50+ Amazing Gifts for Hikers They Will Actually Use

50+ Amazing Gifts for Hikers They Will Actually Use

Best Gift for Hiker: Are you looking for gifts for hikers? You will love these gift ideas and so will your friend who hikes.  This list will help you find the best hiking gifts.   

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When trying to find the best hiking gifts it can be difficult to find hiker gifts in your price range. I have included some inexpensive hiking gift ideas and some of the coolest gifts for hikers. Check out the categories below to find unique gifts for a hiker.

Whether you need to find a Christmas gifts for hikers or unique gifts for hikers for any occasion you are sure to find the perfect hiking gift.

Thank you for supporting this website written by an American. This post may contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission on these links at no extra cost to you.

Best Gifts for Hikers Under $25 (for those of you on a budget)

Outdoor Vital Pillows – gift for hikers

This pillow will save your life in the backcountry! It’s worth it to carry this small pillow and make camp more comfortable at only 2.6 ounces.

hiking presents

It takes around five puffs to fill the valve, and it collapses to the size of a tennis ball. The stretch nylon feels great on your skin and wicks moisture away all night long without making you feel like you’re sleeping on a rock!

To your skin, the stretch nylon material seems like a pillowcase that breathes and feels natural.

Travel Coffee Press – Top gifts for the hiker

For those who like their coffee, this Espro travel coffee press is great. With the ability to make a french press coffee on the go. It has a two-stage micro-filter to ensure no coffee escapes when you press down the filter. 


The stainless steel insulated walls of the cup keep coffee hot for 4 to 6 hours, ideal for coffee on the go, or when you are out and want to sip coffee when hiking. The lid is leak-proof and has silicone seals to ensure it doesn’t spill. 

Nathan Quick Squeeze Lite 12oz Insulated Bottle – hiking gift

You would like to bring a handheld bottle on treks and runs where you don’t want to carry a pack but yet need to stay hydrated.

The Nathan QuickSqueeze Lite has a stash pocket that can carry keys or credit cards, and it contains 12 ounces of water. The adjustable polyester and nylon strap won’t dig into your hand.

This handheld hydration device is ergonomically shaped to fit any runner’s hand and is incredibly easy to squeeze. It’s firm where it’s needed and collapses quickly for hydration.

It also features a flat bottom that provides a stable filling surface. This amazing flask is meant to be both grip-free and lightweight, with double-wall construction that keeps liquids colder for longer.

Furthermore, the double-wall design keeps liquids 20 percent colder for longer than other insulated bottles.

Yeti Mug – one of the best gifts for a hiker

Perfect for drinking a morning coffee on the go, when traveling, camping, or just general everyday use. This is an excellent gift for coffee or tea lovers. 

This 14oz mug has a triple grip wide handle, double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your hot drink hot, and your cold drink cold. It also has a shatter-resistant lid with a mouthpiece. 

This mug is durable enough to attach to the outside of your backpack when kayaking and used when required. 

Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Gear Patches

This gear is amazing, and it’s such a simple, easy gift idea for any outdoor lover. It’s also really affordable and one of the best hiking gifts.

It can be difficult to let go of your favorite down jacket or hardshell, but snags and tears are unavoidable in the outdoors.

A little piece of material can be used to repair rips and tears in clothing, such as a hole in a down jacket or a tear in a tent! You’ll want to include a small roll of this in your hiking bag so you can fix your gear while on the trail.

Tenacious Repair Tape is available in a variety of colors to match the equipment you’re repairing!

Kula Cloth – hiking gifts for her

When it comes to backpacking hygiene, the Kula Cloth is a game-changer for female hikers and a unique hiking gift ideas! It’s a reusable pee cloth composed of antimicrobial fabric to prevent the spread of germs.

It has a built-in loop for easy attachment to a pack and a snap to keep it clean and folded up.

Kula Cloths come in a variety of patterns, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for your favorite squat hiker.

Rei Gift Card – one of the easiest gift ideas for hikers

If you can’t decide on the best gift ideas for hikers, an REI Gift Card is always a pretty good bet.

So Hot Together REI E-Gift Card

You can set the amount, which can be as low as $10. It’s a perfect option if you have no idea what to get them or if they appear to “already own everything.”

Simply place a $25 REI Gift Card in the stocking of your loved one. It’s like giving them the BEST gift imaginable: the thrill of their very own REI shopping spree!

