The bad news is that with each passing year, your dollar buys a little less. The good news, however, is that the team at GearJunkie makes its living researching, testing, and talking with manufacturers about the latest and greatest in outdoor gear. And we have never lost sight of the value our readers place on scoring a really great deal.
So, every year, when gift-giving season is upon us, we reserve a few guides to help thrifty adventurers find gear within their budget. If you haven’t already, check out GearJunkie’s Under $50 gift guide, too.
Here, we’ve pulled together some great outdoor products that cost $100 or less. And while gear can easily run north of $300, $400, or even $500, there is a trove of top-notch items that will serve you (or the lucky person on your list) for years of adventure.
So pour yourself some nog and scroll through some of the best gear you can snag for under $100.
Be sure to check out all of our gift guides for more ideas to suit every adventurer on your list!
Top Outdoor Gear Under $100
REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket — Men’s & Women’s: $60
Made with 100% recycled polyester, the REI Co-Op Trailmade Fleece Jacket offers insulating warmth in a classic, relaxed fit — suitable for hanging at camp or light adventures.
Designed as a versatile midweight jacket, REI built the Trailmade Fleece Jacket to function as standalone outerwear on chilly days or as a midlayer under a shell when the weather turns.
The full-zip design has a double-layer collar with Lycra spandex binding and Lycra-bound cuffs and hip-length hem for a secure fit. Zippered hand pockets and drop-in interno pockets provide ample space for storing essentials. At under $100 for both men’s and women’s styles, this jacket offers a great value for the price.
Outdoor Research Feedback Flannel Twill Shirt: $99
This shoulder season staple from Outdoor Research provides a Goldilocks mix of warmth and breathability, so you stay warm in drafty spaces and don’t collect sweat while out for a hike. Some of us wear this shirt all winter and have bought multiple for ourselves.
Bluesign-approved polyester helps the shirt wick moisture and dry fast. It has chest pockets (one with a pen slot) and a shirttail hem for wearing untucked. Plus, there are several patterns to choose from.
YETI LoadOut Swivel Seat: $60
The YETI LoadOut bucket was a bit decisive among the outdoor gear nerd community. But for those who loved it and own one, there was one thing missing: a swivel seat.
YETI has answered the call with this quiet swivel seat with heavy-duty foam padding to make the most of a LoadOut Bucket. The swivel is a welcome feature when fishing or hunting, but the cushion makes it an inviting seat during breaks from chores around the house.
Make sure the giftee on your list already has a bomber bucket, or you can add a Fully-Loaded Bucket to your shopping cart.
Teva ReEmber Slip-Ons: $80
While these make great travel and camp booties, they’re also a favorite around the house. This uniquely designed slip-on has a cuff heel collar that can be pulled up to ankle height for added fit and warmth.
The recycled polyester uppers provide warmth with a microfiber lining inside. A responsive footbed adapts to your foot, while a minimal but capable sole provides traction.
Mountain Gazette Annual Subscription: $70
There are a million-and-one gadgets and doodads you can gift (keep reading for some great recommendations), but to really enjoy the culture and stories of the great outdoors, consider gifting a subscription to the new-look Mountain Gazette magazine. A staple of the outdoors over the years, the Gazette has changed hands — through good times and hard — and now has a new life.
Published twice annually in spring and fall, the Mountain Gazette provides stunning photography, old-school reporting, and captivating stories, all packaged in a big, satisfying magazine — which, let’s be honest, is more of a coffee table book. Packed with 160 tabloid-size pages, the Mountain Gazette is a unique gift idea that will add stoke and sophistication in equal measure.
Gainful Customized Protein: $49
For fitness enthusiasts or anyone focused on nutrition for an active lifestyle, Gainful Customized Protein is a thoughtful, unique gift option that you can personalize based on dietary restrictions and fitness goals. Choose one of four base protein options: whey, plant-based, low-lactose whey, or ketogenic. Then, dial the formula to target weight loss, building muscle, or weight gain.
And finally, the fun part — flavor selection. Because Gainful Protein’s base formulas are intentionally flavorless, each post-workout shake or on-the-go snack can be different.
For a gift, you can’t go wrong with the variety pack, which includes bestselling flavors like Madagascar vanilla, rich chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and cinnamon toast, so there’s a flavor for every craving and preference. Gainful Customized Protein comes in multiple pack sizes at a price point under $100.
CRKT Squid XM: $60
How much did we like the Squid XM in testing? So much so that our tester touted it the best pocket knife CRKT has ever made.
We appreciated the Squid XM for its efficient, precise blade and no-nonsense construction that didn’t feel too spartan in hand. Simply put, the Squid XM has everyday utility and ease of use, and it offers tremendous bang for your buck.
Fuse Replacement Lenses: From $60
Nearly everyone has a pair of sunglasses with scratched lenses they just can’t let go of. Fuse can bring new life to old frames by replacing the lenses with mirrored or non-mirrored options. Fuse’s AMP optics may even be an upgrade.
You can likely find a match for your sunglasses among the 5,000 frames Fuse has on file, but if not, you can request a box to send in those sunglasses to be swapped out with custom lenses.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Organizers: Prices Vary
Don’t just pack. Pack like a pro and travel like one, too, with the Pack-It organizers from Eagle Creek.
Packing cubes enhance packing efficiency for every kind of adventure. Choose from a full line of shapes and sizes for a customized packing system that works in backpacks, rollers, duffels, and more.
The Reveal Collection, pictured above, has mesh windows to more easily identify and pull the right gear at a glance — saving time and leaving more room for spontaneity on the road.
Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket — Men’s & Women’s: $99
You can add insulation to your winter kit without shelling out hundreds of dollars. Decathlon offers a host of outdoor gear at significantly lower prices than the competition (if you’ve never heard of it, read up on how it works).
The MT100 Hooded Down Puffer Jacket is darn near a steal in the world of outdoor gear. It’s packed with 800-fill down to be comfortable on the move in temperatures between 23 degrees and 41 degrees. It has an abrasion-resistant shell fabric and two zippered hand pockets, and it weighs just over 11 ounces in size large.
Its DWR coating is on par with mid-tier gear at higher price points. If you want a little extra warmth for not a lot of cash, this is the place to look.
HYDAWAY Hydration Travel Pack: $40
Repercussão-conscious folks and minimalists who love to travel light will appreciate the HYDAWAY Hydration Travel Pack. This portable bottle was designed to be lightweight and hold up to 17 fluid ounces.
Like classic water bottles, the design fits most cup holders and includes a lid with a built-in straw. But unlike most water bottles, the HYDAWAY Hydration Travel Pack doesn’t take up valuable space in your pack when it’s not in use. Instead, this space-saving bottle collapses down to a 4-inch by 1.5-inch disc. Stash it in your backpack, carry-on, or pocket until you’re ready to refill.
Crafted from resilient, BPA-free silicone, the HYDAWAY Hydration pack is dishwasher-safe and built to last through countless adventures. As a fun bonus, each pack includes a stylish, protective case inspired by National Park designs, which keeps the bottle clean and protected.
Superfeet Hike Cushion Insoles: $55
This is another practical — not glamorous — gift that will be greatly appreciated by the hiker in your life. Superfeet insoles are made for long-term support and can be trimmed to fit footwear just so.
These insoles are made with hikers in mind, but Superfeet makes several insoles for anyone who spends hours on their feet — recreating or working.
REI Flexlite Camp Boss Chair: $90
A revamped seat reduces tension zones and makes room for a wider range of bodies. The chair’s now 20% larger than the original Flexlite chair for those looking for more roominess or a larger weight capacity (up to 300 pounds).
Additionally, the seat’s pole pockets now have pull loops and larger openings for an easier setup. It comes with a stuff sack for storing the chair when it’s folded down.
America the Beautiful Pass: $80
Maybe the most value you can get for $100, the America the Beautiful Pass is as close to priceless as you’ll get. With this pass, that lucky someone on your list is only limited by their sense of adventure (and vacation days).
This pass offers full access for the cardholder and anyone lucky enough to ride in their car — and is accepted at more than 2,000 federalista recreation sites. Plus, when you buy at REI, the co-op will donate 10% of the proceeds to organizations devoted to the outdoors.
Matador Laptop Base Layer: $60
Like a pair of great socks, you might not wow somebody when they first tear away all the wrapping paper on the Matador Laptop Base Layer. But be patient, this padded, waterproof laptop sleeve will become a daily lifesaver over time. It’s simple and wonderfully designed for the on-the-go and travel-happy professional.
The Laptop Base Layer fits in any pack a laptop would fit. Its stretchy mesh pocket will accommodate more cords and other peripherals than you might think. The roll-top Velcro closure is secure and will protect your investment from water, dust, and the jostling and jouncing of regular travel. Whether you’re gifting it to a daily bike commuter or weekly airline traveler, the Laptop Base Layer will become an invaluable part of their kit.
Solo Stove Mesa XL Fire Pit: From $70
A tabletop fire pit emphasizes portability. It still delivers the vibes of a campfire with a heat radius of a few feet and room to roast marshmallows.
The Solo Stove Mesa XL Fire Pit is made with 304 stainless steel ceramic materials and comes with a nylon carry bag for moving from the backyard to the tailgate to the campsite. It can burn firewood up to 7 inches long or up to 1,000g of pellets with a burn time of 45-60 minutes.
The Mesa Stand keeps the heat off of tabletops and helps the pit get the airflow needed for a smokeless fire.
How to Use This Guide
Obviously, for every product in this guide, dozens of others nearly made the list. The guide below has been influenced heavily by our in-house testing. Every item here has either been personally vetted for performance or is a bona fide value we would gift someone for the holiday — guaranteed.
But we also wanted to provide a variety of items — after all, not everyone wants a pair of awesome, affordable sunglasses or an outstanding headlamp. So, you’ll find a little bit of everything here. And if it’s not exactly the one item you want, consider clicking on the brand’s site and shopping around for something within your price range.
And finally, this guide isn’t solely focused on the brand-spanking new. Some gear has been on the market for years, and it still stands the test of time. In some cases, it’s even improved with trickle-down tech and minor improvements without jumping in price. We strove to assemble a solid mix of tried-and-true products, as well as the latest gear we’ve tested.
And now, the list!
Why You Should Trust Us
Ultimately, gift-giving should be personal and thoughtful — that’s up to you. But if you need inspiration for that outdoorsy person on your gift list, that’s where we come in!
GearJunkie alone has a staff of more than a half-dozen daily editors and another team of Best Of testers and editors. Combined, we test hundreds of products over thousands of hours each year. Not everything we test makes it to print, either. We filter out only the best, top-performing gear for any given activity or user. From knives and watches, to bikes and helmets, tents and sleeping bags, rifles and bows, and even big, fancy pickup trucks.
Our team has first-hand experience with all the products we recommend. Take this guide at face value, or use it to brainstorm something that’s truly the perfect fit. After all, anything that gets folks outdoors and enjoying adventure is a great gift!
Want more gift ideas? Check out our other gift guides and buying guides.
The Best Outdoor Gifts You Can Give (or Get!) Under $100 This Holiday
