Mother’s Day Gifts for the Outdoor Enthusiast
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I decided to put together a list of things that bring a little peace and joy to my life as a mom with a passion for the outdoors. These items help me get outside more with my children and bring an extra dose of sunshine to brighten my days. So if your mom loves being in nature, whether it’s camping, hiking, running or gardening then this list of Mother’s Day gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast might just be the ticket to help you find the perfect present for that outdoorsy mother. Whether your mom is the adventurous sort or maybe just aspiring to spend more time outside this year, you can’t go wrong with these unique gifts.
A Place to Relax
Hammock
One of my favorite pastimes is reading, and there is no place I enjoy more than nestled in a hammock. The countless number of hours I’ve spent relaxing or stargazing in my hammock while camping or in the backyard makes this one of my all time favorite recommendation. The ENO Singlenest Hammock is one of the best quality brands and has held up for the last 8 years with optimum use. These are sturdy hammocks with a simple setup, plus they include an attached storage pouch. Now if you’re like me, you’ll have a little one climbing up to snuggle with you in your hammock, so you may prefer the ENO Doublenest Hammock, which is spacious enough for you and your spouse too.
Camping Chair
It’s a well known fact, that as a mother when you’re around the campfire, your chair is never just your chair. That is why the Kelty Loveseat is roomy enough for two so you can cozy on up with your favorite person, plus there’s even enough space for that pet or toddler to wiggle between the two of you. Not only is this designed for two people, but it’s super comfortable with quilted padding.
On an impulse, I purchased a hammock chair for my son’s birthday from Sam’s Club. My children fight over this chair constantly. Then we found a larger adult version of this folding hammock chair on Amazon! It’s perfect because everyone in the family can use it, even the adults - that is if the kids will let them!
Wireless Speaker
Music has the amazing ability to both energize us and help us unwind, so that is why this wireless speaker is one of the best gifts for moms to bring outside. Allowing her to blast her favorite tunes while playing with the kids, gardening or kicking up her feet and relaxing in the backyard. This waterproof speaker is great for the outdoors where you can have it next to the pool or even bring it on your next camping trip. Simply connect to any device using Bluetooth and listen away.
Clothing and Outdoor Gear
Searching for some functional clothes for the outdoors that are super comfortable, we’ve rounded up the Best Outdoor Clothing for Women with our recommendations for sandals, boots, hiking pants, hats and even backpacks.
Backpack
One of the easiest ways for my family to get outside and hike more is by having a day hiking backpack stashed in the car with all our day hike essentials. Instead of rushing around trying to gather items, I stash my day pack in my van ready to go. It’s truly been a game changer for family outings. All I need to do is fill our water bottles and grab snacks. That is why the Osprey Skimmer Daypack, is perfect for busy moms. This backpack has plenty of room, plus padding and ventilation for comfort.
Leggings with Pocket
I found the perfect affordable yoga pant with a pocket for your phone so you can be hands free while chasing after toddlers without having to worry about losing your phone or keys. These Amazon IUGA High Waisted Leggings with Pockets are the best I’ve found for the price, especially if you’re on a tight budget. They have all the features you love, they hold everything in, they don’t slip down, plus they are buttery soft and thick, so no underwear lines. Need I say more?
Sandals
When deciding on a quality hiking sandal, search for ones that are fully secured to the foot and have a sturdy sole for uneven terrain. Waterproof materials are highly also advisable for walking along the beach or creek. I prefer sandals with a supportive arch and sturdy sole like Cloud Chacos Sandal, which I’ve worn for many years. You’ll find our whole family in Merrell hiking sandals and Teva, which are two of our personal favorite hiking sandals.
Wool Base Layer
A splurge worthy gift that mothers can definitely benefit from is a quality base layer. Unlike itchy wool from the past, Smartwool is known for making super-soft, moisture-wicking base layers that are made from 100% merino wool. The best part is that these are machine-washable and include moisture-wicking fibers so mom can wear these for several days while remaining stink-free. Less laundry is always a win for mothers!
There are few things I hate more than having cold tootsies. That’s why I believe it’s worth every penny to get the best Merino wool hiking socks by Darn Tough Socks. They aren’t itchy, and include seamless padding for comfort, plus have anti-stink properties for hiking. Best of all, they are guaranteed for life! Personally, I prefer the midweight micro crew length. They come in fun patterns or just your traditional blends too that goes with anything.
Nature Inspired necklace
With a minimalistic design, these necklaces are a statement piece that can we worn daily. A simple chain with a nature inspired necklace is an ideal gift for moms. From a simple mountain peak, to dandelion wisp or compass, these stainless steel necklace are a timeless gift for any mother.
