Gifts for Hikers – The Ultimate Guide

gifts for hikers

With just a few weeks to go to Christmas day, it’s a great time to shop for friends and relatives, especially for the ones who love to travel! Here are my top gifts for hikers for Christmas 2019.

Top Gifts for Hikers 2019

This breakdown of presents for hikers includes three price ranges – stocking fillers (under $20), mid range ($20-30), under the tree gifts such as hiking poles ($30+) and expensive hiking gifts over $100.

Stocking Filler Gifts for Hikers – Under $20

Energy Bars for Hikers

Energy bars make great stocking fillers as gifts for hikers. Hikers can keep energy on the go throughout the day – give the gift of a power up with delicious energy, all wrapped up and ready to go and completely wholesome.

This variety pack of Clif bar energy bars contains 16 energy bars, two each of the following flavours: Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Sierra trail mix, crunchy peanut butter, white chocolate Macadamia Nut, cool Mint Chocolate*, Peanut Butter Banana with dark chocolate, and blueberry crisp. There’s something for Everyone: with 9-11g of protein in each bar. Buy as a proper gift, or wrap individually as stocking fillers for members of your hiking group or family!

The great thing about these bars for hiking is that they keep nutrition for constant energy through the day. The Clif Bar is made to feed the adventure in everyone! These bars are purposefully crafted to deliver the protein, fibre, and carbs to sustain active bodies. An ideal energy snack to fuel up with, before and during activity.

They are made from wholesome ingredients – keeping your energy high has never tasted this good! Every single bar is made with wholesome Non-GMO ingredients like dried fruits, nuts, organic rolled oats, and chocolate.

Delicious flavours, endless variety: satisfy any taste with a dazzling array of crave able Clif Bar flavours to choose from.

Kendal Mint Cake

Kendal Mint Cake is a glucose based cake flavoured with peppermint that originates from Kendal in the Lake district and is popular with UK hikers, as it’s high in energy. Kendal Mint cake bars are great stocking presents for hikers.

Hiking Socks

Good quality hiking socks are essential for hikers. They keep your feet warm and dry and prevent the feet getting rubbed or blistered. High quality walking socks will last someone well over a year and get used time and time again. They make great stocking fillers or under the tree gifts for hikers.

MIRMARU Men’s 5 Pairs Multi Performance Hiking Trekking Crew Socks

These MIRMARU Mens hiking socks (5 pairs) are made with the perfect balance of 55% combed cotton, 40% polyester, 2% spandex. They are designed to keep your feet warm and dry during the rigors of trekking the earth’s most wild and adventurous places. They are Strong and durable socks, ideal for Hiking, Mountain Biking, Trail Running, Camping, Backpacking, Travel, and other Athletic Outdoor Activities and a massive variety of Winter Sports.

The heels are reinforced with high-density fibres and pile cushioning in the underfoot area for added comfort when hiking, walking, or during any outdoor activities, It protects the feet from shear and prevents painful blisters.

Mountain Falls Advanced Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitiser is a great little stocking filler for people who like hiking. The Mountain Falls Original Hand Sanitizer kills more than 99.99% of many common bacteria and germs. Whether you’re on the job or at home, this original formula is by your side anywhere you need it most. As well as the 32 fl. oz. you can also buy it in mini bottle of 8 fl. oz. – perfect to carry all the time when hiking in the mountains!

  • Works as a moisturizer too
  • Contains Vitamin E
  • Leaves hands feeling soft
  • Advanced formula
  • This sanitizer also doesn’t have an overpowering alcohol smell.

Lip Balm or Lip Salve

Hikers are often exposed to the elements and harsh weather, whether hot or cold extremes, can result in chapped lips. A lip balm is therefore a great stocking filler gift for a hiker. Joshua tree lip salve is great as it is specifically designed for hikers, with exposure to the elements in mind. I am also a big fan of Surfer Salve!

ultimate round the world packing list

Mid Range Gifts for Hikers – $20-30

Water Bottles

Re-useable water bottles and flasks are much better than disposable ones – they are sturdier, more hygienic and better for the environment.

SIGG Water Bottle

The SIGG Water Bottles are the most durable and popular with walkers for mountaineering and hiking. I had a couple of 1l SIGG water bottles for an Atlas Mountain hike and literally through mine off a small cliff face and when we got to the bottom it was still fine!!! SIGG water bottles have a double wall vacuum insulation which allows them to keep temperatures, cold or hot, for several hours. All SIGG bottles use the same diameter and thread system for their caps which means you can replace a lost cap or exchange it for a different type.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Flask

Stanley is one of the leading makes in vacuum flasks and water bottles. It’s a classic – one that my Grandad always had with him full of hot water for tea on the go!

  • Stainless steel won’t rust; naturally BPA-free
  • Insulated lid – in most models doubles as a cup
  • Keeps drinks hot or cold for 18 hours
  • Leak proof and fully packable
  • Lifetime Warranty

Pogo Tritan Water Bottle, 32 Oz

This Pogo Tritan water bottle is the perfect way to hydrate when you are on the go. Made from sturdy and stylish Tritan, it’s an excellent present for hikers. The chug-style lid has a leak proof cover and is great for fast hydration.

  • BPA, phthalates, PVC, lead and cadmium free
  • Soft touch carry loop makes it very easy to bring the bottle wherever you go

Orienteering Compass – Hiking and Backpacking 

An orienteering compass is a great gift for hiking, but it’s usually a good idea to find out if they already have one first as you only need one. It’s an essential hiking item – a must have – to be used with a map so that you don’t get lost.

A Baseplate Acrylic Compass with 360-degree rotating bezel and Azimuth Bearing is the best kind to go for. These are used for cartographic map navigation and many have a Field Compass located Magnifying Glass, 1:24000 compass Scale and compass Ruler. 

