Hikers spend a lot of time in the outdoors. They are always on the look our for new trails and challenges. But they can be picky when it comes to their gear. This might make selecting gifts for hikers a daunting task. Luckily, we are here to help you find that special something!
As avid hikers ourselves, we have personally hand picked every item on this hiking gift list. We want your gift to be something they can actually use on the trails. We have broken this list down into price points to make your hiker gift selection easier than ever. Feel free to jump to a specific section with the table of contents below.
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Best Gifts For Hikers Under $20
The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive options. Sometimes the best gifts are the simple items your hiker can pull out of their bag every time they are in the outdoors. They will think of you every time and appreciate the thought you put into selecting their gift.
1. Stanley Tumbler
This tumbler is what every hiker needs to properly fuel both before and after a hike. We like how durable this tumbler is making it the perfect addition to every outdoor adventure. The double walled insulation will keep your beverage either hot or cold for hours. Stanley also carries a lifetime warranty on all their products.
2. Water Purification Tablets
These tablets provide an excellent option for water purification in an emergency bag. Katadyn Micropur tablets release chlorine dioxide, which is an extremely strong antiseptic. It purifies of water from viruses, bacteria and protozoans like Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Use one tablet for one Liter of water and your hiker will be good to go!
4. Sea To Summit Bowl
This bowl is made from flexible, food grade silicone that can withstand temps up to 300F. It will collapse into a compact disc making it perfect for saving space to bring on the go. The calibrated edge also serves as a measuring cup and the cut resistant base can be used to cut food.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Sea to Summit
5. Clif Bars
Every type of hiker will love receiving one or several clif bars. These bars contain a high amount of carbohydrates and sugar to provide energy and elevate glucose levels. This will provide your body with energy to continue the hike. We always have some of these bars on hand for any occasion. They come in many different flavors so be sure to try them all. Our favorite is the chocolate brownie!
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
6. Black Diamond Carabiners
A carabiner is a coupling link with a safety closure. They are typically used by rock climbers, but they can be used for so many other outdoor activities. We currently use these to secure items while hiking and/or camping. Trust us, the hiker in your life will appreciate this thoughtful gift.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Black Diamond
7. Hiking Trowel
When you gotta go, you gotta go! This is the perfect gift for a hiker to leave no trace and help them get down to business in the wilderness. This baby is extremely lightweight but do not mistake its small size. The 6.5in aluminum handled design will allow your hiker to make the perfect size cathole in no time at all.
8. Adventure Meals
Food can be heavy. But these lightweight prepackaged meals are a great solution for longer day hikes or a multi-day backpacking trip. Just add hot water and your hiker can eat right on the trail. Mountain house carefully selects their ingredients and offers all types of flavor options ranging from spaghetti and meatballs to chicken and biscuits.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
9. National Park Vintage Posters
These thoughtful vintage posters will look great on any wall as a conversation starter. Choose from several different designs and bring those wonderful National Park memories home. We are sure the hiker in your life will enjoy these posters for years to come.
Best Gifts For Hikers $20- $50
The next section in this gifts for hikers list includes some serious safety equipment. Anything can happen on the trails, especially in the backcountry. If you want your hiker to be safe, there are some great options below. We have also included a few extras to make their time in the wilderness more enjoyable.
10. Dirty Gourmet
Getting sick of having the same campsite and/or backpacking food over and over? Well, this book is just what you need! We love the diversity of recipes found in these pages, so you are guaranteed to never be bored of outdoor meals again. Just check out the reviews!
11. Bear Spray
Encountering a bear on a hike is always a possibility when hiking in bear country. While it might not be the most exciting gift your hiker has every received, it will definitely be one they need. Bear spray acts as a deterrent which inflames the eyes and upper respiratory system. The spray is made from red pepper oil and if used correctly, will certainly stun the bear so your hiker has time to get away.
