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Gifts for dads can be tricky, but if your dad loves the outdoors then your shopping just got easier. I pulled the best gifts for dads from our in-depth reviews to bring you a comprehensive list with something for any outdoorsy pop.
- Best Shooting Accessory: Inforce ARC 650
- Best for Thermal Curious Dads: Athlon Optics Cronus ATS P-Mini 250S Thermal Monocular
- Best for Travel: Pelican ATX
- Best for the Summer Adventurer: Kuiu Gila LS Hoodie and Gila Pro Hoodie
- Best for Hog Hunters: ATN Thor 6 Mini Thermal Riflescope
- Best for Whitetail Hunters: Tactacam Reveal 3.0
- Best for the Dad that Cooks: Cabela’s Deluxe 24 Pellet Grill
- Best Baitcasting Rod and Reel Combo: Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite
- Best Air Rifle: Air Venturi Avenger
- Best Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Adamas
- Best for the Backyard Lumberjack: Council Tool Flying Fox Ax
- Best Fly Reel: Abel Vaya
- Best Backyard Accessory: ThermaCell EX90
- Best Hunting Rifle: Winchester Model 70 Super Grade
How to Choose a Gift for Dads Who Like the Outdoors
Dads who like the outdoors are extremely easy to shop for once you crack the code. Here’s how you do it.
What Does Dad Enjoy?
Narrow down the huge list of possibilities by focusing on his core interests. If dad likes fishing, get him a gift that supports that passion. If he has a lot of hobbies, you can’t go wrong with a gift that goes well with all of them.
Things They Wouldn’t Buy for Themselves
Once you have the list narrowed down, the difference between a good gift and a great gift is buying something that dad wouldn’t buy from himself or something that he can make memories with for a long time.
How to Use this Gift Guide
In the “Key Features” section for each product, I’ve written what type of hobbies the gift is good for and given you an idea of the price range. The amount of dollar symbols corresponds to how many digits there are in the gift’s price tag. So, something that’s $100 will have three dollar symbols and something that’s $5 will have one dollar symbol. To also help you find a gift in the right price range, I’ve listed them from the most expensive to the least expensive. I’ve also hyperlinked an article where you can read more about the product if you want to dive in deeper.
Best Shooting Accessory: Inforce ARC 650
I don’t know a dad who doesn’t love flashlights, and if you’re buying a gift for a father who spends his weekends at the range, the Inforce ARC is a great choice. It’s a modular weapon light that mounts to any M-LOK handguard (Picatinny adapter sold separately).
Why do they want it? Weapon lights have become a must-have accessory for defensive shotguns, pistol-caliber carbines and AR-style rifles. You’ll be helping dad complete his next build with one of the best weapon lights out there. This light is exceptionally bright with a focused center beam and good spill. It’s MIL-STD-810H certified for durability and IPX8 certified for waterproofness. It uses a rechargeable 18650 battery and has a lengthy run time for such a powerful flashlight.
Specs
- Max Lumens: 1,400
- Max Candela: 90,000
- Max Beam Distance: 600 meters
- Waterproof Rating: IPX8 Certified
- Shock/Drop Rating: MIL-STD-810H Certified
- Battery Runtime: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Best for Thermal Curious Dads: Athlon Optics Cronus ATS P-Mini 250S Thermal Monocular
The world is awash with thermal-curious dads, who want to try the technology, but don’t want to start off with a $10,000 scope. The Athlon Cronus ATS P-Mini is a thermal monocular that won’t break the bank and has a ton of cool uses. From projects around the house to finding the dog in the backyard to game recovery. It’s a fun and useful optic that is guaranteed to get a great reaction from any outdoorsy dad.
It’s also easy to use with a touchscreen display and app connectivity. Even a luddite will be able to turn it on and start using it right away. The kids can help with changing the color palettes and recording videos.
Best for Travel: Pelican ATX
- Exterior Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9.1 inches
- Interior Dimensions: 18.6 x 11.78 x 7.24 inches
- Volume: 30 liters
- Weight: 12.8 pounds (weighed empty)
- Metal latches with combination locks
- Waterproof and dustproof
- Four wheels with 360 degree rotation
- Hard exterior
- Made in the USA
This is the ultimate carry-on luggage. Pelican manufacturers everything from gun cases to coolers, and one thing that’s consistent in their product lines is durability. The ATX luggage is no different and it has a hard exterior that’s built similarly to Pelican’s legendary Air cases. I’ve traveled thousands of miles with mine and it’s held up to abuse as a carry on and a checked bag. The Pelican ATX is a well-made piece of luggage that’s the ideal gift for the frequent traveler. Read my full review.
Best for the Summer Adventurer: Kuiu Gila LS Hoodie and Gila Pro Hoodie
Key Features
- Sizes small to 4XL
- 18 different colors
- UPF 50+
- Anti-odor treatment
- Loose fit that’s ideal for warm weather
- Price: $79
Dad needs something practical that he can wear while mowing the grass, reeling in a bass, grilling burgers, or scouting for hunting season. One shirt that fills all those roles is the Kuiu Gila Hoodie. I’ve worn mine doing all of the above and while chasing my toddler around the yard. It’s a comfortable shirt that protects skin from sunburn and keeps you cool through oppressive heat.
