We’ve put together a gift guide for you to surprise your outdoorsmen and hiking enthusiasts.
There’s all sorts of gear here that’s bound to get the hikers in your life seriously excited! Whether your favorite hiker needs boots, camping gear, or even a new backpack, we’ve got you covered with our product recommendations.
Dry bag backpacks are a big up and coming item in the outdoor and hiking world. Standard dry bags are quite effective and would also make an awesome gift, but this dry bag style backpack by COR is both spacious and convenient to carry.
It offers all the benefits of a traditional dry bag but really strives to provide the comfort and storage capacity of a good backpack. This bag will actually float if dropped in the water and could be perfect for rafting and other watersports as well as for use hiking through wet weather.
There’s an interior padded laptop sleeve so you can stow your electronics knowing they will be both dry and secure. The air mesh padded back panel and shoulder straps create pretty good lumbar support, so this pack is a fine option for longer and more strenuous hikes. It’s challenging finding a true dry bag that will also behave and operate like a nice backpack, so this pack really has it going on.
Reflective patches on the front of the pack also add to its safety stats when riding a bicycle at night or when trying to signal for help. Perhaps the best feature that’s bound to come in handy is the large water-resistant zip side pocket, allowing you to effectively organize the contents in this pack.
Getting your gear soaked is a total drag – a dry bag backpack is a seriously cool gift that you will be countlessly thanked for every time it does its job!
Here’s a top quality headlamp by Black Diamond that’s perfect for hiking and outdoors applications.
The Storm Headlamp is a 350 Lumen, waterproof and dustproof headlamp that can really take a beating. This will make an awesome hiking, fishing, hunting or camping gift for any style outdoorsman or woman, and will furthermore be a great upgrade if they already own a headlamp.
The Storm is a low profile, super bright (85-meter range) headlamp option that also includes red, green and blue single power LEDs for maintaining night vision.
Black Diamonds ‘Power Tap Technology’ allows for switching between dimmed and full power instantly and there is also a strobe setting for use as a distress beacon or for enhanced visibility while walking/biking on the road.
The Storm is waterproof for up to 30 minutes submerged in up to one meter of water and is also impervious to dust which gives it huge points for use in the outdoors. It’s also been designed for great peripheral lighting which makes it awesome for close range camp chores like meal prep and for game playing.
Black Diamond claims 120 hours of runtime with the Storm on just four AA batteries – impressive. No doubt a killer headlamp option that will be around for years of use!
Trekking poles can be an awesome item to take hiking and would make a great gift for any outdoorsmen or backpacker. Having a little extra support when trekking all day is really appreciated after a full day on the trail.
These Trekking Poles by Starlight Mountain Outfitters are very highly reviewed and come at quite a reasonable cost. These poles are built exceptionally tough from carbon fiber and even have authentic cork handles for a grip that feels nice in your hand. The tips of these poles are crafted seriously strong from tungsten carbide so these bad boys will keep trekking and trekking without getting worn out.
Breakfast on Everest even includes a full set of replacement accessory parts (snow baskets, rubber tip covers, etc) if you misplace any of the original set. These poles are about two feet long, so these are a great size for women and children or for hikers who navigate some rugged uphill terrain and could benefit from shorter poles.
The Anker PowerCore 20000mAH High Capacity Power Bank provides you with the extra charge you might need for your phone, GPS, camera or whatever else. This is a particularly high capacity power source for those outdoorsmen constantly seeking some extra juice.
Having a reliable power bank when exploring the great outdoors or embarking on a road trip or travel of any kind is under or overrated depending on your attitude. If you’re just casually day hiking into not so remote wilderness then maybe you’re not in the market for a high-quality power source; but if you’re trekking through the backcountry and relying on electronics to keep you safe in the wilderness, then you oughta have some backup energy for your devices.
I suppose either way it’s nice to extend the weekend lifespan of your electronics. A power bank is something I overlooked for years as an avid hiker, so it could make a really practical gift for any outdoorsman or woman in your life.
At just 12.5 ounces and highly portable, this unit has enough power on one charge to charge an I-phone 7 almost seven times, or a Galaxy S5 five times. Pretty impressive stats. Anker includes a micro USB cable, travel pouch and an 18-month warranty with this product.
