Everyday Alaska

Everyday Life in The Last Frontier

gift ideas

25 Under $25: Items Made in the USA for the Outdoor Enthusiast

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It seems like it can be pretty hard these days to find anything made in America, but if you really check around and research a bit you can find some great deals on American made items. To make it a little easier and cut out the work of researching, I’ve compiled a list for you of outdoor use items that are made in the USA and under $25! These all make great gifts for yourself or others, and you’ll be supporting American made products as well!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Valdez Alaska Ferry American Flag
Leaving Valdez, Alaska on the ferry.

1. Tervis Tumbler: Have no fear when your Tervis is near! It’ll keep your drinks nice and warm on those cool days outdoors.

2. Liberty Bottleworks Water Bottle: Looking for a sturdy water bottle to keep you water cool while hiking? Look no further than Liberty Bottleworks! Their great designs add to their already awesome product.

3. Nalgene Water Bottle: Go for a classic with this American made Nalgene bottle. It’ll hold a ton and last a lifetime!

Water break with a view.

4. Lodge Cookware: Love cooking at home or around the campfire? Start your collection of Lodge cast iron cookware, and enjoy it for years to come!

Campfire queso in the Lodge Cast Iron.

5. Ball Mason Jars: Plan on making some delicious jam with the berries you picked, or canning some of the harvest from your garden? Buy some Ball Mason Jars and enjoy your harvest year-round.

6. Rite in the Rain Notebook: Whether you’re playing tic-tac-toe while camping, or keeping a journal of your adventures, a Rite in the Rain waterproof notebook can come in handy when the weather is a little soppy.

7. Thermarest Travel Pillow: Lightweight, compact, and comfortable. Three great qualities for camping and hunting gear to have, especially when it comes to your pillow. And its made in the USA!

8. Marshmallow Roasting Sticks: No trip in the great outdoors in complete without s’mores! Make sure you have all you need for them, including the sticks, for your next camping trip.

9. Heather’s Choice Packaroons: Looking for a packable snack to enjoy on your next hike? Give Packaroons a try! What are Packaroons? Click here to find out! 

10. Pelican Waterproof Case: Don’t let a waterlogged phone ruin your next outing! Grab a Pelican case and protect your phone, wallet, and other valuables from the elements while you’re out and about.

11. Loksak Waterproof Bags: Another way to keep your valuables dry is an American made Loksak.

12. Alaska Game Bags: These game bags will help keep your harvest clean and safe while bringing the meat in from your hunting site.

13. Shoot-N-C Targets: Great for getting in some target practice and making sure you’re all sighted in. You can get a lot of use out of one target by using the adhesive dots that come with the targets, and its great to get feedback on exactly where you’re hitting.

14. LimbSaver Rifle Sling: You always need a good, comfortable sling, why not buy one that’s made in the USA!?

15. Plano Tackle Box: Organize all of your fishing gear in American made Plano tackle boxes. With a variety of sizes and storage options, Plano has a tackle box for every fishing adventure.

16. Flambeau Tackle Box: Another option for tackle boxes made in the USA is Flambeau.

17. Neck Gaiter: Keep the suns rays off your face and neck, and stay away from a harmful sunburn with a neck gaiter. You can get a variety of colors and patterns, and it’ll help you stay comfortable while fishing or boating.

18. Hot Hands: Hot Hands warmers are great for venturing out when the weather gets a little nippy. They’ll keep you toasty warm and comfortable so you can enjoy being outside longer.

My go-to item for staying warm in the outdoors.

19. Paracord: Paracord is a great thing to have in any outdoor kit. You can use it as a makeshift shoelace, a sling, to build a shelter, and more!

20. Buck Knives: You’ll need something to cut that paracord with, so make sure you’ve to a good knife with you.

21. Gerber Knives: Another great option for a knife made in the USA is Gerber. You can never have too many knives!

22. DMT Knife Sharpener: A dull knife doesn’t do anyone any good. Keep your knife nice and sharp with a DMT sharpener.

23. Smartwool Socks: You need socks for basically every outdoor activity, so you might as well have cute, comfortable, American made socks! Probably over half of my socks are Smartwool, and I love them.

24. Darn Tough Socks: Another great sock option is Darn Tough. They have a variety of styles and patterns to choose from to fit every activity.

25. Carhartt Hats: There are many American made Carhartt items, and one of my favorites is their hats. I wear their beanie all winter long. It’s comfortable, warm, and has multiple colors to choose from. I highly recommend checking out Carhartt!

Hopefully you’ve found this list useful and discovered some new American made products you didn’t know about before for yourself or for gifts. Thank you for reading and for buying American made! 🙂

Check out this link for Rakuten to get money back on your purchases and earn a bonus for joining. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial offer for 30 days of FREE Prime!

8 Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoorswoman in your Life

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Girl walking across log bridge
Just taking a stroll across the log bridge.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching I thought it only seemed appropriate to make a list of unique and useful gifts for the outdoorswoman in your life. It can sometimes be difficult to find a gift for such a special person in your life, but checking out the list below will help you pick something she will surely enjoy.

This gift list is not exclusive to Mother’s Day, or even ladies for that matter, though. Any guy or gal who enjoys the great outdoors would benefit from any (or all if they really hit the jackpot!) of these items for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

1. If you’re looking for a great gift for an outdoorsy gal under $25, check out this post here. With ideas ranging from LifeStraws to first aid kits, and the perfect camping pillow to dry bags, you’re sure to find a fantastic gift.

