I love gifts! And honestly, I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. So here is Adventure Report’s first ever, Ottawa-centric, gift guide for the outdoorsy person in your life!
Everything on this list is something that I own or have done and can vouch for… with a few experiences thrown in that I really would like to do. 🙂 I’ll note the difference for you. I’ll also try and explain why I think a piece of gear is a good addition to someone’s collection.
But before we begin! There are affiliate links in this blog. Any product link you click on that takes you to MEC or Backroad Mapbooks can earn us a commission on anything that you buy. This commission is used to support our Camp Kit Program. (We loan camping and backpacking gear out to folks for free, you can find out more about it here).
Who do you need a gift for?
For Someone Newly Outdoorsy
For Babies/Kids
For Someone Who Wants to Upgrade Their Gear
For Someone Who Loves Outdoor Experiences
For Someone Who Loves Unique Stays
Reminder before you read this post that you don’t need a ton of gear to get outdoors! Except lifejackets if you’re paddling, definitely wear a lifejacket. 🙂
For Newly Outdoorsy People
These outdoorsy people are the best/easiest to buy for! They’ve discovered or rediscovered their love for the outdoors and are spending more time outside… but don’t yet have some of the gear that can help them stay happy, safe and comfortable while they’re doing it.
Compass – everyone should carry a compass with them and know how to use it! This is one of the 10 Essentials.
Bear Bell– I ALWAYS carry a bear bell when I’m hiking. Bears have very good hearing and this tinkling bell gives them the opportunity to hear you coming and run away.
Buff – I love my buff. It’s an easy layer that can help keep you warm, but it’s not bulky and doesn’t take up too much space in your pack if you need to take it off.
Poles – I also love my hiking poles. I find they make going downhill a lot easier. An extra point of contact really helps your balance!
Daypack – At some point, if you’re going to be hiking more than a few km, you’re going to want to bring some stuff. I find Mountain Warehouse’s packs much less expensive, and my daypack from them has held up for years.
Nalgene – I love a Nalgene as a basic water bottle for the trail. They never leak and they’re essentially indestructible.
Headlamp – This is another safety item I strongly believe everyone should carry with them at all times. You just never know when you’re going to be out on the trail longer than you anticipated. Hiking in the dark without a light is a sure-fire way to get lost.
Gaiters – Gaiters are kind of a niche piece of gear, meaning I don’t use them all the time but when I do feel like I need them, they make a MAJOR difference. I wear gaiters most often in the spring when there’s still snow on the ground but temperatures are warm enough that I’m no longer wearing snowpants. Without gaiters snow from my snowshoes constantly flicks up and hits my legs and then my legs are SOAKED and soon my socks are soaked and it’s awful. They also keep the snow out of my boots for those rare times that I’m not wearing snowshoes and I might be sinking down into the snow a bit.
Bug Jacket – This piece of gear is crucial for the spring and stops those pesky mosquitos/blackflies from eating you alive!
Rab Superlite Emergency 2 Person Shelter – I have the 4-person version of this shelter, and it’s still small and light enough that I can toss it into my pack no problem for a day hike. This shelter is something that really gives me peace of mind, especially when I’m hiking with the kids because it sets up with absolutely no work and warms up SO quickly. It’s just a way to know I can keep my kids warm and sheltered if I need to.
Some of the most important gear is the gear you don’t actually see when someone’s spending time outdoors! Pictured: Mountain Warehouse daypack with rain cover.
For Babies/Kids
Can’t forget the little adventurers!
Toaster Suit – This is the snowsuit I put my kids in when they’re little (I’m really hoping my daughter will wear hers this winter too but she’s 4 now so has some strong opinions… I’ll report back!). I like that it’s super thick and all one piece, so I know there isn’t any place for the cold or snow to creep in. It’s also completely waterproof. These go majorly on sale in the spring, so I sometimes try to buy them then for the next winter. MEC’s sizing runs a bit big.
Newt Suit – This is the rain suit I put my kids in when they’re little! I’ve tried a few others over the years but this is definitely the most durable.
MEC Shuttlecraft Carrier + Rain Cover – This is the carrier I use for the kids as they approach the toddler stage. It has two huge pockets for gear so if I’m hiking any distance solo I feel confident I’ve brought everything I need to keep them comfy. I also like it the best for winter because the rain cover blocks the wind and keeps some additional warmth in! The rain cover is sold separately.
Hydroflask Water Bottle – My daughter has had this bottle for 3 years and it’s still going strong! When she was a little over 1 year old, I really liked that I could bring her milk along and it would actually stay cold. Now that she’s 4 I just like that it’s durable and easy to clean.