Best Gifts for Hikers to Keep Them Safe

LifeStraw or Sterepin – one of the most practical and best gifts for hiking

For backcountry hikers, this is the perfect water filter. I absolutely love my LifeStraw water bottle. I even use it in town as a refillable water bottle.

LifeStraw’s hollow fiber membrane technology keeps you safe throughout outdoor adventures.

Hikers can filter water to make it drinkable in the wilderness with a water filtration system. All you have to do is place the straw in a source of water and drink; the straw will take care of the hard work of filtering out particles and bacteria.

Both are small and quick to use while filtering water, and they could save your life if you get lost or something terrible happens. Give your hiker one of these water filters to keep in their day bag to keep them safe on the trails.

It’s ultra-lightweight, compact, and easy to transport. Lifestraw is a fantastic hiking present!

Black Diamond Storm Headlamp – hiking gifts for him

True experiences are defined by the time of day and the amount of natural light available. Real adventures are unpredictable and full of impulsiveness and spontaneity.

The dream of rock, ice, and snow is reawakened by real adventures.

The Storm Headlamp is dustproof and waterproof and can be submerged up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. It’s a tough headlamp that’s suitable for both day and night outdoor activities.

Waterproof Matches – gifts ideas for hikers

This Typhoon Match Kit is a one-of-a-kind gift fit for any trip. It’s crucial to be how to light a fire, whether you’re a day hiker or going to travel the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail.

Its heavy-duty design and enclosed strike pad keep your Typhoon Matches safe and secure.

The Typhoon Matches are tough and will bravely burn through everything Mother Nature throws at them. These mini-infernos are simple to light and built to withstand the environment, allowing you to start a fire even in the harshest of situations.

Garmin Gps 64st Or Garmin Inreach Explorer – hiking presents

One of the “ultimate” gifts for hikers is this. Sure, it’s pricey, but it’s extremely cool. This present is essential if your hiker begins to tackle more difficult hikes or begins backpacking.

This GPS is a must-have piece of equipment, and there are numerous excellent options. This will undoubtedly assist you in navigating when you are unsure of your location.

Another wonderful alternative is to seek an “all-in-one” device, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 66i, which includes both GPS tracking and satellite SOS capabilities. If you present one of these GPS devices to a hiker, you’ll be their favorite gift giver for a long time!

Emergency Tent and Sleeping Bag – presents for hikers

This emergency tent and sleeping bag is another lightweight emergency gear that would make a perfect stocking stuffer for any hiker. It folds up quite compact and takes up very little room in a backpack.

This is a four-part shelter set. This kit has everything you’ll need to weather the storm in an emergency survival situation.

Give someone the best chance of surviving achievable. The Mylar material reflects your body heat and may be used in any weather. This kit comes with all of the necessary survival gear you’ll need in the event of an emergency.

Trekking Poles – gifts for hiking lovers

With these high-quality trekking poles, you can get your loved ones out on the trails!

Product Image of color Picante

With one of the best presents for hikers, the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork trekking poles, you may enjoy kilometers of blissful trekking throughout the year. For off-road adventures, they provide on-the-fly adjustability and simple handling.

Unsinkable Sunglasses – unique gifts for hikers

How many times have you dropped your sunglasses in the water and they instantly sank? 

Well, those days are over, with these unsinkable sunglasses


These sunglasses are Honey Tort design, with VaporLite technology floating frames, which are also 20% lighter than normal sunglasses. The glasses come with Lifetime plus warranty – so if you lose them you will get a replacement. They have a fashionable design as well as being unsinkable.


Hiking Daypack 

This Osprey backpack is a great gift for kayakers. This daypack has a capacity of 100oz and is available in teal. 

This daypack has a 3L liquid holder in a separate compartment with a crux straw with an on and off lever. It also has a ventilated NV back panel that features comfortable straps and upper pods for ultimate comfort. 

The daypack also features a waist belt for comfort, zipper pockets for snacks, a large storage compartment, and smaller pockets. It also has a fleece-lined compartment ideal for protecting sunglasses and loops for carrying poles. 

This daypack is ideal for women as it has been shaped to fit a woman’s torso and the straps are s-shaped for a great fit and comfortable for long hiking trips. 

Best Hiking Essentials Gifts

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

Patagonia is one of the greatest outdoor clothing companies on the market. So, if you’re looking for great hiking gifts, this jacket is one that any hiking friend or family member would love!

