Trying to find a perfect gift for the hiker in your life? Gift-giving can be an intimidating task. But fortunately, we hikers are a simple breed with simple needs! We’re always on the lookout for new gear that can make our hikes more convenient and enjoyable. Or gadgets that allow us to get more out of them.
Hiking is a way of life for the Extremepedia team, and we care for our fellow hikers around the world. So we’ve created a list of the absolute best Hiking gift ideas for all types of hikers and trekkers.
And don’t worry if you’re not looking to spend too heavily. We’ve included a section on hiking gifts under $25 at the end of this article.
Here’s a quick list of our top recommendations before we get into the full reviews.
- Hiking Backpack
- First Aid Kit
- Solar Charger
- The King of Swiss Army Knives
- Camping Stove
- Outdoor GPS Watch
- Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks
- Lifestraw
- Stormproof Match Kit
- Hiking Water Bottle
- Bottle Cleaning Tablets
- Good Old Fashioned Compass
- Headlamp
- Basic Swiss Army Knife
- Insect Repellent
- Blister Kit
- Affordable Merino Wool Socks
Best Hiking Gifts – Summarised
| Gift | Best for | Image | Recommendation | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking Backpack | All-round | Osprey Packs Stratos 24 Hiking Backpack | $$$$ | |
| First Aid Kit | Safety-conscious hikers | Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit | $$ | |
| Solar Charger | Tech-loving hikers | Solar Charger | $$ | |
| The King of Swiss Army Knives | Serious adventurers | Victorinox SwissChamp Pocket Knife | $$$ | |
| Camping Stove | Multi-day hikers | Jetboil Zip Camping Stove | $$$ | |
| Outdoor GPS Watch | All-round | Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch | $$$$ | |
| Merino Wool Socks | All-round | Darn Tough Merino Wool Boot Sock Full Cushion,Black,Large | $$ | |
| LifeStraw | Remote destination hikers | LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle | $$ | |
| Stormproof Match Kit | Overnight campers | UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit | $ | |
| Hiking Water Bottle | All-round | Embrava Best Sports Water Bottle | $ | |
| Bottle Cleaning Tablets | All-round | Bottle Bright Tablets | $ | |
| Old Fashioned Compass | Retro-loving hikers | Sportneer Military Compass | $ | |
| Headlamp | Overnight hikers | Vont Spark LED Headlamp | $ | |
| Basic Swiss Army Knife | All-round | Victorinox Spartan Swiss Army Knife | $ | |
| Insect Repellent | All-round | Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent | $ | |
| Blister Kit | All-round | Spenco 2nd Skin Blister Kit | $ | |
| Affordable Merino Wool Socks | All-round | Time May Tell Mens Merino Wool Hiking Socks | $ |
17 of the Best Hiking Gift Ideas
Now for a full breakdown of the best presents for the hiker in your life.
A Good Hiking Backpack
Perhaps no piece of gear is as fundamental to hiking as the humble backpack. With the potential exception footwear… and maybe pants.
Backpacks are used to store any and all gear that the hiker will need throughout the duration of their adventure. A good hiking backpack is designed to make carrying the gear as easy and comfortable as possible.
Without a doubt, one of the best hiking backpacks is the Osprey Packs Stratos 24 for men, or the Osprey Packs Sirrus 24 for women. Osprey has a long-standing pedigree in top-notch backpacks, specializing in those for outdoor use and traveling. These packs make really amazing gifts for day hikers and multi-day trekkers alike.
Click to Check Price for Men Click to Check Price for WomenFirst Aid Kit
Being out in the wilderness, at the mercy of mother nature isn’t without its risks. But we hikers take the risks in our stride in exchange for the spectacular rewards. The risks associated with injuring oneself can be mitigated by ensuring we have a good first aid kit on hand.
With a good first aid kit, all of the small, inevitable injuries that are picked up when hiking can be dealt with in a sensible way. This avoids any minor injuries turning into larger problems down the line, and keeps us hiking when we might otherwise tap out.
This Swiss Safe first aid kit is the real deal, equipped with all of the basics and more. Your beloved hiker will be able to trek easy, knowing they have a first aid kit in their pack!
