19 Awesome Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
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Buying gifts for the outdoor enthusiast is damn near impossible. Your hiking/camping/cycling outdoorsy friends are often serious gearheads, meticulously poring over reviews, guides, and the perennial wisdom of ounce-counting, basement-dwelling Reddit users to find the exact right thing.
Don't stress trying to pick that exact right thing yourself. The chances of you figuring it out and getting it for them as a gift is exactly zero. That doesn't mean you should punt and buy an REI gift card, though (although they might like that). Instead, get them something they totally didn't expect—one of these fun, but useful, sometimes whimsical, things that are almost guaranteed to not only delight them but actually get used outdoors.
And what about you? While you’re here, don’t you need to replace your sleeping pad? Don't forget to check out the rest of our buying guides, including our Best Sleeping Bags guide, our Best Barefoot Shoes guide, and our Best Merino Wool guide.
Updated December 2024: We’ve added Campfire coffee, a Motor City ax, and a ButcherBox subscription.
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- Photograph: Darn Tough
Merino Wool Socks
Darn Tough Merino SocksYes, you read that right. Socks. SOCKS. You should gift socks. Outdoorsy people can never have too many socks. We're hard on socks, which almost guarantees this gift will see some use. What your outdoorsperson especially needs are merino wool socks. Merino wool is a super fiber. It will change their lives. Did you know you can wear merino wool for several days in row without smelling like you just spent two weeks at a Phish reunion? Just kidding, Phish fans. But it's true. Merino wool will change your friend or loved one's backpacking life. It's comfortable, has virtually no odor no matter how long you wear it, and helps your body thermoregulate, staying warmer when it's cold, cooler when it's warm.
We love Darn Tough socks in particular because they're comfortable, stand up to considerable abuse, and have some of the highest merino wool content of anything we've tested. The also come in a nearly endless array of fun colors and designs. If you want something warmer, I love these Expedition Weight Minus33 merino socks ($23).
- Photograph: REI
Coffee. Coffee Now.
Snow Peak Titanium French PressWhat is camping without brewing coffee over a morning fire? Snow Peak makes some of the best-designed, best-engineered outdoor gear. This titanium French press is no exception. Weighing just 6.3 ounces, you can even hit the trail with this if you’re dedicated to your coffee.
If your outdoor person isn't a French press lover, other coffee options include our favorite moka pot. There are a variety of sizes and shapes available, including what I think of as the standard, a 6-cup version ($29) (which actually brews about 24 ounces of coffee) and the slightly nicer, induction-friendly 4-cup version ($40). They're both too heavy for backpacking but perfect for car camping. There's also the tried-and-true Aeropress Go ($50) (9/10, WIRED Recommends) which can be used in a variety of ways and is light enough to pack.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
A Northwoods Hatchet
Motor City Axe The Up North HatchetChop wood, carry water. I can't promise this hatchet will bring enlightenment, but it will definitely split some firewood, and that's a step in the right direction. Motor City Axe makes some of the best looking hatchets I've seen. They're incredibly well-made (in the USA), and if properly cared for should last pretty near forever. The one I tested is inspired by the north woods of Michigan, but there are others, like The Wilderness ($98) and the Flying Fox Throwing Axe ($101).
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Get Outside More With a Hammock
Tentsile Trillium XL 6-Person HammockDid you know most of us spend almost 90 percent of our time indoors and another 6 percent in enclosed vehicles? Help your outdoorsy friend get outside more with this giant hammock. Trillium hammocks are an awesome addition to any yard (or camping trip) and they give you a reason to get outside by offering a huge, comfy place to lounge.
I am in fact typing this from the XL 6-person Trillium hammock, which is also where I do all my meetings. Meetings still suck, but they suck a little less when you're in a hammock. The only word of caution here is that you need to have trees (or some kind of post) in a roughly triangular shape for this to work, and it's probably not the best choice for desert-dwelling friends. Also note that there is a 3-person version that's a little cheaper.
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- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Best Knife for Fancy Hiking
Opinel No. 8 Folding KnifeOpinel's classic folding knife practically begs to be taken on a hike with some good hard chorizo, soft Spanish cheese, and a nice baguette. It's the first step to hiking European-style. Or at least how I imagine Europeans hike (always with delicious cheese, cured meats, and cheap wine—please don't ruin my vision, European readers). I got my Opinel as a gift from a friend, and I love it. And I am an outdoor person, so there is your living proof that this is a good gift.
