Fathers Day is just around the corner and I’m, as always, completely devoid of any ideas on what to buy for my old man. I’ve found myself wishing he was a hiker because, let’s face it, that would make things a hell of a lot easier. When it comes to presents, we do have a tendency to buy things that we’d like to have for ourselves.
So this got me thinking that I should put together a list of gift ideas for those who do have a hiking enthusiast for a dad. Instead of buying him socks, why not buy him hiking socks? Instead of undies, why not baselayers? See where I’m going with this?
Well, hopefully I’ve come up with some far better ideas than socks and undies for you. Let’s see what we’ve got here…
A wallet that won’t weigh his pants down and subject you to his plumbers crack
Wallets can be annoying at the best of times, but even more so when you’re active. Rather than buy a chunky leather wallet for your active dad, get him one that’s compact and lightweight. I’ve got one and I love it (you may have read my review last week). The Butterfly Wallet is currently 30% off (making it just over US$10). Just enter the code RED at checkout.
First aid kits for even the most accident prone of dads
I’m extremely accident prone (if you don’t believe me, read about my Werribee Gorge hike), so I never head out hiking without a well-stocked first aid kit. I keep mine in a ziplock bag though, so I’d love to have one that lives in a nice compact pouch. If you think you’ve been spawned by someone far too uncoordinated for this tiny thing, there are a range of sizes to choose from (priced from $29.99 to $119.99).
A sharp knife in case, well… You’ve seen 127 Hours, right?
Call me crazy (lots of people do), but I went out and bought myself the Leatherman Skeletool (pictured left) very soon after watching 127 Hours. Okay, so I’m unlikely to ever need to chop my own arm off, but it’s a pretty handy thing to have around in lots of situations. It’s got a knife (obviously), pliers, wire cutters, a screw driver, and a bottle opener. At $129.99 it might not be for everyone, but Leatherman have a whole range of awesome multi-tools starting at $49.99.
Make sure he’s always got safe drinking water, while helping those who don’t
The LifeStraw is a very cool little water filter that is small and light enough to carry with you everywhere. You can
read my review for more detail on why it’s awesome, but one of my favourite things is that LifeStraw donate a portion of sales to humanitarian aid projects around the world, through Rotary International. For US$21.21 you not only get to make your Dad happy, but you’ll help someone who’s more in need.
Or if you’ve got cash to blow, how about the most ridiculously high-tech headlamp known to man?
I wrote about the Petzl Nao headlamp early last year and, though I still haven’t had a chance to test one out, I thought it was still a product worth mentioning here. Anyone who does multi-day hikes needs a headlamp. Whether they need one that automatically senses reflected light and adjusts the brightness and shape of its beam accordingly, I’m not so sure. If you don’t think Dad needs something that fancy, especially at US$157.50, then maybe consider something cheaper from the many available. Beware of the cheapest models though. In my experience, you get what you pay for.
Hopefully that gives you a few ideas, anyway. Want another one? Forget about buying anything. What he’d probably like most is if you head out for a hike with him.
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What are you planning for your Dad this year? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
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The post Does your old man hike? Fathers Day gift ideas for the outdoor Dad appeared first on Bushwalking Blog.