Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Smartest Gifts For Outdoor Dates

No matter what the weather is like outside, plan an indelible date for you and your special someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day. With a little forethought, you can have a memorable experience, whether you’re picnicking, trying a cold plunge for the first time, or exploring in nature for a scavenger hunt. Keep reading for fun rendezvous ideas as well as the top gifts that will pair perfectly with your outdoor tryst.

Coordinate Outerwear and Stay Warm on Nature Trails

For chillier weather, make sure your loved one is warm and comfortable during all your outdoor adventures. Before heading into the open-air, to explore an arboretum or local forest preserves, give your significant other a Nevadan Down Parka from Mountain Hardwear. With styles for both men and women, in four different colors, you can get yourself one too and either match or coordinate with your sweetie. Meant to be worn every day, these well-designed puffy jackets are stylish and functional, with plenty of pockets, a hood, and a practical length.

Thrill Your Date with a Cold Plunge

Sign up for an organized polar plunge in your city, like Chicago’s Polar Plunge , and see what all the hubbub is about for this popular activity. It’s a Valentine’s Day gift that will give back as funds raised go toward local charities. You’ll, of course, need a great swimsuit for all the photographs you’ll undoubtably take and share on social media. The Laetitia bikini from Zonarch, which comes in colors perfect for Valentine’s Day, is fashionable yet comfortable. Mercifully, this piece is also double lined so you can jump into the cold water with reassurance and support.

Go on a Treasure Hunt

If you haven’t followed clues in search of actual treasure, then it’s high time to check out Geocaching. Set out for adventure, with your loved one in tow, and bring along a pair of walkie talkies from Midland Radio for fun. The X-Talker T10 Walkie Talkie has up to a 20-mile range and weather alert technology. Powered by three “AAA” batteries, these radios are simple to use and will be an amusing addition to your date. This is a think-outside-the-box rendezvous and gift.

Provide Sun Protection

If you’re on vacation, or lucky enough to hail from a warm locale, why not give a stylish and smart sun hat this year to protect your sweetie from the rays? Wallaroo Hat Company has lids for men and women including wide brim styles that are travel friendly. The Sedona, for example, folds up for easy travel, is constructed with a UPF 50+ fabric, and has a chic embordered band. Whether you’re roaming the beach hand-in-hand, shopping at the farmers market, or enjoying a new board game like Karen from Asmodee on an alfresco patio for a simple pleasure, this hat will surely be treasured.

Plan an Outdoor Picnic

It doesn’t really matter what the climate is, if you plan for an outdoor private picnic, your loved one will appreciate the grand gesture. Find a picture-perfect spot in a local park, forest preserve, or along a nature trail and eat al fresco with real dishes. Vancasso makes affordable stoneware sets that come in a variety of colors. Bring along plates for sandwiches or crackers and cheese, a pair of bowls for salad or fresh berries, and mugs for hot cocoa, tea, or coffee from Intelligensia. And, of course, you’ll need a great blanket to sit on. Look no further than the Taylor Stitch Original Puffy Blanket in Navy Aloha, designed in collaboration with Rumpl, which is constructed with post-consumer plastic for a low carbon footprint. Now, how smart is that?

Play in the Outdoors

Strong connections can be forged through playing in the outdoors, no matter what the weather holds. This Valentine’s Day, celebrate your loved one by planning a joyful romp in the snow, whether you go skiing, snowshoeing, or sledding. Some of the smartest technology in the outdoor gear space can be seen with the performance-driven products at LEKI. Give the gift of warmth this season with a new pair of LEKI gloves, made with Primaloft insulation. Bonus: The Patrol 3D gloves look like something out of Star Wars.

Surprise Your Loved One with Fun Outdoor Gear for the Campsite

If your significant other loves the outdoors and spending time at campgrounds, then surprise him or her with something from Dometic’s Dometic GO line. From an innovative water supply system to smart organization solutions to seating options, everything in this savvy and sleek lineup is designed to easily fit in the back of your vehicle. Plus, storing items in your garage or storage space when not in use is a cinch! Set your partner up with the Dometic GO Hard Storage 50L, Soft Storage (10 or 20 L), Compact Camp Table, Compact Camp Chair, and the Compact Camp Bench.