My wife complains that I am the hardest person in the world to shop for Christmas. That’s because I’m a gear junkie and usually buy the latest and greatest gadget as soon as it hits the store’s shelves. But I strolled through Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park, Florida, the other day and picked out a few gifts that I just have to get this holiday season. When it comes to outdoors equipment, I’m pretty picky. If it’s going in my arsenal, it needs to be durable, versatile and most important, kind of cool:

• Simms: Dry Creek Roll-Top Backpack: $149.95; www.simmsfishing.com

This tough backpack has a waterproof roll top and padded back panel. With a semi-dry exterior pocket, water bottle pockets, compression and gear straps, this will be the ideal pack to take along on a stand-up paddleboard camping trip.

• Luci: Inflatable Solar Lantern: $14.99; www.mpowerd.com

A lightweight, solar-powered lantern that will inflate to brighten up any tent. It is waterproof with 65 lumens of light and a burn time of 12 hours. I’ll hang it on my backpack or strap it to the deck of my kayak on my next expedition.

• Petzl: Tikka R+: $79.95; www.petzl.com

A USB rechargeable light source with reactive technology that adjusts automatically to darkness of surroundings, sort of the transition lens of head lamps. I’m a firm believer in the old adage that you can never have too many flashlights or pocketknives.

• Powertraveller: Powermonkey extreme: $199.99; www.powertraveller.com

A solar charger that is powerful enough to charge a laptop computer will certainly have enough juice to keep my iPod cranking out tunes. It charges 5V and 12V devices and is waterproof. The lithium battery will hold 90 percent of its charge for up to a year.

• Lodge: Seasoned steel 12 inch Skillet: $37.95; www.lodgemfg.com

I’m a cast iron man when it comes to camp cooking, but this skillet made out of carbon steel makes it the pan of choice in many professional kitchens. You can cook at a higher heat, and it is much lighter than the traditional Lodge cast iron skillet.

• Travel Chair: Joey Chair Steel: $49.95; www.travelchair.com

A collapsible travel chair with tent pole technology — now why didn’t I think of that? This little beauty will hold up to 275 pounds and is light enough for a backpack and still easy to sit up. I’ve field tested this chair and fell asleep in front of the campfire, which is a good thing.

• Sea to Summit: Aeros pillow: $34.95; www.seatosummit.com

A super small and compact pillow with scalloped bottom edge that fits over shoulders and cradles your head. It weighs 2.1 ounces and is very fast and easy to inflate and deflate. I keep one in my top drawer just in case I want to take a nap under my desk at work.

• Sea to Summit: Ultra-sil Dry Day Pack: $54.95; www.seatosummit.com

When you hit dry land after a long paddle, this ultralight, compact waterproof backpack will carry plenty of goodies from the convenience store. It comes fully seam-sealed with a waterproof roll-top closure and compression system.

• Exofficio: Sol Cool Ultimate Hoody: $75; www.exofficio.com

I spend a lot of time on the water and used to wear long-sleeve white T-shirts, but not any longer. This shirt, made with an ”icefil” treated fabric that will keep you cool on a hot day, is my new go-to garment. It has a full zip-up hood that covers your whole head for maximum sun protection.

• Ice Mule Cooler: Classic 20 Liter Ice Mule Cooler: $69.95; www.icemulecooler.com

A soft, waterproof portable cooler with a built-in air bladder that gives the cooler floatation and extra insulation and keeps my bottles of root beer from rolling around. Ideal for a paddleboarder.

• Grand Trunk: Double Parachute Nylon Hammock: $64.95; www.grandtrunk.com

Next to root beer, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a good nap. This big roomy hammock weighs 20 ounces, yet holds up to 400 pounds. Includes a hanging kit.

• Snow Peak: Titanium Trek 900: $49.95; www.snowpeak.com

A minimalist cook set that is ideal for one or two people. Lightweight and durable, it weighs in at 6 ounces. It can hold 30 ounces of liquid and includes a pot and small frying pan.

• Mr. Heater: Little Buddy: $69.99; www.mrheater.com

An indoor-safe propane heater with an auto safety shut off system that will burn for 5½ hours off a 1-pound cylinder. It’s advertised to heat up to 100 square feet. Maybe now my wife will go camping with me.