Peace & Quiet
One of the best gifts for busy, tired moms? Some quiet, rest and relaxation. Noise is one of the many stressors of modern lives. Gift her Beats Fit Pro, these wireless noise cancelling earbuds
Of all the gifts this year I’ve received, these have been by far my favorite. With noise canceling and transparency options, you can reduce the noise from your children. Kids are naturally exuberant and just plain loud, so if you’re anything like me, the constant noise becomes over stimulating. Thankfully you can reduce the chaos with these bad boys. Recently, I saw a quote that stated, “I’m not an angry mother, I’m an overstimulated one.” This resonated deep with in me. All the constant daily demands, noise and chaos was creating anxiety within me. So when I’m in the car, I pop these earbuds in and enjoy sweet silence. I especially love to run or walk while listening to music, audio books or my favorite podcast during menial tasks of washing dishes and folding clothes.
Outdoor Equipment to Get Active
Naturally when you spend time outdoors you increase your activity. Adding some fun outdoor toys for mom makes soaking up the sun even more enticing.
Kayak
Want a splurge-worthy gift, then surprise her with a recreational kayak this year for mother’s day. Three years ago I was surprised by a brand new kayak and a 2 day trip to enjoy kayaking along the St Joe River. Personally, the Sit Upon Style Kayak is my preferred choice so I have ample space and can have a child or two easily sit with me.
Fitness Tracker Watch
Trying to be more active this year, the apple watch is a an ideal way for mom’s to track their fitness goals and stay healthy by getting outdoors. As an avid runner and hiker, I appreciate the GPS tracking as I log my miles. Okay I’ll be honest, the other reason I desperately wanted an Apple Watch is for the nifty little feature where you can ping your phone when it’s lost, especially since I am constantly misplacing mine. You can’t go wrong with this great gift for your mother.
A Good Book
As a self proclaimed book nerd who is notorious for staying up late lost in a thrilling story, here are some of my favorite nature inspired adventure books. If I can’t get my hands on a physical book, the next best thing is an audio book.
Did you know, You can gift an Audible membership. If your mother is an avid reader, then this is an ideal gift for that busy mom to be able to enjoy reading while folding laundry, rocking a baby late at night or listening to in the car as she taxis children to the next sports practice. There are options for 3 month, 6 months, or even up to a year of thrilling books at your fingertips.
Reading Light
If your favorite mother is a reader or book lover than a small book light is ideal, my whole family uses these rechargeable book lights, that easily clip onto the pages of your books so you extend your reading time on camping trips, around the campfire or just at home in your bed. Don’t worry about replacing batteries, since you can charged them again and again.
Yard & Garden Essential Items
Spending time outdoors in my garden is a centering space. With a large vegetable and cut flower garden, there are a couple key items that help. As a mother, I am often multi-tasking and am often interrupted to attend to the needs of my four children. Unfortunately, while gardening I’m am notoriously loosing my gardening shears, this gardening belt is the solution for helping mom stop losing all her items.
One of my favorite presents that was gifted to me this year was the AeroGarden. Maybe that young mom is a bit overwhelmed this year and a garden doesn’t seem possible, that is where this simple indoor garden is perfect.
Enjoy fresh herbs or veggies all year. With a simple touch sensitive system of lights cuing you when to add water and plant food, even your kids can be trusted to take care of this easy-to-grow garden. Who doesn’t love to add fresh basil, dill, oregano and thyme to enhance the flavors in recipes when cooking meals.
Smart Meat Grill Thermometer
This may seem an odd one to add to the list, but by using this temperature gage you can spend more time in your backyard grilling or just relaxing, instead of being stuck inside. Confidently know that exact internal temperature of your chicken while cooking, ensuring moist and delicious meats cooked to perfection. We used this thermometer gage all the time including with our smoker, grill and oven. The iGrill 2 Bluetooth Smart Meat Thermometer is one of our favorite kitchen gadgets. With a magnetic mounting feature it can attach easily to metal surface and the long cord on the probe allows a seamless cooking experience. Say goodbye to overcooked meat.
Wind Chime
Enhance your outdoor living space with the whimsical sounds of this delightful windchime or a smaller size wind chimes. This outdoor garden decoration adds lovely melody to gardens, terraces, or front porches. Even as I type this I’m enjoying listening to the soothing sound of my windchime. With easy to install "S" hooks, hang it from trees branches, windows, or porches to add something special to any area.
Did you know that the sound of bird song is one of the most calming sounds, proven to reduce stress and anxiety.
According to a study commissioned by UK National Trust, people report hearing birdsong recorded the highest levels of well-being with 40 percent saying bird song made them feel happy. Adding bird feeders to your back yard is a simple way to embrace wildlife and nature. This hexagonal shaped bird feeder has ample storage for bird seed. With a unique latch feature, it’s easy to open and close the top for filling and cleaning.
Closing Thoughts
No matter what unique gift you choose, remember to spend some quality time outside with that favorite woman in your life. Hopefully these suggestions help inspire you to find the perfect gift that she will truly treasure. Make sure to pin and save for later. Follow Discovering Anew for more outdoor activities, camping tips and trip reviews. If you’re searching for your next family vacation or camping spot, then check out the blog for our favorite Midwest family destinations.
Featured Posts You May Enjoy
Whether you’re on a camping trip or you’re just wanting to escape a mundane day until your next big adventure, here are some thrilling adventure books to enjoy. This list of nature inspired books includes fiction, non fiction and memoirs about the great outdoors.