The Ultimate Gift Guide for Hikers by an Avid Hiker
Looking for the best gift for a hiker? You’ve come to the right place.
This gift guide will help you come up with ideas for gifts for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion for your hiker friends and family. But be warned, if you’re a hiker too, you may be overcome with an urge to treat yourself after perusing this hiker gift guide.
Here’s what you’ll find in this Hiking Gift Guide (click to navigate):
If you need even more gift ideas, check out: 30+ Gifts Under $30 or Outdoorsy People. If you want to learn more about top outdoor gear brands check out: Best Outdoor Brands for Different Types of Gear
This post contains affiliate links, and using them is one way to show your support for the blog. I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Win-win!
Where to Buy Gifts for Hikers
Not sure where to start on your search for a hiking gift? I find outdoor gear shops, online or in-person, are best if you’ll be browsing and don’t have a specific item in mind. If you have a better idea of what you are looking for and are looking for a convenient way to shop add Amazon in to the mix.
These are some places you can find great gifts for hikers. Click the retailer name to shop.
Local Gear Store – You may have a local outdoor store in your area. They usually have the words “outdoor,” “outfitter,” or “adventure” incorporated into their name. These are great if you want to shop local and want to talk to someone knowledgeable about hiking.
REI Co-Op – Online or in-store, REI is the classic outdoor retailer. Buy an affordable lifetime membership ($20), and you’ll get 10% back in store dividends every year.
Moosejaw – The spunky new(ish) kid on the block, Moosejaw offers speedy shipping, hilarious emails, 10% back in rewards on all orders, and a lot of great deals from top brands.
Amazon – Amazon has everything. Outdoor gear is no exception. Increasingly, outdoor brands are creating their own little “shops” within Amazon, making it a great spot to find hiking gifts.
Athleta – As I’ve said before, I love Athleta for women’s hiking attire. They may great leggings and technical attire and offer extended sizing (petites and plus). And they are a certified B Corp with a mission to empower all women and girls.
30+ Gifts Hikers will Love and Use
Hiking Gifts Under $25
To Go Coffee Cup
Big hikes mean early mornings, and coffee on the drive to the trailhead. Whether you go with Miir’s unique insulated camp cups, a classic Stanley Travel Mug, or a Yeti mug, you can’t go wrong with this gift idea. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Wide-Mouth Nalgene
Lightweight wide-mouth Nalgenes are another hiking go-to that it’s hard to have enough of. Buy one with a cool design or in the favorite color of the person you’re buying for to make it a more personal gift. Add some snacks or hydration tabs in it to level up the gift. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Lifestraw
Dehydration is dangerous, so is drinking dirty water. Give the gift of safety with a Lifestraw. A Lifestraw is an ultralight personal straw filter that hikers can use to safely drink straight from a water source if they run out of water. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Snacks
“We have too many snacks,” said no hiker ever. DIY a cool variety pack of snacks for your favorite hiker. Some of my favorite hiking snacks include: Lorissa’s Jerky, HoneyStinger waffles, Kind Bars, Cliff Shot Blocks, Snyder’s flavored pretzels, and Sour Patch Kids. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Hydration
Hydration when hiking is about more than just drinking water. On big hikes, it’s important to replace electrolytes lost in sweat as well. There are lots of hydration options out there, but when you use them a lot, the price adds up, making extra hydration tabs or powders a great gift. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Lightweight First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is one of the ten essentials of day hikes, and for good reason: sh*t happens. I’ve used and given away first aid supplies from my hiking first aid kit many times. When gifting a first-aid kit make sure to get a “lightweight” or “packable kit,” geared towards the outdoors. A lot of grocery store kits are large and bulky – not ideal for carrying around. My go-to brand: Adventure Medical Kits. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Wool Socks
If you haven’t heard me preach about wool socks before, you haven’t been reading the blog enough. 😉 Why wool? They keep your drier and less smelly than traditional socks. SmartWool is a long-time favorite of mine. Hikers also rave about DarnTough and Bombas. Bombas also donates a pair of socks for each pair purchased. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Guide Books
Gift a guide book for the area where the person lives or a bucket list hiking destination like Banff, and expect a wide smile in return. Moon, LonelyPlanet, and Falcon consistently put out good guidebooks, and the 60 Hikes in 60 Miles series is a true hikers delight. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Waterproof Map
National Geographic, or more affectionately “Nat Geo,” makes waterproof, tear resistant, detailed maps for just about everywhere you can image. Shop REI | Shop Amazon
Adventure Stories
Give the gift of adventure even when your outdoorsy loved one can’t get outside by giving them an adventure story, fiction or non-fiction. Here are ten adventure travel book ideas to get you started. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Journal
Like a journal for hikers. Allows hikers to record their hikes and notes about them. A fill in the blanks hiking journal works for all hikers, while a 14’er logbook is ideal for the peak bagger on your gift giving list. Shop on Amazon
Outdoor Monthly Calendar
Give the gift of hiking inspiration with an outdoor themed monthly calendar. From cuteness galore with an Adventure Dogs calendar to supporting the national parks with the National Parks Foundation calendar, there is no shortage of options. Shop on REI
Hiking Gifts Between $25 – $50
All Trails Pro
AllTrails is a go-to hiking app. for finding and following trails. The premium version allows hikers to download maps for online use and use the “lifeline” feature to share trip details and status updates with friends and family. Buy on All Trails
Gift Certificate
