15 Gift Ideas For Casual Hikers In Various Price Points
Whenever the holiday season or someone’s birthday is coming up, I start thinking about what presents to get for my friends and family. We’re not always into the same hobbies, so it’s sometimes hard to know what gift will be useful for them.
To help you with that, I compiled a list of non-obvious gift ideas for hikers. They’re split into different price ranges, so you’ll have an easier time finding something that fits your budget.
I tried to avoid recommending obvious gifts the hiker in your life probably already has, like a backpack, hiking shoes, and a tent. These can be good gifts if they don’t have them already.
Up to 25$
1. Merino Hiking Socks
Merino socks are a great, affordable gift you can give a hiker. The cool thing about merino wool is that it doesn’t absorb bad smells, it’s breathable, and light.
Most merino wool socks are actually made of a blend, usually of some synthetic fabric and merino wool. These socks have some of the benefits of merino wool, without the downsides (like how slow it dries).
There are a lot of options for which merino socks to buy. I’ve seen a lot of recommendations on Darn Tough shocks, for example, the Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks (Link to REI).
2. Light Binoculars
If you’re looking for a leisure gift for a hiker, a set of compact binoculars can be a cool one. Especially for animal lovers, these can be a cool gift that improves their hiking experience.
Some binoculars are very heavy, so they don’t fit for hiking. Hiking equipment should be light and durable. That’s why a compact model will probably be your best bet.
A cool option I found for you is Celestron UpClose G2 (link to REI), they seem quite compact and lightweight (less than a pound).
3. A Good Book
A nice book can be a thoughtful gift for a hiker. Most hikers do have some time off to relax, especially at noon and in the evenings before sundown.
A book can be a great gift for their leisure time.
Pick a small, lightweight book, that’ll fit inside a backpack. Of course, choose a book that the hiker will love. Since books are really up to preference, I don’t have a recommendation here – you know them best!
25$ to 50$
4. Quick Drying Towel
A quick-drying towel is really useful for hikers, whether for drying off after a shower or after a dip in a lake. These towels dry very quickly and are usually light and compact – perfect for a hiker.
A big quick-drying towel is usually the most useful, but it costs a bit more than 25$, so I decided to put it in this category.
I own one very similar to PackTowl Personal Towel (link to REI) and I think it’s pretty good, but it’s sometimes hard to dry yourself off with it.
For casual hikers, I think one that is more “towel-like” but a bit less compact is a good balance, so REI Co-op Multi Towel Deluxe (link to REI) seems like a good option.
5. Pocket Blanket
Pocket blankets are small, lightweight, foldable blankets, that can be used to sit on, or to cover yourself with. The cool thing about them is that they fold into a small pocket.
Most of them are also made of dirt-resistant materials, so they’re easy to clean up on the hike.
I don’t think it’s a must-have item, but it’s a nice thoughtful gift. It’s also pretty versatile and can be used in picnics and at the beach.
I was able to find a few options for a pocket blanket, but I especially liked the Matador Pocket Blanket (link to REI).
6. Hydration System
I think a hydration system can be a great gift if the hiker in your life doesn’t have one already. It’s a really useful item, especially for people who forget to drink on the hike.
A hydration system makes it much easier and faster to drink – it’s simply a bladder of water with a tube and valve you can bite on to drink while you walk.
In my opinion, most hikers should have a hydration system, so it can be a very useful gift for someone who doesn’t.
I own a Source Outdoor Widepac (link to Amazon) and I’m very happy with it. It’s high quality, easy to fill, and very durable.
7. Merino Base Layer
Merino wool isn’t only good for socks. Base layers made of merino blend can be very useful for hiking in cold weather.
These based layers are shirts you wear under your jacket or your coat. They should be light and breathable, and odor resistant.
I think REI Co-op Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Base Layer Top (link to REI) is a good option for this gift. Most base layers are made of some merino blend, and this top is actually all made of merino wool. It seems like a good buy for the price.
8. Swiss Army Knife
A swiss army knife can be a useful tool for all outdoors lovers. You always need to cut, saw, or pry open something when camping.
There are many models of swiss army knives, each with different amounts and types of tools. I think the generic knife is versatile enough to be useful for most people.
I found this Victorinox Swiss Army Climber Pocket Knife (link to Amazon), and I think it’s a great option. You get most of the useful tools, for a reasonable price.
