Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual’s weekend warrior gift guide

By

Everybody has that friend or family member who, despite the winter’s rain, cold weather, or snow, feel compelled to be one with nature as soon as the clock strikes five on a Friday. Whether it be a car full of supplies or just a simple backpack, they take to the wilderness like it’s their natural home. Some prefer to dub these types weekend warriors while others simply consider it a way of life. No matter its nickname or moniker, the popularity of maintaining this kind of lifestyle is higher now than ever before.

Related: Give the gift of class with The Manual’s holiday watch guide

Recommended Videos

As the holidays rapidly approach and shopping for your loved ones becomes more of a priority, we here at The Manual understand it’s hard finding the perfect gift. When it comes to buying for those weekend warriors in your life, unless you also enjoy this particular habit it’s nearly impossible to know exactly what to gift. Do you buy them a tent? Probably not as chances are they already have one. How about a trusty survival knife? Now we’re talking. To help narrow down exactly what those avid outdoorsy types really want to add to their arsenal we’ve compiled the following list of the best gifts for any weekend warrior. Happy trekking.

Truce Drop Liner Backpack ($260)

TruceBackpack1

Perfect for as much (or as little) gear as necessary for a weekend spent among the wilderness, the Truce Drop Liner Backpack is perhaps the last travel pack you’ll ever need to own. Lightweight and carefully hand-crafted by Truce owner Luke Mathers, this bag not only stays comfortable no matter how long you wear it but regardless of the day’s conditions, keeps everything inside completely dry. For anyone who gets out during the fall, winter, and spring, you know this is one of the single most important qualities for a backpack. Moreover, the abundance of available pockets and compartments makes it incredibly easy to tote anything from a spare change of clothes to a simple wallet without sacrificing comfort whatsoever. Did we mention its superior quality? This pack can take an absolute beating and you’d hardly notice; an absolute perfect companion for anyone itching to get outdoors and stay outdoors.

Stuffa One vest ($130)

StuffaVest3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Looking to kill two birds with one stone and gift a backpack and a jacket? Then the Stuffa One vest/jacket is the way to go. On the outside, the Stuffa One looks the part of every body warming vest on the market with one extremely effective caveat; the inside of the vest harbors twelve stuffable pockets capable of holding roughly eleven pounds of gear. Basically, it’s perfect for some extra clothing, a set of car keys, a hunting knife, or literally thousands of other camping-related items. While we wouldn’t recommend putting on the Stuffa One and setting out for a weekend-long trip with just that, the vest does make for a great addition on any long hiking trips or as part of a regular assembly of camping gear.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 Insingo ($395)

KnifeArt1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As any weekend warrior can attest, there’s a striking sense of nakedness felt while embarking on a weekend away without some sort of travel knife in your pocket. Furthermore, having a high quality, comfortable to grip knife makes a world of difference when it comes time to actually put the thing to use. This is where KnifeArt.com — and namely, its Sebenza 21 Insingo knife from Chris Reeve — can make combing through the sea of available knives an absolute walk in the park. Outfit with a textured carbon fiber handle, full integral titanium lock, and a stainless S35-VN blade, the Sebenza 21 is one of the finest small blades to have in any trekking arsenal. KnifeArt.com even includes a special chamois cloth and knife grease to keep the blade in tip-top shape no matter how much use it gets.

IRON & GLORY stainless steel camping mug ($14)

IronandGloryCup1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whether you need it to hold coffee, tea, or something a little stronger, a solid camping mug is an essential piece of camping gear. With the Brooklyn-based IRON & GLORY’s stainless steel camping mug, not only would you be gifting a quality, long lasting camp stein but one literally built to be used outdoors. Boasting a stainless steel carabiner clip perfect for attaching to a backpack, owners won’t have to spend time jamming it into a pack full of gear once they’ve had their fill of their liquid of choice. Considering the fact it costs just $14, we wouldn’t blame you one bit for heading over to the IRON & GLORY site to nab one of these bad boys the second you stop reading this.

Related: 
Gap focuses on musical talent for ‘Give Your Gift’ holiday campaign

Tide & Trail packable wireless speaker system ($249)

TideandTrailSpeaker2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After a day full of hitting the trail and exploring to their heart’s content, any weekend warrior loves enjoying a little R&R once the sun goes down. In addition to filling the above camping mug with a drink of choice, winding down with some smooth tunes is the perfect nightcap to a long day. Sold in conjunction with Tide & Trail, the Grain Audio wireless speaker system not only looks like something which begs to be enjoyed outdoors, but it packs some of the clearest sound of any relative size speaker. Purposely lacking fancy audio enhancements and effects, the crystal clear output provides listeners with sound as it was originally intended. Timelessly designed and simple to use, the Tide & Trail packable wireless speaker system is the perfect gift.

