The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Hikers and Backpackers
It’s already that time of year again – time for holiday shopping! We all know that you want to give the coolest gifts and what’s better than the gift of adventure. I’ve compiled a list of holiday gifts for outdoor lovers that you’ll feel good to give and they’ll use for years.
I’ve included all different types of gifts – “for a female hiker”, “for a male hiker”, “for a backpacker”, “for an ultralight backpacker”, and “stocking stuffers”. Although I’ve split it up like this, most of the items in “for a female hiker” and “for a male hiker” are gender neutral, or come in male and female options.
For additional gift ideas, you can check out my gear lists!
Jump Ahead:
For a Female Hiker
Splurge Gifts:
Osprey Tempest 20 Backpack
This is the perfect year-round day pack. It has hip pockets (great for holding your phone or trail snacks), breathable mesh backing, trekking pole attachments, and even a helmet and ice axe attachment if needed. It’s great quality, comfortable, and will last years. I’ve taken mine on many day hikes and it still looks great!
Altra Lone Peak Trail Runners
Investing in a good hiking shoe is the first step in becoming a hiker — it’s the perfect gift for an outdoor lover!
I use to be a hiking boot girl but made the switch to Altra Lone Peak 8 Trail Runners years ago and have never looked back. They’re lightweight, quick drying, comfortable and have a huge toe box so you’re less likely get blisters or toe bang while hiking downhill. After going through 6 pairs on the Pacific Crest Trail, I’m now on my 13th pair!
Arc’teryx Atom LT Jacket
One of my favorite jackets! The Atom LT is an incredible mid-layer puffy that’s synthetically insulated. It’s versatile, warm, and looks great!
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
A lightweight, packable, durable, & cozy jacket for any and all adventures. The Nano Puff is a staple in your hiking bag!
Patagonia Retro Pile Marsupial Fleece Pullover
The coziest fleece! It’s lightweight, soft, and perfect for a cold night sitting by the campfire or a chilly hike in the mountains.
Arc’teryx Beta LT Rain Jacket
This rain jacket is worth every single penny. It’s breathable, waterproof, windproof, and extremely durable. It’s great for any and all environments & adventures.
Budget Gifts:
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
My absolute favorite sun hoodie! It’s lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable in all environments. It provides SPF 15 sun protection and has a hood (one that actually stays on even in windy conditions!). I wore the Echo Hoodie on both the Pacific Crest Trail and Colorado Trail, and loved it.
Vuori Clementine Shorts
I’ve always had a hard time finding the perfect pair of trail shorts. These Vuori shorts are it - comfortable, adjustable, and have a pocket.
Coal Beanie
You can never have too many cozy beanies for outdoor adventures! This one is my favorite and comes in many different colors.
Darn Tough Socks
Merino wool hiking socks are a must in any hiker’s closet, and Darn Tough Socks are the best I’ve ever used. They’re breathable, wick away moisture, and comfortable. Plus they have a lifetime warranty!
Kula Cloth
A reusable antimicrobial and antibacterial pee cloth. It keeps you from having to carry out tons of toilet paper. I never leave for an adventure without mine!
For a Male Hiker
Splurge Gifts:
Osprey Talon 22 Backpack
This day pack is the men’s version of the one I use! It’s extremely comfortable and the perfect size for year-round activities. It has hip belt pockets, padded straps, breathable mesh backing, trekking pole attachments, and even a helmet and ice axe attachment if needed. It’s the perfect gift for any guy ready to hit the trails!
Altra Lone Peak 7 Trail Runners
These trail runners are the men’s version of the one’s I use. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and have a huge toe box so you’re less likely get blisters or toe bang while hiking downhill. They’re great for any and all adventures! I know many guys who wear these and have nothing but good things to say.
Arc’teryx Atom LT Jacket
The Atom LT is the perfect all-around jacket, as a mid-layer or stand-alone. It has synthetic insulation that allows it to retain warmth even when its damp. It’s also lightweight and packable which makes it the ideal jacket for any travel or adventure.