It’s actually the most common brand of swiss knives and is known for its quality, so I think even if you decide to go with a different model, stick with Victorinox.
50$ to 100$
9. Trekking Poles
A set of trekking poles, in my opinion, is a must-have for hikers. If the hiker in your life doesn’t have trekking poles, this is a great option.
These foldable poles are used for walking and are especially helpful in rough terrain and with heavy backpacks. They reduce the load off your back, making it much easier to trek.
For a casual hiker, I wouldn’t go overboard. Trekking poles can be quite expensive. Between 50$ and 100$ is a reasonable price range for a pair of trekking poles, for a casual hiker.
The REI Co-op Trailbreak Trekking Poles (link to REI) seem like a good option – they’re reasonably priced, and as a simple first set of aluminum trekking poles, I think they’ll do.
10. Camping Stove
A camping stove is also a must-have for multi-day hikers. If your hiker doesn’t have a camping stove and wants to start hiking for longer, this is a great present.
Most camping stoves don’t come with fuel, so plan to add up to 10$ more for a small fuel to add to the stove.
There are a lot of great well-known brands of camping stoves to choose from. I really like FireMaple – a friend of mine brought it once to a hike, and it was very compact and comfortable to use.
The FireMaple Star X2 (link to the FireMaple website) is the model I tried and used with my friend, so I recommend it. Other models should be good as well.
11. Solar Charger
It’s a cool gift idea but not the most useful of all. A solar charger is great for camping, so you can charge your electronics on the go.
Most solar chargers are pretty slow, but when camping you should have enough time to add some battery bars to your phone.
It’s something your hiker probably doesn’t have.
The Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Panel (link to REI) is pretty lightweight and small enough to be stored in a backpack.
12. Hammock
A hammock is another leisure camping equipment hikers sometimes bring on short hikes. It can be a great gift for all outdoor lovers.
There is a multitude of options on what hommock to get. They come in a variety of sizes, materials, and colors. For hikers, I recommend avoiding hammocks with wooden bars and sticking with lightweight and foldable options.
The ENO DoubleNest Hammock (link to REI) can be a great option for a gift. It’s not too heavy and folds down to a pretty small volume.
100$ and more
13. Action Camera
I always want to take my DSLR camera with me when hiking, to capture cool memories and show nice scenery images to my friends and family. But for most intents and purposes, it’s too heavy to bring with me.
I think an action camera can be a cool, yet expensive, gift for hikers and outdoor lovers. It’s very small and lightweight, so they’ll have no problem bringing it with them. Most of them are also water resistant, so they can take pictures even when jumping into water.
This isn’t a must-have for hikers. Many use their phones to take pictures and do so just fine. But for people who enjoy taking pictures, this can make the experience better. It’s also great for other outdoor activities where you can’t take a picture with your phone.
GoPro is a very common action camera brand, and its models are pretty lightweight and durable. A good choice can be HERO10 Black (link to GoPro), it’s a common model with good features.
14. Satellite Messenger
Satellite messengers are mainly safety tools for extreme hikers. I don’t think it’s necessary for a casual hiker, but if they go on tough treks, they might find this gift useful.
These messengers are basically used for emergencies in locations where there’s no cellular reception. They’re usually very small and lightweight.
Many of these messengers can also be used as GPS devices, for planning trips on the go and accessing topological data.
The Garmin inReach Mini 2 (link to REI) can be a great option. It’s a popular model, mainly because of its size and features.
When purchasing a satellite messenger it’s important to check that it fits the regulations where you live.
15. GPS Device
GPS devices are used for navigation in challenging environments. These can be good gifts for hikers, but in my opinion, it’s not a must-have for them, especially since many hikers use their phones for navigation.
The benefit of a GPS device is that it does the job of navigation better than most phones, allowing you to plan your trip on the go with better confidence. It’s good for situations where you might get lost.
A decent option for a GPS device is Garmin eTrex 22x (link to REI). It’s an affordable model, and I think it fits all the criteria for a good GPS device. It’s fairly small and lightweight. The only issue I have with it is that it’s not rechargeable – so if you want a rechargeable model, go with a different one.
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered a list of cool gift ideas for people who are into hiking and the outdoors. Use it as inspiration – the options I listed are recommendations, but you might find other items that fit your hiker’s specific needs better.
