The 30 Best Gifts for Hikers to Use for Every Outdoor Excursion
The 30 Best Gifts for Hikers to Use for Every Outdoor Excursion
Hikers are a picky bunch who tend to be particular about their gear. Years of field-testing all kinds of equipment means they usually like what they like, whether it be a specific brand of the best hiking socks, a particular color bandana, or a just-right fabric weight for their go-to Merino wool base layers. This is doubly true for seasoned hikers with tons of backcountry miles under their belts—er, boots.
So, gift-giving can be a challenge for anyone shopping for a favorite hiker in their life. But, fear not! We’ve done the hard work for you by rounding up our picks for the best gifts for hikers in 2022. Whether they happen to be a day hiker, a weekend car camper, or a hardcore thru-hiker, we guarantee there’s something on this list for them. Give them some more incentive to get outside and scramble to the next destination with our top gifts for hikers, below.
1) Rockport Total Motion Trek Keota Boots
Rockport
amazon.com
$194.99
These do-it-all boots move seamlessly from the streets to the trails. They’re lightweight, flexible, and guarantee plenty of traction against any terrain.
2) Eletorot Camping Hatchet
Eletorot
amazon.com
$16.99
The 14-inch length and 1.23-pound head on Eletorot's camping hatchet are ideal for all but the most heavy-duty tasks.
3) Suunto 5 Peak Sport Watch
SUUNTO
amazon.com
$299.00
The Suunto 5 Peak offers a long list of must-have features for novice hikers and veteran trailblazers. Seven-day battery life, 80 sport modes, and excellent water resistance are all baked into this sub-$300 sports watch.
4) Gerber Gear Devour Multi-Fork
Gerber Gear
amazon.com
$14.57
Gerber upgrades the iconic spork with its all-new Devour multi-fork. The award-winning tool offers nine functions, making it useful for cooking, eating, and even cleaning.
5) Sea to Summit TPU Guide Waterproof Case
Sea to Summit
amazon.com
$34.95
Hike far enough, and wet weather is inevitable. Sea to Summit’s TPU guide waterproof case helps keep hikers prepared by protecting their phones, maps, and essential electronics.
6) Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles
Montem
amazon.com
$69.95
Featherweight, compact, and perfectly adjustable, these collapsible trekking poles are ideal for hiking, touring, and traveling.
7) Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Long Sleeve Graphic Tee
Smartwool
amazon.com
$74.83
Smartwool’s 150 Merino collection is perfectly weighted for the unpredictable weather of spring and fall. This long-sleeve t-shirt works equally well as a standalone layer or base layer for cooler weather.
8) Morakniv Eldris Light Duty Fixed-Blade Knife
Morakniv
amazon.com
$22.39
Most hikers only need a simple fixed-blade knife for emergencies. With a 2.3-inch blade, Morakniv’s aptly named Eldris light duty knife is compact and perfectly sized for hikers.
9) Costa Del Mar Reefton Pro Sunglasses
Costa Del Mar
amazon.com
$277.00
With a rugged, outdoor-ready design, Costa’s Reefton Pro sunglasses are ideal for everything from day hikes to extended bushwhacking.
10) Swiftwick Flite XT Trail Five
Swiftwick
amazon.com
$23.99
Soft, quick-wicking, odor-resistant, and perfectly supportive, this is the pair of socks to buy if you can only buy one.
11) BioLite Charge 40 PD Powerbank
BioLite
amazon.com
$49.95
A good powerbank is essential for any hiker’s emergency kit. BioLite’s charge 40 PD is compact, lightweight, and offers enough juice to top up smartphones in the bush.
12) Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket
Mountain Hardwear
amazon.com
$199.99
Mountain Hardwear’s stretch ozonic jacket is lightweight, breathable, and waterproof. It's the perfect addition to any hiker’s pack for those inevitable showers on the trail.
13) Midland ER10VP Portable Weather Radio
Midland
amazon.com
$18.99
Most hikers hope they’ll never need an emergency radio, but it pays to have one packed if they do. Midland’s ER10VP is a practical, all-in-one survival device with NOAA weather alerts, AM/FM radio, and a built-in battery.