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
A lightweight, packable, durable, & cozy jacket for any and all adventures. The Nano Puff is a staple in your hiking bag!
Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover
Who wouldn’t want a cozy fleece as a gift? This fleece is perfect for all activities - hiking, camping, climbing, football Sunday’s, or just about any other occasion. It’s soft, durable, and insulated even when it’s wet.
Smartwool Base Layers
Cozy merino wool base layers are a necessity for camping or cold weather adventures. The Smartwool Merino Top and Leggings are a favorite among guys on trail. They are lightweight and comfortable.
Budget Gifts:
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
A trail favorite by all hikers! This Echo Hoodie is lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable in all environments. It provides SPF 15 sun protection and has a hood (one that actually stays on even in windy conditions!).
Vuori Kore Shorts
These Vuori Shorts are great hiking shorts for men. They are lined which helps prevent chafing and super comfortable!
Carhart Knit Cuffed Beanie
A cozy beanie is always a perfect gift. This one is made of acrylic and is great for any time of year.
Darn Tough Socks
You can never have too many merino wool hiking socks, especially Darn Tough Socks. They’re breathable, wick away moisture, and comfortable. Plus they have a lifetime warranty!
For a Backpacker
Splurge Gifts:
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent
If you’re looking for a two person tent, I highly recommend the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. It isn’t the cheapest option but it has every feature you could want. It’s freestanding and has two doors (some lightweight tents only have one) and two vestibules. This is a game changer when you’re sharing with a friend and need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It’s one of the lightest freestanding tent options out there!
Osprey 65L Backpack
The perfect backpack for all levels of backpacking - beginner to experienced. It’s super supportive, adjustable, comfortable, and the perfect size for all adventures. It’s also compartmentalized into three sections that make it easy to organize gear (and fit a bear canister if you need one). All Osprey packs have a lifetime warranty which is an added plus!
The Osprey Aura 50L is the women’s version and the Osprey Atmos 50L is the men’s version. I’ve backpacked in my Osprey Aura for hundreds of miles and it’s still in amazing shape!
Garmin InReach Mini 2
The Garmin InReach GPS Device is the easiest way to communicate outside of service, and therefore a must for any and all trips. It might just be any loved one’s favorite gear item (they can let you know they’re alive and thriving!). It’s one thing I never leave without.
Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System
The perfect camping or backpacking stove. It’s easy to use, wind-resistant, has simmer control, and boils water in only 4 minutes which saves so much time and fuel. Can’t get much better than that!
Bear Canister
Bear canisters aren’t fun to spend your money on — they’re heavy, bulky, and impossible to open in the cold, but are required in many national parks and forests. But that’s why they’re so great to give as a gift. The BV450 Bear Vault is the perfect size for a weekend trip. The BV500 Bear Vault is better for longer trips and can fit up to about 7 days of food. I used my BV500 on the John Muir Trail and consistently fit 5-6 days of food.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
Everyone thinks they won’t like trekking poles until they try them — that’s why they’re the perfect gift. I had this exact same thought and now I can’t go backpacking without them. They make a big difference in maintaining balance and a consistent pace. These Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles are my favorite! They’re lightweight, comfortable, and have a cork grip (which absorbs sweat!).
Budget Gifts:
REI Trailmade 2 Tent with Footprint
This is an amazing tent for the price! It’s definitely not the lightest but will work well for camping or backpacking. It’s easy to set up, spacious, and comfortable.
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles
If you’re looking for a pair of trekking poles that won’t break the bank but are still comfortable and durable, these trekking poles are perfect.
Backpacking Pillow
A pillow is a “luxury” item in the backpacking world, but can make a huge difference in sleep quality. I love my Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow because it’s lightweight, quick to blow up, comfortable, and fits right into the top of my sleeping bag. If you don’t mind a little extra weight, the Nemo Filos Pillow is also an amazing option. It’s comfortable and soft.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
You can quickly turn any natural water source into clean drinking water. My favorite water filter is the Sawyer Squeeze. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and fits perfectly onto smart water bottles!
GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacking Mug
What better holiday gift than a backpacking mug! The GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug is amazing. It keeps your coffee or hot chocolate hot forever (and your hands when it’s cold outside!).