INIU Portable Charger, 10000mAh Power Bank

A portable power bank is a great gift for hikers because they will be able to recharge their phone from anywhere as long as they have power in their power bank.

The INIU portable power bank is the #1 compact and high-speed power bank powered by INIU Leading technology. It has high-speed charging smart IC charge which is 4X faster than a standard charger and a 4a output on each USB port.

The 10000mAh high capacity will fully charge your iPhone 8 for 3 times. It’s totally ideal for all day trips and with no worry about of being out of battery anymore.

Two USB ports so you can charge two devices for you at the same time. Enjoy sharing the battery with your family. Compatible with all smartphones. No iPhone/USB C cable included.

The INUI portable charger is built to last and very safe to charge with the use of high quality li-ion battery cells, stable function, a very long standby time of 6 months, and more than 500 times of cycling. The intelligent controlling battery protects your devices charging all day long.

Best travel gifts for him

Small High Beam Flashlight

A flashlight is another camping and hiking essential. I always take a compact Maglite as they are extremely durable and have a strong beam.

I also recommend this LE CREE LED Flashlight which is small and super bright!

  • Ultra-high light output, no false brightness, long lifespan, powered by 3 AAA batteries (included).
  • Zoomable: The maximum range of zoom in mode can be up to 492ft/150m, and the zoom out mode is suitable for close-range large-area illumination.
  • Water resistance: The IPX4 water resistance rating means it is protected against splashing water from all angles.
  • Rugged and non-slip: Made of 6063 high-performance aluminium alloy which is sturdy and durable

Water-Resistant Hiking Backpack 

Water-resistant and durable backpack is a great gift for a hiker. However, a hiking backpack is kind of a personal thing regarding size and comfort, so if you decide to buy someone a water resistant hiking backpack, you might want to invite them shopping so that they can try it, or give it to them with a gift receipt or good returns policy.

This Outlander Super Lightweight Packable Water-Resistant Hiking Backpack is suitable as it is compact and folds away so it makes a good additional daypack. It is made entirely from water-resistant nylon fabric, which offers lots of strength and long-lasting performance, with very minimal weight. The main stress points are reinforced with bar tacking for increased durability. Long-lasting 2-way Abrasion Resistant Metal Zippers are used across the backpack.

  • COMPACT. Folds into zippered inner pocket to fit anywhere. Unfolds from pocket to backpack. A must-have on any trip.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT (0.46/0.5 Pounds) and ROOMY (20/33 litres). A true space saver. Put the bag into its own pocket for storage and then unzip it when you reach your destination. Helps to avoid overweight baggage charges!

Travel Gifts for Hikers – $30+

Swiss Army Knife

A Swiss Army knife is another must for any hiker or traveller. It’s great to have a decent knife while trekking to open and cut things, and also use other tools such as nail files and bottle openers. The classic company for the Swiss Army knife is Victorinox – they have been specialising in Swiss Army knives since 1897. I took one hiking in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and would have been lost without it! A Swiss Army knife can be as simple or as complex as you like, ranging from a single blade to a large pocket knife with 30 or more tools! Prices can range from around $15 to over $200 and so this can be a small or large gift depending on your budget and the desired functions.

Hiking Poles or Sticks

One of the top gifts for hikers is walking or hiking sticks – you might just want to check if they already have them as they are a pricier item and not something you need more than one set of.

TrailBuddy Poles – 2-pc Pack Adjustable Walking or Hiking Sticks

These tougher than carbon fibre – TrailBuddy Trekking Poles are tough aluminium and can withstand pressure and impact much better than carbon fibre. This is crucial if you are hiking on rocky terrain or supporting a heavier weight.

Changing the height of these poles from 25.5 to 54 inches is easy even when you’re wearing gloves or trekking in wet conditions, due to its lever-locks. It’s much easier to adjust than a twist lock –

These poles are made from light aircraft grade aluminium – Aluminium 7075 hiking sticks weigh up to 4 ounces less than typical Aluminium 6061 common in other hiking sticks.

They are also built for your comfort. Cork handles are comfy to use in both hot and cold temperatures, are moisture-wicking, and mould to the shape of your hand while the strap is padded to avoid chafing your skin.

Get your complete set now – Available in beautiful black, blue, red, green, yellow, pink, purple, and aqua colours, these poles also come with a carrying bag, 2 rubber tips, 1 pair connector, snow baskets and mud baskets.

Expensive Gifts for Hikers $100+

FitBit Alta

I love my FitBit Alta as it measures my daily steps and measures them against my target of 10,000 steps a day – double that if I’m travelling! It also measures calories and heart rate. As well as using it for hiking, I have also used it to measure my sleep, monitor when my period is due and lose weight for my wedding! All in all, I’d totally recommend a FitBit as a good gift for a hiker. You can also change the straps so that your Fitbit will go with any outfit on your travels!

GPS Watch

GPS watches have a larger colour screen compared to ordinary digital watches so that they can display maps and relay data. Never get lost with a GPS watch on your wrist! There are other advantages of a GPS watch which may include heart rate monitor and mileage. Some of the best GPS watches on the market this year include the Garmin Fenix 5, the Polar M430 and Apple Watch 5.

4K GPS Drone

Drones are taking off big time! A starter selfie drone or a more advanced 4K GPS drone can be a great gift for a hiker wanting to take arial photographs of an area, such as a national park, stately home or mountain view. Some of the best Drone makes this year are Parrot, Holy Stone, DJI and Potensic. The benefit of a 4K video resolution drone is that you get four times the amount of pixels. This gives you more freedom to zoom, and crop, without worrying about decreasing the quality of your final video.

Further Reading – Gift Guides for Travellers

If you enjoyed today’s blog on gifts for hikers, you might also like to read…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.