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Being a dad is the greatest privilege I’ve had in life. There is no ifs, ands, or buts that could come close. But that said, it’s a hard, mostly thankless job that usually ends up being the one with all the dirty work: taking out trash, cleaning up the puke, and mastering the harmony in Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go”.
Well, aside from another octave, there is no limit to how far our love for our kids will go. And if the dad you’re shopping for is anything like me, we appreciate a little bit of thought and kindness to recognize just how much we are loved and valued through all the chaotic noisy moments.
As someone who tests gear for a living, I’ve been lucky to be able to take a look at some of the latest and greatest gear out there. A lot of it is same-old, same old, but once in a while I’m sent something that becomes part of the regular rotation. Here’s what I’ve been liking lately, and are some quality items for fathers to make the most of their time outside.
- Free Fly Seawool Flannel Shirt — for the dad who wants to look good in the woods
- Combat Flip Flops AK-47 Leather — the only flip-flops that get better with time
- Victorinox Swiss Tool X Multitool — a multitool with sophistication
- Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight 60 — sub-2-lb backpack that doesn’t sacrifice function
- No Reception Club Getaway Bag — the bag that organizes you
- Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio — for the dad who’d rather radio than text
- Vallon Ski Aviators — wildly impractical, perfectly cool
- Spy Rebar ANSI Polarized — More Deftones than Ace of Base
- Purist Keeper 14oz Mug — for the dad who reads the label on his water
For the Outdoorsy Dad Who Values Comfort
Even if dad likes to get after it, he still wants to look and feel good in the process.
Free Fly Seawool Flannel Shirt
- Price: $118
- Materials: 57% cotton / 40% recycled Seawool polyester / 3% spandex
- The hook: Fabric made from upcycled oyster shells + recycled plastic bottles
- Performance: Temp-regulating, quick-dry, anti-odor
Bottom Line: Comfortable, warm, more breathable than most.
I have a few flannel shirts, yet nothing is really made of pure flannel these days. A lot is polyester and it gets hot and sweaty without the comfort. Cotton flannel is good but it’s both expensive and no good when wet.
Freefly is a great apparel company that is making a foray into a new type of yarn called Seawool, which mixes polyester with oyster shells to give a bit more circular type of material to the standard outdoor fare. Add in the fact that most of the material is made up of cotton, and the result is a fabric blend that feels soft but can handle the rigors of outdoor use. It’s my go-to when I’m wanting to have a bit of warmth while camping or hiking, but still have a classy look that keeps mom whistling.
Combat Flip Flops AK-47 Leather
- Price: $79.99
- Materials: Premium leather, tubular nylon, proprietary rubber sole
- Footbed: Ergonomic, with injection-molded arch supports
- Warranty: Lifetime (against manufacturing defects)
- Heads-up: Metal hardware can corrode near salt water
Bottom Line: The most comfortable flip-flops I’ve worn, that only get better.
I’ve been wearing these flip-flops for two years, pretty steadily. While other flip flops wear out pretty quickly, these have held up and only get better with time. The secret to them is in the midsole and outsole; and the cushioning is a step above any other premium flip-flop I’ve tried. The only issue is the small emblem on top corrodes in salt water, so if you’re going in the ocean a lot, keep that in mind. Otherwise, it’s as solid as they come for a premium flip-flop at a more-than-reasonable price.
For the Dad Who Gets ‘er Done
This will be used at least once per day. Multitools are saviours, and this one is sleek as well as functional.
Victorinox Swiss Tool X Multitool
- Price: ~$155
- Functions: 26, all lockable + outside-accessible
- Build: Swiss-made stainless steel
- Size / weight: 115mm · 290g
- Includes: Leather storage pouch
Bottom Line: It looks good, performs well, and stands the test of time.
Every dad should have a multitool. This one is a step up in detail, quality, and looks compared to your average Leatherman or Home Depot special. The swiss know how to do things right and Dad will feel the sophistication, whether or not he earns it. The bowed shape makes for extra leverage and all the knives are a premium quality. It also comes in a snazzy leather case.
For the Dad Who Needs to Escape
We all need to get away. When I do, everyone benefits. Help make the quick escapes a bit easier with some of these items.
Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight 60
- Price: $275 (Carbon model)
- Capacity: 60L (49L main + 15L external)
- Weight: 31.5 oz (size M) — under 2 lbs
- Max carry: 40 lbs
- Build: Spectra/Robic ripstop nylon · CARBONFLEX suspension
Bottom Line: Lightweight, yet durable, and functional.
Ultralight gear is rad, but sometimes sacrifices functionality. This is the first pack that I’ve tried that is less than 2 lbs that actually feels like a normal pack. The carbon stays help keep the frame solid while not weighing you down.
While we may not be crushing major thru-hikes at this point in life, it’s still important to maximise the time you do have to get away, so getting lighter gear will help you go a bit deeper before needing to turn around. This pack checks so many boxes in convenience, ease, and well-thought out engineering to make it a great getaway pack. I wrote a deeper review on another site I write for, Alpine Islands, check it out if you’d like to learn more.
And if that escape needs kids, then don’t let that stop you.
No Reception Club Getaway Bag
- Price: $235
- Capacity: 24L
- Dimensions: 19.7″ H × 10.2″ W × 6.5″ D
- Weight: 2.7 lbs empty
- Features: Customizable shelves, water-resistant/odor-proof compartment, luggage pass-through, stroller straps
Bottom Line: The bag that makes anyone automatically become more organized.
