We all know it’s ain’t easy to surprise a tactical hobbyist who’s always prepared! But we do know one surefire way to surprise ‘em⁠—give ‘em a Christmas present all wrapped up in its holiday packaging! That’s right, tactical gear gifts should offer them a nice surprise this merry time of year!

But what would make a great gift for the tactical person in your life? Survival equipment? Tactical accessories? Military gear? Our handy guide is here to suggest outdoor adventure gifts, military-inspired gifts and other gift ideas for veterans, armed forces enthusiasts and other tactical types!

So you’ve got a friend who’s into the tactical lifestyle. Most likely a male friend⁠—and you know what they say, buying presents for men can be very tricky. Sometimes it’s hard to think of what gift to get that they would deeply appreciate.

One thing to keep in mind is that your friend is likely to have a utilitarian mindset. Which means a gift that is useful in some way will be appreciated more. For example, gear for outdoor adventures would come in handy on your friend’s next camping trip.

Another thing to note: your friend will only value tactical gear gifts of good quality. Tactical accessories that are cheaply made will not be seen as being useful at all! So if you’re getting your friend survival equipment such as a knife or a backpack, you’ll need to make sure it’s a high quality product⁠—effective and durable.

Tactical folks are often into experiencing outdoor adventure in nature. What better way to test your survival skills than venturing into the wilderness? And even if your friend isn’t that crazy about hiking, outdoor adventure gifts often double as survival equipment. Your friend will appreciate something that’s gonna be useful and functional in a survival scenario.

The great thing about giving a multi-tool as a gift is that your friend is sure to find a use for it. Even if your friend already has one, getting another multi-tool to have on standby is always a plus. Your friend can keep one in an everyday carry bag, one in their car, and one in a bug out bag (for emergencies). Furthermore, multi-tools come in many different designs. Even if your friend has one type of multi-tool, there may be a different type you can give as a gift. Multi-tool designs include card type, pocket knife, butterfly opening and specialized types (such as tools for cyclists, hunters, fishermen, handymen, golfers and so on).

You’ll want to check out our guide to the best multi-tools for outdoor use. It covers the key information you need to know before purchasing a multi-tool. The guide summarizes the benefits of several well-regarded brands, including Leatherman, Victorinox, Gerber and SOG. One of the top picks mentioned in the guide is the Leatherman Squirt PS4, a good option for the hiking enthusiast in your life.

Anyone who is tactically prepared will have an emergency kit at the ready. The most common type of kit for handling emergencies is the individual first aid kit (IFAK). While it’s useful for any scenario, the individual first aid kit certainly counts as a hiking essential. But while out on a hike, you’ll want the kit to be well-secured and safe, while also being easily accessible. How does one balance these divergent requirements?

We can tell you how we do it⁠—we store our emergency supplies in an external IFAK pouch attached to the hide of a tactical backpack. That keeps the kit out of your way while hiking, but still extremely easy to access and deploy when needed. The 14er Tactical IFAK Pouch is compact yet rugged and durable, protecting your emergency supplies from moisture, dust and outdoor exposure. Now that’s a handy thing to have! Certainly a nice gift!

Every outdoor adventurer needs a backpack. The tactical hiker takes it to the next level, which means needing a tactical backpack! What do we mean by that? Well, a tactical backpack is comparable to a regular hiking pack. Both products are built to last, able to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and keep your belongings from getting wet or damaged. But in addition to that, a tactical backpack offers functionality that a tactical aficionado is sure to appreciate.

For example, the 14er Tactical Backpack is designed to be modular. Its external hide uses a type of MOLLE system—a web of PALS straps⁠—that lets you expand storage by adding on more compartments and pouches. You can customize the backpack to suit your needs. Another handy tactical feature of the bag is its handy CCW pocket. If you want to carry a firearm discreetly, you can easily do so with the 14er Tactical Backpack.

It’s pretty much guaranteed that your tactical buddy will have a keen interest in military gear. While you might not be able to give them actual military gear as gifts, you can find quality products of a similar style. Here are a couple of suggestions!

Does your friend enjoy going to the shooting range? A sturdy, functional range bag would be a well-received gift! Of course, we recommend the 14er Tactical Range Bag! With its extra thick material and utilitarian style, this is a range bag that delivers on expectations. The straps are made of ballistic nylon, so you know this bag won’t let you down! It’s supremely hardy! Now that’s how you ensure the safe and secure storage of firearms and ammo while transporting them to the range.

You may have seen folks proudly sporting morale patches, but are you aware of their long history in the military? These Velcro badges are carrying on a legacy built on fighting spirit! Soldiers have used morale patches to express their views and opinions of military life, all while bravely, uh, soldiering on.

We love that storied legacy, and our 14er Morale Patches aim to capture the same spirit (and humor) that our service members embodied. Some patches will make you laugh. Others will make you think. No matter what they say, morale patches signify that the one displaying them is a true Armed Forces enthusiast.