LIfejackets – We bought our kids their own lifejackets because we paddle with them sometimes, and frankly the lifejackets that are available when you rent a boat from somewhere are always in rough shape and they never have the right size for an infant. Here’s the baby lifejacket we have, and here’s the lifejacket our 4-year-old wears.
Roots Socks – I swear these are the only socks that actually stay up.
Sunday Afternoons Play Hat – All Sunday Afternoons hats are great, summer or winter! We use this one in the summer to keep them cool and keep the sun off their necks.
Fleece Sweater – My daughter loves these cozy, warm sweaters. And with the zip they’re easy for them to put on themselves from a young age.
6L Backpack – My daughter’s first ever pack! There are other brands who make little kid packs now but again Mountain Warehouse is the least expensive and still holds up well.
Adventure Books – The next best thing to going outdoors is being inside reading about the outdoors. 🙂
Shoutout to all the tiny, adorable adventurers! Pictured: MEC Toaster Suit and Sunday Afternoons winter hat.
For Someone Who Wants to Upgrade Their Gear
Okay these are the HARDEST people to buy for! These are folks who have been spending a lot of time outside, who know what their favorite activities are, and who have really clear ideas about what piece of gear they want next. Honestly they’ve probably already told you so you may not need this list, but here are some ideas anyways!
Luci Lantern – I bring this little solar powered lantern backpacking with me all the time. It’s a nice diffuse light for reading, getting kids ready for bed, etc. Plus, its small and light!
Platypus 4L Gravity Water Filter – I just got this water filter for my birthday and I’m very excited! I borrowed one from a friend for a four-person backpacking trip this spring and it was just SO easy to filter enough water for everyone. You literally just have to fill up the dirty bag, find somewhere high to hang it, and gravity filters the water for you!
MSR Water Filter Pump – This is the water filter I’ve had for years. It’s a workhorse and allows me to filter water from even the smallest sources. I also really like it for filtering on the go. I used it for the length of the Lake Superior Coastal Trail and was able to quickly pop it onto my Nalgene, filter just enough water quickly, and then move on.
MEC Spark 2.0 1 Man Tent – This is the newest version of the backpacking tent that I have. It’s not the absolute best out there (for example, the fly doesn’t go down as far as I might like) but the price point is much better than most, and it’s still a very good tent. Plus it’s small and light and a new tent can make a world of difference in terms of how much weight someone has to carry while backpacking!
Thermarest Prolite Sleeping Pad – This is the sleeping pad I’ve had for years. Fully inflatable ones are much smaller and lighter, but this pad helps keep you warmer so it’s a bit of a trade off!
Garmin inReach Messenger– This is the newest version of the satellite communicator that I have (mine is the Garmin inReach Mini). I bring this with me basically anytime I hike, no matter what. It’s so small that I barely notice it, but it allows me to send messages in places where there’s no cell phone reception. The most important reason I have this though, is the ability to call for help if I find myself in an emergency situation with no reception. Essentially there’s an SOS button that you can press that will let the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) know that you need help.
Hydro Flask Bottle – Everyone deserves a Hydro Flask bottle! These are actually my go to bottles at home because they just do such a great job keeping things cold or warm, as needed. They’re the BEST in the summer for actually having cold water in your car after the car’s been sitting in the sun all day.
MSR Windburner – This is my backpacking stove! It’s super light, boils water really fast, doesn’t run through a ton of fuel, and I’ve had it forever. It does NOT simmer so really it serves it’s one purpose and does it well. For anyone who actually wanted to cook or reheat something while backpacking, something like the Jetboil MiniMo would probably be a better fit!
Socks – You can never have too many good socks. The price of good hiking socks can seem pretty wild, but the right material helps keep your feet dry, which in turn helps prevent blisters. And that’s a good thing!
Camp Chair – This is the camp chair I have, and we bring it all the time for canoe camping and even car camping (how does the car get so full??). It’s as comfortable as a full-size chair but packs down way smaller. It looks like MEC has come out with their own version since I got mine, and the price point is better. I’ve also seen much less expensive versions of these at Winners/Homesense!
MEC Rockwall Sweater – I love this sweater! It looks like they’ve stopped making it for women but I hope they bring it back because it’s ALWAYS the sweater I grab for cold weather hikes.
Pictured: The Platypus 4L Gravityworks water filter making our lives in the backcountry much easier!
For Someone Who Loves Outdoor Experiences
Donation to the Adventure Report Camp Kit Program – For the first year ever we have donation certificates available! For the outdoorsy person in your life who already has everything, a donation on their behalf is the perfect gift.
The Mana Centre – The Mana Centre rents mountain bikes and fat bikes in Larose forest, where the trails are perfect for beginners! We tried them out for the first time in the fall and it was so much fun.
