Gifts for outdoor lovers in Australia

Buy for summer, then for the cold nights

A December gift in Australia goes straight into summer. Sunscreen, a bucket hat, a quick-dry towel and a cold bottle get used the week after Christmas. Cold-weather kit like the alpaca socks and the Creswick blanket still earns its place, because nights in the bush and the high country get cold even in summer.

Outdoor people are specific. A bushwalker counts grams; a car camper does not care. Think about the last trip they told you about and buy for that.

Some picks work better together. The towel, the cooler tote and the sunscreen make a beach-day kit. The blanket, the mug and the alpaca socks suit a cold night at a campsite. The lip balm is a good add-on to almost anything here, and cheap enough to tuck into a stocking.

What to spend

Under $20: the lip balm, the bucket hat and the sunscreen. None are exciting, but they all end up in the bag.

From $20 to $100: the Sea to Summit mug, the Knog light, the towel, the frank green bottle, the cooler tote and the surf lesson.

Above $100: the Creswick blanket, the ZeroTech binoculars, the Leatherman, the Peak Design clip and the Bose speaker. Each one gets used for years, which justifies the price.

If several people want to chip in, pool the money for the blanket or the binoculars rather than buying three small things.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not buy gear that solves a problem they do not have. A camera clip is wasted on someone who shoots on their phone. Full-size binoculars are heavy for a fast walker.

Check carry laws for anything with a blade, like the Leatherman. The surf lesson is Gold Coast only. Wool blends can feel scratchy on bare skin, so the blanket is for over a swag, not next to it.

Order before mid-December for anything sent by post.

Questions people ask

What do you get someone who loves the outdoors and has all the gear?

Look for consumables and upgrades rather than big new kit. Good socks wear out, first aid tins get used up, and a better camp mug or pillow improves a trip without replacing anything. A national park pass or a National Trust membership also works well, because it gives them a year of trips rather than another object to store.

What are good outdoor gifts under $50?

Darn Tough hiking socks, a LifeStraw filter, the Bunk House first aid tin, the NEMO Fillo pillow, the Kammok Vortek light and a Snow Peak or Sea to Summit camp mug all sit around or under that line at the shops we checked. Each one goes in the pack on most trips, which is the test a useful outdoor gift should pass.

Is a satellite messenger a good gift for a hiker?

Only for someone who goes beyond cell coverage, such as backcountry trips, remote lakes or long cottage roads. The Garmin Inreach Messenger Plus needs a paid satellite subscription for messaging and SOS, on top of the device itself. For someone who sticks to busy trails with signal, the money is better spent on clothing, a pack or a park pass.

What outdoor gift works for a family?

A park pass is the easiest family gift: the Parks Canada Discovery Pass for Canadian families and the America the Beautiful pass for US residents. In the UK, a joint National Trust membership covers couples who visit often. A Rumpl blanket or the Kammok lantern also gets shared around a family campsite.