I’m a throw-it-in-a-duffel type of guy, and that came at odds when having kids. When a kid’s snack from last week’s ends up sitting with an emergency change of clothes, you learn fast that bags like the No Reception Club Getaway Bag are worth their weight in gold. My life is significantly easier when this bag is well-packed for spontaneous road trips and missions to the beach or park.
The bag evolves with kid’s ages, and we’ve had this since the infant stage with no end in sight. The sidekick fanny pack fits into one of the side pockets and is used even more often due to how small it is. But the backpack makes any travel situation from road trips to overseas flights remarkably easier with enough compartmentalization to endure several days of chaos.
For the Dad Who Hates Texting But Loves Playing Spy Games
If you’re like me and want to leave the phone in your pocket whenever possible, communicating by radio when on adventures adds a whole other element of family fun.
Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio
- Price: $110 USD each / $220 per pair
- Service: FRS — license-free, ready out of the box
- Range: 35+ mi line-of-sight; 1–5 mi in mountains; ~1 mi in town
- Battery: 3–5 days, USB-C rechargeable, cold-tolerant to −20°F
- Waterproofing: IP56 (splash and snow, not submersible)
- Heads-up: IP56 handles snow and splashes, not whitewater — if you’re packrafting or kayaking hard, the 5-Watt Expedition ($180) is the one
Bottom Line: These radios are reliable, can take a beating, and are some of the best performing 2-watt radios I tested over the years.
It’s endless fun with the kids while hiking or at the campsite, and they are fun to take on adult missions into the backcountry as well. You don’t get many useful tools that can work in both worlds very often.
For the Dad Who Is Cooler Than He Looks
These sunglasses will give him a few style points if/when it’s needed most.
Vallon Ski Aviators
- Price: $129
- Frame: Handmade eco-friendly acetate
- Lens: V52 (ABBE 52, Cat. 3 mirrored), 100% UV400
- Weight: ~20% lighter than comparable lenses
- Warranty: Lifetime (purchases after Nov 1, 2023)
Bottom Line: They stand out in a good way.
These glasses are so wildly impractical that it works. Designed for the retro aprés ski scene, they stand out like a radical relic in other circumstances. If the dad you’re buying for doesn’t give a damn what people think and sets their own standard of cool, these glasses are the ones to get. I love how they feel on the face, the optics, and the smiles people give me when I wear them in more square environments.
Spy Rebar ANSI Polarized
- Price: $160 MSRP (often on sale — see note below)
- Frame: Grilamid (lightweight, flexible)
- Lens: ARC polycarbonate, polarized (99%+ glare block)
- Rating: ANSI Z87.2+ (impact resistant)
- Extras: Happy Lens tech, rubber nose/temple grips, Scoop venting
Bottom Line: Great wraparound protection for long summer days
It stays on your head, it’s polarized, and it protects you. What more do you want? These have quickly become a staple due to their reliability, good vision when it’s really bright out, and a timeless style that takes me back to before skateboarding and snowboarding went mainstream.
Spy optic just seems to give me the good nostalgia and if the father in your life grew up in the 90’s, this will be a good reminder of the counterculture part of the era in contrast to the mainstream pop. More Deftones than Ace of Base. So for that, it’s a good purchase.
For the Dad Who Strives to Be Their Best
You go to the trouble of choosing better water, better coffee, better everything you put in your body. Then you store it in a bottle that leaches into it. The dads I know who care about this stuff have all eventually arrived at the same conclusion: the vessel matters too.
Purist Keeper 14 oz Mug
- Price: $68 USD
- Lining: Silicon dioxide — a glass-like, non-porous surface fused to the interior
- Body: 316 surgical-grade stainless, double-wall vacuum insulated
- Insulation: 12 hr hot / 24 hr cold (lid-dependent)
- Lid options: Element (carry handle, screw-off), Union or Scope (drinking lids)
- Heads-up: Only the Scope lid is dishwasher safe
Bottom Line: Coffee tastes like coffee. Water tastes like water. The mug stays out of the way.
I just received this as a sample and am thoroughly impressed. I’m enjoying coffee from it right now. The spillproof lid doesn’t splash out all at once when you open it, and the external handle gives dad better ergonomics than holding the whole girth of the cylinder.
There’s a silicon dioxide coating on the inside that apparently blocks impurities from latching on, such as the dreaded coffee stain on most stainless coffee mugs. Time will tell if this is for real or just a gimmick, but they are standing behind their claim for now and even without that fact, It’s a handy upgrade from a coffee cup without a handle or spillproof lid.
This list comes from spending the better part of the decade as a journalist covering outdoor gear and getting all kinds of pitches; big and small. Everything here has been tested to its full extent as a dad who needs things to hold up to abuse by both myself and my toddlers. It’s all good stuff that I use daily.
I usually take more photos, but it’s been a busy time around the household. If you’re reading this far though, just know that I wish I could have had the time to take a bit more shots in the wild, but my M.O is to enjoy my time, not doing it for likes from strangers.
And although the father in your life doesn’t need anything fancy, it’s nice to give him something that lasts and serves its purpose well. A more relaxed dad means hitting those high notes for the big solo on the sing-alongs, so really a good gift for father’s day will just make for a better singing partner in the long run.
More from Excellent Family Adventures: Best Beach Totes for Families · Best Slippers for Camping, Travel, and Home | Mother’s Day Gift Guide | Christmas Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Dads
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