Buying gifts for hikers isn’t as easy as you might think. I mean, chances are they’ve already got the basics covered – hiking boots, a day bag or hydration pack, sunscreen – and if you’re not an avid hiker yourself, it can be difficult to know what to actually buy them. Like, aren’t they just going outside and … walking a lot? How much stuff do they actually need?!
Well, as the unofficial representative for People Who Hike, let me be the first to say: WE LOVE GEAR. We love gear so much. We love studying up on it and measuring it and weighing it and testing it and testing it again and making weirdly specific decisions about it and doing more studying/research and then returning it and buying something else and then testing THAT. And on and on and on. Hiking gear is a hobby. It’s an addiction.
Sure, Grandma Gatewood may have casually strolled outside to hike the entire Appalachian Trail at age 60 with a sack thrown over one shoulder and a pair of crappy tennis shoes on her feet (bless her, she was a queen) but these days, a solid chunk of us are more like the guy at the gear store who completely overwhelmed Bill Bryson in A Walk in the Woods. For anyone who’s curious: yes, hiking-related pop culture references are pretty much the only ones I actually ever “get.” Please direct your non-hiking-related pop culture references to my husband. Thank you.
What I’m trying to say here is: there is LOTS of stuff you can buy the hiker in your life. So we went on a little REI shopping spree, because REI is the much beloved mecca of outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. It has the most forgiving return policy for adventurers (yes, that scene in Wild is 100% legit and we all cried happy, REI loving tears in the theatre). We picked out all of the things that we wish someone would buy US for Christmas this year (hint hint, fam).
Here’s how to shower your friend/family member/loved one in hiking shwag without breaking the bank (because like … you love them, but you don’t $200 pair of hiking boots love them, yanno?).
Table of Contents
Psst: Looking for more gift guides? Here are a few suggestions for everyone on your list!
- 50 Perfect Gifts for Every Type of Travel Lover (& for Yourself)
- 28 Totally Unnecessary Travel Gifts (That You’ll Low-Key Want)
- 6 Super Practical Gifts for Coffee Snobs who Travel
Things every hiker needs: a photo of themselves balancing majestically on a rock in front of an epic view. But if you can’t gift them THAT, then here are a few of the next best things. Photo of me taken by Kristen from Travels and Treats
Gifts that Every Hiker Actually Needs
Sometimes you just want to get someone something they really NEED. It’s like how my mom always got me socks and underwear for Christmas growing up, and I didn’t realize how much I relied on that annual haul until I graduated college and, for the first time in my life, had to buy my OWN socks and underwear. My childhood ended right there, in the intimates section at Target. It was a sad day.
So go on, buy your loved one an incredibly useful, highly practical gift – because it’s just SO much more special that way.
Wool Hiking Socks: Ah yes, socks, the best gift ever that nobody really appreciates until they’re a grown-up. Socks are actually a crucial tool in a hiker’s arsenal – the wrong socks can ruin your hike with blisters, sweaty feet, or just an irritating hole 10 miles into an otherwise enjoyable hike – not to mention that lovely post-hike odor. So don’t get your loved one the wrong socks. Get them the BEST socks for hiking: wool socks made by Darn Tough. These cult favorites are so rugged and long-lasting it’s literally their name, and merino wool is surprisingly versatile and hands down the best material for hiking clothing in EVERY season. Pick up a pair of Women’s Socks or Men’s Socks.
Snacks: 50% of hiking is actually just eating trail snacks. The other 50% is dreaming about what you’re going to eat after your hike. Hiking turns your body into a calorie burning, fuel craving MACHINE, and there’s no better excuse to stuff yourself silly with hiking snacks (BECAUSE YOU CAN). So get your loved one some totally extra snacks for their next hike, like crunchy moon cheese, a bacon stick, freeze dried fruit, an “energy” Stroopwafel, pocket-sized popcorn, or champagne gummies (they’re way easier than carrying champagne up a mountain).
Water Bottle/Hydration Pack Cleaning Tablets: I’m going to be brutally honest with you: I’ve only cleaned my hydration pack a few times over the last several years, and it’s horrifyingly grimy. I was all ready to throw in the towel and just buy a brand new bag to hold the 100oz of water I take with me on every hike (because I’m a camel) but then I discovered these cleaning tablets! They magically clean out even the grimiest of water bottles and hydration bladders (yes, they’re called bladders) – with no scrubbing required. I’m buying like 8 of these and stuffing them into my own stocking this year.
