Only a few people like to camp. The rest just go along and act like they are having fun but they are actually really miserable. For the ones that love to camp, what do we do at Christmas time or on a birthday? Well, thankfully, buying for a camper is easy to do and all it takes is a trip to the camping store.

The best gift to get, as always, is a gift certificate for the camping store. There is no reason that you should have to figure out what kind of water purifier is needed, or what the difference between two different tents is. Instead, just give them the gift certificate, and make it for no smaller than 300 dollars. That way, they pick what they want and you can sit back and smile at a job well done.

If you decide to take the initiative, then find out what they have for camping gear, what they need and what they are looking to replace. This way, you don't buy anything that they may already have and don't need, nor buy something they simply do not want. If you don't take the time to find out what they want, then look for a big ticket item like a four-season tent, or a good pair of hiking boots.

Ask the staff what is popular in the store and tell them what you know about the camper. The staff will be able to find something that will work well for you and make the recipient of the gift happy.

Another option is to buy something that you know most campers do not have, but many would like. These could be simple things like dehydrated meals, a coffee maker, water purifiers, or it could be complicated and expensive like a brand new back pack, new hiking poles, or even something as big as a canoe. Even campers like to paddle through a lake.

One thing you can buy, that every camper needs, is a survival course. This will give them the ability to survive in the wild if things became tough, and it gives you the satisfaction that you have given them a gift that will keep them safe, increase their knowledge and perhaps one day save their life or someone else's.

No matter what you pick, put thought into it and try to do the best that you can. If you pick the wrong gift, learn from it and move on. Remember, it is the thought that counts.