For an Ultralight Backpacker
Hyperlite Junction 55L
The first step at becoming an ultralight backpacker is to get an ultralight backpack! I used this Hyperlite backpack for the entire Pacific Crest Trail and absolutely loved it. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and comfortable. It has one center mesh pocket that’s perfect for drying wet clothing and two closed pockets that are durable and protect gear.
Zpacks Duplex Zip Tent
The best ultralight tent out there AND they just updated it with zippered doors to make it even better. It’s lightweight, durable, spacious, easy to set-up, and well ventilated. I can’t recommend this more!
Zpacks Classic Sleeping Bag 10 + Zpacks Down Hood
This was my favorite piece of gear on the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s the perfect in-between of a heavy duty sleeping bag and a lightweight quilt. This Zpacks sleeping bag is super lightweight and keeps me so warm at night (I’m a very cold sleeper!)
The Zpacks down hood is a nice luxury addition but in my opinion, so worth it!
Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad
If you want to gift someone with the best camping sleep of their life, you’re in the right place. I couldn’t recommend this sleeping pad more. It’s comfortable, insulated, and lightweight.
Xero Sandals
Camp sandals are, in my opinion, a necessary luxury in the backpacking world. I finally found a pair that are lightweight and do the job. I used Xero Sandals for all of the Pacific Crest Trail and they were great! The men’s Xero Sandals can be found here.
Budget Gifts:
Nitecore 10,000 mAh Battery Pack
The Nitecore NB10000 Battery Pack is the only battery pack you’ll ever need for backpacking. It’s lightweight (made of carbon fiber), recharges in only a few hours, and lasts about 2-3 days. I have 2 of these battery packs so that I can bring 2 for longer treks. Well worth the money!
Nitecore Headlamp
Whether it’s night hiking or camping, it’s so important to have a good headlamp. No one wants to trip while trying to hike in the dark! This headlamp is bright, rechargeable (lasts a long time between charges), & lightweight.
BRS Stove
Just when I thought I couldn’t go any more ultralight with my stove, I was introduced to the BRS stove. It works just as well as any other stove I own at half the weight!
TOAKS Light Titanium 650 mL Pot
This is the perfect size pot and is compatible with the BRS stove. You can heat up enough water for both coffee and breakfast at the same time.
For Winter Adventure Lovers
Danner Hiking Boots
As much as I love my trail runners, hiking boots are KEY for winter hiking. Most of the time you can use a normal hiking boot like the Danner Mountain 600 Boots. If you’re hiking in snow and want added insulation, I’d recommend a winter weatherized hiking boot like the Danner Weatherized Mountain 600 Boots.
Enlightened Equipment Booties
My feet are always the first thing to get cold at night, no matter how thick my socks are. These booties are extremely lightweight, warm, and even have a drawstring top to keep out drafts. Warmer nights in the mountains sounds like the best gift to me!
Gloves
We all need a good pair of gloves for winter adventures! I’m sure I’m not the only one whose hands get cold first. I love the Arc’teryx Fission SV Mittens. Fleece liner gloves are nice for hiking when your hands are too hot in mittens. They can also be used as an extra layer or back-up pair. I use the REI Polar Tech Wind Pro Fleece Gloves.
Kahtoola Microspikes
My favorite winter gear item. I feel like I can accomplish anything when I wear them (or maybe just not fall and eat shit on ice). Microspikes are extremely important to prevent falling on packed snow or icy trails. These fit perfectly over any trail runners or hiking boots!
MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes
The perfect gift to fuel your next winter adventure. These unisex snowshoes fit nearly every shoe and are very easy to put on. They are great for beginners.
Smith ChromaPop Snow Goggles
A good pair of snow goggles are good to have for many different outdoor adventures - skiing, snowboarding, & snow hiking (when it’s windy!). I love these Smith Snow Goggles. They have interchangeable lenses, fog free treatment, & are very comfortable.
