Picking the right gift for Father’s Day can be a daunting task, and while taking the easy road with a tie or coffee mug is tempting, why not do something special for pops this year? To help take the stress out of this Father’s Day, our team put together a list of outdoor related suggestions that let you say thank you to the guy who first stoked your passion for the great outdoors.
Father’s Day Gift Guide…
For all those games of catch in the backyard and his encouraging (and okay, maybe a little embarrassing) chants from the sidelines, this is your chance to show how much you truly appreciate him. Act quickly and nearly everything on this list can arrive at his door ahead of Father’s Day. Here’s hoping you can be there to watch him unwrap it in person.
Exotac Matchcap
Your dad has been stockpiling gear for years, which makes finding a unique gift a little more challenging than usual. Enter the Exotac Matchcap, our new favorite essential for hikers, campers, and adventurists of all stripes. The MATCHCAP™ is a nearly indestructible waterproof match case for storing matches and other fire starting material. Made of high strength Cast Alloy the Matchcap is as beautiful as it is functional.
Designed to carry an array of matches ranging from the standard kitchen box-strike match to the Titan Stormproof Matches, the Matchcap includes both strike anywhere and red phosphorous striking surfaces. Go with the XL Matchap and you’ve got a waterproof housing for a small emergency survival kit (matches, tinder, nylon thread and fishing hooks). For the discerning outdoor dad, this gift is not only practical but ready to serve as the lynchpin of his adventure gear stash.
Stio Azura XT Hooded Jacket
If your dad is still wearing your hand-me-downs from High School, then it’s time to update his adventure wardrobe with the Azura XT Hooded Jacket. With a trim, technical fit and packable design, the Azura XT is an all-conditions alpine insulator, featuring PrimaLoft Gold insulation for year-round, weather-resistant warmth. Ready to stand in as his new mountain wing-man, the Stio Azura XT will keep him comfortably warm on active alpine ascents and less-active around town recovery sessions.
Opinel No. 12 Explorer Knife
Early on, dad taught you the value of a good knife while exploring the great outdoors. Founded in 1890, Opinel has built a reputation on simple, beautiful knives offering reliability without the premium price tag. The new Opinel No. 12 Explore Knife lets dad take the brand’s blade-making expertise to the great outdoors. With a 3.9-inch Sandvik 12C27 steel clip-point blade, a polymer handle, and the Virobloc lock, the No. 12 Explorer is a durable and versatile knife. Opinel has packed in a few additional features as well. A whistle is built into the handle and a small, sliding insert at the butt end of the knife contains a gut hook and a lanyard hole.
Klymit KSB 20˚ DOWN SLEEPING BAG
If your dad is like ours, chances are he’s had the same sleeping bag since 1979. Time to upgrade his outdoor adventure game with the Klymit KSB 20˚ degree down Sleeping Bag. In our opinion the KSB 20˚ represents one of the best value buys in the outdoor arena. What truly sets this sleeping bag apart from the crowd is the flexible baffles which stretch and contract with every movement. So dad can shift, shimmy and wiggle in his sleep all night long and never feel constricted.
Lofty, warm and light, this gem delivers the comfort dad craves and deserves after a long day on the trail. The 650 fill power white duck down delivers exceptional warmth for its weight, packs down easy, and will last him the next 30 years. A draft collar, over-stuffed foot box, insulated mummy hood and flexible baffles at the body’s core all work together to minimize heat loss for greater thermal efficiency.
STANLEY Master Series
Your dad has always been the jack of all trades and the master of a few more. His high standards and lofty expectations kept you striving for bigger and better. So reward him the Stanley Master Series. Stanley designed this line of products for the toughest of the tough and those who demand the very best in durability and performance. How tough you ask? The Stanley Master 44 fl. oz. vacuum bottle utilizes Quadvac insulation to keep drinks hot for 40 hours, cold for 35 hours, and iced for up to 160 hours. Need we say more?
Yeti Hopper Two
First there was the wheel, then there was seedless watermelon, and now the smart kids at Yeti have perfected the soft sided cooler. The updated YETI Hopper Two has more cold-holding power, an updated shape for easier loading and a new easy-to-carry design. ColdCell insulation not only delivers Yeti’s magical cold-keeping performance, but ensures that dear ol’ dad can haul impressive amounts of frosty deliverables to his destination of choice.
It’s leakproof, portable and thanks to a puncture-proof DryHide outer shell it’s virtually indestructible. Six tie-down points make it the perfect tag along partner for fishing trips and family camp outs. The Hitchpoint Grid lets him to customize his Hopper with a bottle opener, SideKick gear case, or Molle Zinger. Added bonus, the Hopper Two 30 holds 24 cans of dad’s favorite adult beverage.
