wear.

Ventilation is important too. Some bags have a suspended mesh back panel that keeps them away from the back and prevents sweating. Some have ventilation channels to solve this issue. Having a lot of pockets is a game-changer. We can’t get enough of them. There are several types of pockets on a backpack. The elasticised side ones are great for a bottle of water or tent poles.

The hip belt pockets are good for a flashlight, phone or charger. You can also find a top lid pocket that can store their sunglasses or the multitool. If the bag comes with a rain cover, it’s a big plus. Sometimes a fun camping trip can be destroyed by heavy rain and a rain cover can save their belongings from getting wet.

Almost every backpack comes with a water bladder hidden inside. This is a very practical asset and will save your friend a lot of water breaks along the way. Of course, the hardware on the bag has to be durable and sturdy. Zippers, buckles and buttons made of high-quality materials will extend the bag’s life for many years.

Sleeping Bag

Your camper friend needs a sleeping bag for sure. This is one of the items that need to be replaced more frequently than the others because it’s used the most. It’s crucial to pick the right material, size, shape and temperature rating. The temperature rating shows the lowest temperature the bag can keep you warm in.

If your friend goes to colder climates, get them a bag with a rating that’s several degrees lower than they need, just in case. The bag’s shape plays a big part as well. Some of them are more spacious and some don’t allow for a lot of movement. The rectangular-shaped ones are the most comfortable and very affordable.

If your friend is a summer camper this is the right bag for them. The barrel-shaped ones are good for autumn, summer or spring. They’re not very roomy but are lighter to carry around. And the mummy sleeping bags are good for winter camping. They’re lightweight, temperature efficient and will fit into the camping backpacks Australia has to offer.

When it comes to insulation, you’ll find two types, synthetic and down. They both have their pros and cons. Down is made of feathers and gives more warmth. But if it gets wet it’s harder to dry it out and prevent the feathers from clumping. Polyester is cheaper, and easier to maintain, but won’t last long. As a bonus you can buy a self-inflating sleeping mat, to make your friend’s even more comfortable.

Rain Jacket

The first thing you should consider is a waterproof fabric. The jacket can be made of different materials, but the most common ones are nylon and polyester. To a certain degree, these materials are water-resistant on their own. But when they’re turned into jackets, manufacturers add a few more layers to make them even better at repelling water.

But there’s a difference between water-resistant and waterproof jackets. Water-resistant ones are layered with a durable water-repellent finish but can leak after a while. Waterproof ones on the other hand have an outside and inside layer of protection. This way you’ll know you won’t get wet unless the seams and zippers are not sewn correctly.

There are several extras you can keep an eye on. The first one is the hood. Not every jacket has one (for practical reasons). But for your camper friend, it’s a must-have. There are also ventilation zippers found under the armpits, back or chest. They are great for letting in the fresh air and to prevent over sweating.

Torch

It’s not a good idea to not have a single light source when going camping. A good torch, packed neatly into the camping backpack can be a lifesaver. When you buy the flashlight, the lumens are most important. Your chosen torch should produce at least 100 lumens. The basic models have 160-200 lumens, which is enough to get them through the wood, to the toilet or to find something in the bag.

Make sure the materials the torch is made of are strong and durable. The terrain is rough, and it needs to survive falls, bumps and a little water. Choose one with rechargeable batteries. This is a more cost-effective option. If your friend is not a fan of torches and wants to keep the hands free, you should get them a headlamp.

Ask at the store about some additional features. Some torches have an SOS light, which can be very important in life-threatening situations. Some have a strobe or an infrared light. Some of them have clips or magnets. This way they can hang it on their pockets, backpacks or the tent. All of these extra features can be of great help.