2. If she’s outdoorsey she might like cooking outdoors as well. What better thing to do some outdoor cooking in than some American made Lodge Cast Iron! You can get them in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they’re very affordable. Plus, many of them have neat patterns on the bottom. You can check out Everyday Alaska’s list of reasons to start using cast iron here!

3. If your outdoorsy momma enjoys hunting, she’ll need some good optics. For a gift she’ll have for a lifetime (literally, check out their warranty!), shop Vortex Optics. Everything they make is top notch and will make a huge difference in the field.

Using Vortex binoculars
Using my Vortex binoculars and HotHands while looking for sheep.

4. Anyone who loves the outdoors needs a good knife to bring along on their adventures. The knives from Outdoor Edge are awesome. They are incredibly durable, sharp, and have easily replaceable blades to help save you time and money.

5. Jetboil. If they don’t have one, they need one. This is great for hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, or any activity where you may want to stop and have some coffee or make a delicious Peak Refuel meal.

Eating Peak Refuel at the cabin.
Refueling with Peak at the cabin.

6. Need a great snack for hiking? Dehydrated fruit is great to take along while exploring, and it’s also fun to make! I got a dehydrator as a gift and have had a blast using it and eating some delicious dehydrated apples, berries, and even jerky as a result.

Moose jerky on the dehydrator in Soldotna, Alaska.
Moose jerky on the dehydrator.

7. Along with snacks, having a water bottle along on any outdoor excursion is a must. Check out Liberty Bottleworks to see their awesome collection of American-made water bottles. They have every design imaginable and you can even have them customize one! Talk about a unique gift!

8. Don’t judge me too harshly, but I believe Crocs are a must have. They are comfortable, lightweight, and a nice break for your feet after camping, hiking, or hunting. They make a great gift that will be used over and over again.

Bonus idea! If she’s not using them already, grab your gal some HotHands! They are an outdoor game changer since they keep your hands, feet, and body toasty warm!

Any of these gifts are sure to be a winner for any outdoor lover in your life. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day or just a gift to show your appreciation for someone, this list will help you pick a gift that will surely bring a smile to their face and be useful for any of their outdoor adventures.

Looking for gifts for the guys, too? Be sure to check out this post!

 

10+ Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsman in your Life

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onXmaps used in Alaska
Using onXmaps out on the trail.

Updated January 16, 2024

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the outdoorsman or woman on your gift list, you’ve come to the right place. Below is a list of ideas that make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, Father’s Day, or any occasion. These unique and useful gift ideas for the outdoorsman range from camping gear, to the ultimate outdoor snacks, to hiking and survival gear and more.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

1. Jetboil. If they don’t have one, they need one. This is great for hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, or any activity where you may want to stop and have some coffee or make up a delicious Mountain House or Peak meal. Check out my full review of the Jetboil here.

Check out my full Jetboil review here.

2. OnXmaps not only has clear and accurate maps, but they tell you where property lines are as well, which is a huge help if you’re hunting, hiking, or camping. There are specific maps for off-roading, hunting, and backcountry adventure. If you gift someone a subscription to OnXmaps it will definitely be one of their most used outdoor items.

3. Gift a pair of Crocs. These lightweight, comfy “house shoes” make for a nice break for your feet after camping, hiking, or hunting. They work great for around camp and at home as well.

4. Trekking poles are useful in a variety of situations. Whether it be on a short hike, snowshoeing, or climbing mountains, they make a great gift for outdoorsman who have a variety of outdoor hobbies.

5. The knives from Outdoor Edge are awesome. The first time we used one was on a moose and it was impressive how well it worked. My husband’s uncle even put down his ulu to use our Outdoor Edge knife! They have replaceable blades so you don’t need to worry about sharpening while skinning your animal, and there is a gutting blade on one side to make the process even easier. I highly recommend any of the Outdoor Edge knives as gifts (or even for yourself) because they greatly assist in the cleaning of any game and will hold up to whatever tasks they’re put through.

6. If they’re going to be shooting, they’ll need some good optics. For a gift they’ll have for a lifetime (literally, check out their warranty!), shop Vortex Optics.

Glassing for moose with our Vortex spotting scope in Alaska in fall
Glassing for moose with our Vortex spotting scope.

7. Getting hangry while out camping, hiking, or hunting can really put a damper on outdoor fun. Check out Peak Refuel and Mountain House meals for some great camp food ideas to give as a useful and necessary gift idea.

8. Check out this tripod. This is a great gift idea that can be used with a spotting scope or binoculars, or for wildlife photography! We’ve had ours for years now, and it has been extremely useful in many outdoor applications.

9. Not all outdoor experiences need to be strenuous. Give the gift of some outdoor R&R with a hammock.

10. Keep their hands, feet, body, and toes toasty while in the great outdoors with some HotHands. I have these with me constantly when I’m outside during the winter.

11. Needed for any overnight outdoor adventure, a sleeping pad makes a great gift for any outdoorsman.

Keeping my hands toasty warm while berry picking.

What are some gifts for outdoorsmen under $25?

If you’re looking for a great gift for an outdoorsy person under $25, check out this post here. With ideas ranging from LifeStraws to first aid kits, and the perfect camping pillow to dry bags, you’re sure to find a fantastic gift.

Any of the gifts listed above are sure to be a winner for any outdoor lover in your life. Whether it’s for a holiday, birthday, or just a gift to show your appreciation for someone, this list will help you pick a gift that will surely bring a smile to their face and be useful for any of their outdoor adventures.