Gifts for Hikers and Campers: 18 Ideas by Trip Length

Outdoor gear is easy to buy badly because the same category means different things to a day hiker and a backpacker. Pick the trip type first, then the weight class.

Day hikers

• Merino socks and a light pair of trekking poles
• A 20L pack that fits a jacket, water, and lunch
• A filter bottle for creek water
• A first-aid and blister kit
• A national or state park pass for the year
• A regional trail guidebook with real maps

Car campers

• A double sleeping pad or a cot
• A two-burner stove and a decent cast-iron pan
• A cooler that holds ice for days
• A rechargeable lantern set
• A camp chair worth carrying to the fire
• A percolator or pour-over kit for the morning

Backpackers

• An ultralight quilt or a warmer bag
• A titanium pot and a small canister stove
• A satellite messenger for off-grid safety
• A better headlamp with a rechargeable battery
• Dehydrated meals they actually like
• A permit or shuttle fee for a trip they're planning

Make next year easier than this one

The hardest part of gifting is not taste, it is timing. Keep a running profile for each person — sizes, brands they mention, things they almost bought — and give yourself lead time to order it. Go Gifters stores those notes per person and emails you 30 days before each occasion, with an optional snooze if you want a second nudge closer to the date.

The Regular plan is $6/month for up to 5 people in My Circle and 6 wish lists. Family is $14/month for unlimited people plus 4 shared seats, so a household can plan together. Free accounts get one shareable wish list with claim tracking.

Related reading: gifts for travelers, gifts for runners. Or browse the full gift ideas hub.