For those outdoorsmen who want to ensure their cameras will keep shooting or their GPS units will continue to navigate on those longer trips, the Anker PowerCore is a great preventative measure to give as a gift for any occasion!
The Microlight Summit Jacket by Rab is a top quality, 750 fill power, goose down jacket that will make for an AWESOME hiking gift. If you’re shopping for someone who goes up against the cold on the trail, this jacket will change their life! Rab recently sent me out this model jacket to sample, and I’ve found it to be exceptionally warm as well as a low profile enough for hiking or anything else active.
The Microlight is crafted with hydrophobic down, so it won’t wet out like other performance down jackets. It’s treated to absorb less water than regular down in wet weather and also to effectively retain its loft. This jacket furthermore dries out faster than standard down in the event it gets soaked – it’s what you pay for when you spend the money on Rab.
Rab also employs down that is fluorocarbon free and ethically sourced which we love to see! Production of apparel like this can be mighty damaging to the environment, it’s always nice to see brands that makes strides towards more eco-friendly products and practices.
The hood on the Microlight can fit over a helmet if the hiker you’re shopping for is also a skier or cyclist, and the elastic wrist cuffs are easily pulled up. It also packs remarkably compact when you need to stash it – Rab even includes a tiny stuff sack that the Microlight squeezes into in seconds.
This unit is truly a fine piece of outerwear engineering that will be treasured for years. There is plenty of sizing and three colors to choose from, so select the perfect Microlight for the lucky hiker you have in mind. For women’s sizing, follow this link!
A new two person tent ensures you and your gear will stay dry and protected from the elements – so like the waterproof backpack listed above it makes a great outdoors gift!
There’s nothing like a brand spankin’ new tent! A lot of hikers and outdoorsmen, in general, have been using the same tent season after season and could really benefit from a new unit.
The Zephyr Two Man tent by ALPS Mountaineering is an excellent choice for a backpacking tent. At less than five pounds, this tent won’t break the back when loaded up with the rest of your gear. With floor dimensions of 58” by 88”, the Zephyr doesn’t sacrifice space for its light weight and leaves you plenty of room to sprawl out.
Reviews insist this tent can be used for all four seasons! The main tent body is composed of mesh for maximum ventilation while the fly is made of a durable polyester. This tent is designed to hold up to some savage weather by employing a full coverage fly that is particularly aerodynamic on one side.
The vestibule on one side is quite extended and pitched at a low angle to divert high winds and also create a small dry space for boots or other gear at the tent entrance. There is a second door on the opposing side of the tent for easy in and out access when camping with a partner.
The Zephyr is pitched using a simple two-pole design even though it’s meant to stand up to strong weather. You gotta love the simplicity of just clipping the tent body to the two aluminum poles and then securing your fly. For a compact, sturdy tent that’s designed to accompany you on backcountry treks, there’s very little involved with assembling and breaking down this domed tent.
ALPS includes aluminum stakes and guy ropes with this model. Between the outside space created by the vestibule and the interior storage pouch and gear loft, this tent is great for stowing your equipment in an organized manner while on the trail.
For the cost, this is a solid and reliable option for trekking into the wilderness with a pal — no doubt a great gift for any backpacker.
I think we can all be amazed at the water filter created by LifeStraw. A seriously cool recent innovation in safe water filtration, the LifeStraw has changed the game for both packing and consuming water while camping or hiking and would make a stellar hiking gift!
For an impressively reasonable cost, you can give your favorite outdoorsmen the confidence to stride through the wilderness knowing they can safely drink from freshwater sources.
Some landscapes, in particular, are ideal for owning a LifeStraw. For instance; while backpacking and hiking around Yellowstone National Park year ago, my companion and I encountered countless streams suitable for drinking if we only had brought a safe filtration system. We regretted not having the option to simply lean in and drink from all the beautiful stream water we came across, and instead hauled around heavy canteens all week. Lesson learned – where there’s abundant water that’s suitable for filtration, leave the water bottles behind.