Insect Repellant Lotion: Most insect repellents are not worth that unpleasant oily feeling you get after applying them, the icky hacking cough you develop after spraying them, or that skin-burning feeling you get after applying 100000% chemicals to your skin. There is, however, one insect repellant that avoids these pitfalls, and it’s this amazing lightweight Picaridin lotion. You rub it into your skin and it absorbs crazy fast with no oily residue. It lasts all day. The coverage is amazing. It doesn’t smell disgusting and it’s never made my skin burn. I love it, and we take it with us on every backpacking trip. This is one of our tried and tested travel essentials and we’ve noticed that we tend to get a LOT fewer bites than our travel companions! Gift your loved one a bottle of this and let them know we swear by it.
Permethrin Spray: What if I told you there was an extremely effective bug repellent that adheres to clothing but doesn’t affect skin? Yep, that’s Permethrin Spray, and it’s a freakin’ miracle for people like me who hate applying insect repellant but also hate being bitten by bugs. It requires some prep – your loved one will have to spend some time spraying down their hiking gear before their next adventure – but it lasts for 6 weeks (more than enough for most multi-day hikes) and it’s WELL worth the effort! This is one of our favorite must-haves for travel or backpacking, and it doubles as an excellent gift for hikers.
Just gazing out into the mountains, thinking worried thoughts. This photo was taken in Lake Tahoe, and I can’t help but think of the Donner Party every time I go to Tahoe, sooooo ya know. I get you, anxious folks. I get you.
Gifts for Hikers from Worriers
If you’re prone to worry and anxiety (hello, hi, I know you can’t see me my both of my hands just shot straight up) you’re probably the sort of person who expresses their love and care through anxiously preparing their loved ones for the absolute worst. Anxiety is totally a love language, and hiking definitely veers into “probably NOT dangerous, but like … it totally COULD be” territory.
Like, I know your friend or family member or loved one probably knows WTF they’re doing, but you also just read about someone dying in some park somewhere so now you’re incredibly concerned about their safety. Totally understandable, and also, you would really get along with my parents, you guys have a lot in common. Here’s how to mask your anxiety in some legitimately useful gifts that any hiker will appreciate!
First Aid Kit: Every hiker should bring a first aid kit with them on every hike, whether they’re going for 3 miles or 13. This compact little Day Hike First Aid Kit has all the basics for a day hike from bandages to antiseptic wipes.
Survival Medical Kit: If you take your emergency preparations one step further, in addition to a first aid kit, every hiker should also have some necessities covered just in case: a way to start a fire, emergency shelter, and back-up navigation. REI actually recommends 10 essentials for any adventure into the backcountry, but if I had to drill it down to 3 for even the most casual hiker, it would be those. The Sol Survival Medic Kit includes an emergency blanket, a fire starter, a compass, and even a whistle. It also includes basic first aid necessities, all in one conveniently tiny little pouch. Weighing a mere 4.7 ounces, this tiny little kit is one of the most useful things you can give to any hiker!
Six Function Whistle: In this one tiny tool, you get a loud whistle, a thermometer, a magnifying lens, an LED light, a signal mirror and a compass with a glow-in-the-dark dial. Talk about value: this gift PACKS in usefulness. A whistle is a crucial emergency item for anyone venturing into the backcountry (for both location and wildlife reasons – actually, don’t think too hard about it, it’ll just stress you out) and the other bonus functions all add that “absolute last resort that I hope you never, ever need… but just in case” flair.
Stormproof Matches: Hiking wisdom dictates that you should have backups of some of the essentials, including fire and water. I recommend bringing 2-3 backups, because I am constantly on the verge of an anxiety attack at any given moment. I always carry a little pack of stormproof matches with me. Stormproof matches are way more rugged than the puny matches that you can pick up at a restaurant – they’ll light even after being submerged in water. This tiny little kit keeps them safe in a little waterproof container, includes extra strikers JUST IN CASE, and even floats in water. Dang, that’s handy.
Water Purification Tablets: Running out of water on a hike is my personal worst nightmare: I’m like a camel, if I don’t drink enough water I just like… deflate. Wait, is that … not what happens when camels don’t drink enough water? Anyway, in addition to bringing multiple methods of starting a fire tucked into my first aid kit, I also keep plenty of these water purification tablets on hand. Sure, they may not be my first choice for turning a dirty puddle into a life-saving cup of gritty water, but you know what? They make a great backup-backup plan – and they weigh next to nothing. Your loved one will be hella glad to find these stuffed into their day bag if they ever need them.
