The 30 Best Gifts for Hikers in 2022
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If anyone on your holiday shopping list loves spending time out on the trails, then this gift guide is for you! We are sharing our favorite hiking gifts for 2022.
As avid year-round hikers, we are very aware of just how impossible to shop for we can be. Hiking is the outdoor activity we do most frequently throughout the year, whether it be on nearby local trails or out in the backcountry. So buying a hiking-related gift would seem like a great idea, right? Yes—but with a catch…
The challenge is that hikers can have a lot of strong preferences about the gear they use. For something as simple as a walk through the woods, hiking can be a surprisingly gear-focused pastime. So unless you know the person really well, you will probably want to avoid buying them something super specific like a pair of hiking boots or a particular sleeping bag. So what then?
That’s where these hiking gift ideas come in!
Below you will find tons of broad appeal, general-purpose hiking gifts that any hiker would be thrilled to receive as a gift. We specifically selected items that didn’t require very specific sizing (like shoes) and avoided big-ticket items that might require deeper consideration (like a tent).
So if you have a person on your shopping list that loves to hike then we’re sure you will find something perfect for them below.
Don’t wait until crunch time—find something they will love and start checking off your shopping to-do list today!
In Partnership with REI
REI is our favorite place to buy gifts for outdoorsy people on our lists. In the event we get a color or a size wrong, REI makes it SO easy for the recipient to return or exchange it for the correct item. With free shipping on orders over $50, we also love that we get to skip the in-store holiday melee and shop from the comfort of our couch (be away, the last day for guaranteed shipping at REI is Dec. 17th!).
Best Gifts for Hikers (chosen by hikers!)
America the Beautiful Pass
Products can be nice, but meaningful experiences will last a lifetime. Give the gift of an entire year of adventure with the America the Beautiful (National Parks) Pass that they will remember for years to come. Just one pass gets you into every National Park & Monument, as well as National Forests, Grasslands, and plenty of other recreation sites across the country.
BioLite HeadLamp 200
A headlamp is one of the 10 Hiking Essentials that hikers should carry on every hike, and an item that you can’t have too many of! Store one in a backpack, the glove box, or with emergency gear. We both own these rechargeable headlamps from BioLite and love them. Dimmable, red light, strobe, compact design, and with a 40 hour run time on low, we know we’ll have plenty of light.
Vuori Performance Jogger Pants
Breathable, moisture-wicking, and UNBELIEVABLY soft, these jogger pants from Vouri are awesome casual hiking pants. I just can’t get over how comfortable they are. The semi-loose, casual fit means you’ve got a little latitude in selecting the right size.
Katadyn BeFree Water filter bottle
With the Katadyn BeFree Water filter bottle, nearly any natural water source can be turned into clean pure drinking water. The easy-to-use filter never needs to be backflushed and the soft side pouch takes up minimal space when not in use. This is our go-to water filter for day hikes (and backpacking trips).
Hiking Day Pack
Whether it’s a short walk in the park or an all-day excursion, we always bring a daypack with us. Store snacks, water, headlamps, phones, and extra layers. It’s not a terrible idea to have two different size daypacks either: a smaller one for shorter/warmer trips and a larger one for longer/colder trips.
- Deuter Speedlite 20 liter (Michael’s go-to daypack)
- REI Flash 22 liter (best budget pick)
- Gregory Nano 22 (hydration pack with room for gear)
- Osprey DayLight Pack 13 liter (great compact option)
- Patagonia Refugio 28 liter (great daypack with larger capacity)
REI Co-op Ducks Back Rain Cover
Many larger, multi-day backpacks come with a built-in rainfly, but most smaller daypacks do not. REI makes compact rain covers for a variety of backpack sizes from daypacks to multi-day packs to ensure your pack content (electronics, extra layers, etc) stay dry during a downpour.