The LifeStraw removes a minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 6 reduction) and even surpasses EPA standards for water filters. Without employing iodine, chlorine, or any other chemicals, the LifeStraw is designed to filter up to 1000 liters of contaminated water throughout its lifespan.
I even read some customer reviews that claimed the lifespan of their LifeStraw was more than doubled by attaching a regular coffee filter to the end of the device with a rubber band – pretty smart!
Is the outdoorsman or woman in your life due for a new pair of boots? The Targhee III’s by KEEN are a killer option for hiking in all sorts of scenarios and landscapes.
I’ve owned this line of boots by KEEN for a few years now for use hiking and backpacking and they have served me great!
The all-day comfort of the Targhee’s is what in my opinion makes them so suitable for hiking. It’s a very lightweight boot at just 17 ounces and provides some excellent cushion for your feet. These are a great choice for days in the field where you’re doing a lot of hours of trekking.
This line by KEEN is renowned for it’s “ready to wear” comfort – there’s next to no break-in required. KEEN recommends buying half a size larger than you’re used to because these tend to run jut a bit small.
The Targhee’s are pretty dam tough in addition to being both lightweight and inherently comfortable. The rubber sole construction with treated leather uppers makes for a boot that can handle a beating.
Additionally, the uppers to these boots are low profile with added ghillie lacing for a snug and secure fit. You’re gonna want to wear these boots everywhere – they have a cool and tough look that’s suitable for both the wilderness and everyday use.
If you like the idea of gifting a pair of boots that are excellent for but not exclusive to hiking – then check out the Targhee III’s.
The Z2 Sport Sandals by Chaco are an awesome option in open-toed hiking footwear. These are no ordinary sandals that are more than adequate for use actively trekking, fishing, rafting and general use in the outdoors.
Chacos have been my choice of sandal for well over a year now. They are just as simple as traditional sandals to pop on and off, but they provide far superior support and traction. They’re definitely on the heavy side for sandals, but the soles are rugged and provide nice bounce-back for comfortably trekking all day – something certainly not characteristic of regular open-toed footwear.
If the person you’re shopping for doesn’t own a pair of Chacos, chances are they’re going to live in these bad boys. A pair of sandals like this allows one to crush the trail and trudge through streams and waterways – a super valuable trait depending on where you’re trekking.
They’re a great buy for both men and women (all sizing is available through this link) and come in a wide array of color/pattern options. This very well might be the gift of the year!
The older you get, the more you don’t seem to mind getting socks as a gift! These full cushion hiking boot socks from Darn Tough are perfect for long treks in the outdoors and will be a super appreciated gift by anyone who’s hard on their feet.
These are Merino Wool socks, so they will still insulate when wet and are naturally antimicrobial. The material is warm, breathable and tough even after years of heavy use making it the ultimate hiking sock fabric. These are perfect socks for any outdoor activity from skiing to wade-fishing to trekking! You can’t go wrong with this one!
Hammocks are a big up and coming outdoor item these days, and for good reason. A good hammock packs small, can be set up in a variety of places and is a great option for both campsite lounging or sleeping or for just relaxing on the trail.
This double hammock by Winner Outfitters could make a nice addition to your favorite hiker’s wilderness accommodations. For the backpackers out there, at just one and a half pounds they will hardly remember that they’re carrying it until they collapse into its embrace at the end of the day.
This double hammock has a whopping 500-pound weight limit, and claims to provide plenty of space for a friend or loved one. The 210T nylon parachute fabric employed in its design is what allows this hammock to be both strong and light. Winner Outfitters includes two tree friendly straps and carabiners with this hammock so it comes ready to rock.
For the cost, this is a very reasonably priced hammock, and customer reviews insist the quality is adequate. Winner Outfitters also offers a single hammock if you think the hiker in your life would rather sacrifice lounging space for even less weight.
The Kelty Redwing is both an excellent hiking pack and bag for travel.
I really dig the design of this backpack by Kelty and think it would make a righteous gift. I’ve owned this backpack for a few months now and as a highly active outdoorsmen it has served me excellently so far. It’s comparable to a regular style backpack but has all the features you would want in a nice hiking pack.
