Find gifts to make Mom’s life a walk in the park. (Jill Wellington / Pixabay/)
Go ahead, spoil Mom for Mother’s Day 2021: We all know she deserves it. Sometimes it’s tough to know what to buy—but we have found that, especially for active moms, some of the best gifts are the ones that’ll get her outside. Want to help Mom stay warm around a campfire? How about a great-looking puffy jacket. Does your mother have a green thumb? A functional garden cart could be your go-to gift. Maybe your mom deserves to relax wherever she goes? Consider a camp chair that doubles as a comfy rocker. Outdoor gear can be pricey, so we put on our bargain-hunting glasses and—regardless of how your mom likes to spend time outside—we think these are some of the best gifts for Mom under $200.
Best Gifts for Mom to Be: Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier
Best Gifts for Mom to Be, Runner Up: Graco Dream Suite Bassinet
Best Gifts for Elderly Moms: Bass Pro Shops Eclipse Rocking Chair
Best Gifts for Elderly Moms, Runner Up: Rumpl the Original Puffy Indoor Outdoor Camping Blanket
Most Useful Gifts for Mom: YETI Roadie 24 Hard Cooler
Most Useful Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Pleasant Hearth Killian Fire Pit
Best Gardening Gifts for Mom: Gorilla Carts Heavy-Duty Poly Yard Dump Cart
Best Gardening Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Garden Potting Bench
Most Thoughtful Gifts for Mom: Columbia Women’s Heavenly Hooded Jacket
Most Thoughtful Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Big Agnes Kings Canyon Ultralight Synthetic Quilt
Best Gifts for Moms to Be
An expectant mama’s baby shower will probably take care of the basics: onesies, changing pad, extra-large case of diapers. So for her first Mother’s Day, go beyond the obvious and look for gifts for mom that will help her continue doing her favorite outdoor activities, baby in tow. Life will change—a lot!—when the little one arrives, but that doesn’t mean mothers have to give up all their favorite things. The best gifts for moms to be will also come in handy at home and around the neighborhood, too. Because sometimes, just walking around the block with a newborn is expedition enough.
Best Gifts for Mom to Be: Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier
This perennial favorite safely and cozily cradles baby in four different positions to accommodate her as she grows. (Ergobaby/)
Whether the mom in your life wants to stroll around the neighborhood or take her new baby on his very first hike, she’ll need a trustworthy way to tote him. Ergobaby carriers make for some of the best gifts for moms to be because they’re padded for extended comfort, hold baby’s legs in a safe position, and can hold baby in front-facing, backward-facing, side, and back positions. Psst: Tucking an infant into an Ergobaby and going for a hike is also a surefire way to lull her to sleep—a lovely bonus gift!
Best Gifts for Mom to Be, Runner Up: Graco Dream Suite Bassinet
This sleeper on wheels keeps baby close anywhere she snoozes—including outdoors. (Graco/)
Next to her bed. In the kitchen. In the yard. In a tent. In the bathroom so Mom can finally take a shower (we’ve all been there). The Graco Dream Suite wheels anywhere you need it to go, allowing Mom to keep a close eye on a snoozing infant. The bassinet also features a folding canopy for shade and a soothing vibration option.
Best Gifts for Elderly Moms Who Love the Outdoors
Shopping for an older mom, grandma, or even great-grandma? The best gifts for an elderly mom who loves being in nature will let her keep enjoying the outdoors well into her sunset years. If she is still getting out hiking or gardening, by all means look for sturdy hiking boots or gardening tools. If those activities are getting a little more difficult, though, try one of these Mother’s Day gift picks, each chosen to help a mom of any age or physical ability get her nature fix.
Best Gifts for Elderly Moms: Bass Pro Shops Eclipse Rocking Chair
This lightweight-yet-durable camp chair packs up easily so Mom can rock anywhere, from the campfire to the backyard. (Bass Pro Shops/)
Older mothers are probably past their days of perching on rigid picnic tables or uncomfortable benches outdoors (and don’t even think about asking her to sit on a boulder). The Eclipse Rocking Chair is one of our favorite gifts for elderly moms because it can be toted anywhere she wants to sit, and it features padded armrests, a cup holder, and a steel frame that supports up to 250 pounds.
Best Gifts for Elderly Moms, Runner Up: Rumpl the Original Puffy Indoor Outdoor Camping Blanket
Stay cozy under this lightly insulated blanket, which has a durable water repellent coating to protect it from spills, dirt, and drips. (Rumpl/)
The older mom gets, the more she’ll probably need extra warmth. This lightweight puffy camping blanket is one of our favorite gifts for elderly moms because of its smart design: It clips over her shoulders so she can wear it like a cape for backyard lounging, campfires, and dinner al fresco. The Original Puffy comes with a stow bag for easy packing and travel.