12. Waterproof Dry Bag
The lightweight dry bag is Sea to Summit’s best-selling and most versatile pack. It can be used in so many ways, but it makes the perfect option when hiking or camping near water. We used this bag when hiking the Narrows in Zion and it gave us piece of mind by keeping our expensive camera gear dry.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Sea to Summit
13. Gaia Membership
Gaia is hands down the best hiking app we have used when it comes to offline map navigation. This will allow the hiker in your life to navigate trails easily when they do not have cell service. This app also lets users record routes, discover new trails, access weather conditions, and study elevation profiles. Click on the link below for our special 20% off discount.
14. Black Diamond LED Headlamp
All hail the gift of light! We love this headlamp for the different colored light options. For example, red lights help to preserve night vision so you and others around you can see better in dark. This lightweight lamp also has an easy adjustable beam angle to allow for better visibility. At 400 lumens of light, this headlamp will give off 5 hours of high light or 150 hours on low light.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Black Diamond
15. Homesick Scented Candle
These hand-poured soy wax candles are created to fulfill that longing feel of home. Find every US state, a treasured pastime or even a holiday memory. We love surprising friends and family with familiar smells of memories we have shared together.
16. Solar Powered Charging Bank
Nowadays everyone uses apps on their phone for trail maps. But what happens if your phone dies? You would certainly be in a pickle. Luckily, this rugged solar charger offers the ability to charge in the sun or electricity through USB. We sometimes even clip this on our backpack when hiking to ensure a full charge if we ever needed it.
Best Gifts For Hikers $50- $100
The next section will cover some important hiking gear to make both the campsite and the trails a bit more comfortable. The best gifts for hikers don’t have to be the latest and most expensive fad. Comfort and usability will always make for a better gift.
Whether your hiker opts for short day hikes or long multi-day hikes, we guarantee you can find something for them. Some of our favorite items include the sleeping pad and the peak design camera clip. Continue reading to see the rest of this great list of gifts for hikers!
17. Therm-A-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad
This self-inflating and ultra-lightweight sleeping pad is designed for both car camping or backcountry camping. The 2.0in pad carries a robust 6.0R value to ensure warmth when sleeping outdoors under the stars. The compressible foam core and WingLock valve maximizes airflow for easier inflation and deflation. All Therm-A-Rest products carry a limited lifetime replacement.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Therm-a-Rest
18. Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles
These three section aluminum trekking poles will provide extra stability for any hiker’s adventure. Trekking poles have been proven to protect the knees, especially when hiking downhill. The EVA foam grip extension and nylon woven strap both provide an added layer of comfort. The poles also come with 4 season flex tips for multi-season hiking.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Black Diamond
19. Coleman Camp Stove
This is our top recommendation for a permanent camp stove set up. While the Jetboil (later on this list) is wonderful for longer hiking trips, this stove is perfection for your everyday campsite. The push button ignition makes cooking a breeze and we absolutely love the wind-blocking panels. The two-burner system sold it for us because we can finally cook two things at once!
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
20. ENO Double Nest Hammock
This lightweight and compact hammock is amazing because you can take it anywhere. We love being able to pack it back up in the small carrying bag. The parachute nylon material is extremely durable, and you can choose from several different colors. Set it up at a campsite, on a hike or anywhere you want to enjoy the views!
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
21. Bear Resistant Food Container
No one wants a visit from a bear at night. Approved by the NPS and several other agencies, this durable bear canister will properly store food in areas with active bear activity. Bear Vault is certified to withstand over one hour with non-sop grizzly actions. There are several different sizes available depending on your hikers needs.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Bear Vault
22. National Park Pass
Does the hiker in your life love the National Parks? Then give them the gift of free entry to the parks for an entire year! At only $80, this is a bargain if you consider entry into each park is around $30. Read more about the America the Beautiful Pass here.
Buy On: REI | USGS Store
23. Helinox Chair One
This ultralight compact camp chair made of advance high-tech aluminum alloy weighs a mere two pounds making it an ideal candidate for travel and hiking adventures. While this chair packs up small, it still can support up to 320 pounds. Keep in mind, All Helinox products are also backed by a five year warranty.
24. Peak Design Capture Clip
Does your hiker like to use a camera during their hikes? This capture clip by Peak Design will allow them to easily clip and unclip their camera from a backpack strap. We love the flexibility of this clip because it is extremely well designed and allows us to free up our hands during a hike.