Opinel makes dozens of variations on this knife that you can pick from when gifting. Grab them a kit with a bento box, or a nature lover friend might like the version with handles designed by different artists. The one version I don't recommend is the carbon steel version. Carbon steel is great, but in this case, when you're throwing it in your backpack and possibly forgetting about it for long periods of time, carbon steel will rust. Stick with stainless steel when gifting this.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Field Notes
Field Notes Original Kraft (3-Pack)Spending time outdoors gives you more free time to think, and probably the best way to record those thoughts in our favorite pocket notebook. At 3.5 inches x 5.5 inches and only 48 pages long, these soft-cover notebooks fit in just about any pocket and make a great always-on-you notebook for jotting down observations, sketches, or just random thoughts. Field Notes paper is high-quality and smudge-proof, even writing in pencil as I do most of the time. Almost always available in a pack of three, Field Notes come in an astonishing range of colors and themes. The National Parks set is a good one for outdoor folks. If you want to level up your pocket notebook gift, consider grabbing this nice leather cover ($90).
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- Photograph: Adrienne So
Give Them Something to Grill
ButcherBoxThe best food I've ever eaten was cooked over a campfire. Give your favorite outdoor person some food to grill, like a gift box of richly marbled grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, and free-range chicken. ButcherBox is one of our favorite online sources for meat thanks to its huge selection of cuts. If you're not sure what your giftee likes, you can always grab them a sampler box (or a steak sampler box).
This is another one I know makes a great gift, because I got a meat box as a birthday present years ago and I've given it as a gift to several people since. You really can't go wrong with anything here, unless the person you're buying for is vegetarian or vegan, in which case you can get them a gift box from Purple Carrot.
- Photograph: Amazon
Packing Cubes
Evergoods Civic Access Pouch 2LEveryone has their own way of packing, but I think these Evergoods 2L packing cubes are some of the most versatile packing cubes I've used. They're padded enough that I use one for camera lenses and photo gear (batteries, extra SD cards, etc), but not so bulky that I mind carrying them around. They are a little heavy for backpacking, but for everything else, these are how I stay organized. If you like the idea, but these cubes don't ring your bell, I've been testing Peak Designs various revamped packing cubes and they are really nice. The tech pouch ($60) and small tech pouch ($50) are both great.
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- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Coffee Roasted Over a Campfire
Campfire Coffee Coffee SamplerSitting around a fire is possibly the best part of being outdoors. “Conversation is directed into the fire while dreams and images are drawn out of it,” as the British author John Mitchell once wrote. Also coffee, really good coffee, can be drawn out of the campfire, which is where Campfire Coffee comes in.
Before we get to what makes Campfire Coffee special, let me just say I also test coffee for our coffee subscription guide and this is by far the best coffee I've tested this year. Even if there were no campfires involved, I would recommend this to anyone who like a delicious, smooth, dark coffee. Your outdoor friends will especially love Campfire Coffee because it's delicious and it's roasted over an open flame by people who love camping. Campfire coffee also runs a program called Campfire Explorers Club, which is a non-profit helping people who would not otherwise be able to explore the outdoors get outside and experience some wilderness—another place (like those below) that you could make a donation in your outdoorsy friend's name.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
A Folding Knife
Benchmade Crooked River KnifeThe pocketknife is the sort of indispensable everyday tool we should all carry. I've has all sorts of different pocket knives, from the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink Swiss Army Champ ($125) to a three-blade Buck knife I found buried in the dirt when I was a kid.
These days I prefer the simplicity of a folding knife. I was gifted this Benchmade a few years ago by my wife, and I don't think it's left my pocket since (except when I fly, which is rare). It's not cheap, but it's pretty near indestructible, and it has a lifetime warranty. Benchmade will even sharpen it for your giftee if they don't have a way to do that themself.
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- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Unbound Merino T-Shirt
Unbound Merino T-ShirtDid I mention that I love merino wool? Everyone needs more of it, especially the outdoorsperson. Wool really is capable of keeping you warmer when it's cold and cooler when it's warm. In a comparison study against other fabrics (on runners), the wool fabric shirt performed best in both hot and cold conditions. It's effective because Merino wool has insulation, breathability, and moisture-wicking thermoregulation properties. That wool is also odor-resistant and very comfortable are just icing on the cake.
These T-shirts from Unbound are my favorite of the merino shirts I've tested. These are are the softest, best-made, best-fitting T-shirts I've ever worn, merino or otherwise. They're incredibly versatile. I've worn them doing everything from backpacking in the summer heat to rolling jiujitsu to sitting around the fire on cool autumn evenings. I also like that they don't have a “sporty” cut or stitching. They're just … T-shirts.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Laws Guide to Nature Journaling
by John Muir LawsThis book changed the way I, and my kids, look at the world. I originally bought because I thought my kids might like it (which they did), but then I stole it, read it cover to cover, bought a sketchbook, and, following along with the book, started to see the world in much more detail than I ever had before. Don't worry if your giftee is not an artist. I am the opposite of skilled when it comes to drawing, and I still love this book. More than drawing, what this book is teaching you is to look closely, observing and recording the world around you, and to form your own understanding of what you've witnessed.
