Exploration Essentials – 6 Fantastic Gift Ideas For the Adventure Enthusiast in Your Life

Exploration and survival lies in the hearts of all human beings. We have an inkling of curiosity, and suddenly we’re hours away from civilisation, deep in a forest but entirely sure of where we are. We are hardwired by millenia of evolution to seek, to learn, and to understand our surroundings, and even in this modern age of technology and knowledge, our hunger for the unknown still pushes us out into the wilderness regularly.

Some people are more prone to this call than others, and you surely know at least one person who goes wilderness camping several times a year, and they are probably notoriously hard to buy gifts for. Worry not, as our guide to several gift ideas for the adventure enthusiast in your life is here, and it’s ready to make your holiday shopping a lot easier.

 
Flint and Steel
Flint and steel is a great gift idea for the camper/survivalist in your life, as it’s more reliable than a fire lighter and just as transportable as a set of keys. These sets of firestarters can cast off sparks at thousands of degrees in the rain, snow, and even when completely soaked, making them absolutely invaluable to the camper you know.

Many people just breaking into camping outside of designated camping areas will struggle with a cigarette lighter and slightly damp kindling for hours before giving up and going home, but no longer will that be the result of their efforts when they have a flint and steel with them.

Torch
Torches are the quintessential gift for your outdoorsy gift-receiver. No matter where you go, nighttime is always very dark and the further you get from civilisation, the darker it gets. LED torches are great gifts because they use very little power, they don’t need new bulbs in them, and they’re brighter than standard camping torches that are often available.

On top of all of that, LED torches usually fit in a pocket or on a set of keys, making them easy to remember to bring even when you forget everything else.

Tent
What trip out into the depths of a creature-ridden wilderness wouldn’t be complete without a small, familiar shelter that can be constructed quickly, reliably, and can provide refuge from wind, rain and insects? A tent is a bit pricey, but it blows many other adventure related gifts out of the water due to it’s sheer usefulness and transportability. Tents are always a good choice for the adventurer close to you.

Sturdy Backpack
Hiking out to a camping site can be a very rewarding experience, and often allows for an escape from other campers and their noisiness, but for that to work you will need a backpack that is sturdy enough to carry all of your camping gear, food, and clothing too. Sturdy backpacks are a great gift idea, but make sure that you get a reliable brand and ideally choose a pack that is waterproof.

 
High-Quality Axe
Unfortunately, wood doesn’t come in neatly packaged bundles out in the wild. If you want to have a fire with which to cook, entertain yourself, and keep yourself warm, you’re going to need an axe. Cheap axes can shatter when introduced to a particularly hard wood, so keeping your purchasing to the best axes you can find is a good idea. The cost increases with the quality, but getting a few people to pitch in can really cement a gift that can last decades if treated well.

Multi-Tool
Multi-tools are often found in gift shops and touted as the perfect gift for the outdoorsy person in your life, but unless you’re buying a high quality multi-tool you might find yourself with a piece of metal that’s more dangerous to you than useful in a potentially life-threatening situation. As with most things that could be considered important in a survival situation, quality is key. Shop around online and look to buy only the best, it could save your life one day.

And with that, you have six great ideas for the adventurer on your gift-list. Remember to buy only high-quality items and you’re sure to put a smile on their face these holidays.