Teva Arrowood Lux Mid
For the dad that’s as capable outdoors as in the office, the Teva Arrowood Lux Mid offers a splash-ready sole for the trails and a sharp leather upper and insole for the onlookers. Outfitted with lux full-grain waterproof leather, this premium take on an adventure-seeking sneakerboot brings stepped up style and function for the dad who’s street savvy perfectly aligns with his backwoods shrewdness.
Mountain Hardwear Scrambler RT OutDry
It’s time for Dad to kiss the trashbag trail mentality goodbye. Tested to still be waterproof after 24 hours in a rainroom, Mountain Hardwear‘s Outdry technology is guaranteed to keep Dad’s gear dry in monsoon-like storms. Watertight OutDry construction includes a waterproof breathable membrane to provide the same protection that Mountain Hardwear’s best ski jackets have, and the roll-top closure utilizes the same protection as dry bags for river kayaking. It’s the perfect gift for the for all-weather hiking, biking, and commuting minded father.
SlideBelts Survival Belt
It’s versatile enough to take him from the boardroom to the backwoods of the Blue Ridge Mountains and combines the highest grade components with a sleek, goes-with-anything look. The Survival Belt from SlideBelts pairs the convenience of a ratchet style belt with the unique body of the highly versatile Survival Buckle. Composed of highly durable glass-filled nylon, the Survival Buckle features an integrated folding knife with bottle opener, LED flashlight, and a Ferrocerium fire starter rod.
Devoid of the standard five holes that plague traditional belts, the buckle instead locks onto the notches that run the full length of the belt. This means dad not only gets a perfect fit, but a longer-lasting belt. The strap strength comes from good ol’ American ingenuity. Composed of an internal webbing core coated in a durable TPU alloy protective shield, this strap is crafted to withstand whatever Mother Nature may have in store. For the adventure ready dad, it’s a survival kit right where he needs it, when he needs it.
BioLite Charge 20 & SolarPanel 10+
For the dad that’s always on the go, help power up his adventures with the BioLite Charge 20. The Charge 20 sets a new standard in waterproof, durable and practical portable storage that crosses the line between backcountry and the urban jungle. The thin hard-wearing stainless steel design has a silicone gasket top which makes the Charge 20 dunkproof and ready for the unexpected morning coffee spill. With 5200 mAh power supply, pops can reliably charge his phone, tablet, or whatever electronic goodie the grandkids are packing along. 
For the uber techy dad, partner the Charge 20 with the BioLite Solar Panel 10+. Featuring state-of-the-art monocrystalline technology, the BioLite SolarPanel 10+ has smart yet simple details that breathe new life into his electronic devices when off the grid, or at that weekend BBQ with his old crew. BioLite Optimal Sun System has an integrated sundial that aligns you to the sun to capture direct rays while a 360° kickstand simplifies positioning on uneven terrain. Indicator lights ensure that even ol’ pops can see the charging status and battery capacity. Yup, it’s solar simplified.
Helly Hansen Duffel Bags
The duffel bag is the true unsung hero of anyone’s gear stash. It gets to travel, but it never gets to really come out and play. Even so, it bears the enormous responsibility of taking care of your gear, even when it’s in the hands of not-so-gentle baggage handlers. It fits that perfect ‘just right’ space that exists somewhere between the world of day packs and full on luggage. But if it’s a gift for dear ol’ dad, you can’t trust just any bag with this responsibility, but you can definitely put your trust in the family of duffel bags from Helly Hansen.
Padded and removable straps transform these duffels into a backpack while adding some well deserved comfort to pop’s travel agenda. Additional grab handles lend an assist ensuring that carrying, loading, and packing these duffel bags is as convenient as possible. So whether he’s weaving through the chaos in LAX Terminal One, hiking 20 blocks to save on Euro bus fare, or just enjoying the view, you know he’ll be doing it all with ease and confidence.
Darn Tough Socks
So socks may not seem like the most exciting gift in the world, but we promise that dad will love these Hike/Trek socks from Darn Tough. For 36 years Darn Tough Vermont has held firmly to the belief that when you’re really serious about something, you make it yourself. And so it is. Made with the industry’s highest knitting density, Darn Tough socks diminish blisters and bunching for long lasting comfort that will carry dad in comfort trail after trail. Each Darn Tough sock comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee and is designed, tested and manufactured in Vermont for unrivaled comfort, durability and fit. Once he puts them on, he’ll never take them off.
CHACO Mega Z Classic
For the mountain life lived both on and off the trail, Chaco has got dad covered. Meet the Mega Z Classic – the rugged durability and adventure worthy performance you’ve come to expect from Chaco featuring a 32mm polyester jacquard webbing. A new twist of the Classic Z/Sandal, the Mega Z offers reliability across widely varying environments, ranging from slippery river crossings to steep alpine trails.
The bold webbing creates a custom fit without slippage, thanks to the pull-through strap design and sturdy ladder lock buckle. Meanwhile the iconic LUVSEAT™ PU footbed cushions every step over rough terrain with its ergonomically shaped foam. Trust us when we tell you that your dad is going to love these sandals.