At 50 liters it’s large enough to backpack with in a lot of scenarios. The main compartment, side pouches, and side pockets all add up to quite a bit of capacity that’s easily organized. The back panel is designed with airflow in mind to keep you cool on the trail and the shoulder and waist straps are also ventilated for added breathability.
This bag is compatible with a hydration system so whoever your gifting it to can plan on bringing some water along the convenient and easy way — ready to drink from within the pack! This intermediate sized bag also loads from the front and top, so it’s a breeze to get in and out of.
I personally think this bag is the ideal size for taking along a good bit of gear on the trail without becoming cumbersome.
Here’s a thoughtful and practical gift for a hiker that they will hopefully never need. A splint kit is a really wise piece of gear to have included in your first aid supplies if you trek far and wide – this set is an excellent option that’s super packable and lightweight (just four ounces).
Sawyer Products sent me out their SAM Splint Kit and I’m very impressed with its ability to tag along without taking up much pack space or weight.
There are two finger splints, one 36-inch long original SAM splint, gauze and tape strips as well as an instructional DVD included here. The splints are crafted from a thin core of aluminum alloy that’s sandwiched between two layers of closed-cell foam making them both flexible and exceptionally strong. In the unfortunate event someone on the trail needs to immobilize a limb in order to get to safety, Sawyer has you covered!
Here’s a cheap and easy, yet awesome gift that any lover of the outdoors will use regularly! The Ultra Band by Headsweats is a regular buff that has a ton of different functional uses.
This is a super versatile piece of gear to have in a hiking, fishing or camping pack that will come in handy in all sorts of scenarios. The performance wicking fabric allows for wear during even the hottest days in order to protect your head and neck from the sun and is also quick drying.
It’s a great way to protect yourself from UV rays without having to lather up with sunscreen. These Ultra Bands are also great for providing a little extra warmth when things get nippy. They’re thin and highly breathable, but worn under a hat and tucked into a jacket a buff like this covers your ears and eliminates draft around your neck – aka it’s a game-changer.
These bands are furthermore great for use on dusty trails when the air quality is full of particulate matter! The applications are endless!
Here’s a unique hiking gift idea that the wilderness lover you’re thinking of won’t see coming. The Down Puffy Blanket by Rumpl is a super toasty and packable outdoor blanket/comforter that’s the perfect camping companion, picnic throw or beach blanket.
This unit can be easily brought along on a hike or will make for a warm and cozy return to the trailhead.
Rumpl recently sent me a Down Puffy Blanket to try out (along with their unbelievably soft Sherpa Fleece/Down Blanket), and it’s become an instant favorite of mine when it comes to playing outside. It’s essentially just a down blanket made for the outdoors – that’s it! It’s very similar to a down sleeping bag in the sense that it’s a powerful insulator and can be compressed to teeny-tiny dimensions.
It’s built to be tough against the outdoors crafted from ripstop nylon and is treated with a DWR finish to ensure it doesn’t get soaked – this is one radical blanket.
There is an awesome variety of sizing and colors/patterns available so you can select one that perfectly suits the hiker (and hiking style) you’re shopping for. The throw size is particularly packable if you’re shopping for someone who likes to wander far from the trailhead.
The applications of the Down Puffy Blanket are far ranging and versatile, absolutely a fail-safe hiking gift for anyone who enjoys being cozy in the outdoors!
The pocket blanket by Matador is a great little outdoors themed gift that will come in handy time and time again for an endless amount of contexts!
This is essentially just a picnic blanket that folds down and packs into a super compact package that fits in the palm of your hand. Perfect for bringing along for a summit lunch break or rest along the trail on those gear heavy hikes where there’s minimal pack space.
The blanket measures 63 by 44 inches, so there’s no lack of space. It’s water and tear resistant and even includes corner stakes for securing to the ground. The Satin Fabric Finish on the topside of the blanket furthermore won’t stick to your skin and effectively protects from twigs, rocks, wetness, and insects.
A handy-dandy, practical outdoor gift that will become an instant favorite of whoever you’re shopping for!
Here’s a great outdoors themed gift for anyone who enjoys exploring the wilderness with their canine companion.
The Pup Flask by Tuff Pupper is a dog water bottle and bowl combined into one so you only need to carry one vessel! A great space saver that effectively keeps your dog hydrated!
