Buying a gift for Dad can be tough because a lot of gear looks cool but doesn’t hold up. Here in The Gear Bunker, we know what gear we want and would use ourselves. These are some gifts for Dad that he will use for a long time.
Jump To:
Best EDC Gifts
Eberlestock – Bando
Best For: travel/gym/casual wear
Why It’s Worth It:
- Carrying essential items
- Can carry most sub-compact and compact firearms
- Integrated sleeve for carrying a tourniquet
Field Notes:
Having a fanny pack for carrying essentials while in gym clothes is sometimes overlooked. The Bando is an Eberlestock option for that.
Montana Silversmiths – America the Great Buckle or America’s 250th Anniversary Buckle
Best For: formal wear/Western wear
Why It’s Worth It:
- Showing your patriotism
- Has “Montana Armor” for protection against tarnish.
- Made in Montana
Field Notes:
For the patriotic Dad who’s proud of his country and wants to look Western too.
Eberlestock – FADE Flex
Best For: urban use/church security/office travel
Why It’s Worth It:
- Comes with a pistol retainer and tourniquet loop
- Serves as a belt bag or a cross-body pack
- The standard size Flex can carry most full-size pistols with lights and optics
Field Notes:
While the Bando is for casual wear, the Fade Flex is a subtler option for formal occasions or the office.
Zebra – F-701
Best For: note-taking/field use
Why It’s Worth It:
- All metal body
- Ink works on Rite-in-the-Rain paper
- Classy but sturdy
Field Notes:
The F-701 is a great alternative to “tactical” pens, rugged and great for writing.
Eberlestock – FADE Sling XL
Best For: urban use/church security/office travel
Why It’s Worth It:
- Can carry full-size pistols or ultra-compact PDWs
- Ability to carry more EDC gear that cannot be carried on your person
- Blends into an urban environment.
Field Notes:
The Fade Sling XL is bigger than the Fade Sling, allowing you to carry a laptop and an armor panel. This sling bag ensures Dad always has a well-rounded EDC.
Best Hunting & Outdoor Gifts
Montana Knife Company – The Speedgoat 2.0
Best For: hunting/everyday/fishing
Why It’s Worth It:
- Sharp blade
- Lightweight
- Made in Montana
Field Notes:
This knife is now my go-to hunting knife. It’s small but packs a “punch.”
Forgeline – Men’s Oaks Camp Pant
Best For: hiking/hunting/work
Why It’s Worth It:
- Built like combat pants
- Durability
- Lots of pockets to store tools
Field Notes:
These pants are built like Patagonia’s combat pants, but they blend in at the jobsite or the ranch.
Plano – GoNow™ 30L
Best For: camping/hunting/fishing/storage
Why It’s Worth It:
- Cost-effective
- Modularity
- It can serve as a gym bench in a pinch
Field Notes:
GoNow is Plano’s response to providing Dads with storage that keeps gear ready to go from the garage to the outdoors.
ZEISS – Terra ED Binoculars
Best For: bird watching/hunting
Why It’s Worth It:
- Clarity
- Compact
- Simplistic design
Field Notes:
I have these binoculars in my Sitka Mountain Harness, ready for deer season.
Best Tactical Gifts
Streamlight – PROTAC® Rail Mount HL-X Long Gun Light
Best For: home defense/shooting/night operations
Why It’s Worth It:
- Reliable light
- All metal body
- Cost-effective
Field Notes:
I have used this light on for years now, and it still has a place on one of my rifles.
Magpul – PMAGs
Best For: shooting/readiness
Why It’s Worth It:
- Sturdy polymer body
- Reliable
- Fairly inexpensive
Field Notes:
Instead of giving Dad a tie, give him some field-tested magazines.
Surefire – Surefire M340DFT Mini Scout Light Pro
Best For: home defense/shooting/night operations
Why It’s Worth It:
- Performance
- Slim footprint
- M-LOK and Picatinny compatible
Field Notes:
To reduce the footprint of my home defense rifle, I have been using this light.
Viking Tactics – VTAC 2-point sling VTAC sling
Best For: preparedness/shooting/night operations/hunting/home defense
Why It’s Worth It:
- Easy to adjust
- Sturdy
- Go-to sling for a lot of military guys
Field Notes:
I was first introduced to the VTAC sling back at the Joint Readiness Training Center. I have never looked back at having this sling on my rifles.
Gear We Actually Run
This gear is what I run either day to or out in the field.
Gifts by Budget
Under $50
Under $100
Under $250
- Eberlestock Fade Sling XL
- Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X LED Long Gun Light
- Plano GoNow™ 30L
- Montana Knife Company – The Speedgoat 2.0
- Montana Silversmith’s America the Great Buckle or America’s 250th Anniversary Buckle
Premium ($250+)
- Surefire M340DFT Mini Scout Light Pro
- Forgeline Men’s Oaks Camp Pant
- ZEISS Terra ED Binoculars
- JK Boots Forefront
If You Only Buy One Thing
Best Overall: Surefire M340DFT Mini Scout Light Pro
Best Budget: Magpul PMAGs
Best Premium: Forgeline Men’s Oaks Camp Pant
Final Word
Treat Dad with some gear that he will use instead of putting it in a closet. Let him know that this is gear that counts in the workplace and the wild.
Stay tuned to The Gear Bunker and be a part of this all veteran-owned website. And be sure to subscribe to our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. Sign up to be notified on YouTube ensuring you’ll know immediately when new content is uploaded.
Check out our new Affiliate Partner Page.
Visit our Amazon Storefront for more related items.
Leave a Reply