Rick Stella
Rick Stella
Rick is a staff writer for The Manual, covering everything from men's fashion and accessories, to the best new brands and…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

Tune Outdoor’s new M1 Lite is a rugged, affordable, featherweight truck camper
Minimalist pickup owners will love the straightforward "everything you need, nothing you don't" design.
Side profile of Tune Outdoor's M1 Lite truck camper/topper parked in a field.

Sometimes less really is more. Personally, I think that's doubly true when it comes to camping. Whether you're backpacking, car camping, or RV'ing, there's beauty in a dead-simple camp setup. That's the thinking behind Tune Outdoor's new M1 Lite — a more affordable, more streamlined, and (wait for it ...) lighter version of the company's flagship M1 truck camper/topper.
While the original M1 is already lightweight and relatively affordable, compared to other overlanding and truck camping options in the space, Tune Outdoor is upping its game by making this new model even more affordable. That's done by cutting weight and overall size. The M1 Lite's interior is about 20% smaller, but that nets a 20-percent reduction in base weight. At a scant 322 pounds, it hardly weighs much more than some of the larger, most robust rooftop tents on the market. The result? Better fuel economy and a more agile ride both on- and off-road.

The compact interior features a smaller longitudinal double bed that measures 72 by 60 inches, compared to the M1's more generous east-west configuration. The over-cab space is also shorter, measuring just 45 inches. But the 57-inch-long alcove standard in the flagship M1 is available in the M1L as a $1,000 add-on. Overall, the space feels roomier than it should, though, thanks to a full-length pop-top roof with a generous 6.5 feet of headroom. That means most average-height adults can change and move around while standing. Panoramic, wraparound fabric "window" walls also help keep the space light and breezy.
The new M1 Lite starts at $8,999 (based on a Toyota Tacoma short bed). That's a full $4,000 cheaper than its OG predecessor, and Tune Outdoors will even install it for free at its Colorado headquarters. Eager buyers can reserve their very own with a $500 deposit to secure their place in line. First deliveries are expected sometime in December 2025.

Read more
The Pebble Flow travel trailer is packed with tech and ready to change vanlife forever
The future of RV'ing is bright, tech-forward, and all-electric for serious on- and off-grid camping.
Pebble Flow all-electric travel trailer parked at a campground on a starry night.

It seems clear that the future of the world's vehicles is electric. As it turns out, running all our cars and pickups on dead dinosaur juice is only going to take us so far—literally. And the battery-powered revolution has begun in the RV industry, too, thanks in large part to the official drop of the all-electric Pebble Flow travel trailer.
California-based Pebble first announced its electric travel trailer back in 2023. Based on the long list of next-gen features and specs, I was stoked—tentatively, though, as vehicle manufacturers have a history of overpromising and underdelivering when it comes to concept announcements. I'm happy to report that the company has begun delivering its Flow Founders Edition, and everything we loved about the original seems to have come to fruition.

It's a 100% electric RV designed to move seamlessly between on- and off-grid camping, making it the perfect go-anywhere live/work/play space for modern nomads. Pebble promises up to seven days of off-grid camping, including full use of all onboard appliances. This is no small feat. RV owners who've tried to venture too far from the frontcountry know the struggle of keeping cool in the summer with a beastly, power-hungry air conditioner. But, it appears Pebble has finally solved this problem.
It's clear that Pebble put just as much thought into the interior design as well. The furniture is not only sleek, modern, and handsome, but the living quarters easily transform between office, bedroom, and lounge as needed. Panoramic windows with one-touch instant privacy glass envelop the space, creating a vibe that's bright, airy, and breezy. Tasteful ambient lighting and high-end finishes throughout elevate the look and feel well above the bargain basement vibe found in most "ordinary" RVs.

Read more
Wildfire forces closure of Grand Canyon’s North Rim for the season—and maybe longer
Grand Canyon National Park faces massive closures due to natural disaster
A sweeping view of Grand Canyon on a winter morning

The Grand Canyon is one of the many areas currently affected by the Dragon Bravo Wildfire, which began last month. According to AZ Central, officials speculate that the fire began due to a lightning strike, which then spread rapidly due to sustained winds of 20 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 40 miles per hour. As of July 27th, 2025, the fire was still active, and the National Park Service reports that somewhere between 50 and 80 structures have been lost, including many administrative buildings and visitor facilities. Fortunately, they also report that no one has been injured, and no loss of life has been reported. Unfortunately, this devastating fire has closed the North Rim for the remainder of the season, and possibly longer.

Current closures at the North Rim

Read more