Gift Guide for Outdoorsy Families

Products were sent to me for the purpose of inclusion

We are a family that loves being outdoors, discovering everything nature has to offer and with Lockdown 2.0 upon us, I think most people are learning more about their local area and what there is to do outside to keep their mind and bodies healthy.  I have put together a gift guide for the outdoorsy family, with ideas for parents, children and whole families.

For the Grown Ups

I used to run on empty pavements in the evenings but this year I have seen more people than ever grabbing their trainers and starting the couch to 5k challenge.  It makes me so happy to see so many people running and as the weather gets warmer and the light starts fading, the Proviz reflect360 hoodie will be perfect for keeping them warm and visible as they maintain this fantastic hobby. It is both breathable and warm and is exactly what I have been looking for to help me through the colder months. The silver areas are all light reflective and are on both arms and the hood

Keeping up with children requires comfy shoes and the slip on trainers from Rieker are easy to wear and have super comfortable memory foam insides as well as shock absorbing flexible soles.  They will be ideal for all sorts of outdoors adventures.  These anti-stress shoes are designed to keep you walking with a spring in your step all day!

This summer I spent a lot more time swimming in the sea and one thing I have been meaning to buy is some good goggles.  Aqua Sphere Kaiman goggles offer 180 degree vision, a scratch resistant coating and extra comfortable materials.  These will be ideal for anyone braving sea swimming over the winter months but also for those who are sticking to indoor pools whilst the temperature lowers!  Aqua Sphere have ranges for men, women and children.

The Zippo Heatbank 9s is a brilliant device that not only works as a handwarmer with six different heat settings, but also charges devices via USB.  Ideal for camping trips, long walks and everything in between, this multipurpose tool is a great gift for a grown up who loves to be outdoors.  The ergonomic shape fits a hand comfortably and has a run time of up to 9 hours. 

For the Kids

For any child who has big dreams to explore the world, the Travel Edition of Atlas of Adventures would make a beautiful gift. Each section begins with an illustrated map of the area followed by its most fascinating locations.  If they want to learn more about riding a gondola in Venice, sleeping under the Northern Lights or showering with elephants in Chiang Mai, this book will inspire them.  The Atlas of Adventures is a book I could easily get lost in and is such a beautiful gift.

Childhood is the perfect time to learn a new skill and two of mine are desperate to give skateboarding a go.  I think this Rampage Skate board would be perfect for a beginner and a great way to make the most out of being outdoors.  Skates.co.uk also sell helmets and other protection - something I think we will need! 

With our plans including getting outdoors no matter what the weather this winter, I need to make sure the children are dressed for adventure and won't get cold.  This starts with the first layer and a good pair of thermals will be vital this winter.  We love Reima for outerwear, but their merino wool thermal sets are not only super fun and colourful (there are four different colourways in this print) but snuggly warm, making sure we don't have to cut our fun short.  Base layers are something I would always advise investing in and these would be a great Christmas gift for mini adventurers.

The more my children travel, the more interested they have got in the world.  With every subject they study at school inspiring questions, I think Our Wonderful World is a perfect present this Christmas to encourage curious minds.  Full of beautifully illustrated maps that not only share the geography of each country but other interesting information, this is something that any little adventurer will love, as well as it being a book you want to have on display thanks to the fantastic artwork. 

Outdoor adventures require snuggly attire and Frugi's Blizzard Bobble Hat is fun and bright as well as cosy and warm.  It comes in two colours and you can buy matching knitwear for both.  We love Frugi for their soft organic cotton and strong ethics and my children love a new bobble hat so I think this would make a great Christmas gift!  Check out all their Christmas gift ideas!

If you are looking for an Eco-Friendly gift idea then The Bike Club is a great way to keep up with growing children's bike needs.  You pay a monthly subscription from £5 per month to borrow a bike and can exchange it every time they grow (which is very regularly in my house!).  There are options if you would rather only borrow new bikes or whether you are happy with used, but each one is carefully looked after by the team so you are only getting the best. This is a great way to get kids cycling without the big expense at the beginning!

We are a family that love to camp and one thing that I think will make life easier as well as way more fun, is a kids head torch like this one from Whitby and Co.  Designed to be as robust as the adult version but with extra safety features, this makes the dark so much more fun, not just on camping trips but for nightime treasure hunts and mini adventures too.  With 9 hours burn time this head torch is easy to use and full of fun possibilities!

I can't leave out the smaller adventure lovers and this Kinderkraft balance bike from Kiddies Kingdom is ideal for children aged 2 years and up.  A great reason to get outdoors, balance bikes make a brilliant first bike and encourage balance and movement in preperation for pedals later on.  The seat is height adjustable, the bike is sturdy and easy to carry and the frame is made from environmentally friendly beech wood.  

For the Whole Family

Outdoor adventures can be tiring and we often want to stop for a picnic or a drink, so this camping chair from Helinox is ideal for camping trips, woodland walks, festivals and more.  It packs up so small and light and can be popped in a backpack, it is easy to assemble and is so comfortable! If you purchase one at the moment it comes with a free seat warmer which adds extra padding and stops any drafts.  The chair one weighs 960g and is 35cm long in the bag but easily accomodates an adult, this is a great gift for the whole family to enjoy.  

Playing cards are an essential family camping game and this pack of Foragers playing cards from Kikkerland Design is educational and multi purpose with each card sharing a fun foraging fact.  Whether you are a novice or an expert at foraging, these cards are full of interesting information and will make any woodland walk more interesting. 

Gifts don't have to be something we can open and one of the best ideas for the family that has it all, or wants to give back is a tree from Treedom.  You can buy a tree in one of 17 countries around the world in partnership with NGOs and small farmholders.  Your tree is photographed and geotagged and you can watch it grow as well as learning about the farmers you are helping.  My cacao tree is in Cameroon and I can track the co2 absorbtion and its growth.  This is the ideal gift for a family that wants to work towards balancing their emissions and help efforts to reforest. You can find my tree here

We all know how much better it is for the environment to use a reusable water bottle and for anyone who doesn't already own one (or for those of us that like a collection), then this Friends of the Earth bottle from Ion8 is a beautiful and eco friendly gift.  It is never too late to change a habit and this bottle works towards eliminating the fact that over 1 million plastic bottles are bought worldwide every minute.  Fill it with your favourite drink and let it accompany you on all your adventures.

With the temperatures dropping rapidly and many of us hoping to keep up outdoor adventures all winter, a hand warmer is a great gift for a family.  This one from Whitby and co is compact and easy to use with a flameless burn that lasts up to 12 hours.  It can be used 90 times before it needs refilling and comes with a protective fleece bag.  Whether you need to keep your hands warm during a sport or on a long walk, this pocket sized warmer is a great companion. 

There are so many wonderful gifts for an outdoorsy family and there has never been a better time to get outdoors and explore!