Unique Christmas gift ideas: Gifts for the outdoors

What to get the forager who has everything? Why, a 'bird's beak' blade of course! The perfect gift for anyone who knows their penny bun from their deadly webcap.

Gourmet mushroom knife, £34.99
By Stylishlife
Buy online at stylishlife.co.uk Photograph: PR

The perfect present for stylish adventurers, or those who refuse to go on a walk without four bottles of wine and a large supply of scotch eggs. Millican (named after a cave-dwelling eco-adventurer) have a range of elegant and hardwearing bags made from sustainable materials such as organic canvas, recycled polyester and Herdwick wool.

Cooler bag, £85
By Millican
Buy online at homeofmillican.com Photograph: PR

Looking for a gift for a fitness fanatic? The iThlete is perfect: the simple-to-use monitor plugs into an iPhone or iPod touch, you download the app, and voila, you have a heart rate variability monitor (HRV). This measures the gap between your heartbeats when you’re resting - which will be wider when you are fit, healthy and relaxed. It can therefore tell you when you should and shouldn’t train, and even predict illness before you are aware of it.

Receiver, £28.99, and app, £5.99
By iThlete
Buy online at myithlete.com and download the app at the iTunes store Photograph: PR

OK, so it's hardly the most romantic of gifts, but if you are fed up of arguments about map reading then opt for this SatNav, which aims to minimise your CO2 emissions and fuel use and show you the most environmentally responsible way to drive.

Econav, £179.99
By Vexia
Buy online at vexia.co.uk Photograph: PR

Please the eco-conscious disco diva in your life with this solar-powered disco ball. It works indoors and out and is guaranteed to bring some sparkle to your New Year's Eve party.

Solar disco ball, £35
By Biome Lifestyle
Buy online at biomelifestyle.com Photograph: PR

The perfect gift for the powder hound who has everything: customisable ski goggles. You can pick your own lens, strap and frame colours, and even etch your name on the lens, all of which will help your friends locate you in the lift queue.

Custom Splice goggles, £140
By Oakley
Buy online at ukoakley.com Photograph: PR

Annual membership of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust gets you unlimited visits to any of the nine wetland centres nationwide, and supports their vital conservation work. Or you could plump for adoption of a mallard or a crane. Quackers.

WWT membership, from £35
By Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Buy online at wwt.org.uk Photograph: PR

Avian property design has progressed to a level that would impress Kevin McCloud, as these nest boxes and feeders demonstrate. All make stylish gifts and the birds will thank you, though the ones who chose to nest in the cat's mouth may need some form of avian therapy.

Sylvester bird box, £25
By Suck UK
Buy online at suck.uk.com

Window bird feeder, £13.98
By Stylishlife
Buy online at stylishlife.co.uk

Mrs Birdee flat pack bird nest box, £19.99
By Nigel's Eco Store
Buy online at nigelsecostore.com Photograph: PR

Built are the go-to company for simple, stylish and practical bags and covers for your increasing array of technology. From iPad cases to laptop bags, their neoprene designs are robust enough for even the most adventurous of photographer.

Camera Bag, £89.99
By Built
Buy online at pcworld.co.uk Photograph: PR

Who wouldn't love a gift that allows you to legitimately punch the giver (mind they've got pads on first, of course). This kit from Gold's Gym is pleasingly retro but will stand up to any ordeal the gym - or your other half - can throw at you.

Leather boxing gloves, £34.95
Leather skipping rope, £14.95
Leather medicine ball, £39.95
By Gold's Gym Heritage
Buy online at johnlewis.com Photograph: PR

Whether or not Christmas itself turns out to be white, this sleigh should see some use over the winter months. And when it isn't in use, it folds up neatly for storage. Little old driver (nimble and quick) and eight tiny reindeer not included.

Foldable wooden sledge, £49.99
By Snow and Rock
Buy online at snowandrock.com Photograph: PR

We've tried many a heart rate monitor in our time, and this is the most stylish we've seen. It's easy to use, much lighter than the typical bulky sports watch, and also has an unusually comfortable chest strap. You can set it to improve fitness, manage weight or just free training and it will do the rest. Well, it'll tell you what to do, not, alas, do it for you. Perfect to inspire activity - and if you aren't sure which one your receipient would like, you can take the test on their behalf.

M-Series HRM watch, £99
By Suunto
Buy online at heartratemonitor.co.uk Photograph: PR

A present for outfoors that you keep indoors. This beautifully-designed posted shows the endangered native species of Briain, from adders to funghi. The super-collider site has a small but wonderful selection of science-inspired gifts, from plant based air purifiers to vintage science envelopes

Endangered species chart, £20
By Present&Correct
Buy online at super-collider.com Photograph: PR