Within days of taking down holiday lights, putting decorations away, and dreaming up New Year's resolutions, hints of the next major holiday start to appear. Before you know it, grocery store aisles are full of chocolate, roses, and candy hearts. If you’re one to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you may start to wonder what gift to get your adventure-loving sweetheart or friend — and whether or not it’ll break your post-holiday budget.
We’re not here to bash chocolate and flowers (they’re never a bad idea) or to tell you to spend big on the “perfect” romantic gift. But we are here to give you some outside-the-box gift ideas — for all budgets — that your outdoorsy sweetheart or friend will love. Whether you want to give a gift you can wrap or plan a special Valentine’s Day date instead, we’ve got you covered with plenty of Valentine’s gift ideas for outdoor enthusiasts.
Personalized Keepsakes
If your sweetheart loves making and reliving memories, a personalized keepsake can be a great gift. Not only is this type of gift budget-friendly, it packs a huge thoughtfulness punch that will show your loved one how much you care. With a little creativity, the options for personalized gifts are endless. But here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Framed photo: Print out a photo from an outdoor adventure you shared. Choose a frame they’ll love — or if you’re especially crafty, you can make one yourself.
- Customized journal: Create or buy a customized journal for your loved one. Whether they want a place to sketch, write, or journal their hikes, this gift can be as versatile as it is beautiful.
- Artistic map: Find — or create, if you’re artistically inclined — a pretty map of your sweetheart’s favorite mountain range, hiking trail, or national park. You can even frame it to create an interesting piece of wall art.
Outdoor Essentials
Some of the best gifts are the most practical ones. After all, if your loved one enjoys spending time outside, they know how important it is to come prepared — and they’ll appreciate your help getting there. Check out our ideas for the best outdoor essential gifts below, and remember — finding budget-friendly outdoor gear is possible.
- Socks: We may be biased, but we think merino wool socks make the perfect gift for just about anyone. Whether your sweetheart likes to hike, ski, or run, there’s a perfect pair for them.
- Base layers: Anyone who spends time outside knows how important layering is. Without the right base layers, it can be hard to regulate your temperature when you’re exercising outside. Again, we love merino wool.
- Gloves or mittens: Valentine’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of winter. By then, your sweetheart may have lost a glove or two. Gift them a new pair of gloves or mittens, which you can never really have too many of.
- First aid kit: There’s nothing more essential than first aid and survival when you’re in the backcountry. Create a customized first aid kit for your sweetheart based on their favorite outdoor activities.
Outdoor Accessories
If your sweetheart’s set on essentials, they may love receiving a fun outdoor accessory. These days, there are endless gadgets and gear to choose from. You could spend hours at an outdoor retailer browsing the shelves. Or, you could check out our top ideas below:
- Hammock: There’s a reason hammocks have become so popular — they’re a peaceful, comfortable, and convenient way to enjoy the outdoors, wherever you are. Lightweight, packable hammocks are ideal for those who spend a lot of time in the backcountry.
- Portable charger: If your loved one spends a lot of time in the woods and uses their phone for taking photos, referencing maps, or IDing birds, chances are, they’ll benefit from a portable charger.
- Field sketchbook and art supplies: Sketching, painting, and writing are all great ways to enjoy time outside — whether you’re miles into the backcountry, on a short day hike, or in your backyard. A packable sketchbook and lightweight art supply kit will make it easy for your loved one to dive into one of these hobbies.
Something To Read or Listen To
We all know an avid reader or podcast listener. If that’s your sweetheart, they’ll appreciate nothing more than new reading or listening material (or fun accessories to make doing so more enjoyable). Consider the following gift ideas:
- Outdoor adventure book: Books make great gifts, especially those that tell inspiring stories that take place outdoors. See what books we recommend, or browse the adventure and nature sections of your local bookstore.
- Book light: If your sweetheart tends to drain their headlamp battery from frequent nighttime reading in the tent and while traveling, a book light may help. Consider a rechargeable model to cut down on new batteries.
- Headphones or earbuds: Lots of podcast junkies like to listen on the go. Comfortable headphones or earbuds — that are compatible with your loved one’s favorite outdoor activities — are a must.
- Magazine or podcast subscription: Magazine or podcast subscriptions are often overlooked gifts but are a delight to receive. Get your sweetheart a subscription to an outdoorsy magazine or podcast they’ll love.
Outdoorsy Experiences
Experiential gifts are priceless, but they don’t have to be costly. Giving the gift of an experience is a great way to set aside quality time with your sweetheart — or to give them a little quality time of their own! Like many other gift categories, the variety of experiences you could give is endless. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- Picnic: Pack a special picnic with your sweetheart’s favorite foods and share it in a beautiful outdoor setting. If you live somewhere cold, you may have to get creative — a backyard bonfire with hot cocoa counts, too!
- New activity: Is there an activity your partner or friend has been wanting to try? Maybe they want to check out the local climbing gym or try a new winter activity like snowshoeing or fat-tire biking. A gift certificate, gear rental voucher, lesson, or guided excursion could be a great gift.
- Weekend getaway: If you and your sweetheart love to travel, they’d likely appreciate a winter weekend getaway. (Who wouldn’t?). Whether you hop on a plane or drive an hour from home, there are plenty of adventure-worthy winter destinations to choose from.
Get outside with someone you love this Valentine’s Day
No matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day or who you celebrate it with, these gifts are sure to please any outdoor-loving sweetheart or friend — or yourself, for that matter.
Do you have Valentine’s Day gift ideas for outdoorsy people that we missed? Comment below with your ideas, and have a fantastic Valentine’s Day!