LifeStraw: These amazing little lifesavers allow you to drink even the dirtiest puddle safely, thanks to an incredibly advanced purification system that also somehow weighs only 2oz. I once saw an in-person LifeStraw demonstration where the rep drank from a bowl of water with a few handfuls of dirt thrown in, and it was like watching a freakin’ magic show. This has a permanent place in my day pack as an emergency back-up plan in case I ever run out of water.
Headlamp: As someone who has had the terrifying and miserable experience of misjudging the length of time I needed for a hike and being stuck out in the wilderness after dark, let me tell you, I will NEVER go hiking without a headlamp ever again. Jeremy and I thank our lucky stars that we had ours on us during our disastrous Cataract Falls hike, because otherwise we would have been completely stranded in the dark overnight in Northern California (aka bear territory). But armed with our headlamps, we were able to continue hiking – carefully – back to our car and made it out safely. After that experience, we highly encourage everyone to bring a headlamp, even on a casual day hike!
Just doing some casual winter hiking, thinking about how nice it would be to have like, a toilet paper dispenser. You guys: hiking is super not sexy.
Not Sexy but Very Practical Gifts for Hikers
Hiking isn’t exactly the sexiest sport. It’s rare that someone finishes a hike smelling fresh and looking like a snack (more likely looking FOR a snack, tbh). This section of gifts acknowledges the unsexy truth about being a bada$$ hiker and helpfully provides some incredibly practical tools that they will absolutely use. I’m going to attempt to delicately dance around grossness here, but let’s just say we’ll be solving some very basic human needs in the great outdoors.
Also, fun fact: “Not Sexy but Very Practical” is also a great way to describe literally everything about me. Badum-ssh. Sorry, I had to. Because practical is in the name of the blog. See? Making bad jokes and then explaining them – definitely NOT sexy. OK, moving on.
Poison Oak & Poison Ivy Removing Cleanser: Ever looked down and realized with horror that you’re knee-deep in a plant whose name begins with the word “poison?” Yeah. Us too. Be a bro and help your hiker friend avoid an itchy fate! This is a super inexpensive stocking stuffer way that’s too useful to pass up.
Toilet Kit: Look, we did say this wasn’t the sexy section. Here’s the thing: every hiker, at some point, is going to have to do their business out in the wilderness. And that is actually not the easiest, nor most pleasant, experience, especially if you’re a woman – I’m going to leave some details out, but let’s just say that the physical mechanics of this particular maneuver are not the easiest to get the hang of. Having a toilet kit consisting of a handy little toilet paper dispenser, a cat-hole trowel (for efficient, way-less-icky, leave-no-trace compliant digging) and tiny hand wash makes the whole situation a lot less… sh**y. Hey, I said I wouldn’t be gross, I didn’t say I wouldn’t make awful jokes.
Anti Chafe Balm: From the back of your heel to your inner thighs to your … *ahem* posterior cleft, most serious hikers will experience unpleasant chafe at SOME point in their life. Buy them this little stick of balm and they’ll think of you every time they narrowly avoid a rash. Aww, how sweet.
Blister Kit: No matter how well broken in your hiking boots or trail runners are, blisters are still a looming possibility, and they have the power to turn a pleasant hike into a painful slog. Save your loved one the misery of hiking through the pain with this handy little blister kit, which both prevents blisters when you can feel them starting to form AND protects you from them once they’ve already arrived in all of their irritating glory.
Tick Remover: I don’t want to get into the DETAILS here, but let’s just say that in many places, going outdoors is like sending a DM to the head of Ticks United Inc. and saying “u up?” Ticks are an inevitable fact of an outdoorsy life, and they’re … not pleasant. Enter this nifty tick remover, which is hands-down the least gross way and most effective to remove a tick. Trust me: this tiny little tool is CLUTCH for an adventurer.
Jeremy sitting and looking at the view on a hike in Boulder, Colorado, probably thinking something like “if it was pouring down rain and I had a space pen and a waterproof notebook, I could write some deep thoughts about stuff.”
Extremely Rad Gifts for Hikers (Not Necessarily for Hiking)
Not every hiking gift has to be super practical. There’s definitely something to be said for rad hiker schwag that your loved one could never justify buying on their own but is stoked AF to receive from somebody else. Whether it’s unnecessary luxuries for the trail or stuff to help ease their craving for backcountry adventures while they’re sitting in an office, here are some gifts that are totally rad, but not necessarily useful. Look, sometimes even practical people like me want unnecessary stuff.