Mad River Paddle Co. – This company in Calabogie rents just about everything you could imagine. From bikes to SUPs, canoes and kayaks to kicksleds (how cool!), they have something for everyone!
Parc Omega – Parc Omega is SO much fun! Our daughter loved feeding the animals that came right up to our car.
Fresh Air Experience – I’m most excited about Fresh Air Experience’s winter rentals. They rent XC skis and fat bikes RIGHT beside the Kichi Sibi Trail so you can grab your gear and get going right away!
Unexpected Journeys – This company curates surprise one day trips in and around Ottawa! It’s such a fun way to spend time with loved ones… without having to do ANY planning (my favorite part!).
Kayarafting on the Ottawa River – This is one of those experiences that I haven’t actually tried but would LOVE to. Kayarafting appears to be exactly what it sounds like; it’s a cross between a kayak and a raft! With instruction on the Ottawa River, this sounds like a great way to get out on the water.
Locations Escape – Kayak, canoe, SUP, and bike rentals right on the Ottawa river makes this the perfect gift for anyone looking to get out on the water more.
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle – OVAP rents out inflatable SUPs and foldable kayaks, which means they’re SUPER easy to transport anywhere you want to paddle! Their 24 hour rentals are a really reasonable price too.
Wilderness First Aid Course – This might be a little trickier to gift someone as the course only runs on certain dates. But it’s really great information to have in order to be a bit safer in the outdoors. Maybe write them an IOU?
Pictured: The mountain bikes we rented from the Mana Centre in Larose Forest.
For Someone Who Loves Unique Stays
Somewhere Inn – This motel in Calabogie has been renovated and the rooms are just gorgeous. Plus the property has been designed to help you relax outdoors, with hammocks and communal fire pits available. Somewhere Inn is just minutes from all of Calabogie’s amazing trails and waterways.
Hammond Hill– Hammond Hill is an eco-resort just 45 minutes from Ottawa. They have unique accommodations ranging from yurts to jupes to tiny cabins. There’s a great playground for the kids, a golf course, a beer garden, and hiking trails right on site. Hammond Hill often hosts different events (Oktoberfest when we were there!) so odds are there will be something cool happening while you’re staying there!
Borefüge – This is probably the closest place to Ottawa that you can “glamp!” It only takes half an hour to get there. We stayed in one of their yurts a few years ago and it was just beautiful inside. They also have a dogsledding team nearby so not only will you get a unique stay, but you can also add on an incredibly fun experience.
Domes Outaouis– These domes are SUPER unique and give you the experience of sleeping under the stars but… inside. 🙂 Plus they’re beautifully decorated, and right near Mont Ste Marie so there’s a ton of outdoor activities to take part in during your stay!
Ontario Provincial Parks– Okay, Ontario Provincial Parks don’t have the MOST unique accommodations. But they have yurts and campsites, and your outdoorsy person is going to go to a provincial park anyways, so why not get them a gift card? 🙂
Refuges Perches– These treehouses in the Mont Tremblant area are all unique, and beautifully nestled into their surroundings. Right outside the doorstep here are hiking trails with awesome views, and a gorgeous lake to paddle on or relax by (there are docks not far from the treehouses as you can paddle or hike into them). We brought our daughter for her 1st birthday, and it was just so cozy and wonderful.
Cabinscape – Cabinscape has tiny cabins all over the place, from Calabogie to Lanark County. These off-grid cabins are stunningly built and nestled right into the landscape, perfect for a relaxing getaway in nature.
Kayak Cabana – I haven’t stayed at Kayak Cabana, but it’s on my list! Right beside the Red River, these tiny cabins are the perfect place for paddlers. But with Mont Tremblant village just 20 minutes away, they’re also perfect for hikers! The sandy beach right near the cabin means you can also easily unwind after a day of adventure.
4 Corners Algonquin– I also haven’t stayed at 4 Corners Algonquin but I’m sure I will one day! They have a number of cool accommodations to choose from, like their bubble tents that have you sleeping under the stars, their tiny homes, or their canvas tents. Honestly the biggest appeal though might be their location- 5 minutes from Algonquin Park’s east gate means you can explore the iconic provincial park during the day and spend your nights in comfort/style!
Backroad MapBooks – This company makes the BEST maps and map books. The Cottage Country Edition covers Ottawa and the surrounding area and I just love poring over them page by page to see if there’s a trail or paddling route that I haven’t done yet. There are also suggested routes to get you going! They’re perfect for figuring out what’s close to where you’re staying.
Pictured: “The Rockhouse,” at Refuges Perches.
I hope this list has been helpful- happy gift giving!