25. Rumpl Recycled Blanket
These blankets serve two purposes. First, they serve a benefit to our environment because they are literally made from recycled water bottles. Second, they are also a comfortable and portable blanket that can be taken anywhere. Check out the originally puffy as well as the special national parks edition!
Best Gifts For Hikers Over $100
Last but not least, this extensive list of gifts for hikers had to include some luxurious options. Whether shopping for yourself or shopping for the hiker in your life, there is something for everyone included below.
Hiking gear can be expensive. We understand it’s not possible to buy everything at once. It’s taken us several years to purchase all of our gear. But you can certainly start chipping away at some of those items on your hikers wish list today!
27. Jetboil Flash Stove
We have two options for camping stoves on this list and it will depend on the trip your hiker will be taking. The Jetboil is small and compact which makes it perfect for multi-day hikes in the backcountry. Another awesome feature is the FluxRing technology which boils water in just over two minutes!
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
28. Hydration Backpack
Never skimp on a backpack! This is one of the most important pieces of outdoor gear besides clothing. It’s much better to save and buy a more expensive backpack than try to save a little bit of money with a cheap one. This brand has traveled with us for years and we can back up it’s strong durability. Osprey has created the perfect hydration backpack for both men and women – the Skimmer for women and the Skarab for men.
29. Garmin Venu Fitness Watch
Mark purchased this watch half way through 2020 and it’s still one of his favorite items to date. He uses it for workouts, runs, swims and even golf! The Venu can monitor his distances, times, heart rate, breathing, workouts and so much more. We can guarantee this will be a well loved gift for any active hiking lifestyle!
30. Small Yeti Cooler
Yeti leads the way as one of the best cooler brands in the market. The dryhyde shell is made out of high-density fabric, is waterproof, resists punctures and provides protection against UV rays. We like this smaller cooler because it can be taken pretty much anywhere. The handle and shoulder strap make it the perfect get up and go option.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
Stocking Stuffer Gifts For Hikers
Are there some some last minute presents you still need to fill your avid hikers stocking?! Next on our hiking gift list we have included some small and simple presents to complete your hikers wish list. These last few gifts are a meaningful way to show them how much you truly care about their adventures.
31. Emergency Blanket
A space blanket, otherwise known as an emergency blanket, is designed specifically to keep you warm. It works by trapping the heat radiated from your body. We always have two of these in our backpack when on a hike. They are great to have in case of an emergency and you have to spend a night in the wilderness.
Buy on: Amazon | REI | Backcountry
33. Body Restore Shower Steamers
These shower steamers work very similar to bath bombs, but they are perfect for people always on the go. Place one tablet on the floor of the shower, turn on the hot water and soak up the instant relief. The oils released by these steamers will help your hiker to instantly relax. They will also help to sooth minor aches after a long grueling hike.
34. Rain Poncho
A rain poncho can be an absolute lifesaver! Speaking from experience, this can make or break a hike. We used a rain poncho for the entire hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. While it rained for several days, a rain poncho kept us as well as our gear nice and dry.
35. Bee’s Wax Wraps
We love using sustainable food storage. Say goodbye to one use plastic harmful to the environment. This reusable food storage is perfect for a day hike or the campsite. Bee’s Wax Wraps are made in various sizes and can be reused for up to one year. Either compost it or use it as a fire starter when finished and/or it loses its grip!
More Gift Ideas
- Women – Amazing gift ideas for the outdoorsy woman in your life.
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- Travelers – The most popular gift ideas for frequent travelers.
- Photographers – Awesome gift ideas for photographers featuring both beginning and pros.
- Itineraries – Shop our e-books for travel guides and itineraries.
More Hiking Inspiration
- Best Hikes In The US – The 50 top rated US trails to add to your bucket list.
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- Hiking Apps – The best hiking apps ranked by price, membership options and features.
- Hiking Essentials -A list of the most important items to bring on a day hike.
We hope this helped you pick out the best gifts for all of those adventurous hikers in your life!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the ideas listed above, we’ll be happy to help.
If you’re not exactly sure which gift your hiker would like, send them a link to this webpage and let them choose!
Happy Shopping,
Mark and Kristen
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