Outdoor Canada’s 2025 Father’s Day gift guide: Awesome outdoor gear, tackle, apparel, accessories, gadgets and more

EXPLORE BOONEY HAT

COOLNET UV NECK GAITER

Although anglers love their ball caps, sun safety is no joke—especially for dads of a certain age, which is why wide-brimmed hats, like Buff’s excellent new booney, are the new must-have outdoor accessory. The extremely light and well-designed Explore is made of recycled, quick-dry nylon, with a soft, moisture-wicking sweatband. The fit is adjustable with a drawcord at the back of the crown, and there’s a chin strap for gusty days. And amazingly, it’s so soft and light that it packs into its own crown pocket, making it super easy to toss into a bag for those moments when it’s needed.

My one complaint about the original Buff multi-function neckwear is that they could be a bit warm on very hot days. That’s no longer a problem with Buff’s new CoolNet line, which boasts sweat-active cooling from HeiQ—a thermo-regulating fabric that’s triggered by body heat to maintain optimal body temperature. It also has Polygiene antimicrobial treatment to resist odour buildup. They also come in a number of nifty patterns with stylized outdoor motifs. My current fave is “Lake River Multi” (above) a pattern that goes amazingly well with almost anything, and is lively enough to brighten up photos, without taking away from the giant fish you’re holding.

Learn more: www.buff.com

—Scott Gardner