Love it or hate it, St. Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us. For some, that means it’s time to stock up on heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. For others, that means it’s time to start grumbling about how pointless the entire month of February is. We’ve got you covered either way. If you’re in camp love-bird, surprise your boo with a gift so baller they’ll have no choice but to offer free foot massages for a month. If you’re on your own this year, then don’t wallow in self-pity on the couch with a bag of sweet chili Doritos and a Hallmark movie; treat yo self! Either way, we think these are the 10 best Valentine’s Day gifts for outdoor lovers (no chalky conversation hearts, cheesy stuffed animals, or cheap underwear included).
The 10 Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
United By Blue Salvaged Hemp and Organic Cotton Shirt Jacket
This shirt jacket is legit. And whoever you give it to will love you forever. Guaranteed.* The inside is super soft flannel, the sleeves are lined, and the sturdy repurposed hemp fabric will stand up to some abuse (read about hemp here). Plus the shirt jacket looks super dope. And since they come in men’s and women’s (not currently available) and are super sustainable, they’re a definite win for any gift list.
*Not actually guaranteed
Picnic Supplies
I know, it’s winter and nobody who lives north of Dallas is having any picnics in the park any time soon, but who says you can’t have a romantic picnic in your living room? Heck, build a blanket fort and make it a whole thing! We’d be down for that. But if you’re going to go to all the trouble, ditch the plasticware and step your game up a notch. Start with a couple of classy reusable utensil cases (complete with straws, chopsticks, spork, and sexy straw-cleaning bristle brush), then pour the wine in a pair of woodsy copper mugs, light a candle that smells like mountain peaks, and cozy up on top of (or underneath) the blanket below. Suuuuper romantic.
Kammok Field Blanket
It’s a blanket! It’s a cozy poncho! It’s a top quilt! It’s all of the above! It’s the Kammok Field Blanket. It functions as a hammock top quilt, a blanket, and snaps up so you can wear it as a poncho. Plus it’s super cozy. Especially if two of you are snuggled underneath its cozy lining… Snag yourself one here.
Pocket Cocktails
On a budget? Loved one doesn’t like sipping straight whiskey from a Lexan flask in the backcountry? Then these Pocket Cocktail mixes are perfect for gifting. Available in bloody Mary, Moscow mule, old fashioned, and margarita, all you have to do is add alcohol, which makes them perfect for camping and backpacking. Because nobody wants to pack in fresh limes or horseradish… Order one (or all four) here.
SteriPen UV Water Purifier
Nothing says “I love you” like purified drinking water! Did you know that water filters and purification tablets don’t kill every single illness-causing bacteria and pathogen in drinking water? If your significant other regularly fills their Nalgene from natural water sources or from taps in foreign countries, give them the gift of not getting giardia with a UV water purification pen. ‘Cause UV and boiling are the only methods that kill all the nasties. This SteriPen Ultra will do the job nicely. Plus, you’ll reduce the amount of plastic polluting out waterways by not buying disposable water bottles, so good for you.
Toad&Co Trail to Tavern Pants
Everybody loves a company that puts an emphasis on sustainability! And that’s definitely Toad&Co. And for the perfect pair of pants that will take both of you from trail to tavern (as in, they perform like hiking pants on the trail and look super stylin’ when you wander into town), look no further than the women’s Flextime Skinny Pant and the men’s Rover Camp Pant. These pants might just become their new favorite hiking/travel/everything pants. And you might just become their new favorite person for gifting them. If you weren’t already…
Biolite CampStove 2
What could be more eco-friendly than a camping stove that runs on nature’s fuel (sticks) instead of butane and more romantic than cooking dinner (or just marshmallows) over an open flame? BioLite has designed just the thing and your significant other will be head over heals for it. Plus, BioLite is a pioneer for sustainability and ethical business practices. The founder even helped start Climate Neutral, a venture that helps other companies become carbon neutral by offering a simple avenue for doing so. Find the CampStove here.
Sunski Sunglasses
Tell them to ditch the dollar store glasses and upgrade them to a pair from Sunski made from recycled plastic. They also don’t use plastic packaging and are certified carbon neutral, so that’s a bonus. Plus their glasses case is made of vegan leather! Find women’s shades here and men’s glasses here.
REI Classes
Want something really romantic for Valentine’s Day? How about a little education for two? REI offers classes for everything from navigation to snowshoeing to camping 101. Get an REI gift card so they can pick out their own or book a class you know they’ll love. Check out what’s available at your local store here.
GrooveLife Silicone Rings
We’re not suggesting you propose with one of these bad boys (although you absolutely could and if they love the outdoors as much as you they’re basically obligated to say yes…), but a new ring is never a bad thing. Especially if they can wear it to the gym, the rock wall, the backcountry, and the bar without worrying about damaging their delicate little fingers or an expensive platinum band. We have these silicone bands and love the heck out of them. The grooves on the inside make them more comfortable and breathable than other brands we’ve tried. Find a whole slew of styles here.
That enough ideas to set you up for a successful Valentine’s Day? We figure it should be. Score one of these 10 best Valentine’s Day gifts for outdoor lovers and whether you’re bequeathing it to your beloved or treating yourself (cause, girl, you deserve it!), enjoy the day and get out there and wander on!
*This post contains affiliate links. That means when you celebrate V-day, we celebrate V-day.
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com