51+ Best Gifts for Hikers: Thoughtful Things for Outdoor People

What a lot of novice hikers may fail to realize is that a hiking pack isn’t fully waterproof. Seams, zippers, and pack openings all provide points where water can enter your pack. A pack liner keeps water and moisture out of your bag, protecting equipment and keeping clothes and bedding dry.

Lightweight and rip-resistant, a pack liner will come in handy in heavy rain, snow, or water crossings.

A decent sleeping mat can be the difference between an awesome outdoor hiking experience and a sleepless nightmare.

Give the gift of a good night’s sleep with a quality sleeping mat.

The original complete cooking system for hikers.

This lightweight and compact camp stove contains two small pots and a frypan and runs on liquid fuel. Its design has remained unchanged for some 70 years and it is still one of the simplest and most reliable cooking solutions on the market.

The Trangia can be easily upgraded with a butane burner attachment.

Gee will you be popular when your gift helps safely navigates them home.

In our modern world of smartphones and apps, we can become reliant on technology to do the thinking for us. Hiking without cell service or an electric socket to charge your devices means hikers need to master more traditional tools.

We all need someone something to lean on and that’s especially true when scrambling up mountains or alongside winding rivers.

Hiking poles provide balance to help navigate challenging terrain. They can also make walking more comfortable taking the strain off tired muscles and sore joints.

Perfect for day hikers and those who love to spend time near or on rivers, lakes, and oceans. These waterproof bags keep cameras, phones, and sandwiches dry.

When you want to go off-grid, without going off-grid. A solar power bank can harness the power of the sun so hikers can keep devices and electronics charged.

Save the need for treating water by boiling or chemical treatments with this all in one water bottle with an inbuilt filter.

Fill it up at any body of water and the Epic Nalgene Outdoor OG water bottle will filter and purify water.

Soft, warm, and wind-resistant, this versatile head and neck gear can be worn in a variety of ways to increase comfort on the trail. It can function as a headband, neck warmer, or even a face mask in windy conditions.

The gift of space in a hiker’s pack might be the greatest gift you could give.

A compression sack will help hikers pack down their sleeping bags, clothes, and other gear smaller, conserving precious space.

A lighter is an item that you don’t want to be without on any overnight hiking escapade. Make it waterproof and windproof, and you’re really cooking. Did we mention it’s rechargeable?

Journaling is a great way to record the hike and preserve the memories of the trail.

This durable pocket-sized journal is perfect to walk with and will become a treasured possession.

There is no worse way to begin hiking than by pulling on socks still dripping wet from the day before.

This lightweight and compact hiking clothesline allow hikers to dry clothes overnight during multi-day adventures.

Something they’ll truly wish they would have had after leaning too far over the viewing platform and losing their shades.

An eyeglass lanyard is a practical gift that every hiker should have.

Speaking of things you wouldn’t want to lose over the side of a cliff. Keeping your cell phone on a lanyard not only makes sure that it doesn’t end up taking a tumble, but keeps it easily accessible to photograph all of the stunning vistas your avid hiker is sure to see along the way.

Keep warm drinks and soups warmer for longer. Perfect for alpine hikes or adventures in cold regions.

Versatile and practical, a carabiner can secure things when needed and hang things off your backpack such as wet swimsuits when hiking.

Every gram counts on long hikes, and thus, packing food for the trail is about individual serves and correctly measured quantities.

In the past, disposable resealable sandwich bags were the answer. As we move away from a throw-away society, these washable and reusable bags are the future.

Kuju Coffee is the perfect gift for any hiker. Easy to use and absolutely delicious, we never leave on a hike without packing a few pour-over coffees to go.

Bug bites on the trail are never pleasant.

This unique treatment for insect bites and stings works by sucking the venom or irritant out of a bite providing quick effective relief.

The adventure doesn’t have to end at the water’s edge. Continue downstream with a packraft.

Packrafts are inflatable boats designed to be hiked into remote rivers and lakes. Modern packrafts offer a new dimension to hikes and trails, taking the adventurous hiker further than ever before.

Inspire your hiking friends and family with National Geographics 100 Hikes of a Lifetime.

With some of the world’s most famous hikes as well as lesser-known adventures from all over the world. There’s something for everyone in this beautiful book of scenic trails.

The ultimate way to relax after a long hike to a beautiful destination.

This specialized hiking hammock is lightweight and strong and comes with tree straps for easy setup anywhere. It is the perfect gift to help make the trek experience a bit more special.

Consider grabbing a travel spice grinder for the hiker who loves to cook. Small and light enough to bring on the trails, this camp chef essential will help elevate camp meals from so-so into something special.

The scourge of hikers everywhere the dreaded blister can make for pretty miserable walking. Help hikers nip blisters in the bud with hiking blister protection.

Applied to feet before and during hikes, this blister balm will help keep feet in top condition on long treks.

While you hope your loved one won’t ever need to use the survival techniques in this handbook it is a fascinating read and provides lots of great basic camp craft know-how.