A gift certificate to an outdoor retailer is a great way to let the gift buyer choose what they want, while still feeling more personal than just a Visa gift card. Or, if you know the person’s next big hiking trip, get them a gift certificate for something – like a guided river tour, dinner, or gear rental – in the location where they’ll be. REI Gift Cards | Moosejaw Gift Cards
Water Filter Bottle
A water bottle with a built-in filter allows hikers to carry less water weight on hikes with natural water sources because they can fill-up and drink without risking illness. Collapsible filter bottles and traditional shape bottles are available. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
YakTrax Pro
Yak Trax slip on to a hiker’s existing shoes to provide traction on snowy and icy ground. They’re great! Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Joby Tripod
Joby brand’s GorillaPod tripods and more streamlined GripTight phone stands are the gold standard in assisting with outdoor adventure photos. Whether your favorite hiker shoots with a cell phone, camera, or a GoPro, there’s a Joby for them. I’ve tried the knock-off versions, not as good). Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Waterproof Day Pack Cover
Nothing will ruin a hike faster than all your stuff being ruined because it gets soaked with unexpected rain. A waterproof daypack cover is a hiker gift that solves this issue. Hikers carry it then pop it on to keep their bag dry if it starts to rain. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Lightweight Dry Sack Set
Dry sacks keep important items like keys, phones, cameras nice and dry even in the wetest conditions. What’s better than a dry sack? Multiple dry sacks! Shop on REI
Wall Art
Hiking, national park, or outdoor themed wall art is a great gift for a hiker, especially one that never seems to have the time to decorate because they’re always on the trail. Etsy is a great spot to look for unique art. Shameless plug: feel free to check out my Etsy store for some adventure travel photo prints. Shop my prints on Easy | Browse Etsy Hiking Art
Hiking Gifts Between $50 – $100
State or National Park Pass
An annual park pass to the US National Parks, a state park system, or both is a great gift for hikers. Shop National Parks Pass on REI
Portable Hammock & Straps
Hiking to an epic location then chilling in a hammock is a dream. Make those dreams come true when you gift a portable hammock to your favorite hiker – and don’t forget the straps for it! ENO and Therm-a-rest are popular brands for packable hammocks. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hydration Day Pack
A CamelBak, REI, or other quality outdoor brand hydration day pack provides space to pack day-hike essentials and allows easy drinking of water. No need to pull out water bottles, just drink from the tube attached to the strap. Tip: You can often find a deal on past season colors and styles. Shop on REI | Shop on Camelbak
Car Battery Charger
Getting to the trailhead for many hikes involves driving down rural roads with no cell service which means road-side insurance from a car insurance company isn’t much help if a car battery dies (because you can’t call them). A portable battery jump starter provides just-in-case peace of mind. Shop on Amazon
Merino Wool Base Layer
A wool base layer shirt should be one of the hiking essentials for men and women. Just like with wool socks, wool base layers help keep you warm, dry, and odor free. SmartWool is, as always, a stand-out brand for wool, or you can save a little by going with a lesser known brand. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Gifts Over $100
Chaco Adventure Sandals
Chaco’s are the hiking sandal you make fun of until you try it. Perfect for summer hikes where you’re going from trail to water to trail. The strap design allows the hiker to fully adjust them to their size. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Hiking shoes and boots are hard to buy for someone else, BUT if you know someone well enough to know their size and preferences, they’re an amazing gift. My top three women trail shoes can be found here. Keen, Salomon, Merrell, and La Sportiva are a few of the many great brands for men and women’s hiking shoes and boots. Shop on REI | Shop on Moosejaw
Black Diamond Trekking Poles
Everyone’s favorite trekking poles come in women’s and men’s versions. They help hikers stay upright on even tricky rocky slippery trails. Shop on REI | Shop on Moosejaw
GPS Watch
A GPS watch is a great gift for the data geek (and many of us are). It allows hikers to record their distance, speed, and elevation gain, and review that data after the hike. Many models do a whole lot more than just recording data – for example, some even take pulse ox measurements to see how well a hiker’s body is using oxygen at elevation! The Garmin Instinct Series and Garmin Fenix Series are particularly well-suited for hiking. Shop on REI | Shop on Amazon
Satellite Messengers
Satellite messengers allow hikers to send messages and those at home to track their favorite hiker well beyond the limits of cell phones. In addition to the device, the user has to buy a monthly subscription to a satellite network. The SpotX and Garmin InReach Mini are routinely among the highest rated from different reviewers. Shop on REI
Hiking Gifts for Women
In addition to all of the hiking gifts above, these are some women specific hiking gifts to consider.
Tiy Hair Tie
Gift the hair tie that actually stays put during hiking, and support a true small business in the process. Shop on Tiy Website
Pepperspray
A little extra safety on the trail, the drive to the trail, and at home. I like Sabre brand. Shop on Amazon
Sunforgettable Brush on Sunscreen
Slightly tinted sunscreen without the mess. Your favorite hiker’s dermatologist will thank you. Shop on Amazon
Athleta Leggings
Athleta makes durable, flattering leggings designed for active women in a variety of weights and finishes. They also offer extended sizing on many of their designs. Shop on Athleta
Outdoor Themed Jewelry
Outdoor themed jewelry is a fun way to take adventure everywhere and start-up conversations. Amazon, of course, has options, and Etsy has loads of unique and handmade options. Shop on Etsy | Shop on Amazon
If you’ve made it all the way down here, wow! You deserve a nice-long hike. You might also like the Sort of Legal monthly newsletter which is a short update with the latest from the blog and some newsletter-only exclusive insights.
Have other ideas for the best gifts for hikers? Drop them in the comments below.
