5 Gifts for Veterans They’ll Actually Like

The holidays are coming, which means it’s time to pick out some gifts. But finding gifts for veterans, especially military or tactical-related gifts, can be tricky. That’s why we’ve come up with a handy guide of recommendations. Between these options, we think the odds are good that you’ll find what you’re — or rather, they’re — looking for.

Just to be clear: sometimes vets are simply not going to want military-themed Christmas presents. In those cases, be respectful and put your efforts into finding something else. But for our guide, we’re going to assume that military-themed veterans’ Christmas gifts are something that the veteran in your life will want.

 

1. Dress Them Up in the Clothes They Love Most

Many vets are military in their very heart of hearts for the rest of their lives, and will always take pride in their military clothing. Both practical and nostalgic, military clothes make great gifts for veterans.

Here are some good clothing-themed veterans’ Christmas gifts:

• Military long-sleeve shirts are great for wearing with the colder weather of the holidays and the new year. They’re also a good choice for vets who are active outdoors, taking hikes on crisp mornings or hunting in the deep woods.
• Camouflage shirts convey a sense of warrior prowess and deep skill. Some of the best gifts for veterans are the ones that show off that power.
• Military thermals are perfect for the practical vet in your life. For many of us, as we get older, sensible gifts like socks and underwear get more and more satisfying. What vet is gonna say no to a brand new set of ECWCS long johns?

 

2. Help Them Recreate an Old Uniform

This is one of the most thoughtful gifts for veterans that we can think of. If the vet in your life is older, maybe they don’t have some of their old uniforms anymore. In that case, you can help them to connect with their past — and maybe even pass on some of their legacy to their kids and grandkids — by helping them recreate a uniform.

There are so many details that go into recreating a military uniform, and at Army Surplus World we stock most of the bits and pieces you’re likely to need. It can be a lot of work to get all the different parts right, but if you put in that work, the result can be a very happy tear-jerker as far as veterans’ Christmas gifts go.

 

Uniform Clothing

• BDU pants, ACU pants, vintage pants, or military shorts for the lower body.
• BDU shirts, ACU shirts, and military uniform shirts for the upper body.
• Jackets for cold weather.
• Military hats, helmets, and shemaghs for the head.
• We also carry some full military uniforms and dress uniforms.

 

Uniform Decorations

This includes everything that goes on the uniform, including rank insignia, formation or unit patches, occupational badges, service ribbons, and pins and medals. You can find these gifts for veterans by service branch:

• Army Rank & Patches
• Navy Rank & Patches
• Marine Corps Rank & Patches
• Air Force Rank & Patches
• Coast Guard Rank & Patches

 

3. Get Them Some Military Swag

To get into the more lighthearted veterans’ Christmas gifts, military swag is a classic choice. We carry a huge selection of military gifts and novelties, which include fun and patriotic gifts for veterans. You can get them:

• Car accessories
• Military decals and flags
• Challenge coins
• Cups and koozies

All of the other service branches have their own versions of these presents too!

• Navy Gifts
• Marine Corps Gifts
• Air Force Gifts
• Coast Guard Gifts

 

4. Give Them a Gift Card

For the vet who is probably going to like a military-themed Christmas present but is super particular about their taste and style, no need to sweat it and risk picking the wrong thing. Just pick up a gift card. They can get exactly what they want from a selection of gear made for them.

 

5. Lay the Road to Adventure with Camping Gear

Finally, these last few veterans’ Christmas gifts are not explicitly military, but they are tactical. Many vets who get out of the service don’t necessarily want to wear their old military uniform every day, but they do still love keeping up with the skills and lifestyle that they learned in the service.

Our selection of camping and survival gear include gifts for veterans who like to be outdoors in the wilderness, or who like to prep for disasters and self-defense. Some of our offerings include:

• Core camping gear like tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and much more
• Rope and paracord for setting up camp and going into the deep backcountry
• Netting for keeping out bugs and other uses
• A wide variety of outdoor knives.
• Backcountry survival gear like first aid, multi-tools, and much more.

These sorts of gifts for veterans give them more than just nostalgia and patriotism, but a road filled with adventures ahead. The best thing you can do for them is equip them for those adventures this holiday season. So from us, tell them Merry Christmas and thank you for your service. It’s the least we can do.