Iron-On Patches: This will do literally nothing for your friend’s hiking performance, but it will make their daypack look really cool and earn them mad hiker cred. Pick up a patch featuring their favorite National Park, the thru-hike they’ve been section hiking for years, or maybe just a patch that says “I’ve been an REI member since before you were born.” OK no, it doesn’t LITERALLY say that, but that’s definitely the message it sends.
Space Pen and All-Weather Notebook: This waterproof pen and notebook allows your friend or loved one to write their deepest, most self-reflective thoughts – and the quotes that will surely show up on future Instagram posts – IN THE POURING RAIN. How cool is that?!?!?! Plus, the pen has the word “space” in it. Space is cool as sh*t, ’nuff said. If your friend is more of an artist than a writer, this waterproof sketching set is the perfect gift!
National Park Mug: If you’re a hiker, you spend a good chunk of your time daydreaming about your next excursion. These gorgeous national park coffee mugs are a wonderful reminder every morning that there’s a big, beautiful world outside just waiting to be explored!
A Good Book: One thing that always makes me inspired to get outside and hike is reading about other people getting outside and hiking. I have a whole shelf in my apartment dedicated to books written by or about other adventurers, and when I’m feeling lazy, I pull one down from the shelf and find myself lacing up my hiking boots a few hours later! From memoirs like Wild – which made all of us feel like we were capable of thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail – to educational how-to manuals like The Field Guide to Wilderness Survival or The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide, a book is the perfect gift for your friend or loved one to enjoy at home, preferably with a National Parks mug of hot tea sitting next to them. Oooh, I totally just described my favorite way to spend a wild Friday night.
Swiss Army Knife: So, I had a tough time picking a category for this gift, because they ARE pretty useful, but also there’s never been a moment on a hike where I was like “man, I really wish I had a Swiss Army Knife right now.” But if I DID have a Swiss Army Knife – especially this one, which has a knife, a bottle opener, AND a corkscrew – I’d probably chuck a whole block of cheese, a 6-pack, and a bottle of wine into my pack just because I COULD. So enable your loved one’s summit picnics and get them an adorably literal Swiss Army Knife with actual Switzerland on it (or Coffee beans, or Cappadoccia, or Mexico… omg, I want them all).
Dr Bronner’s Soap: This definitely doubles as a practical gift on the trail, but this multi-tasking wash smells like fresh peppermint is an excellent go-to body wash, mouthwash and shampoo. Sometimes you just want to smell like a garden ALL THE TIME – even when you totally didn’t go hiking.
When All Else Fails …
Just stick a $25 REI Gift Card in your loved one’s stocking. It’s like, the BEST gift you can give – the excitement of their very own REI shopping spree! Just remember to pass along the link to this post to help them spend that sweet, sweet cash 😉
I don’t know about you, but I just filled up my REI shopping cart and I’m currently making it rain hiking gear. Which item are you most excited to buy for your friend – or for yourself? We don’t judge. Drop us a comment below!
Psst: Looking for more gift guides? Here are a few suggestions for everyone on your list!
- 50 Perfect Gifts for Every Type of Travel Lover (& for Yourself)
- 6 Super Practical Gifts for Coffee Snobs who Travel
- 28 Totally Unnecessary Travel Gifts (That You’ll Low-Key Want)
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Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with REI. All opinions, recommendations, awful jokes, and hiking-related pop culture references are 100% our own and totally not their fault. Partnering with REI was a dream come true for us – they’re an INCREDIBLE company and we’ve been REI members for years. I even have some still-great REI gear passed down to me from my grandmother, who is a certified bada$$. We love them!
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OMG I WANT SO MANY OF THE THINGS ON THIS LIST RIGHT MEOW. I have never even HEARD of Permethrin Spray until now but it sounds like a total lifesaver! I’m legit adding a plethora of these to my Christmas wish list. Also, snacks on snacks on snacks. The gift you can never go wrong with!
Right?!! I was so hungry scrolling through all the snacks 😛 and YES permethrin spray is life! We never travel without it if we’re going somewhere with bugs (especially lookin’ at you, South America and Southeast Asia…)
I have heard of it (it sounds amaaaaazing) but you can’t buy it in Canada. I feel like I might need to go South of the boarder and take a peek in REI!!