Unique Outdoor Gifts
Custom 3D Poster Map
This may be my favorite item on here this year. You can take any of your adventures and turn them into a custom topographic map that is unique to you. This includes trails, crags, ski maps, national parks, cities, states, countries, or whatever other adventure you’d like to illustrate. I created a custom map of the Pacific Crest Trail and it’s exactly how I wanted it. It’s the perfect addition to my home!
You can order a pre-made map or request a custom map AND for a limited time, use the code JPPCT20 for 20% off your first purchase!
Peak Design Capture Clip
I frequently get asked how I clip my camera onto my backpack. This is it. The Peak Design Capture Clip is extremely reliable, while still allowing easy accessibility. It’s compatible with any type of camera and includes a locking features to ensure it's safely secured. Once your camera is locked in, you barely notice it’s there. I’ve used this clip on many adventures (including the entire Pacific Crest Trail) and couldn’t recommend it more!
America the Beautiful Annual Pass
A full year of adventures is guaranteed with an America the Beautiful Pass. This pass will give you access to all National Parks, National Monuments, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Land Management sites.
All Trails+ Membership (One Year)
All Trails is my favorite app for finding hiking or backpacking trails. You can type in a specific area or park and it’ll give you all of your options. If you upgrade to AllTrails+ for $35.99/year, you can download trails offline before you go — this has saved me from getting lost a countless number of times. You can also read recent reviews from the trail which helps to determine current trail conditions or recommendations. Use code juliet30 for 30% off a yearly membership!
Stuffing Stockers
Goodr Sunglasses
My favorite polarized sunglasses for outdoor adventures. They’re inexpensive, lightweight, stylish, & comfortable.
Buff CoolNet UV+ Headwear
A buff is the most versatile gift! It can be used as a headband, neck warmer, sun protector, mask etc. It’s so nice to have while out hiking or backpacking and takes up almost no space.
The Deuce Trowel
Every backpacker needs a poop shovel in their life but they often won’t buy it for themselves. You can help them improve their backcountry poop routine by getting them this awesome ultralight trowel.
Rawology Massage Ball
I highly recommend this small, ultralight, massage ball. I use this every night after backpacking on my legs and shoulders. It relieves a lot of pain and tight muscles after a long day.
Everyone loves a massage gift and this is just the outdoor version. Haha.
Sea to Summit Spork
A spork is a necessity on any backpacking trip. What better gift than the ability to eat any and all yummy backpacking food. This is the long version because you’ll want those lasts bits of food at the bottom of the dehydrated food bag.
FlipFuel Fuel Transfer Device
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has tons of half empty fuel cans laying around. I always buy new canisters thinking I won’t have enough fuel for an adventure. Thankfully, there is finally a solution to this problem! This fuel transfer device will transfer fuel from one canister to another so no fuel gets wasted. It’s incredible.
Mini Thermometer
If you’re like me and always want to know what the temperature is or how cold it got overnight, this is the perfect little gadget for you. This mini thermometer can hook right onto your backpack!
FlexTail Tiny Pump
You know when you get to camp and the last thing you want to do is blow up your air pad… this is a lightweight solution. This mini pump only weighs 3oz. and is re-chargeable.
LMNT Electrolytes
It’s super easy to get dehydrated while out hiking or backpacking. These LMNT electrolytes are amazing – and taste great!
Bobo’s Oat Bars
Bobo’s Oat Bars are incredible. Trust me. They’re perfect for early backpacking wake-up’s when you don’t have time for a hot breakfast or for a snack as you hike. I’d be stoked to get these in my stocking!
Honey Stinger Energy Chews
Energy chews are not only delicious gummies but they’re the perfect fuel for that long hike or afternoon climb. They also come in so many delicious flavors!
Honey Stinger waffles are also a very yummy treat on trail.
REI Gift Card
If you can’t decide what outdoor gift to get, there’s nothing better than an REI gift card. They’ll be sure to find something that fuels their next adventure. Plus they can shop in-store or online.
I hope this list helps you find the perfect gift. Now it’s time to get outdoors! Happy Holidays!
*Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase – at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These funds help make it possible for me to provide you with these resources. Thank you!