Father’s Day Gift Ideas Under $50 From Gerber

Gerber is a name that should be familiar to most outdoor enthusiasts. This Portland based company has been around since 1939, and offers a wide range of knives, multi-tools, and edged gear for camping. We asked them to suggest a few of their best sellers for Father’s Day, and ended up with a short list of items under $50.

Gerber’s GDC (Gerber Daily Carry) line includes handy little tools you’re likely to use every day. With a short lanyard a tiny buckle, these little tools, at about one ounce each, are ideal for hanging from a zipper or strap. A rotating wheel houses four screwdrivers on the Zip Driver, or five allen wrenches on the Zip Hex. The Zip Light has offers a bright LED plus a bottle opener. There’s also a Zip Blade, Hook Knife, and Tech Skin Pocket Knife. Retail for each is around $12, so you can probably get a couple without breaking the bank. Some of them are sold out on the Gerber website, but you may still find them at your local retailer.

An interesting take on the old paracord bracelet, the Bear Grylls Survival Bracelet (MSRP $16) is adjustable, and includes a whistle. The odds of most people using that cord in an emergency are very low, but it’s nice to be prepared. Of course, any dad will tell you that a whistle comes in handy when rounding up the troops, or calling the dogs to come in. So having one on your wrist wouldn’t be a bad thing.  Just in case, each bracelet also includes a copy of Bear Grylls “Priorities of Survival” Pocket Guide, which can help you in a pinch.

Another interpretation of a classic, the Bear Grylls Survival Series Grandfather Knife includes a 2.75 inch blade, both flat and phillips screwdrivers, a corkscrew, bottle opener, and small file. A lanyard ring on the end helps prevent it from getting lost on hikes and fishing excursions. In the past, this style of pocket knife typically had a wood inlay for the handle, and that’s been updated to a modern rubber molding that provides better grip. Neither giant nor tiny, the overall length is under four inches when closed, making it the perfect size for dads as well as sons. MSRP is only $32, and if it’s taken care of, it could actually be passed down from father to son.

Everyone that spends any time outdoors should own a pocket knife, whether they’re out hiking and camping, or just working in the yard. It doesn’t even need to be fancy or expensive, as long as it covers the basics. At least once a day, I use mine. I get packages delivered to work all the time. There’s always a few bills waiting in the mailbox for me when I get home. When working around the yard, something always needs cutting, whether it’s weed cloth, twine, irrigation tubing, or cutting into a bag of mulch. The Outrigger has a 3.0 inch, fine edge blade, aluminum frame, and rubber handle. Opens with one hand thanks to the Assisted Opening 2.0 technology, and the Plunge Lock closes with your thumb, for added safety. There’s a clip for pocket carry too. Everything you need, and nothing you don’t, in an affordable (MSRP $49) knife for daily carry.

These are just a few examples of what you’ll find on the Gerber site. To view their entire product line, head over to gerbergear.com, and check them out. They’re all backed by Gerber’s Lifetime Warranty too.

– Brian