The Procrastinating Outdoorsman’s Guide to Last Minute Gifts

If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer, all you need to remember is one word with two syllables—LifeStraw. (LifeStraw/)

I’m a hermit during the holiday shopping season. The crowded stores, the street traffic, the amazing ability to search for gifts that are always out of stock... Who needs it? I’d rather be chasing deer or dropping geese from the sky. If that sounds like you, you’ve probably pushed off your holiday shopping duties longer than you feel good about. But if you want to avoid sitting in the penalty box with me (seriously—my wife puts me in time out so I can think about my actions), then you’d better get moving.

To help, here is a short list of the most popular outdoor-related products from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as a sprinkling of the most popular hunting, fishing, and camping gear of 2019. Take a look, remember to request two-day shipping, and you’ll have plenty of time leftover to get back outside before the big man slides down the chimney.

Coleman Dome Tent with Screen Room

Coleman Dome Tent with Screen Room; Price: $120 (Coleman/)

In recent years, it’s become more difficult to sneak away with my boys on a quick, two-night camping trip. School, sporting events, and other obligations seem to be soaking up the vast majority of their Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Thankfully, we’ve been able to adapt by overnighting in the backyard—and it’s a blast! I don’t have to haul gear all over Hell’s half acre, the “outhouse” conditions are five-star, and if the weather turns rotten, we don’t have to suffer through it. We’ve also discovered a big tent, like Coleman’s Dome Tent, makes a big difference. It’s easy to erect and take down, there’s enough room inside for us to move around our cots, and the cost didn’t burn through my gear budget. If there’s someone in your family looking for a solid car-camping shelter, or a kid just begging for more time under the stars, the Coleman Dome is a terrific option.

Black Diamond Storm Headlamp - Price: $50

Lifestraw Personal Water Filter - Price $12

Thermacell Mosquito Repeller - Price $23

Kershaw Blue Blackwash Folding Knife - Price $70

GoTreads Emergency Traction Tool - Price $120

SAS Survival Guide

SAS Survival Guide by John 'Lofty' Wiseman; Price: $17 (SAS/)

This bestselling survival handbook written by former Special Air Service survival expert John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman contains some of the most reliable and respected survival info available. From old-school navigation skills to up-to-date technologies like GPS, you can learn survival skills for any climate, on land or at sea. Disaster survival and other contemporary topics have been added to more recent additions of this popular and trusted book.

Kitgo Emergency Survival Gear and Medical First Aid - Price $27

Heddon Zara Spook - Price $8

Lindy Fuzz-E Grub Jig - Price $7

Zippo Rechargeable Hand Warmer - Price $35

Benchmade Grizzly Ridge Folding Knife

Benchmade Grizzly Ridge Folding Knife; Price $128 (Benchmade/)

When it comes to outdoors gifts, it’s hard to beat a knife, and when it comes to knives, it’s hard to beat a Benchmade. The Grizzly Ridge is a manual knife that easily fits in a pocket and is tailor-made for hunters with its easy-to-hold tool for skinning, quartering, and general camp use. The drop-point utility blade is made from stainless steel, and it sticks in place with Benchmade’s patented AXIS lock, which you can easily engage and disengage with one hand. What’s more, Benchmade backs each Grizzly Ridge with its limited lifetime warranty, so if it ever needs repair or sharpening, it’s covered.

NTK Arizona GT 10-Person Tent - Price $400

Sig Sauer BDX Riflescope and Rangefinder Combo - Price $1,260

ALPS OutdoorZ NWTF Grand Slam Turkey Vest - Price $100 to $160

Kershaw Blur Camo Pocket Knife - Price $65

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver - Price $5 to $45

Arbogast Hula Popper

Arbogast Hula Popper; Price: $3 to $23 (Hula/)

The famed “Hula Popper” has been around for more than 60 years. And for good reason. Its cupped lip scoops water with a short jerk of the rod, producing a loud “bloop” that regularly triggers bass to attack. The strikes are vicious. The skirt of the Hula Popper adds flare to the visual presentation. With two exposed trebles, this isn’t a weedless bait. Fish it adjacent to lily pads, over weed tops, or near other underwater structure. You can also pound shallow shorelines with the Hula Popper, as its sound and presentation will easily attract fish from a distance.

Primos Squirrel Buster Call Pack - Price $14

Heddon Rattle Spook - Price $10

Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement Serrated Edge Knife - Price $34

Rapala Shad Rap - Price $8

Heimdall Emergency Whistle with Lanyard - Price $9

LuminAID PackLite Hero 2-in-1 Supercharger Light

LuminAID PackLite Hero 2-in-1 Supercharger Light; Price: $70 (LuminAID/)

I know I’ve already said, it, but I love gear that’s able to tackle two or more tasks at once. The PackLite from LuminAID reworked the idea of what a stereotypical camp lantern can be. Not only did they replace the fuel with solar-rechargeable batteries and the common string-tie mantle with 300 lumen LED lights, but they also included a 5V rechargeable port (for smartphones), and an adjustable carry handle. If that wasn’t enough, it’s all contained in a waterproof, shatterproof, heavy-duty case. It’s a bright, economical, environmentally-friendly way to illuminate the inside of a tent without any harmful fumes. It acts as the home-base beacon when kids fan out to chase fireflies, and it makes it easier to read your buddy’s worst poker face while playing cards near a campfire.