The bottle and bowl are FDA approved food grade materials and BPA and Lead free. The dog bowl portion of the device folds against the bottle when not in use and can even be attached to larger water bottles for bigger, extra thirsty dogs.
Choose from the wide color selection and give the gift of hydration to your favorite owner-canine hiking duos!
If you’re shopping for an avid hiker, then they definitely already own a quality water bottle. If they’re a lover of wildlife and wilderness, however, they’ll LOVE this radical stainless steel bottle from United By Blue.
This is a cheap and simple gift that will no doubt replace the hydration system of the hiker(s) you’re thinking of.
United By Blue sent me out one of the Field Guide 22-ounce bottles to test, and I’ve been impressed by both the aesthetic and function. It’s a super cool water bottle that’s fun to look over, especially if you’re a nature nerd! Trees, birds fish, and other critters are illustrated across the bottle in a sort of classic field guide type of style.
The braided paracord loop attached to the handle is furthermore a great touch that allows for easy attachment to a pack or other gear. A fail-safe gift that will be a hit with any style hiker!
Here’s a super practical hiking gift that will see a ton of use on the trail. Carabiners are awesome tools for externally hanging and clipping gear to your backpack.
From your water bottle to a pair of muddy boots, sometimes it’s great to just clip your excess gear to your pack and go – especially when it’s already packed super tight and strategic.
This is no ordinary carabiner. This Aluminum unit from Heroclip has a built-in, rubberized hook that can be folded out and used for effectively hanging the carabiner. It’s a neat feature that allows you to do things like hang the carabiner off the side of a hammock wall in order to clip a water bottle.
The applications are endless making this a solid gift for hikers. These are a little on the pricey end, but they should last quite a long time. There’s also a nice color selection to choose from so you can customize their look for your favorite hiker!
How about some thrilling inspiration as a gift for your favorite hiker? This gorgeous book by Karen Berger covers 80 different hiking trails in 38 countries and is lined with beautiful photographs throughout.
It’s not a terribly informative book (more for ooo-ing and ahhh-ing) but will certainly inspire the hikers you love to get out there and explore the trekking world!
The author is an accomplished hiker who’s completed rigorous trails around the world. Karen’s insights and comments are thoughtful and fun to read even though this might be an inspirational rather than informational book.
No doubt an excellent gift for any lover of wilderness that will be a coffee table staple in the home of whoever you’re shopping for!
You can’t go hiking without some good insect repellent! Sawyer Products produces some super effective, great value bug defense options, their Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion being a crowd favorite. This is a perfect stocking stuffer or add on gift for those hikers that don’t let mother nature stop them!
This stuff is effective for up to 14 hours against mosquitos and ticks, and up to 8 hours against biting flies, sand flies, gnats, and chiggers. The formula is safe for the whole family and does not have any adverse effects on clothing, fishing line, firearm finishes or any synthetic fabrics. No doubt a solid bug repellent option that will make a great fail-safe hiking gift!
The gift of a new knife is both classic and timeless. Every outdoorsman could always use another knife, so it’s a safe gift to count on going over well.
Every hiker, no matter the experience should always hike with an effective blade when venturing into the wilderness. This survival knife by Gerber is a crowd favorite.
Simple is better with this one, it’s a straight forward drop-point blade that gets the job done well. It’s a fixed blade knife with a bit of serrate at the base of the blade for sawing. In my opinion, the simplicity of this knife is awesome — the added serrate makes it fully functional as a survival knife.
The blade is stainless steel with black oxide finish and 4.75 inches in length. It’s an ideal size for portability without sacrificing the robustness you want in a survival knife. The ergonomic molded grip has a great feel to it — paring nicely with the weight (a little under half a pound). This knife comes included with a leg strap and two attachment straps, so there’s multiple options for mounting this bad boy.
The sheath is equipped with a friction release thumb lock for added safety, a nice touch if you ask me. All in all, this is a great all around knife to bring hiking that anyone would be glad to own and will no doubt find all sorts of uses for. For more hiking knife options make sure to read through our Top 10 Best Survival Knives for Hiking post!
