Looking for gift ideas for hikers or campers this holiday season? Here’s a list of our best gift ideas for those who love the outdoors, adventures, and experiences. There are options for every budget so keep reading if you need some help shopping this holiday season.
You know that person in your family that is always outside doing some crazy sport and is usually decked out in flannel or some other durable looking clothing? That’s me in my family and nobody ever really knows what to buy me since most of them are pretty unfamiliar with the hobbies that I’m into.
Regardless of whether or not you have any knowledge of the outdoor industry or not, these gift ideas for hikers and campers will be helpful to you when you’re shopping for the adventurous friends and family in your life this holiday season. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite practical and fun gift ideas for you to shop today.
Go ahead and get a head start on the 2020 shopping season (I know I am) and get a bit of shopping out of the way today so you can spend the holiday season doing what’s most important: spending time with those you love.
Few things inspire exploration like reading about a new place or adventure in a book. There’s a seemingly endless list of inspiring works out there, but here are a few personal favorites we recommend.
National Parks of America
She Explores
The Great Outdoors: A user’s guide
My Old Man and the Mountain
If the outdoor enthusiast in your life is anything like us, they’re on a mission to visit as many of the national parks as possible. One of our favorite items is this national park scratch off poster that reminds us of all the amazing places we’ve been before and all the places we have left to discover. We keep this one hanging on our office wall and it inspires us on the days when we’re stuck at home working.
When you’re backpacking and/or camping you’re likely going to want to bring along a little group entertainment if you’re traveling with others. When space is limited and you’re packing light, there are two go-to games we like to bring along to play around the campfire: Banana Grams and a classic deck of cards (and these are waterproof!).
Magazines are a great, inexpensive gift to give loved ones since they’re a gift that keeps giving all year around. The best part is that there are options for just about every adventure enthusiast so depending on their sport or hobby of choice, chances are there’s a magazine for that! A few of our personal favorites include Outside Magazine, National Geographic, Trail Runner, and Backpacker.
We’ve used (and loved) our classic AeroPress for years now and it's the best way to have a great cup of coffee with your favorite coffee beans while on the road traveling. If you’re backpacking and trying to keep things super minimalist, we’d recommend the Miir Pourigami.
We’ve been big fans of Miir for years 1) because they make high quality products and 2) they’re a socially and environmentally responsible company. We have a few products by them but our favorites are our Miir Insulated Camp Mug and the Miir 12oz Insulated Travel Tumbler. Both as solid options, but for backpacking and on the go people we’d recommend the travel tumbler since it has a locking lid top.
On the trail or at home, this beanie by Coal is my go to for staying warm on cool days. It’s soft and comfy without being itchy or scratchy.
It’s hard to beat a lazy day hanging in a hammock. I’ve been using this same hammock by Eno for 12 years now and it’s still in great shape. It packs small and is very durable making it perfect for throwing in the back of the car for days at the park or to take on a camping trip.
We’ve already got the coffee lovers covered here, but how about the wine lovers for the nights spent around a campfire or on a mountaintop watching an epic sunset? This wine tumbler by Hydroflask has been a go-to for a couple of years now and I love it! So much so that I frequently use it at home instead of real, glass wine glasses.
Every year we purchase America the Beautiful Pass which gets us into all of the national parks (and more!) for an entire year. But this park pass will pay for itself after visiting 2 or 3 parks in a consecutive year so from where we stand it’s well worth the investment!
Okay, this item isn’t exactly an essential, but I saw it online and thought it would make a great gift. This flashlight/compass/flask combo is the perfect combo of funny meets genius idea.
I’m always cold which is why I love Rumpl’s Original Puffy Blanket. This lightweight, packable, recycled blanket is the perfect camping or airplane blanket for those who like to stay extra cozy while adventuring.
Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jackets are the perfect adventure jacket. They pack super small and are versatile enough for the moderately chilly to the very chilly nights in the woods. And, because they are made with synthetic down they are safe to get wet and dry quickly! We’ve been wearing this jacket for years and love it just as much as the day we bought it at REI.
We absolutely love our GoPro and take it with us on every adventure. It's become an essential item in our vlogging gear lineup since we purchased the Hero 8 back in 2019. This camera really is the perfect thing to bring hiking, cycling, kayaking, and more! With so many different accessories, the camera was truly designed with the adventure enthusiast in mind. While we haven’t had a chance to check out the new GoPro Hero 11, we’ve been using the GoPro Hero 8 for the last year and love it. A few of our favorite accessories include the floating handgrip (so it doesn’t sink in the water) and the GoPro head strap.
This is one product we haven’t purchased yet but keep meaning to because we know it could be the difference between life or death when off-grid (seriously). We’ve owned other Garmin products in the past and have never found them anything other than high quality and reliable. Which is exactly what we want in an emergency situation. The Garmin InReach Mini works via satellite and can keep you connected with loved ones even when you’re deep in the woods or in a foreign country.
While I haven’t yet had the chance to join an REI Adventure trip, it’s been high on my wishlist of things to do for years now. Take the headache out of trip planning and book an adventure with REI which includes professional guides and (usually) gear so you don’t have to buy tons of gear you’ll likely never use again after one trip. You can search for trips via activity (cycling, hiking, etc.) or by category including family trips, volunteer trips, and more! A few specific trips I’ve had my eye on for a while are the Antarctic cruise, New Zealand South Island cycling, and the Botswana Adventure Safari.
While you’re booking a trip for a friend, why not go ahead and book a reservation for yourself so you can go together?!
If none of these gift ideas for hikers and campers seem like the right fit for the one you’re shopping for, consider getting them a gift card for them to purchase the gear or experience of their choice. A few of our favorite retailers include:
Between those retailers and experiences I’m sure your friend/family will be able to find something that fits their fancy and that will match your budget
Some people in the outdoor sector are pretty picky about their gear (they call them “gearheads”). Just in case the person you’re shopping for is one of those, don’t forget the gift receipt. Don’t forget that gifts are always about the thought more than they are about the actual item so be sure to include a card with the gift. :)
Do you have another gift idea for hikers and campers? Let us know in the comments below!