14) Olight S1R II Compact EDC Flashlight
Olight
amazon.com
$64.95
A good flashlight or one of the best headlamps is another hiker essential. Olight’s bright S1R II flashlight features an ultra-compact design perfect for clipping to a belt or backpack.
15) Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter Bottle
Katadyn
amazon.com
$42.36
With the Katadyn BeFree water filter bottle, nearly any natural water source can be turned into clean pure drinking water. The easy-to-use filter never needs to be backflushed and the soft side pouch takes up minimal space when not in use.
16) YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler
YETI
amazon.com
$434.00
For leisurely day hikes with your kids or significant other, this soft-sided camp cooler is lightweight, roomy, and guaranteed to keep your trailside lunch cold for hours.
17) Dometic GO Camp Blanket
Dometic
amazon.com
$139.99
For impromptu trail picnics or extended lounging in the backcountry, Dometic’s new GO camp blanket is a dual-surface, multipurpose blanket that’s ready for just about anything.
18) Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Hiking Insoles
Superfeet
amazon.com
$54.99
Good insoles are almost as important as good boots. Superfeet’s Trailblazer comfort hiking insoles are purpose-built to be comfortable, durable, and supportive for miles and miles of hard hiking.
19) Bose Sport Open Earbuds
Bose
amazon.com
$199.00
Hard-charging hikers who appreciate good tunes will love these wireless, open-ear earbuds with a sweat- and water-resistant design.
20) Maven C2 7X28mm Compact Binoculars
Maven
amazon.com
$225.00
This perfectly pocketable pair of binoculars is ideal for hikers who love to birdwatch, scope out the trail conditions ahead, or just keep tabs on everyone in their group.
21) Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit
Swiss Safe
amazon.com
$21.24
Every respectable hiker should have a comprehensive first aid kit in their pack. If they don't already, Swiss Safe’s 2-in-1 first aid kit includes everything they'll need.
22) Kate's Real Food Organic Energy Bars
Kate's Real Food
amazon.com
$31.88
Kate’s Real Food elevates the typical energy bar with its own brand of organic, non-GMO, all-natural snack bars that taste great too. (Editor's note: The Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate is out of this world!)
23) Nemo Equipment Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat
Nemo Equipment
amazon.com
$23.45
This ultralight, compact “seat” is perfect for trailside lunch breaks or energy bar fuel-ups. Bonus: It’s sustainably made from reclaimed scrap material.
24) NRS Heavy-Duty Tie-Down Straps (4-Pack)
NRS
amazon.com
$32.95
Because hikers and outdoor adventure lovers always have gear to tie down, lash together, or secure to their vehicles. Trust us, they'll always find a way to use these.
25) Helinox Chair Zero Camp Chair
Helinox
amazon.com
$129.95
Helinox’s Chair Zero upends typical camp chair design with this next-gen model. It’s extremely lightweight yet comfortable enough to spend hours lounging in the backcountry—you may never want to get up after sitting in it.
26) VSSL The Fix Kit
VSSL
vsslgear.com
$75.00
This kit packs all the essentials that most hikers forget—zip ties, a sewing kit, trail marking tape, and more—into a single waterproof tin.
27) EastOfNowhereCo North America Geologic Map 2D Giclée Print
EastOfNowhereCo
etsy.com
$45.00
Half art piece, half route-planning tool, this unique 3D-look map will provide hours of inspiration for any intrepid hiker.
28) Matador Waterproof 40 ml Travel Canister
Matador
rei.com
$8.00
The backcountry is a dirty, unpredictable place. Why not protect your pills, snacks, and valuables with waterproof canisters worthy of the outdoors?
29) Stone Glacier Helio Hoody
Stone Glacier
$129.00
This mid-layer hoodie is lightweight, stretchy, and odor-resistant—everything we look for in a trail-friendly hoodie. Plus, a full-zip hood provides extra sun protection, and thumb loops ensure a perfect fit.
30) Outdoorsy RV Rental Experience
Outdoorsy
outdoorsy.com
Help that favorite hiker in your life extend their next trip with the gift of an Outdoorsy experience. Just book an RV or van rental local to them and make it a surprise!
The best gifts for hikers are the ones that'll someone's moments spent outside even better. Find the perfect gift for that favorite hiker in your life.