Aw man that sucks! Depending on how far you are, that’s a good idea 😉 like if you’re in Vancouver, you’re just a hop, skip and a jump away from the REI flagship store in Seattle, plus you get to eat some chowder while you’re there, so that seems worth it 😛
So I was just in REI today testing the shoes you recommended in your travel shoes article, and now this?! I’m unemployed, Lia, what are you thinking writing this at this time?
For real though, I’ve never heard of permethrin spray and I am VERY intrigued. I hate bug spray so much that I will most often choose to be bit, and then I’m gross and scabby for the next 2 weeks because I have no self control with not itching. Does it wash out?
LMAO well the good news is everything is on sale for the next 2 weeks so at least your money will stretch a lil’ further 😛 As for permethrin, it wears off after either 6 washes or 6 weeks (although I feel like it kinda lasts for longer than that – we didn’t respray during our 6 month long stint in South America and still felt like it was working). I treat my clothing before every big trip and I’m covered the entire time. It’s super clutch for spraying things like PJs and socks, because my legs/ankles always get bitten up while I’m asleep! I will also say that I HATE bug spray too but I LOVE the bug lotion I linked – it’s not smelly, super lightweight, doesn’t irritate my skin, and you don’t get it in your mouth trying to apply it lmao. So you might consider giving that a try too!
Great post! I love your humour and writing style, and this guide is thoughtful and useful.
Well thank you Emma!
I had a tick twice on my last Africa trip and in the MOST unfortunate places ever. Just thought I’d share and make you laugh. Great post and you’ve given me some great ideas! For myself….lol
That sounds … traumatizing D: I’m lucky that we don’t have ticks here in California – but also I’ve totally gotten out of the habit of doing a tick check after a hike, which isn’t great lol
Thanks so much! This post is so comprehensive and useful, especially with the Christmas season coming up!
The 6 function whistle sounds awesome! Thanks for the new ideas!
Always here to help people pack their wish lists full of new goodies 😛
I LOVE GEAR! Travel and hiking gear I’m all in! Before I went to Peru, I kept reading about Darn Tough socks and I had a bit of sticker shock. So I only purchased one pair. I wore them for the first time on my 5 day hike to Machu Picchu. I wore them every single day. On day 4, I thought it might be time to change them because they’d gotten wet crossing a river the day prior and hadn’t dried…so I did.. Within an hour I had blisters in the other socks I had…. I immediately put the Darn Tough socks back on and donated the other socks to the next hostel…. never looking back!
Wow – I just wrote a lot about socks…
OH YEAH they’re the BEST. They really are worth the price! They last for freakin’ ever, too. I love them! Put them on your Christmas gift for sure. Getting socks for Christmas is the besttttt.
Bodyglide Anti-Chafe Balm!!! I’ve needed that for years. Add to cart now. Re: lifestraw. I bought one, but it’s really hard to drink from. Either I’m doing something wrong, or you have to have extraordinary sucking abilities..which I don’t have 🙁
Hmmmmm I don’t know! I have a bunch of Lifestraw products but I don’t use the straw as often as I use the water bottle, which is basically just a lifestraw stuck into a water bottle 😛 It does take a bit of work but maybe you need to clean yours out and flush some stuff through? I also have this syringe lookin’ thing that helps to clear it out. I would probably do some research and see if that’s normal because I don’t think it’s supposed to be THAT difficult :-/ maybe get in touch with Lifestraw and see if they’ll send you a replacement?
Aw, this is a great post! Wished I had it couple of weeks ago because I was struggling to buy a gift for my boyfriend’s mom (she’s a keen hiker). At least I’ll have some good ideas for christmas 😉 thanks for sharing some really good suggestions- probably the insect repellent lotion! Didn’t know a lotion version existed 😮
YES and it’s fantastic! Def bookmark for Christmas, you’ll totally get some girlfriend points 😉
Protein….stroopwaffles??? This *post* is a freaking gift. Bookmarking for subtle forwarding to family when the time is right.
Hahaha right?! Thank you for sharing my excitement about Stroopwafels in any/every form <3
Ugh. Yes! Been looking for this post for a while now. I love hiking, so does my partner. Thanks for your suggestions. I hope I can surprise her this Christmas with the best gift for hikers 😉
I hope someone would give me that ‘if all else fails’. 😀
Right?! Or maybe like 25 of those 😛