The fit is loose, but not too loose and runs true to size. The hood lays flat when not in use and doesn’t obstruct your peripheral vision when it’s up. The SPF protection prevented burns, even when I spent over 8 hours in the sun. I live in the southeast where the humidity stays above 80 percent all summer, and the Gila wicks the inevitable sweat and keeps me comfortable in triple-digit heat. Another noteworthy feature is that the shirt’s material doesn’t hold odor like some synthetics, so you can probably give dad a hug when he gets home from the lake.
The Gila Pro hoodie is another good option. It has a built in facemask for additional SPF protection or concealment while hunting. Its has a more athletic fit so that it can be worn as a base layer. One of my favorite features is the vented arm pits, which is like having central air built into a shirt.
Best for the All-Around Outdoorsman: Victorinox Venture Pro
Key Features
- 14C28N stainless steel
- Overall length: 9 inches
- Blade length: 4.25 inches
- Bow drill pivot in handle
- Tweezers, pen, ferro rod included in sheath
- Polymer handle
- Lifetime warranty
Every outdoorsman needs a good fixed-blade knife and the Victorinox Venture Pro is a perfect option that won’t break the bank. This is a full-tang knife that’s designed for bushcraft but is versatile enough for camplife, hunting, or anything else your dad likes to do outdoors.
The design of the protruding tang makes it easy to start a fire with the included ferro rod. There’s jimping far forward on the blade’s spine (near the tip), which allows you to choke up on the blade for more control when carving, whittling, or feather-sticking.
The Venture Pro’s handle has a comfortable thumb rest for extra control when using specialized carving techniques like the sternum pull cut, pinch-grip, or power cut.
It has a polymer handle, which will work well in all weather conditions. The knife clicks positively into its MOLLE-compatible sheath, which also holds a tweezers, ferro rod, and pressurized ballpoint pen.
Best for Whitetail Hunters: Tactacam Reveal 3.0 and Reveal 3.0 Pro
Key Features
- Runs on 12 AA batteries (buy those too for the ultimate gift)
- Doesn’t need a sim or SD card to work
- 4K video
- Superior image quality and reliability
- Outdoor Life Editor’s Choice Winner
- Price: $$$
Trail cameras are practical hunting tools that provide a wealth of insight. But, they’re also a ton of fun. That’s why a trail camera, particularly a cellular trail camera is a fantastic gift. It’s something dad has a practical use for and he’ll have a ton of fun watching photos of deer and other animals appear in the app.
The Reveal Pro 3.0 won our 2024 trail camera test because of its stellar performance and easy to use app. The key differences between the 3.0 and the 3.0 Pro are that the Pro has an LCD screen and no-glow flash. Both would make excellent gifts for the whitetail fanatic.
Best for the Dad that Cooks: Cabela’s Deluxe 24 Pellet Grill
Key Features
- 570 square inches of cooking area
- Adjusts from 160 to 450 degrees
- Weight: 123 pounds
- Price: $$$
If dad loves the sweet smell of hickory smoke in the morning, then this is the perfect gift for him. It’s under $500, small enough to easily move around, and big enough to cook up a feast. It’s ideal for making delicious BBQ, but doesn’t require the work needed to maintain a consistent temperature of a propane or offset smoker. Keep in mind that the max temp is 450 degrees so this grill will be great for low and slow brisket and beer can chicken, but not ideal for searing steaks.
Best Baitcasting Rod and Reel Combo: Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite
Key Features
- We recommend the 7 foot, medium heavy rod as an all purpose combo
- Right or left hand retrieve refers to the hand dad uses to turn the reel handle. Look at his other baitcasting reels to find out.
- One or two piece? Most anglers prefer one-piece rods, but two piece rods are convenient for traveling or if dad uses a compact car to go to the lake.
- Hobbies: Bass fishing
- Price: $$$
The Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 is a baitcasting rod and reel setup that will make dad’s day and keep him smiling all summer. It’s a high performance rod and reel that looks as good as it fishes. You can get it in number of configurations, but you can’t go wrong with a 7 foot, medium heavy. If dad fishes a lot of places with thick vegetation, a the 7 foot 3 inch, heavy will allow him to muscle fish out of the cover. Or if he’s a smallmouth angler, the medium or medium light power rods are excellent options.
If the $230 price tag is too steep for your budget, also consider the awesome Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Baitcast Combo, which is $100 less.