It’s not the most practical hiking gift on the list, but it is the one most likely to cause envy.

I have never been more bitter than when I arrived at a remote wilderness hut on the top of a mountain in Tasmania, wet and freezing to find someone inside sitting at the table with a warm drink rugged up in their sleeping bag suit.

Mosquitos love me. They cannot get enough. If there is a single mosquito in the area, they will seek me out.

If you know someone like me who is popular with mosquitos, why not grab them this awesome head net to keep them comfortable (and calm) on tropical hikes?

For those that love to document their adventures into nature, a lightweight and portable tripod is a great gift for the Instagrammer or budding nature photographer.

The minipresso is an ultra-portable espresso maker. For hikers who love their coffee, this great pocket-sized gift can be used on the trails, on the road, or anywhere else you can think of.

This tough hiking watch provides a suite of technological solutions to the modern hiker.

The swiss army knife of watches the Garmin includes 3 axis compass, barometric altimeter, plus access to multiple global navigation satellite systems. The watch will track your route as well as monitor your vitals.

An incredibly valuable tool for the serious hiker.

A Go-Pro allows hikers to preserve their memories of the trail like never before.

Lightweight, simple to use, and of great quality, the Go-Pro is the top of the-line when it comes to sports cameras.

Hikers can use these quality binoculars to find landmarks for navigation or to spot wildlife before it spots them.

A great addition to any hiker’s arsenal.

Make sure your hiker gets the best views on each trail with a monocular. The Gosky monocular also includes a smartphone adaptor allowing you not only to see the best nature can offer but to capture the moment as well.

Help your trekker elevate their home videos with the latest in drone technology.

The DJI Mavic Mini offers fantastic features and build quality while remaining ultra-light and portable. The Mavic Mini remains one of the best entry-level drones on the market.

This dedicated hiking GPS is perfect for those who enjoy getting off the trail and into the backcountry.

Preloaded with topographic maps and with access to multiple satellite systems, Garmin remains the market leader in GPS technology.

A personal locator beacon is a gadget all hikers should have. Give peace of mind to them and to yourself with this essential piece of safety gear.

Activated in an emergency, a PLB uses satellite technology to send a distress signal and GPS coordinates to local emergency services that will launch a search and rescue mission.

Unfortunately for females, the old shake and go doesn’t work quite as it does for males. The Circe Care Pee Cloth will release you from the dreaded drip-dry and keeps your undies fresher.

Machine washable and scent-free, these are a must for any avid hiker. Plus, the Circe Care pee cloth keeps the trail free from used tp.

For those always outdoors and far from a porcelain toilet when nature calls, the shewee allows ladies to wee standing up without needing to bare their bum to the nearby hikers.

Just make sure you go when you need to go and don’t hold it for too long. From personal experience, it can take some getting used to.

Gone are the days when drab army green and dark brown were your only options for hiking apparel.

Grab a pair (or two) of these fun socks for the trail.

Hikers know that there aren’t many things better than making it to camp at the end of a long day hiking.

Unless… you also packed wine.

Tough, light, and reusable this wine bag will be extremely popular for overnight hikers who enjoy a red or two.

There’s a reason socks and jocks are one of the most popular gifts, they never miss. Tough and comfortable these merino wool hiking socks are the business and will mean the world of difference on the trails.

Hikers can wind down after a hike or stay warm on cold winter nights with a nip of whiskey with this hiking flask for him.

The pocket chainsaw is genius in its simplicity.

The razor chainsaw with handles can be used to easily cut through branches to easily gather wood for a fire, shelter, or an emergency splint.

Huddle together to conserve body heat in an emergency or any other scenario.

Sea to Summit offers a range of sleeping bags with ‘zip coupling’. These bags can be zipped together to create a double sleeping bag but also function as single sleeping bags for solo trips (or when someone is in the dog house).

As mentioned, a hammock is a great way to elevate your camping experience.

The only way to top it is to share it with your hiking buddy.

Playing cards with your partner by the fire is a great way to wind down after a long day of hiking.

These waterproof cards won’t get damaged in wet weather or if you spill a little wine on them.

They are also great for trips to the beach or lake.

Nothing puts an end to weekend hiking trips like a newborn.

Get friends and family back on the trails faster with a child carrier.

The Osprey Poco Carrier features a top-of-the-line design. It is comfortable for both baby and parent, durable, and protects little ones from the sun.

Keeping kids cool and protected from the sun is one challenge when hiking in the outdoors. Another is protecting them from bugs.

Swat two flies with one hat with these awesome sun hats with bug protection nets.

Help kids develop an eye for details with a magnifier to help them view insects, plants, and other tiny details along the trail.

Point kids in the right direction by teaching them the basics of navigation.

A children’s compass is the perfect way to help orientate them on the trail.

Every hiker should know how to use a map and compass and it’s never too early to learn how.

Help kids stay interested and engaged on hikes with a pair of children’s binoculars.

Kids can find landmarks and spot wildlife with their very own binoculars.