This post is not sponsored by any of the products, brands, or websites mentioned. We just love sharing our favorite finds with you!
Whether you're shopping for your best trail bud, your other half, or using those gift cards on yourself, get ready for THE BEST adventure gift guide of the season! In this six part series, we're sharing our favorite outdoor finds under $25. Pour yourself a hot cocoa, get the wrapping paper ready, sit back, and enjoy these fun ideas straight from our rad Ambassadors to you!
The ten essentials
First things first, we've organized this handy guide *loosely* based on the ultra-important 10 Essentials for safe and fun outdoor adventure. The 10 Essentials ensure that we're prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors, and while you may not use every item every hike, it's important to always keep them handy. To learn more, check out our blog post on The 10 Essentials! As a refresher, the 10 Essential systems are:
Navigation
Headlamp
Sun Protection
First Aid
Knife
Fire
Shelter
Extra Food
Extra Water
Extra Clothes
Today, we're tackling Navigation and Headlamp, and of course throwing in a few fun extras!
Explore - Navigation
Unless you're heading deep into the backcountry, a solid map and compass are great tools to start building your navigation stash. Check out this pocket-sized Compass from Coghlan's, $9, or this Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet that includes a compass, fire starter, whistle, and emergency knife, $14.
On the map front, did you know you can download most State and National Park maps for free? If your Secret Santa buddy is heading out on an adventure soon, throw in a free National Park Map!
Now onto the slightly less survival-based fun! First up for your adventurer young or old, everyone loves a great coloring book. Even better? How about a National Parks Coloring Book, $12!
If you love to learn, these Pocket Guides by James Kavanagh, share facts about the wildlife, birds, trees, and wildflowers of your state. Grab an individual guide for $8, or your state's entire set for $18. The pamphlets are pocket-sized and laminated, so you can take em with you on your next adventure!
Whether your next New Year's resolution is to hike X miles, or you just love to look back on old adventures, keep track of those memories with the Get Lost Adventure Log, $12. Each page includes space to record the location, date, conditions, and friends from your adventure, with plenty of note space to write everything you want to remember!
Lastly, we can't write a 10 Essentials-inspired gift guide without including Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival, $11. In this New York Times bestseller, Dave Canterbury shares the best backcountry tips and advice on being well-prepared, so that you can truly connect and enjoy the beauty of the wild.
Stay Lit - headlamp
Whether you're heading out on a quick day hike or deep into a tropical cave, you should always carry at least one light source. While there are tons of fancy headlamps with cool features, nothing beats a quality basic like this Black Diamond Headlamp, $12. With three brightness settings, this mighty little light can get up to 200 hours of run time on the lowest setting. It's powered by AAA batteries, so spares are easy to keep on hand.
Besides the typical headlamp or flashlight, another personal fav of ours is the LuminAid Solar Inflatable Lantern, $22. With its 360° glow, this lil guy is great for cave hangs, campouts, and even car or hurricane emergency kits. Since it's inflatable, the LuminAID pack down to fit into even the smallest day packs. It can be charged both through USB or by its solar panel, and can run up to 24 hours on its lowest setting. It's also waterproof and durable, and we happen to think it makes for a great cave pool party lantern ;)
Stay tuned for Part 2 coming next, where we'll dig into Sun Protection + Skincare!
PS: Did you know that your online shopping can also support rad nonprofit organizations like Military Wild? If you're stocking up for that holiday feast or ordering gifts for family and friends, check out AmazonSmile! When you shop through AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your purchase is donated to a registered charity of your choice, at no extra cost to you.
Be sure to shop through the AmazonSmile site rather than the traditional Amazon site. At login or checkout, search for and select Military Wild (or a number of other incredible organizations) to receive your donation. We're so thankful to be a part of this military family and it brings us so much joy to continue supporting you through this wild ride with the help of donations!