Product Image of color Classic Navy

The Nano Puff jacket is an excellent “mid-layer” garment that every hiker should own.

Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiking Socks

These knit hiking crew socks made of merino wool are extremely soft and elastic.

These crew socks make a perfect gift for hikers, outdoor walkers, and anyone who wants to keep their feet dry, warm, and comfy all day—the ultimate fiber for breathability and comfort in every weather.

Two Person Outfitter Hammock

The DoubleNest is the most formidable. It’s your all-access pass to leisure, your bread, and butter.

The DoubleNest is large enough for two people but small enough to fit into its connected compression sack. Take it wherever you like, set it up in seconds, relax.

Trango Piranha Knife

Are you looking for a practical gift? This Piranha knife is fantastic! The Trango Piranha Knife is extremely light and can cut through almost anything.

Weight is important in hiking, backpacking, and pretty much all outdoor sports. It is preferable to have lighter gear than heavier gear.

This is an excellent emergency knife to keep on your harness or in your emergency kit. When the locking blade is attached to a carabiner, it cannot be opened. When hooked to a regular carabiner, the locking blade can be opened and closed with one hand, but it’s nearly impossible to open.

This is a fantastic knife for outdoor adventures.

Grizzly First Aid Kit

The exterior kit map and Easy Care Organization System make it easy to find everything you need in an emergency, and the reflective design makes this first aid kit visible even in low light.

This first-aid kit is designed to treat the most frequent injuries suffered by athletes. The bag includes adequate first-aid materials for a group of four to go on a vacation lasting up to fourteen days.

The accompanying Quick Guide walks you through the processes for cleaning, closing, and treating a wound if you don’t know how to do it yourself.

Chaco Outdoor Sandals

Not every climb necessitates the use of robust ankle-supporting boots. Some hikes just require a small amount of tread and a great deal of comfort.

On hot summer days, Chaco outdoor sandals are ideal for light to moderate climbs.

You can still feel firm on the path while allowing your feet to breathe. These are especially perfect for fishing adventures and pathways that meander in and around the water.

Your other hikers will be grateful you saved their feet from sweaty boots, even if they aren’t the most fashionable. In addition, in some outdoor communities, the Chaco tan is proudly displayed.

Teva Sandals Women’s  

These Teva sandals are great for kayaking with quick-dry webbing, made from recycled plastic while also offering support for your feet. 


Available in six colors these sandals have a universal strapping system, which includes an adjustable hook and loop for a custom fit. The sole of the sandal has molded EVA midsole heel cupping for support. 


This sandal is made for all-day use with the ability to wear while kayaking and then throughout the day after. 

Best Food Gifts for Hikers

Moon Cheese

A savory trail snack made with Moon Cheese is fantastic! This crunchy dehydrated cheese comes in a variety of tastes, including gouda, cheddar, and parmesan.

Moon Cheese is strong in protein and gluten-free, and a variety pack would make a great present for any hiker who has had enough of protein bars and wants something saltier. 

This is a one-of-a-kind and delectable snack!

Maya Kaimal Everyday Dals

Any hiker or backpacker will appreciate a Maya Kaimal meal. Dals, Rice Packets, and Chana Packets are now available, which are ideal for day hikes and short backpacking trips.

You will undoubtedly enjoy this food. They’re fantastic as a trekking or backpacking snack. Give the hiker in your life some high-end camping and hiking food.

Nuun Tablets

Hikers will appreciate having Nuun tablets in their backpacks.

These little tablets provide a combination of electrolytes and minerals to keep you hydrated while hiking. Simply drop a tablet into your water, wait for it to fizz, and then drink up.

Nuun are available in a wide range of flavors. These are perfect for Holiday stuffers!

Nick’s Sticks Jerky

Nick’s Sticks will be a favorite jerky by your hiker. Beef jerky is a perfect portable snack for spending time on the trail.

They have beef, chicken, and turkey sticks, all made with natural ingredients and no added sugar – and they’re delicious!

A nice bag of beef jerky always makes a great hiking snack. A few packages of delicious jerky will be much appreciated by your favorite meat-loving hiker. 

Power Crunch Bars

Your hiker will absolutely love Power Crunch Bars since they’re light and crispy while still providing a substantial amount of protein.

Other protein bars with a similar protein content are typically denser and heavier.