Most Useful Gifts for Mom
Looking for the best gifts for Mom under $200 that keep on giving? Then you’ll want to choose something practical—a Mother’s Day gift that she’ll be able to use over and over. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with boring options, though. Our suggestions for useful gifts for mom are aimed at facilitating her favorite family outings, whether that’s an epic road trip, a weekend camping or hiking excursion, or just a cozy evening in the backyard.
Most Useful Gifts for Mom: YETI Roadie 24 Cooler
Large enough to fit a family’s meal (including a bottle of wine), but compact enough to be stashed behind the driver’s seat of the car, this tough cooler lets Mom take goodies anywhere. (YETI/)
Known for their long-lasting insulation and durable materials, YETI coolers have earned themselves cachet as a very cool gift for mom. This one fits 24 pounds of ice and weighs just under 13 pounds when empty. Plus, it comes in a variety of fun colors.
Most Useful Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Pleasant Hearth Killian Fire Pit
This sturdy outdoor fire pit lets Mom host a bonfire safely in the backyard and comes with a cooking grid for grilling. (Pleasant Hearth/)
Outdoor fire pits let you bring the fun of a campfire to your backyard. This steel one makes building and tending the fire easy with a design that optimizes airflow. And forget the regular old grill: The Killian’s grilling grid yields flame-kissed kabobs and hot dogs for a fun and tasty family dinner.
Best Gardening Gifts for Mom
If the mom in your life communes with nature by tending her own flower or veggie garden, you can’t go wrong with gardening gifts. For moms who already have a ton of gear, consider smaller options—such as waterproof boots, gardening gloves, plants themselves, or even ultra-functional gifts like potting soil. But if you’re looking for a bigger-ticket item, we suggest one of these picks. Each one represents a big upgrade for her gardening kit—and is sure to make her feel appreciated.
Best Gardening Gifts for Mom: Gorilla Carts Heavy-Duty Poly Yard Dump Cart
This durable utility cart hauls up to 1,200 pounds yet remains easy to handle, steer, and dump. (Gorilla Carts/)
Every gardener needs a sturdy cart to carry soil, plants, materials for building raised beds...anything she can think of. This cart is a big step up from a wheelbarrow with its quick-release dumping system, high clearance, easy-to-clean poly interior, and handle that swiftly switches between pulling and towing modes. Mom won’t know how she did without it.
Best Gardening Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Garden Potting Bench
Store soil and fertilizer, hang tools, and keep Mom’s planting work organized with this attractive and useful potting bench. (Best Choice Products/)
If your mom values aesthetics as much as utility (and she’s a gardener—of course she does), this lovely, latticed workbench is just the ticket for Mother’s Day gifts. Made from fir, this sturdy potting bench features a cabinet and lower shelf for storage, and supports up to 150 pounds.
Thoughtful Gifts for Moms Who Love the Outdoors
The most thoughtful gifts for mom on Mother’s Day begin with a careful appraisal of her hobbies, likes, and pastimes. Outdoorsy, wilderness-loving mamas will no doubt appreciate premium gear to keep themselves warm in any weather—and, of course, look great while they’re at it. Mothers who love hiking, trail running, skiing, and/or camping year-round need a quality insulating jacket to keep the chill at bay. And moms who are into both camping and travel appreciate a cozy bed when away from home.
Most Thoughtful Gifts for Mom: Columbia Women’s Heavenly Hooded Jacket
This lightly insulated jacket is just the thing for cooler weather in fall and spring, or in combination with other layers for colder conditions. (Columbia/)
The Heavenly Hooded Jacket will keep mom both warm (thanks to its polyester fill and heat-reflective silver lining) and dry (it’s water resistant for days with light precipitation). Features include a hood, zippered hand pockets, interior pocket, and thumbholes. Bonus: Choose from a variety of flattering colors.
Most Thoughtful Gifts for Mom, Runner Up: Big Agnes Kings Canyon Ultralight Synthetic Quilt
This ultralight quilt works just as well for an ultralight backpacking trip as it does for typical travel. (Big Agnes Store/)
This synthetic-stuffed, lightweight quilt snaps together to form its own sleeping bag on warmer nights and also serves as extra warmth over another sleeping bag when worn as a quilt. Plus, it weighs just over 1 pound and is very packable, making it a great choice for travel and sleepovers.
Final Thoughts on the Best Gifts for Mom Under $200
Maybe this Mother’s Day is the perfect time for a big-ticket gift—lucky mom. But you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to show Mom you care: Plenty of useful, thoughtful gifts for mom can fit your budget. The common theme in our roundup of the best gifts for mom under $200 is that all gifts will enable her to enjoy the things she loves best, whether that’s tending a garden, strolling around the neighborhood with her little one, or kicking back around the campfire. Because after all, supporting Mom’s favorite pastimes is a gift in and of itself.
Outdoor Life wants to help you find the most useful and expert shopping recommendations for the best gift ideas. Searching for more unique gifts? Check out more gift guides here: last-minute gift ideas and Mother’s Day hunting gifts.