Taking the Kids: A dozen + gifts for the outdoors-heading Dad

For those post-hike cocktails while he grills—maybe with the GoBQ Portable Grill, at $149.95 so compact it fits in a backpack, I’m a fan of Yeti Ramblers with a lid and a variety of colors—the double-wall vacuum insulation keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold longer so it’s not only good for those cocktails but for morning coffee ($19.99). Wine lovers would like the 10-ounce shatter-proof wine tumblers with an insulated interior that also work well for martinis ($49.99 for two).

You can also please the wine lover dads and football fans with a gift pack of wine from 7Cellars, the premium wine brand of football legend John Elway. There is the Farm Collection ($18.99, $30 online), as well as the higher priced Reserve collection.

With every bottle of wine purchased, 7Cellars makes a donation to its partners at Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that supports, trains and deploys U.S. veterans on disaster relief missions around the world. To date, more than 5,870 veterans have been supported through sales of 7Cellars wines. (Get 20 percent off and free shipping with WINE4DAD code.)

These days, you want not only breathable clothes for the outdoors but breathable masks. (I’ve found the largest selection on etsy.com.)

Your environmentalist dad will appreciate a new shirt from Toad & Co. made with recycled fibers. For the camper, try a Debug Solaer Hoodie ($75) made from yarn produced from recycled coffee grounds and treated with invisible odorless insect Shield Technology to repel bugs. It’s also moisture-wicking, quick dry and offers UPF protection.

A hat is always a welcome gift and Patagonia is now using material from discarded ocean fishing nets for all of its hat brims. , keeping over 35 tons of waste out of the ocean this year ($35).

Outdoor newbies might also appreciate an introduction to new snack bar brands—for energy biking or hiking. I like the peanut butter dark chocolate Grizzly Bars and lemon, coconut and ginger Bivy Bars from Kate’s Real Food that are sweetened with organic honey and are gluten-free.

Of course, with everyone working remotely—and this summer, outdoors—dad will need plenty of juice for his devices. MobileEdge has got a Core Power portable USB battery charger that is supposed to charge 80 percent faster and can charge two devices at the same time, letting you know how charged they are ($119.99). The Core Power Portable Laptop Charger has plenty of juice to charge up to three devices at the same time and has an international wall socket adapter as well ($199.99). The company also has a ScanFast backpack that was really designed for fliers to allow laptop screening without removing it from the case. I think it’s great for road trips because it’s got pockets for your devices, power cords, extra memory cards, chargers, etc. (99.99).

Just remember, says REI’s John Junke Jr, “The biggest mistake first-time campers make is overthinking the camping experience and making it more complicated that it needs to be. You need shelter/place to sleep, food and water. If you have those bases covered, you’re well on your way. Also bug spray, don’t ever forget that!”

That’s true whether you are camping in the backyard or a national park.

Happy Father’s Day!

========

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, will be out this spring.)