Looking for the perfect gift for a camping dad?
Well look no further… here are 15 presents any father would love to get.
From nifty gadgets to take on camping trips to gear for cooking up a storm... and a quirky tent that will turn heads and raise a laugh on the campsite, this is some of the coolest outdoor kit you can get right now.
Like it or not, electronic gadgets are an important part of most people's camping kit these days, but keeping them charged up can be a challenge. The Woodsman stove provides an answer. It's small, portable wood burning stove that generates enough electricity to charge your phone via USB. Because you can burn branches and twigs, there's no need to carry fuel and the whole kit packs compactly into its own carry bag.
Dads love a spot of barbecuing, especially on camping trips. But how does a breakfast of egg and bacon ice cream or snail porridge grab you? No, we thought not… but thankfully this new portable barbecue designed by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is more suited to traditional campsite fare than the gastro-scientist's more outrageous creations. It does look cool though and would look great on the campsite outside the tent. The Cube, part of the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal range, is portable, made from lightweight steel and has sleek, cool-to-the-touch handles. A storage tray and bamboo food preparation board are integrated into the design.
What is it with men and their sheds? Dads love a potter in the shed – it's a bit of a sanctuary. And now they can take the shed on the road, with this 'men only' tent by Field Candy. As well as looking great, it's got all the features you'd expect from a tent - 100% waterproof , weather tested, lightweight poles, breathable inner and a small front porch. You can even have it customised with a message on the door.
Gadget-lovers will really appreciate this. With a built-in firestarter, hammer, one-handed blade and an emergency whistle, the Signal is a must-pack for the backpack, whether you're heading out for a long trek, doing a spot of wild camping or just going for a Sunday morning yomp in the hills And the beauty is that it's pretty handy around the home and in the car too. Other features include two pliers, wire cutters, a saw, can and bottle openers, screwdrivers and a diamond coated sharpener.
It looks like a droid from one of the Star Wars films, and having this in your kit will certainly mean dad will have the force with him on the campsite. Designed to work with the nifty BaseCamp stove (£350), it lets you cook pizzas and flatbreads and other oven-based favourites. An integrated thermometer monitors temperatures while the ceramic stone keeps foods crisp and evenly cooked. You can also use the dome separately as a traditional lid for concentrated heat and faster cook times. And apart from all that, it just looks really cool.
The Nomad solar panel system has been redesigned to be lighter and smarter than its predecessor, with a detachable kickstand and new electronics designed to ensure the best solar charging experience. It will allow you to charge smartphones and other USB-powered devices on the move, even in unpredictable environments. The Solar Intensity Indicator uses LED lights to tell you the quality of current solar conditions.
These days we all want to capture our outdoor adventures for posterity – but not every camera is up to the job. The big question is, should you fork out hundreds of pounds on a GoPro or just try to use your phone camera to film your adventures? Or perhaps there's an alternative: a budget priced, high-definition action camera that does everything a GoPro can do for considerably less outlay. The GoXtreme Vision 4K tries to fill that gap in the market. It's small, lightweight and rugged, comes with a stack of fittings and accessories for attaching the camera in various ways and has a waterproof case that lets you film up to 30m under water. And for those who want the best possible quality footage, it records in 4K at 24 frames per second. The GoXtreme Vision 4K currently costs round £80 – less than half the price of the cheapest GoPro Hero, which it most closely resembles.
If dad is the sort of camper who can't get going in the morning without a caffeine fix then this could be for him, especially if instant doesn't quite hit the mark. Brewing up a filter coffee in a tent isn't really a serious option but these coffee bags offer a fuss-free solution for coffee lovers. The coffee in the bag is exactly the same as the stuff they sell in bean, cafetiere or espresso grind form, so you get all the flavour without any of the faff. Simply drop the bag into a mug, add water and leave it to brew for a few minutes. Each bag contains the optimum amount of coffee to make the perfect cup. The bags come in air-tight, resealable packs of 10 and will fight easily in your camping kitchen box or rucksack.
The Expedition Mule bags from Berghaus share one common feature – whatever size you go for, they all pack down into their own zipped pockets when not in use. The 100-litre model is the biggest of three (40 and 60 are also available) and it's a mighty and impressive item. In 400D waterproof ripstop nylon, opened out dimensions are 70cm x 40cm x 40cm and it weighs 1.41kg – very light for its capacity. There's a large aperture to the main compartment, with a zipped mesh pocket in the lid. The adjustable carry handles are long enough to let you sling it on your shoulder, if desired, while compression straps help keep the bulkiness down.
As well as a bright lantern, the Opal includes a wireless speaker, dimmer function and a built-in microphone for using with your phone. The speaker has a playing time of up to eight hours and can be disconnected from the main light cone.
Aimed at the "serious outdoor consumer", these have a real quality feel to them. The PR57 is a 1,000-lumen flashlight with re-chargeable Li-ion 18650 battery. It has three brightness levels plus strobe and a tactical dual switch for one-hand operation. And it comes with a micro USB port for easy charging with the optional extra power bank. It's made from aircraft-grade aluminium with an anodised coating, plus an OPX-4 water resistance rating.
The compact and lightweight Photon headtorch torch can be easily removed from its headband and clipped onto your clothes or rucksack. It produces up to 150 lumens of light from the main LED, using a special lens to provide long distance illumination while maintaining a soft peripheral light.
This is a lovely looking piece of kit that conjures up images of early American pioneers brewing up coffee over an open fire. The 2.1litre kettle comes in a classic design in white enamel, with a handle that allows you to use it with a tripod over the fire. Matching plates, bowls and cups are also available.
Just because he's camping, there's no need for dad not to look, smell and feel good. Hand-made in a small Norfolk village, this kit is perfect for tucking into his camping bag - or when he's visiting a pal for the weekend. It contains travel sized bottles of shampoo and body cleanser, cleansing face wash, hydrating face cream and a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste.