# Help me think of non-obvious camping-related gifts **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 20, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899 "2011-12-20T23:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/21 "2011-12-21T18:26:31Z")
Thanks again, everyone, for all the great ideas. The winner thus far is the hammock. I know he doesn’t have one, and it sounds great. Going to stop by REI tonight and see what’s available. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/22 "2011-12-21T18:47:00Z")
Something anti-bear related. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/23 "2011-12-21T20:00:09Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Thanks again, everyone, for all the great ideas. > > The winner thus far is the hammock. I know he doesn’t have one, and it sounds great. Going to stop by REI tonight and see what’s available. There are hammocks you can get that have their own support (no trees required). The one I’ve seen takes up a fair amount of space in the car, but it might be an option to keep in mind. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/24 "2011-12-21T20:44:54Z")
[Here’s a _ **really cool** _ hammock](http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?sku=11490), but it’s kind of expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/25 "2011-12-21T20:52:09Z")
That’s a great gift. It’s a huge camp hit, is light enough that a very determined backpacker could make the effort to make it his luxury item, and is one of those things that the giftee would never get as it’s always last on their personal shopping list because it’s not absolutely necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/26 "2011-12-21T21:29:00Z")
I can’t follow the links at work, so I don’t know if these are lounging hammocks or sleeping hammocks, but I simply can’t sleep in one. If these are sleeping hammocks you should see if your dad has tried one and if he likes them. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/27 "2011-12-21T21:38:32Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > [Here’s a _ **really cool** _ hammock](http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?sku=11490), but it’s kind of expensive. That’s not a hammock! That’s the cockpit of a futuristic spaceship! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/28 "2011-12-22T00:09:52Z")
[pie irons](http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=881&cm_mmc=Tagged-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&cm_lm=&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=NA&mid=&jb=&u=&l=&j=&e=&r=g_pie_iron&p=) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/29 "2011-12-22T08:50:17Z")
Actually, I love my backpacking hammock. That’s a great idea. Consider getting a double-wide so your parents can snuggle. Or not, if it squicks you out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/30 "2011-12-22T09:50:35Z")
Does he have an axe? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/31 "2011-12-22T17:24:30Z")
GPS Rope (e.g. does he do any climbing or rappelling?) ---
**Author:** ![JMLVT68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@JMLVT68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMLVT68)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/32 "2011-12-22T17:44:05Z")
Maybe too late, but one of those bug nets that encloses your head is a life-saver if you happen to end up camping during a bad skeeter/black-fly/no see-um season. ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/33 "2011-12-23T03:19:57Z")
A compass. You’re not really camping unless you have a compass. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/34 "2011-12-23T04:05:12Z")
> [@applebetty](#): > > A compass. You’re not really camping unless you have a compass. This is car camping. If you need a compass to find B21 and the path to the outhouses then you have other problems. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/35 "2011-12-23T04:18:35Z")
Does he have a compass altimeter borometer watch from Casio? Costco had my latest one on sale for about $90 6 months ago. These are great for camping. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/36 "2011-12-23T05:36:07Z")
A boorometer would be useful at parties too. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/37 "2011-12-23T05:43:57Z")
And if you are still looking, I’d suggest star charts and maybe astronomy binoculars. Actually, any decent binocular works OK for casual star gazing. Many campgrounds are some distance from towns and light glare, making star gazing a good camping activity. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/38 "2011-12-23T07:24:23Z")
Since he’s a car camper not really a big deal but I love this [chair](http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/CampingChairs/PRD~5027-958/alite-designs-monarch-chair.jsp) I bought at MEC, it so small fits in a pack. Very strange looking but works great. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/39 "2011-12-23T13:03:39Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Since he’s a car camper not really a big deal but I love this [chair](http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/CampingChairs/PRD~5027-958/alite-designs-monarch-chair.jsp) I bought at MEC, it so small fits in a pack. Very strange looking but works great. I knew that it would be that chair before I clicked the link. Count me in as another recommendation for this chair. It was the best purchase I made in 2011. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899/40 "2011-12-23T13:29:55Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Since he’s a car camper not really a big deal but I love this [chair](http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/CampingChairs/PRD~5027-958/alite-designs-monarch-chair.jsp) I bought at MEC, it so small fits in a pack. Very strange looking but works great. My GF bought that this year and she loves it as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-think-of-non-obvious-camping-related-gifts/606899.md?page=3)