Power crunch bars come in a wide range of flavors, so there’s always something new to try. These protein bars, or any other bars you know your loved one enjoys, would make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Best Books for Hikers

A Walk in the Woods

In the nearly 20 years since its first publication, A Walk in the Woods has become a hiking classic, and it’s easy to see why. Bill Bryson, a travel writer, recounts his trip to find his homeland after living abroad for many years.

One of the iconic walking books is Bill Bryson’s account of walking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail. With his trademark sardonic sense of humor and flair for conveying interesting facts and humorous insights about societal phenomena, the Iowa native recalls the good, the bad, and the ugly of attempting to hike America’s beloved long-distance path.

You’ll be captivated by the ambition to try the thru-hike and laugh out loud along the route, whether he’s suffering through the humid woodlands of the deep south with his overweight hiking buddy or lamenting environmental degradation in Pennsylvania.

After the hiking season is over, A Walk in the Woods is sure to earn a spot on your bookshelf.

Dead Mountain

Dead Mountain is another one of those books that you won’t be able to put down. It investigates the deaths of nine young Russian mountaineers on Dyatlov Pass.

The plot is eerie, and it will have you guessing until the end of the book as to what transpired. A fantastic tale as well as an eye-opening lesson in unforeseen alpine perils!

Wild

Cheryl Strayed had already been through a lot in her 22 years on this planet when she decided to tackle one of the most difficult hikes in the country: the Pacific Crest Trail.

Strayed’s thorough memoir of the Pacific Crest Trail was made into a hit film starring Reese Witherspoon that can be seen in under two hours, but the book is well worth reading.

After a catastrophic personal loss and a heroin addiction, Strayed’s 1,100-mile trip is one of redemption, and when she first sets foot on the route in the Mojave Desert, she appears to be an improbable competitor in an arena dominated by endurance athletes.

Strayed’s trial-by-fire entrance into backpacking is both humorous and heartwarming, despite her lack of hiking experience.

Into Thin Air

In the 1990s, Krakauer, now a well-known author, was working as a journalist for an Outside magazine when he was asked to write a feature about hiking to Base Camp.

The assignment rekindled the former climber’s childhood fantasies of summiting Everest, and he became a member of an ill-fated expedition that resulted in one of Everest’s deadliest days.

Long after you flip the last page, his harrowing remembrance of the tumultuous events will leave you up there on the mountain.

Women Who Hike

This fantastic book is a collection of profiles of women who hike! Each woman also recommends hikes for you to add to your hiking bucket list.

The featured women come from a wide range of backgrounds, and it’s fascinating to learn about their paths to the trail.

Each adventurer narrates her experience in her own words, highlighting personal obstacles, successes, and philosophy, as well as providing readers with practical how-to tips on maximizing not only their potential in hiking but in life.

The profiles are accompanied by beautiful color photos. A map of the hike, hike specs, mileage and instructions, GPS coordinates to the trailhead, and a sidebar about the hike, the place, or the adventurer are all included in each profile.

Best Unique Hiking Gifts

Honest Outfitters Hammock

Hammocks are the new tents these days, and many hikers appreciate carrying a decent hammock in their backpacks. 

Your hiker will love to have one in the van in case they want to hook it up on some trees for some great reading vibes when car camping or use it as their primary shelter for hiking and trekking.

Collapsible Water Bottle

Although a good water bottle isn’t the most unique hiker gift, this isn’t your typical hiking water bottle. The HydraPak Flux Water Bottle looks like a hard bottle yet compresses like a soft flask.

It also weighs 60% less than a standard water bottle.

The hiker will be able to finish their water and compress the bottle for convenient storage thanks to this remarkable idea.

Waterproof Speaker

Everyone loves listening to music and what better way to listen to music while you are hiking, kayaking, or camping, than with this Wonderboom portable waterproof speaker. 

This Wonderboom speaker might be small but it has an incredibly crisp sound and offers 360-degree sounds. It is also waterproof which is ideal when camping, traveling or being outside. 

With the ability to connect via Bluetooth with over 10 hours of battery life, ideal for a weekend of camping. 

This speaker is great for traveling, as it’s small and can be attached to a bag or item with its top hook. 

Nicole LaBarge

Nicole is a travel expert who has been traveling to the American Southwest since 1992. There is so much to see and do in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California. I spend part of the year in Phoenix and travel around the area visiting all the best places and going on the best hikes. Check out my detailed destination guides, the best hiking in each state guides, and the travel gear you need for your next trip.

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