Gifts for the Camping & Outdoors Dad

Nesting cast iron pans that go straight from the fire to the table replace the flimsy stuff most camp kits come with, and they last long enough to become his default gear.

$40–$80CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

For the dad still cooking over an open fire out of necessity rather than preference, a compact two-burner stove speeds up every meal on a trip without adding much pack weight.

$60–$120CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

Bad instant coffee at camp is a solvable problem. A compact press means real coffee without hauling a full kitchen setup.

$25–$45CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

Hands-free light for setting up camp, cooking after dark, or a late walk to the bathroom — the single most-used piece of gear on most trips, and easy to underspend on.

$25–$50CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

Packs flat, lights the whole campsite instead of one narrow beam, and solves the problem of everyone crowded around a single headlamp at the picnic table.

$20–$40CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

For trips longer than a weekend, keeping a phone or GPS charged stops being optional. A solar panel charger means he's not rationing battery for the whole trip.

$35–$80CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

For the dad who drives an old truck to remote trailheads, a jump pack that also charges devices is the kind of gift that quietly prevents a genuinely bad day.

$50–$90CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

TideWe make hunting and cold-weather kit — insulated suits, waders, a silent swivel chair — aimed at people sitting still outdoors in bad weather. Useful well beyond hunting if he fishes hard water or coaches outdoor sport. USD pricing, ships to Canada.

USD $129–$200CAD, approx.

See price at TideWe

The difference between a good night's sleep and a miserable one at camp usually comes down to what's under the sleeping bag, not the bag itself. An upgrade here gets noticed on night one.

$50–$110CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

Most camp chairs are heavy or uncomfortable. A lightweight one that actually reclines is a small upgrade that gets used every single evening at camp.

$40–$80CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

A multi-tool that earns its spot in the pack: pliers, a saw edge, and a ferro-rod fire starter for the trip where the lighter dies.

$40–$110CAD, approx.

See price at MEC

A waterproof, hypoallergenic stainless steel buckle hand-forged with a Canadian landscape design outside Kingston, Ontario — built to actually hold up outdoors, not just look rugged on a shelf.

$245–$255CAD, approx.

See price at Iron Art

Photo: Grey Owl Paddles

Made in Canada from solid ash — the classic canoe paddle shape for a dad who actually gets out on the water, and a real step up from the aluminum paddle that came with the canoe.

$170–$180CAD, approx.

See price at Grey Owl Paddles