Best Air Rifle: Air Venturi Avenger
Key Features
- Speed: Around 900 fps
- Needs an air pump or scuba tank to the fill the reservoir
- Calibers: .177, .22, and .25
- Hobbies: Hunting, shooting, pest management
- Price: $$$
Today’s air rifles aren’t Ralphy’s Red Rider or inaccurate pellet guns. They’re powerful and wicked accurate. If dad likes squirrel hunting, hates squirrels, or just likes plinking, the Air Venturi Avenger is a great first reintroduction to the world of airguns. When Jim Chapman did his Air Venturi Avenger review, his rifle shot a 16-shot group at 40 yards that could be covered by a quarter. He also noted that the air rifle was backyard quiet, so it won’t disturb the neighbors. It’s no wonder he chose it as one the best air rifles.
Something any hunter will appreciate is the price of shooting an air rifle, which costs pennies in comparison to the ammo a centerfire or even rimfire uses. Also, at well under $500 it’s a gift a few people can chip in on and provide dad with a ton of fun or a new hobby.
Best Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Adamas
Key Features
- Blade length: 3.25 inches
- Blade steel: CPM-CruWear (it’s really good steel)
- Hobbies: Any outdoor hobby
- Price: $$$
It was very difficult choosing a knife for this best gifts for dads list, but my selection ultimately landed on the Benchmade Mini Adamas, which won best overall in The Best Pocket Knives review. The Mini Adamas is a tough, rugged blade that is also convenient to carry. Anyone from hikers, anglers, to backcountry hunters will love this pocket knife. Dad will carry his new pocket knife on all his adventures and create new memories with it everywhere he goes. An heirloom piece like this is a special gift that any dad would be lucky to have.
Best for the Backyard Lumberjack: Council Tool Flying Fox Ax
Key Features
- Good for throwing or splitting firewood
- Hobbies: Any outdoorsman will like this ax
- Price: $$
If you’re buying for a dad that loves sharp flying objects, a throwing ax is a fun yet practical gift he’ll love. The Council Tool Flying Fox is balanced for throwing, and sticks in ax targets with ease. But, it is also a great ax for turning logs into firewood and kindling. It makes a great gift because it is an utilitarian tool and backyard fun all in one. At under $60 it won’t break the bank either. If you want to see more ax options check out Drew Conover’s article, The Best Camping Axes.
Best Fly Reel: Abel Vaya
Key Features
- 5.45 ounces (in 5/6 weight)
- Dual-pawl drag system
- More than 80 different color/design options
- Hobbies: Fly fishing
- Price: $$$
The Abel Vaya is a functional work of art. In fact Monte Burke chose it as one the best fly fishing reels in his review. Its performance is stellar, but it also comes in a wide variety of colors and paint schemes. You can even order a custom reel from Abel. And that added touch makes the Vaya stand out as a great gift for a fly fisherman.
Best Backyard Accessory: ThermaCell EX90
Key Features
- Protects Against: Mosquitoes and gnats
- Active ingredients: Metofluthrin
- Hobbies: BBQ, gardening, archery, and hanging out in the yard
If mosquitoes and gnats are preventing dad from enjoying time outdoors, a Thermacell is a must-have backyard accessory. I’ve tested them extensively while hunting in buggy places and for my best mosquito repellents article. They’re highly recommended and they really do a great job at keeping mosquitoes away.
The EX90 uses a rechargeable battery and just one consumptive refill. While the EX90 isn’t ideal for taking on a backpacking trip or a hike due to its size, it is a great option for RVing, car camping, and the backyard. The device takes 15 minutes to create a protective bubble and will provide protection for nine hours on a single charge. After the heat-up time you’ll have a 20 foot mosquito-free zone.
Best Hunting Rifle: Winchester Model 70 Super Grade
Key Features
- AAA maple stock
- Cartridges: .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, .30-06 Springfield, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
- Hobbies: Hunting and recreational shooting
- Price: $$$$
If you really love dad or you and other family members want to chip in on something really special, then an heirloom-grade hunting rifle will make an unbeatable gift for any hunter. You might actually make dad cry when he opens the box and finds a rifle with a beautifully figured wood stock.
Buying a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade is the easy decision, but choosing the cartridge it will shoot is a tough one. If dad is a deer hunter you can’t go wrong with the .308 Winchester or the 6.5 Creedmoor. If you live west of the Mississippi and he hunts elk, mule deer, and antelope you might consider going with the 6.5 PRC or .300 Winchester Magnum. If he’s an old school dude, then get him the 30-06 Springfield or .308 Winchester, which are both great for hunting anything in North America. Outdoor Life’s editor-in-chief, Alex Robinson, wrote The Case for New, Wood-Stocked Deer Hunting Rifles, which makes a compelling case for these timeless rifles.
FAQs
A hunting rifle, really nice hunting clothing, or a quality knife are all great gifts for a dad that likes hunting.
Dads want a gift that helps them enjoy their hobby and is something they can use for years to come.
A tie is the most common gift and one of the worst gifts for an outdoors dad.
Final Thoughts on the Best Gifts for Dads
Dad deserves something great this year, and the best gift for dad is one that helps him enjoy his favorite outdoor hobby even more.