Patagonia Nano Puff
One of our favorite pieces of hiking apparel: Patagonia’s Nano Puff Jacket is a great mid-layer option that features synthetic Primaloft insulation. It’s not as puffy as a down jacket, so it fits better under other layers and packs away easily when you’re not wearing it. Available in both men’s and women’s.
Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer
These long sleeve SmartWool 250 tops are a must for cool-weather hiking. The merino wool traps warmth close to the body and wicks away any moisture that develops. These are super versatile long sleeve shirts that are great for spring, fall, and winter hiking.
Nocs Provisions Waterproof Binoculars
We’ve recently gotten into casual amateur birdwatching and it turns out having a pair of compact binoculars on the trail has really enhanced our hiking experience. Being able to see wildlife from afar has made us more aware (and curious) of our surroundings. This would be a fun gift for any hiker who is interested in the natural world around them.
MICROspikes
We love extending our hiking season by hiking during the winter, but proper traction is an absolute must! That is why we highly recommend getting a pair of MICROspikes. Ice, snow, or iced-over-snow, you have never felt so sure-footed as when you’re wearing microspikes. They easily slip on over your normal boots, making them super easier to take on and off.
First Aid Kit
Medical supplies don’t last forever, so if you’ve been carrying around an old First Aid Kit for a few years it might be time to start over with some new supplies. A compact first aid kit should be taken on every hike. This pre-built first aid kit is great because it carries all the basics that you’d need for the day.
Darn Tough Hiker Socks
Wool socks are the perfect gift for hikers. You want to give them, and hikers want to receive them! It’s a perfect exchange. But seriously, one of the simplest and satisfying pleasures in life is putting on a pair of brand new wool socks. We own a variety of Darn Tough socks and these Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks are perfect for nearly all types of hiking.
BugsAway Woven Bandana
Throughout much of the country, early spring is tick season. The ExOfficio BugsAway woven bandana is an all-cotton classic with a kick—Insect Shield® bug repellent. Wear it on your neck or wrist, or on the dog collar to deter all sorts of bugs (including mosquitos and ticks).
Vuori Halo Hoodie
This hoodie is absolutely AMAZING. The buttery soft, moisture-wicking, breathable fabric is unlike any other piece of clothing I’ve ever owned. This pullover hoodie is a perfect mid-layer for shoulder-season day hikes.
Hydro Flask 12oz Food Jar
A perfect gift for hikers who bring their appetites on the trail! These insulated food jars from Hydro Flask allow you to pack along a warm meal with you on your next hike so you can enjoy a piping hot oatmeal, soup, or stew on the summit.
Yoga for Hikers
Staying limber is one of the best ways to keep in hiking shape during the off-season. Yoga for Hikers offers a variety of yoga poses that have been specifically curated for hikers.
Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier
Has somebody recently welcomed a new member to their family? Help them stay outdoors and active with the Kid Comfort Child Carrier. This top-of-the-line child carrier can easily and quickly be adjusted to fit a wide range of torso sizes. Designed for the comfort and safety of both the child and hiker, this is a wonderful gift to get the whole family outdoors.
REI Co-op Sit Pad
This is one of those bits of hiking luxury we would never buy for ourselves but would be ecstatic to use if we received it as a gift. This inflatable, foam core, puncture-resistant sit pad can turn even a cold rocky perch into a soft and comfy place to sit down and take a lunch break.
Verve Instant Coffee
We have entered into a new age of high-quality, gourmet instant coffee. Verve Coffee is one of our favorite roasters and their new instant coffee line tastes every bit as good as their in-house coffee. Just add hot water and stir. This will be a guaranteed hit with any active coffee drinker.
REI Co-op Sahara Thermal Shirt
This is a perfect cool-weather hiking shirt. It looks like a classic flannel button-up but has all the technical fabric performance you want while hiking. Moisture-wicking, breathable, and slightly elastic for ease of movement. Available in men’s women’s, tall, and plus sizing.