Click to Check PriceSolar Charger
For better or for worse, electronic devices are becoming increasingly fundamental to one’s hiking gear. Whether the hiker in your life carries a GPS watch, a phone, or a camera, they’ll find themselves in need of power at some point. And power isn’t something that’s generally accessible at the top of a mountain or in a rainforest.
The best solution to this conundrum is a solar charger powerbank. With a 26800mAh battery, this AMZGO Solar Charger is built to charge a smartphone or similar device several times over when fully charged.
It can be charged up using a wall socket before a trip, and topped up throughout with solar power. It even features 60 LEDs on the back, which can be used to brightly light surroundings at night. The rugged device is water-resistant, too.
Click to Check PriceThe King of Swiss Army Knives
The Swiss Army Knife is a household name and has been for many decades. This is not without good reason. These incredibly handy devices prove themselves useful time and time again, in a never-ending range of circumstances.
Hiking is one of their most popular uses and this one in particular is an absolute beast. It has 33 functions housed within a tiny, portable package. Practically any tool one could need to tackle the great outdoors, in something that fits in the palm of your hand. Your hiker will be thrilled with the power they’ll be carrying with them.
Click to Check PriceCamping Stove
For pretty much any hike that lasts more than one day, having access to some kind of cooking, boiling, or heating apparatus becomes quite important. When you’re out in the wilderness on a cool evening, exhausted from a day of trekking, nothing beats a warm meal. Or at least a warm something – even if it’s just some tasty broth.
Likewise, a cup of freshly brewed coffee is without a doubt the best way to kickstart a chilly mountain morning. This Jetboil camping stove will allow your hiking friend or family member the luxury of warm meals and beverages during their adventures.
It’s lightweight, compact, easy to carry, and can boil water in just over 2 minutes!
Click to Check PriceOutdoor GPS Watch
GPS watches offer more than just navigational assistance. They offer peace of mind for the hiker and their loved ones. They’re multi-purpose, navigational tools that can be lifesavers on remote hikes.
This Garmin Instinct outdoor watch boasts a feature called Tracback that helps you navigate the same route back as you came, in case you get lost. It offers vital details on location and altitude and tracks personal metrics such as heart rate, activity, and stress. Not to mention the fact that it doubles as a smartwatch and is made to US military standard.
A GPS watch blends outdoor utility and safety with convenient daily use, making for a perfectly well-rounded hiking gift.
Click to Check PriceDarn Tough Merino Wool Socks
One thing you’ll find in the pack of (or more often, on the feet of) every serious hiker is a good pair of thick hiking socks. Hiking socks create an essential barrier between a foot and its shoe, to prevent uncomfortable -and potentially hike-ending- rubbing.
Merino wool is the cream of the crop when it comes to hiking fabrics. It’s an incredibly popular type of wool, shorn from merino sheep. Its party trick is that it wicks moisture away from the skin, thereby keeping sweat and clamminess at bay.
These Darn Tough Merino Wool socks are a top-notch, premium choice that assure long-lasting quality and supreme comfort. Happy feet make for a happy hiker, so we think this gift for hikers is a winner.
Click to Check PriceLifestraw
You may have heard whispers of the LifeStraw floating around the grapevine. It’s a miraculous device that can purify water from some of the least trust-worthy puddles and streams. And it does so on the spot, without any complex machinery.
We all know how important hydration is to our wellbeing and survival, so ensuring access to clean, healthy water is absolutely imperative. A LifeStraw can offer this for the hiker in your life.
This particular version is a bottle with a built-in LifeStraw which filters water as you drink it. It removes 99.9999% of water-borne bacteria. So having one on hand practically ensures access to clean drinking water, even in some of the trickiest trekking situations.
Click to Check PriceCool Gifts for Hikers Under $25
Gift shopping on a budget? These hiking gifts for him and her are all under $25, but are sure to bring a smile to the face of the hiker in your life.
