The perfect gift can make mealtime the best time at the campsite.
The folks who feed us are special. This is even more true in the wilderness, with the conveniences of ovens and dishwashers left behind. But when it comes to shopping for these folks, finding the right gift can be tricky. Most avid cooks have a personalized, individual setup, with tools and methods geared to their use.
This is where we come in. Collectively, we’ve spent countless hours cooking on picnic tables, fire pits, or even down in the dirt. And if you had it in mind, say, to shop for one of our staff, these are some of the gifts we’d love to unwrap.
Most of these will skew toward the general philosophy of “car camping,” but a few ultralight options are included. Because, come on — not even thru-hikers want to eat ramen every day.
The Tiers of Gift Giving
First up, naturally, is Level One. Think of this as a person you know from work or through friends who has a reputation as a campsite cook. The gifts under this banner have a general appeal, and should be welcome in just about any circle.
Level Two gets a bit more specific. Here, we’re dealing with folks you’ve generally camped with before. Maybe they’ve invited you over to their site for burgers or beers, and you’re looking for a gift that’ll help keep the good times rolling.
Finally, there’s Level Three. You would share a tent with this person. And not one of those circus-sized models — we’re talking about the narrow confines of a backpacking shelter. Their presence (and cooking) is welcome in your space, and this is your means of contribution or thanks.
Got it? Let’s get to the gifts.
Gift Guide for Camp Cooks
Cookware and Stoves
If the first step in cooking is selecting your ingredients, the quick second is deciding how you’ll heat them. An entire industry has grown up around cooking outdoors, and the staff at GearJunkie loves to eat.
Below are three items that should make perfect gifts for the beloved campsite chef.
Level One: Lodge 6.5 in Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron is great. It’s reliable, bombproof, and a favorite of outdoor cooks all around the world. And when it comes to cast iron, few makers have built a better reputation than Lodge.
This 6.5” model ($15) represents a nice scaledown of the brand’s larger skillets, with enough capacity to cook a couple of slices of bacon or scrambled eggs for two.
As such, this should be a perfect gift for the person who already has a larger pan in their kit. And for the cast-iron curious, it represents a great place to start.
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