If you want to put together a kind of “curiosity kit” gift package based on the one in the book, pick up a hand lens (I like this one because of the way it blocks out the light, though there are higher quality lenses), some nice pens, and a millimeter ruler to go along with it. You could also check out our guide to journals and notebooks, though those tend to be very personal choices and might not be the best gift unless you know exactly what your giftee wants.
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- Photograph: Amazon
A Water Bottle
Nalgene Wide Mouth 32oz Water BottleNalgene is not the hip water bottle of the moment. That's OK, because to the outdoors person, the timeless classic is always better than the latest style, and every outdoors person needs another water bottle. I have four and wouldn't be sad if someone gifted me another one. Nalgenes are lighter than stainless steel and, frankly, the only sane option for backpacking (unless you want to reuse a disposable bottle).
If you want to make your gift a little nicer, a rolled up T-shirt (maybe a Merino wool one?) fits well inside.
- Photograph: OnX Maps
OnX Subscription
OnX Off Road MapsThere are dozens of mapping apps and services, but in my experience a pro subscription to OnX is hard to beat. We've extensively tested the off-road subscription for our overlanding guide, but I've had good experiences with the backcountry version as well. The premium version is probably enough for most people and has all the planning tools you need, tailored to hiking. The elite membership offers delineation of private land boundaries, which can be helpful to see where you shouldn't camp.
If your friend happens to by a cyclist, I am a fan of Ride With GPS, which offers a good mix of routes and has nice planning tools for mapping your own.
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- Photograph: Nomad
Nomad Portable Grill
Nomad Portable GrillThis is our favorite luxury portable grill. Nomad's suitcase-style cooker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is to grills what the Yeti is to coolers: better in every way, but expensive. It is well-built, sturdy, and easy to carry. The Nomad uses a dual venting system to achieve good airflow even when the lid is closed. The vents, combined with the raised fins on the bottom of the grill (which elevate your charcoal allowing air to flow under it), allow for precise control of both high and low temperatures.
The Nomad ships with a single grate, giving you 212 square inches of cooking space. I managed to smoke nine chicken breasts, and another time I fit two racks of ribs. If your giftee frequently grills for a crowd, grab a second grill grate for $127.
- Photograph: Minus33
A Shacket
Minus33 Expedition Yukon CrewLook Ma, more merino. I don't like the word shacket. But “shirtacket” is worse, and this really is somewhere between a heavy winter shirt and a light pullover jacket. Because it's Merino, it functions well as both, making it great for those cool autumn and spring evenings, or as a midlayer in your winter bundling system. That's what makes the Yukon Crew a great gift. You can use it just about anywhere.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Binoculars for Birding
Celestron TrailSeeker ED 8x32 BinocularsIf your friend is a birding fanatic, then don't gift them binoculars, but if they're just getting started, or you think they might enjoy it, these Celestron TrailSeeker binoculars (8/10, WIRED Recommends) hit s sweet spot between price, quality, and weight. They're light enough to hang around your neck all day on the trail, and they offer great, bright views through comfortable eye cups. The price is reasonable for the features, and they're often on sale during the holidays.
- Photograph: Amazon
The Gift of Outdoor Tunes
JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Portable SpeakerThere are times when you want to hear the silence of the forest. But there are also times when you need some tunes. For the latter we've got dozens of great Bluetooth speakers, but the Charge 5 from JBL ($180) is our top pick for outdoors. It's got an IP67-rated against dust and moisture and offers great battery life. The sound quality is surprisingly good for a speaker this size, especially the low-frequency response, which is impressive.
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Photograph: Marc Guitard/Getty ImagesDonate to a Charity in Their Name
Consider Buying NothingChances are, unless your giftee is an outdoor newcomer (in which case, by all means, buy them some gear), they may well have everything they need. Rather than buying them something that's just increasing their environmental footprint, and putting natural resources on a back shelf of their closet, consider making a donation in their name.
You might want to ask them if they have a favorite environmental organization (this is much less awkward to work into a conversation than asking what their favorite handlebar rack is for gravel rides), but if not, check your local outdoor shop for regional groups. These are often your best bet for turning money into action, and they often need the money more. If nothing quite fits the bill, I'll just plug my two favorite groups, the Nature Conservancy and Surfrider, both of which do good work helping to protect land and water around the world.
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