Bottle Bright
Does your water bottle have that slight “water bottle funk” smell to it, no matter how many times you wash it? It might be time to do a shock treatment with Bottle Bright. Just add hot water and a few of these dissolvable tablets and let the effervescent bubbles do all the work. We do this to all our water bottles in spring so we can start the season off right.
Rawlogy Ultralight Cork Massage Balls
Perfect for at-home or on-trail use, these ultra-lightweight cork massage balls can really help to roll out and relax tensed-up muscle groups. We wish we had one of these things with us when we hiked the JMT!
REI Co-op Multi Towel
It’s always a good idea to have one of these compact, quick-drying towels with you on a hike. You never know when you might come across an irresistible swimming hole!
Anker 10,000mh Power Bank
Whether it’s a cellphone, GPS, headlamp, or DSLR camera – there are a lot of things a hiker needs to keep charged. That’s why we always carry a portable battery bank and charger whenever we go out on a hike. This power bank gives us the confidence that we will always have enough battery to stay charged.
GreenBelly Meals2Go
This is no ordinary “energy bar”—this is a full meal. GreenBelly’s Meal2Go bars are a complete 600 calorie meal in no-cook bar form. These are great to have in a daypack just in case. Like, perhaps your hike takes longer than expected and dinner time is fast approaching.
Garmin inReach Mini
Do you have a loved one that enjoys hiking in the backcountry? Then this is a perfect gift for both of you! They get access to GPS navigation, route tracking, and satellite 2-way texting, and you get the peace of mind of knowing where they are! If there are any problems they will be able to communicate via message or immediately call for SOS help.
Kuju Coffee + Rip Van Wafels
This is an absolutely PERFECT stocking stuffer! Pairing a delicious cup of Kuju pour-over coffee with Rip Van Wafels buttery, caramel-filled stroopwafels, this is a hiking gift that is sure to go to good use! Doesn’t that sound like an awesome treat to enjoy at the top of a summit?
REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie
The REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie is a long-sleeved, hooded sun shirt that feels as comfy as a t-shirt but gives you UPF 50+ sun protection. The moisture-wicking and breathable fabric make this shirt a perfect option for warm-weather hiking. Available for both men and women.
Bodyglide Anti Blister Balm
One of the nicest things we started doing for our feet was applying Bodyglide Anti Blister Balm before our hikes. Michael has very blister-prone feet and this has been a total game-changer for him. This would be a great stocking stuffer for any hiker who has had a hike ruined by blisters or hotspots.
Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones
These Aftershokz Headphones are perfect for people who enjoy listening to audiobooks or podcasts while they hike. Unlike typical headphones that go inside your ears and prevent you from being able to hear what is happening around you, these headphones go on the outside of your ears. They use bone conducting technology to deliver high-fidelity audio directly through your cheekbone while allowing you to remain alert to your surroundings on the trail.
Gaia GPS Subscription
This is our go-to GPS navigation app for front-country and backcountry hikes. The app uses the GPS function that is built into your smartphone to allow you to navigate even when you have zero services. There is a yearly subscription for the service, and you can save 20% by using our link!
Peak Design Capture Clip
If you’re shopping for a hiker who is also a shutterbug, the Peak Design Capture Clip would be a perfect gift. The clip allows you to attach a camera to one of the straps of your backpack. This allows for the camera to be safely secured while still being readily accessible.
Local trail guide books
A guidebook to local trails would be a great gift for hikers who have recently moved to a new area, or who prefers to flip pages than browse online. We find that guidebooks are a great way to find new trails and books often include additional information that apps like AllTrails are missing such as geological features and local flora and fauna.
REI Gift Card
Still unsure what to get? You can’t go wrong with a gift card from REI. As the nation’s largest outdoor retailer with over 100 physical locations and an extensive online store, chances are if it’s a hiking-related product, REI has it. They also have an incredible return/exchange policy, which makes them our number one pick for a gift card.
Still looking for the perfect gift? Check out these gifts for campers and gifts for outdoorsy women.