Father’s Day, on June 15th this year, is an annual chance to give a dad some great outdoors gear. As a father myself (and an obvious gear freak) I offer these products as ideas for the outdoor-loving dad in your life. —Stephen Regenold
Iron Skillet — What man wouldn’t want to fry right over an open campfire flame? The Poler Cast Iron Skillet weighs 7 pounds and will get the job done. Its iron surface is seasoned, ready to cook straight out of the box. $49.95; more info/buy now
Stainless Steel Growler — As its name describes, the Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle & Beer Growler can tote H2O or a microbrew. It has 64 ounces of capacity and a leak-proof cap. You can fill up the double-wall vessel with a cool beverage and keep your drink cold for 12+ hours outdoors in the summer heat. $49.99; more info/buy now
Tiny ‘Satellite Tracker’ — The SPOT Trace is a 2-inch-wide module that gives “theft-alert tracking” via a satellite network. Attach the Trace to a boat, vehicle, or bike and you can track its every move via Google maps on a smartphone, which links to GPS coordinates that the device transmits if it is moved. $74.95 (plus required service plan); more info/buy now
Puck-Size Speaker — It’s just a couple inches across. But the JBL Clip produces excellent audio for its small size. A carabiner-style clip lets you attach it anywhere, and the little unit syncs with a phone’s music library via Bluetooth or an old-fashioned headphone cable jack. $49.95; more info/buy now
GPS Collar For Dog — Millions of pets are lost each year. This collar lets an owner track Fido if he gets loose in the neighborhood or in the deep woods. $99; more info/buy now
GJ T-Shirt — The official GearJunkie Tee loves climbing, biking, backpacking, hiking, trail running… and every day wear. Super soft 50/50 cotton and poly blend. $16.95; more info/buy now
Classic Fly Rod — Said our reviewer, “In the world of fly fishing, beautiful fiberglass fly rods that give the angler a gentle presentation and an old-school feeling from the first tug right into the net are turning some to setups that would look familiar to fishermen of the 70s.” (Our full review is here.) Check out the Butter Stick from Redington. $250; more info/buy now
Truck-Top Tents — Treeline Outdoors’ roof-top tents aren’t cheap. But the elevated shelters offer an ultimate sleeping perch and convenience at drive-up campsites in the wilds. $1,699 and up; more info/buy now
Mini Torch — Blaze the woods with Bushnell’s T100L flashlight. It pumps 152 lumens from a 2.2 oz. package. $29.99; more info/buy now
River Knife — Gerber makes the River Shorty in the USA. We love this classic whitewater-oriented emergency knife. Three-inch blade and bombproof plastic handle. $33; more info/buy now
Energy Food To Your Door — TheFeed.com is an energy food service. Its Starter Box costs $20 and is shipped to your door each week or month with six sports nutrition products, a training booklet, and a CamelBak water bottle. $20; more info/buy now
‘Uneek’ Sandal — New this week, the Uneek sandal from KEEN is made of just two cords and a sole. (Our full review is here.) $100; more info/buy now
Green Flask — Made of a recycled (and recyclable) plastic, the 7oz. eCycle Flask from Stanley offers a light, handy, leak-proof drink toting option for only $15. more info/buy now
Power Stick — To revive a dead phone or small gadget in the field, the Goal Zero Switch 8 offers an immediate charge. Plug it in and the unit, which is about the size of a roll of quarters, sends steady electricity for a charge with no fuss. $39.99; more info/buy now
Shave Kit — Called the Dapper Dad Travel Set, this package from Ursa Major contains everything needed to “Keep your father looking sharp,” as the company puts it. $36; more info/buy now
Ultimate T — Icebreaker has long served as a staple apparel brand here. Try the Aero Short Sleeve Crewe for a use-anywhere T-shirt. Its thin merino wool mix fabric is temperature-regulating and odor controlling when you sweat. $59.99; more info/buy now
‘Pump-Up’ Pad — Inflate this Nemo pad with a foot. Its integrated air pump lets a camper inflate it standing up in a minute or less. The Cosmo Air 20R is $119.95. more info/buy now
The Organized Cyclist — Mountainsmith’s Bike Cube Deluxe has a roll-up tool organizer, a changing mat to stand on, and pockets for gear (eyewear, helmet, bike shoes). $79.95; more info/buy now
Mega Multi-Tool — Go big! The Leatherman Surge weighs three-quarters of a pound and has more than 20 implements to cut, pry, strip, saw, or screw open. It comes with the largest pliers and longest blades Leatherman offers in a multi-tool. $110; more info/buy now
Swing In The Breeze — We’ve tested the Kammok and love its comfortable, no-fuss fabric hammock design. It packs down super small for trips into the outback. $99; more info/buy now
