As the holiday season comes, we make our list of the best gifts for hikers. One of the tricks to finding great gifts is learning more about the person and their hobbies.
And if you know that person likes to hike then looking for something that is related to hiking makes a lot of sense.
That being said, there are a lot of different items to choose from. So which ones are worth getting? These are are favorite gift ideas for hiking enthusiasts.
Best Gifts for Hikers
1. Trekking poles
Trekking poles and staffs are great gift ideas because just about any hiker or long distance walker knows the benefit of using one. They help take off a lot of stress on the feet and joints and allow us to expend a lot less energy than we otherwise would.
When picking out a pair of trekking poles make sure to differentiate between those made for men and those designed for women. They are different not only in length but also to fit the way each gender walks.
See Amazon.com’s selection of trekking poles.
2. Water bottle
If you’re in an office pool or are on a budget, one of the more useful items that costs around $10 or less are water bottles. One example is the Nalgenes Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle.
Most of the water bottles are translucent and made from plastic. For safety concerns, choose the ones that are BPA-Free so they don’t have any toxic effects.
Many hikers use these water bottles because we need to get a sip to prevent from getting dehydrated while on the journey. There are some choices to make though starting with size. The larger the bottle the more content it can take, but also the larger the size of the container, which may make it more of a hassle to fit into a pack.
Another decision also involves the size of the bottle’s mouth. Some people prefer the wide mouth like I do. But only because they’re much easier to clean. Finally, there’s the color.
3. Hydration pack
Another way hikers keep themselves hydrated is with the hydration pack. This serves the same purpose as the water bottle except that some people don’t like carrying around a water bottle. So a great alternative is the hydration pack. Hydration packs are like small, lightweight backpacks. They contain water storage and a sip line that acts like a straw where you can drink from.
The Camelbak M.U.L.E. Hydration Backpack is a great example. It is easy to strap on the back, holds 3 liters of fluid and has a lot of extra room to store your mobile phone, gadgets or things you want to bring on the hike.
Compared to water bottles this is a more efficient way of hydration but it also costs more than the $10 or so the water bottle costs. So it’s all about how much you’re willing to spend.
4. Sunglasses
Another great gift every hiker would appreciate is a good pair of sunglasses. The sun’s rays becomes a problem during certain times of the day and also from what direction you’re walking to, and sunglasses are the perfect way to block the sun’s brightness.
Choosing sunglasses may be a bit trickier than some of the items because you need to size it properly. Some people have very big heads while others have small heads. The other thing to consider is whether the style of the frame fits the person.
The most important thing with getting glasses for hikers is that they sufficiently block light from most angles and are also comfortable to wear. You also want to get something that’s been known to be rugged as you can expect them to be dropped at least once at some point in the future. Finally, if they fish or do water sports, you may want to consider getting one with polarized lenses. This will prevent the sun’s glare from the water from being a problem.
5. Walkie Talkie
One of the simplest yet practical gifts for any outdoor enthusiast are a set of walkie talkies. They let hikers, campers, backpackers or hunters quickly communicate with one another not only to discuss things but also make sure everyone is safe.
The decision with walkie talkies is how many to get. There are sets of two, all the way to sets of five. A good way to gauge how many to get is to know more about the group the person hikes with. That way you know how many individuals you need to cover.
Go here to see some walkie talkies on Amazon.com.
6. GPS
These days, GPS are one of essential things to carry when on any trip, hiking is no exception. It lets us stay on course and map our way.
More importantly if we do lose our way we have something to rely on to know where we are.
Garmin’s Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS is something that makes a good gift idea. It isn’t too bulky to carry around and is waterproof, making it less of a worry for the owner should it get wet.
7. Binoculars / Monoculars
A lot of us hike to enjoy nature and see things that we’ve either haven’t seen before or don’t often see. This is why optics are great. Binoculars lets us look using both eyes so we can get a wider peripheral view. Monoculars on the other hand are lighter and take up less pack space.
These are excellent gifts specially if you know the person loves to watch nature, like bird watchers for example. Though optics aren’t limited to that since they’re very useful to see long distances that our eyes aren’t able to. This can be helpful is spotting rain clouds that are still far away.
8. Hiking boots
Wouldn’t it be great if you receive the pair of hiking boots you’ve always wanted as a gift? If you have the budget for them, I’m sure who ever gets them will be very happy.
Hiking boots are specifically designed to protect the wearer’s feet from the different surfaces and unevenness of the ground they go through. They make hiking a lot easier than when using any regular pair of sneakers.
Proper footwear on any hiking trip is an essential part of gear preparation.
Browse through Amazon.com’s wide array of hiking boots.
9. Rugged camera or a GoPro Hero
If the person you plan on giving the gift likes photography then a high quality, rugged camera will be an awesome gift. With cameras the first thing would obviously still be the features. So getting a good megapixel resolution along with video quality is still essential.
The next thing to consider the build and durability. You’ll want to get a rugged camera that will be able to withstand the elements. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 is a great example of this. It is waterproof, is able to work even in windy and sandy conditions, and will still work even after it is dropped.
Another camera option could be the GoPro Hero. This is more suited for those who like to engage in outdoor sports and record their adventures.
10. Hiking socks
Our final gift idea for the hiker are socks. Not just any pair of socks but those that are made for hiking. These socks are made to take the rigors of long, rugged walks and help prevent the wearer’s feet from developing blisters among other things.
I particularly like SmartWool socks, though there are other excellent brands available. More on what to wear on a hiking trip here.
Choose some hiking socks from Amazon.com.
More Gift Options
If you didn’t find what you were looking for in the list above, try our other gift lists, like the top gifts for campers and our backpacker gift list. We have more ideas that will help you find something that will put a smile in the person’s face.
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