The Best Tech for Father-Son Outdoor Adventures

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

Your son loves to shoot, hunt and camp with you, so now it’s time to get him the gear that makes you both feel like pros. Here are just a few gadgets that are sure to make your next hunting, fishing or camping trip safer, more convenient and more fun for the both of you:

Casio Pathfinder PAG240

There are some great survivalist watches out there, but how many of them are solar powered and under $200? Casio’s Triple Sensor technology includes a barometer/altimeter, thermometer and digital compass, so you can move away from the city on your trip and still forecast if a storm is coming. There aren’t many watches out there that give you the opportunity to teach your kid about weather watching and preparing for nightfall with such a cool look and reasonable price.

Samsung Gear S Smartwatch

In an interview with Backpacker, SAR ranger Jim Webb says cellphones are “pretty much mandatory” as survival items today. And the Gear S smartwatch actually allows you to leave your phone at home and still have all the convenience of a cellphone attached to your person. You can make calls, text and email all from the smartwatch. And wouldn’t you rather have a watch on your wrist instead of fishing around in your pack for your phone?

X-1 Surge Sportwrap Waterproof Headphones

Encourage your young outdoorsman to get outside and bring his music with him. The X-1 Surge is the Cadillac of headphones — the foam-covered, behind-the-neck stabilizing band is surprisingly understated and they can go up to 12 feet underwater. They also pack some serious bass.

Altus Brands’ Pro Ears

These are the smartest earmuffs you can buy. By utilizing Dynamic Level Sound Compression Technology, these earmuffs detect any sound over 70 decibels (like a gun shot) and instantly reduce it by half. However, they still allow you to hear your cellphone ring or your son calling for you. This means you can protect your hearing and still have fun.

Katadyn Survivor 06 Desalinator

The Katadyn Survivor 06 Desalinator is a must for fathers and sons who love to go sailing and deep sea fishing. This top of the line desalinator can produce an ounce of fresh water from seawater in 2 minutes flat. It has a 98.4 percent salt rejection average while the industry standard tops out at 95.3 percent. The Survivor also removes bacteria and viruses from salt water and weighs in at a paltry 2.5 pounds. So, even if you’re canyoneering and don’t have much pack space, this tool is worth it’s weight in gold in a desperate situation.

Big Stik Carbon Hiking Staff

Outdoor adventures are the ultimate bonding experiences. But if you have a bad knee or ankle (or worse yet, twist or tweak something on the trail), a long walk can turn into a nightmare. That’s why you’ll love the Big Stik Carbon Hiking Staff. Its patented joint technology and lifetime breakage warranty mean you’ll never be left high and dry on the trail. It’s also less than $200, ships free in the U.S. and weighs less than 10 ounces. The camera mount on top will also up the cool factor with younger hikers.

The Scorpion From Eton

The Scorpion is an outdoor-ready and solar-powered weather radio, smartphone charger and flashlight. Keep your tech gear powered up and the hunt going strong with this power source that offers solar and crank power as well as a USB port. It’s tough and splash resistant, so it can keep you both safe and entertained.