Legit Firefighter Gift List Approved by a Real Firefighter

Table of Contents

Video best gift for fireman

Save it, Share it, Send it!

Originally Published November 2018, Last Update November 2023

We’ve all seen those websites that have gift ideas for a firefighter that are neither good ideas, or safe ideas, to gift to a real firefighter. Sure, they’re cute for a 12 year old obsessed with Firetrucks, but when we’re talking about Men and Women who put their life on the line, we need to have some respect in regards to what they might want (or need) for a gift.

This could be something as simple as a Firefighter Thank you gift, or a Retirement gift ideas for firefighters- Either way, you’ll find quality items that a Firefighter can actually use.

Not that those other lists don’t have some merit- I know the authors put time into research and creating a site. But it’s different when you are a part of this lifestyle and you know what actually works and what is needed.

If you want ridiculous gifts for Firefighters (maybe for a gag gift or what not) then you’ll want to head over to this separate assortment of *interesting* Firefighter gifts!

🔥 FireFighter Gifts Under 25 🔥
Thoughtful Gifts for Firefighters
🎉Personalized Firefighter Gifts 🎉
Firefighter Gifts useful on the Job
Firefighter Banquet and Crew Gifts
Popular Firefighter Owned Brands
Gifts we don’t suggest

Are these gifts for Female or Male Firefighters?

While this is an innocent question (and maybe supercharged by the current political climate) it’s important to know that it’s a frequently asked question I hear all the time.

I’ve spoken with a number of female and male firefighters about this topic and it’s very true what they’ve said, regardless of the sex, a Firefighter is tasked with the same jobs with the same tools.

Women Firefighters do benefit from gloves, bunker gear, and shoes that are appropriately sized, but those are also items that are best left to the Firefighter to choose and purchase to ensure proper fit. Instead, you could offer to buy these items, give cash or a gift card, or ask your Firefighter to send you a link to the exact item needed.

You can find this curated list of Female Firefighter gifts if you’d like to browse something that could be helpful, but the gifts below are appropriate for both Men and Women Firefighters.

Volunteer or Career?

As my buddy over at Professional Volunteer states, nobody cares if your career or volunteer- We all have a job to do.

These gifts are great for Firefighters from young to old no matter what the job title is.

When should these gifts be given?

Perfect for Birthdays or Retirements, Baby showers and Weddings- there’s a Firefighter themed gift for all the Holiday’s and special events (no matter how early or how late you order it!)

Firefighters deserve something nice every now and then… most of the time they would be happy with food though!

These Firefighter gifts range from thoughtful, to practical, to predictable- hopefully they are what you are looking for to gift your fireman or firewoman.

This post will contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you, you can check out my affiliate disclosure for more info!

🔥Firefighter Gifts Under 25🔥

Sometimes we need a cheap and quick gift! I get it! Here’s a great selection of Firefighter Gifts under 25 dollars.

Thoughtful Firefighter Gifts

Let’s start with the most thoughtful gifts of the group. I always like to start with these because sometimes the sentimental gifts are the ones we value the most.

These would be appropriate for any holiday, but especially for ones like graduations and weddings!

Custom Ax are a really popular item now a days, and the best part is that they are readily available on the internet!

You might even get lucky to find someone local that can help you with a custom order. Check out these ones on Etsy!

Another thoughtful (and somewhat practical) gift is a custom watch. These items can be individualized from different colors to different smart capabilities. The thoughtfulness is getting the qualities that they might need (durability, water proof, weather proof) and getting something inscribed on the back.

If this Firefighter is near and dear to your heart, I would definitely suggest a love token. Traditionally given from a wife to her husband, love tokens have expanded to parents, siblings, and partners. It’s all about letting your Firefighter know you care!

Personalized Firefighter Gifts

These Bad Boy Custom Raptor Shears are from Leatherman- a top quality brand among Firefighters. These are an absolutely essential item for First Responders and will never get misplaced at work with personalization by having their name engraved.

Another Fun idea is a customized leather strap! These come in both personalized straps for gloves and also for the radio. Many of these are made by firefighters, like this glove strap!

This is a top seller on Etsy and comes with so many raving reviews. Definitely one of the top things to consider on your list if you want something useful, personalized and budget friendly.

Nothing says personalized like a custom last name blanket meant to look like Turnout Gear! Best part is that if they took it to the station, they couldn’t loose it!

Firefighter Gifts that are Useful on the Job

Firefighters are used to using some pretty great equipment, and wether they are on the job or off, it’s helpful that they have the right tools when they need it most.

EDC items, or Everyday Carry Items, are always a big hit for firefighters, especially because its a thoughtful gift that will get put to good use.

These 6 in 1 Leatherman Raptor Shears are a great find for your EDC crew- useful for all kinds of events they are Amazon’s Choice and rated with 5 stars.

Another Very Useful gift for Firefighters is a quality light.

These lights can be used for hard to see situations during the day and for lumination at night. This tactical and Durable Light is a must have for EDC’ers (and everyone really! It lights up a room!).

This 5 star rated Amazon’s choice streamlight is a great addition to your everyday carry. And if you can find it under 40, it’s a steal!

Check the Price on the Streamlight

Wallets of all shapes and sizes are necessary for Firefighters so that they can always have their certifications on hand! In fact, I know many firefighters that have two wallets (one for work and one for home so the important stuff doesn’t get lost!) – so it’s definitely a great gift idea! find this awesome wallet for firefighters

Firefighter Banquet and Crew Gifts 👨🏿‍🚒👨🏾‍🚒👩🏽‍🚒👩🏼‍🚒👨🏻‍🚒

Looking for some affordable group gifts for firefighters? Or Maybe Christmas Gifts for the crew?

Check out this selection of items that can be mixed and matched to provide group gifts for firefighters of all shapes and sizes!

First things first, most Firefighter Banquets have an award or recognition section. There are lots of different options for neat mementos to celebrate Firefighters!

Looking for a raffle gift or a gift for Firefighter of the year? Helmet Light to the rescue! This budget friendly helmet light comes with 5 star reviews and is sure to be useful for the career and volunteer Firefighter!

An easy and quick gift for a Firefighter Crew gift are these Thin Red Line Keychains! This pack of 5 comes ready to gift, and with great reviews you know it will be a winner!

For Under 20 dollars you can get a group of 6 Thin Red line Coozies for the gang! Printed in USA and with a 5 star rating, these are a quick and easy gift for the crew.

Gifts We don’t suggest

This section is an addition I’ve added after several emails from fellow Firefighter readers thanking me for a gift guide with quality items on it.

So why would I add a ‘what not to buy a Firefighter’ section? Because sometimes people don’t find what they are looking for and they decide to grab something cheap off amazon so they don’t show up empty handed.

Consider if your gift for your Firefighter is actually useful- is it rugged? Will it hold up? Is it something they’d like to put on a shelf and decorate with?

Here’s a list of items not to buy a firefighter:

a cheap knife
thin/decorative phone case
generic wall decor/house decorations
paracord bracelet
generic hat
Money or Gift Cards

When in Doubt

If in doubt about what to get a firefighter friend, Firefighter family member, or Firefighter you want to say thank you too, consider a gift card or making a donation in their name!

Ironically food from the public isn’t always as welcome because we aren’t sure how its been cooked. Nothing against you, but could you imagine some bad guy giving the entire Fire Department a stomach bug, or worse, poisoning?

If you want to know how to thank a firefighter you aren’t related to, I have 5 easy ways to thank a firefighter!