Stormproof Match Kit
There are few things in life as useless as a soggy box of matches. You can picture the scene: you’ve just finished a long, cold day of trekking through rain and wind before settling down to start a fire and warm up. Your numb hands shivering as you try to find those darn matches.…
Luckily, some clever folks have thought of a solution to this dire situation. This Titan Stormproof Match Kit is a waterproof container filled with 12 heavy-duty, weatherproof matches. These things are impervious to wind and burn for up to 25 seconds a pop. They even stay lit underwater. Yep, underwater, we kid you not.
Give your loved one the gift of fire and warmth, no matter the weather.
Click to Check PriceHiking Water Bottle
Simple and effective. You really can’t go wrong with giving a hiker a water bottle, so long as you buy one of sufficient quality. You won’t find a hiker out in the wilderness without one, unless they’re criminally underprepared for a hike.
But most water bottles have a limited life span by virtue of deteriorating or getting lost. So a new addition will always be welcomed.
Click to Check PriceBottle Cleaning Tablets
If your hiking buddy already has a water bottle, but it smells like it’s seen better days, it may be worth getting them some bottle cleaning tablets. These things are used to clear out and eradicate the grime that can build up in a water bottle over time.
They’ll take a bottle in a bad way and sharpen it up to its former glory, assuring a healthy, stink-free drinking experience for your hiker. They’re also chlorine free, biodegradable, and safe for the environment.
Click to Check PriceA Good Old Fashioned Compass
If a GPS watch is a little out of your price range, or your favorite hiker is more old-school-inclined, a classic compass may be the answer.
A compass helps hikers to keep their bearings in the wilderness – something that’s of vital importance if you’re venturing off the beaten track. Being stuck without any navigational equipment can be pretty disorientating and frightening, not to mention dangerous.
So a good old fashioned compass is certainly a gift worth giving.
Click to Check PriceA Headlamp
This one really needs no introduction. A classic headlamp is the best friend of any of us who venture into the great outdoors past dinner time. How could one be expected to heat their canned soup without some light? Or set up a tent? Or keep an eye on uneven terrain while walking?
Having a flashlight on hand is vital for multi-day hikers. And a headlamp is unarguably the most convenient form.
Click to Check PriceBasic Swiss Army Knife
We discussed a pretty serious swiss army knife in the previous section. But if something affordable is what you’re after, you don’t have to rule out a swiss army knife as a hiking gift.
This basic model is packed full of useful functions and is absurdly affordable for what it offers. It may not boast the diversity of the more complex, expensive versions, but it will inevitably come in useful for your hiking friend.
Click to Check PriceInsect Repellent
Ahh, the great outdoors. The fresh air, the stunning natural sights, the charming wildlife, and the incessant high-pitched whine of insects on the prowl for human blood. We’re all familiar with the frustration of being insect-bitten, but hikers have to deal with this more often than most.
A good insect repellent can keep the creepy-crawlies at bay, allowing for a more peaceful, itch-free hiking experience. Thus, making it a welcome addition to the pack of any hiker.
Click to Check PriceBlister Kit
Blisters are sneaky; they creep up on you and before you know it, they’re a full-blown catastrophe. Hikers can feel particularly vulnerable to this plight. Damp feet paired with plenty of water and few breaks make for a fertile blister breeding ground.
On countless occasions, we’ve wished that we’d packed something that could stop a blister in its tracks before it gets out of hand. A blister kit does just that, helping the hiker to continue in comfort.
Click to Check PriceAffordable Merino Wool Socks
Socks always make good gifts for hikers and campers, so we didn’t want cost to scare anyone away.
We discussed some premium Merino Wool Socks in the previous sections, but you don’t have to break the bank to get a quality pair of hiking socks. These Time May Tell socks are perfect for anyone gift shopping on a budget.
They’re made of a merino wool blend and offer great bang for your buck.
Click to Check PriceLast Words on the Best Gift Ideas for Hikers
Hikers come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties. But we all share a common love for hiking and the gear that makes it possible.
When loved ones make an effort to understand and cater to our outdoor passions, it never fails to brings smiles to our faces. So we hope these hiking gift ideas have helped you pick something perfect for your nature-loving friend, family member, or partner!
The post The 17 Best Gifts for Hikers | Unique Hiking Gift Ideas appeared first on Extremepedia.
