Top 10 Gifts for the Adventurous Dad

The adventurous dad is always on the lookout for a new path to travel, a grand site to see or an innovative new idea to make a reality. No doubt, as the child of an adventurous dad, you’re always on the lookout for bold gifts he’ll love. Father’s Day is just a few days away, but order today with our flat rate Express Shipping and your gift will reach Dad by June 19.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.We’re glad to share a few of our favorite gifts for dads with audacity. UncommonGoods Founder, Dave, is an adventurous dad himself. Whether it’s camping or climbing, Dave loves making adventure a family affair.

Dave’s Story:

Growing up, I was always testing the limits, often of my parents’ patience. Breaking my arm twice, needing stitches on my scalp, setting a model rocket engine off in my bedroom, throwing snowballs at moving cars, getting in numerous fights and putting firecrackers in mailboxes. I was not exactly a model child.

Now with two sons of my own, I’m on the receiving end of a lot of youthful exuberance. Channeling that energy into new adventures has been a great experience. We’ve taken an overnight train through Central Turkey, checked out WWII bunkers on the beaches of Normandy and gone rock climbing on the cliffs of Acadia National Park in Maine.

But one of my favorite adventures was in our backyard. Last week, we went on a family camping trip to the Bronx. Yes, that Bronx. We went to Orchard Beach at Pelham Bay Park, which holds special meaning to us because my 9-month pregnant wife and I went on a long walk there, trying to coax our first son out. He was born the next day. It’s also a beach that my mom often went to as a child.

Our camping program was part of the Urban Rangers Program of the NYC Parks department. It’s a BYOB system, where the B stands for bag, as in sleeping bag; the Ranger provides the tent and the food. We met families from all over the city and got to explore the trails and seashore in the park and found all sorts of crabs and other creatures. Not to mention roasting marshmallows. Lots of marshmallows. But the highlight for the boys was our camping dinner – they got to have military-style MREs (meals ready to eat). This high tech creation involves putting some water into a foil bag with a heating element, folding it over and, shazam, a few minutes later you have a steaming hot food-like substance.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.Here’s everything your dad needs to be a ranger– whether he’s venturing into the wilderness or pitching a tent in the backyard.

The Gifts:

Camper’s and Hiker’s Pack

Even brave adventurers need protection from the elements. This pack includes natural lip balm, sunblock and insect repellent, so Dad can fight off bugs and burns while he’s having a blast.

Survival Kit
This lightweight, waterproof pack in loaded with survival essentials including a compass, knife, flash light, rescue flash signal mirror, fire starting tinder, 150 lb-tested braided nylon cord, stainless steel wire, emergency sewing supplies, a basic fishing kit and outdoor instructions teaching over 60 survival techniques and strategies. Dad may be an expert when it comes to outdoor exploring, but he’ll appreciate this just-in-case kit.

Blunt Umbrella

To put it bluntly: This umbrella is tough. Engineered to be aerodynamic and durable, the Blunt Umbrella is lightweight and super wind-resistant. It even passed tests against Force 12 winds, the highest level in wind tunnel testing.

Mosquito Net iPad Carrying Case

Perfect for the dad that wants to stay connected while he’s on the go, this iPad case is handmade in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from repurposed mosquito netting and repurposed water resistant industrial tarp. It features three interior pockets, one of which is zippered, and two exterior pockets, so Dad can carry additional adventure essentials along with his iPad.

Astrolabe Watch

In ancient times, navigators tracked their movements using the stars. While the modern navigator may prefer to explore with the help of GPS, this fully functional astrolabe is based on the tool used by explorers in the first century. The watch features Japanese-Quartz movement and glowing Swiss dial, which glows for up to three hours, and a sport rubber band. It’s even water resistant up to 3 ATM.

Collapsible Party Tub Cooler

Lightweight and durable, the Party Tub is convenient for camping or a day trip, so Dad can enjoy a cold, refreshing drink without lugging a heavy plastic cooler on his adventures. This collapsible cooler holds up to 48 cans along with ice.

Sail Cloth Duffel

This tough duffel is good for more than just sailing excursions. Made from sail cloth (the cloth used to make boat sails), this bag is sturdy, waterproof and stain and odor resistant.

Solar-Powered Illuminating Water Bottle

Dad will love this multi-purpose outdoor accessory. Not only is it a 1 liter water bottle, it’s also a solar-powered lantern. Thanks to four super-bright LEDs and one red LED (for night vision) and a reflective lens sealed in the cap, this bottle doubles as a camp light.

The Man’s Manual

This book probably won’t provide any outdoor survival tips a true adventurer wouldn’t already know, but it does provide some good advice to help Dad through all of life’s little adventures.

Scratch Map

Ideal for the dad whose adventure of choice is trekking the globe, the Scratch Map lets avid travelers scratch-off where they’ve been to reveal bright colors and fun facts.

We’ve also got some great gift ideas for dads who prefer culinary adventures, adventures on the playing field, venturing into fatherhood, DIY adventures, daring geekdom and saving the day!